On Monday, at the invitation of the Albanian Eurosocialist Youth, a delegation of the Danish Social Democratic Youth (DSU), headed by its President Henrik Larsen, arrived in Tirana. He is also a member of the senior leadership of the President’s Party of the Youth International for the European Community. During these days, the DSU delegation has held meetings with representatives of various political forces. On Tuesday, a meeting was held between the leadership of the Eurosocialist Youth and the DSU delegation. At the start of the meeting, the leaders of the Eurosocialist Youth described the DSU delegation’s visit as very important for learning about Albania’s political and economic reality and for further strengthening ties between FRESSH and DSU in support of the alternative of democratic socialism in Albania. During the meeting, both sides presented the activities of their organizations and exchanged views on the economic and political situation in Albania and the difficult situation in the region. Also on Tuesday, Shaqir Vukaj, Deputy Speaker of the People’s Assembly, received the DSU delegation headed by Henrik Larsen. After that, Shaqir Vukaj outlined the difficulties Parliament was facing in filling the legislative vacuum; the discussion then focused mainly on the difficult situation in the region and the prospects for peace. On Wednesday, Namik Dokle, chairman of the Socialist Party parliamentary group, received the DSU delegation. At the beginning of the meeting, he gave an overview of the parliamentary situation and of the Socialist parliamentary group’s prospects for censuring it in favor of the political balance the country needs in order to overcome the economic crisis. On Friday morning, the chairman of the SP, Fatos Nano, and its deputy chairman, Servet Pëllumbi, received the DSU delegation, headed by Henrik Larsen, at the Socialist Party headquarters. At the beginning of the meeting, Fatos Nano gave an overview of the transitional process Albanian society is undergoing, as well as the dangers threatening Albanian democracy because of the difficult economic and political situation, but even more because of the revanchist passions of certain political groupings. The meeting then continued with an exchange of views on how to overcome the situations that had arisen and on the alternatives the SP offers Albanian society. The DSU delegation’s visit continues. FRESSH Spokesperson

— According to the BBC — A statement from the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Albania, which may be published tomorrow, sets out the official version of what the press has called the “Nikos Case.” According to this statement, it has been established that several citizens of the former Yugoslavia entered Albania illegally and likewise left the country illegally, having boarded the Greek ship “Nikos,” which was carrying fuel. The “Nikos,” which had departed from Greek territory and was travelling in transit to Durrës, managed to replace its Greek crew with a Yugoslav one at the port of Durrës, on the pretext that there had been quarrels and disagreements among the sailors. In Durrës, the Greek owner declared a port in Slovenia as the destination, but the ship was stopped by the naval patrols enforcing the embargo in the Adriatic and was turned back. Also according to the Prosecutor’s Office of the Re- (Continued on page 4)

- Impressions from meetings between Socialist Party chairman Fatos Nano and residents of the Mokër area in the district of Pogradec - After the rally in the city of Korçë, and after a very enthusiastic meeting with all the residents of the town of Maliq, yesterday morning free Mokër, Mokër of the partisans of the true national liberation and democratic struggle, showed once again that throughout its history it has remained what it has always been. Albanian and proud Mokër. Extreme poverty and the Democratic Party’s misguided policy have not managed to spoil the spirit of the people of Mokër; they have not managed to ... For this we are determined and will fight to the end, by every legal and democratic means. We will not take a single step back from this struggle, because your powerful support and backing give us strength and courage. Namik Dokle said that just as we came to Mokër, we will go throughout Albania, because Albania has never belonged to the Ballists and never will, because the Albanian people fought for freedom and democracy—for true freedom and democracy. That is why we do not want false democracy, which knows only how to raise two— every greater service being done to Albania, the nation and the diaspora by this action the president took. If you are well informed, Mr. President, about whom you received, whether he should have been received, and who Ndue Pjetër Gjomarkaj is, learn the truth through this article. Mirdita and the people of Mirdita, inheriting their traditions through the centuries, have always known how to distinguish good from evil, loyalty from treachery, patriotism from anti-nationalism. Throughout history they have known how to build and distinguish states and rulers, feudal lords and princes, dictators and government officials, democrats and popular leaders; and, in keeping with the traditions, customs and intelligence characteristic of the people of this region, they have assessed and judged each one—and have never been mistaken. Ndue Pjetër Gjomarkaj belongs to the Gjon Markagjoni family line, which, generation after generation since the League of Prizren, has been known as a treacherous family that has served every foreign power and placed itself entirely at their service, signing treaties and agreements and even committing criminal acts against its own people. I do not intend to write about the deeds of this sinister family, because even all the water in the sea would not suffice to turn into ink to describe and inform the public about the conduct of this family of tribal chieftains, feudal lords and bloodthirsty men regarding this matter. How could this group of several “veterans” stand against the more than 1,500 veterans Korçë has produced, who unanimously and democratically elected their regional veterans’ committee? Why was this group, which represents nothing, simply brought in, while the other veterans were not invited to the ceremonies? It is well known that our LANÇL veterans’ organization has members throughout Albania, and in Korçë too it represents [unclear] percent of those who took part in the National Liberation Anti-Fascist War. Our organization was established democratically 35 years ago and today has been officially approved— fighters of the National Liberation War and of true democracy, once again showed that it has remained what it has always been throughout history: Albanian and proud Mokra. Extreme poverty and the Democratic Party’s misguided policies have not managed to break the spirit of the people of Mokra; they have not managed to trample their character. This is the first conclusion one reaches as soon as one enters Mokra. This is the message with which Mokra welcomed the chairman of the Albanian Socialist Party, Fatos Nano, together with the deputy chairmen Namik Dokle and Servet Pëllumbi, and MP Anastas Angjeli. This is the message this vibrant hearth of good people sends to all Albania. How you came to mind, Maro Podgozhani... Kaliçac was the first stop. Hundreds of people had gathered in the village center, and the Socialist Party leaders took their places among them, talking and sharing their troubles with one another, because in spirit and heart they are alike. Adelina Hamzallari is a student at the village’s secondary school. She speaks first, and everyone present is moved. It is the account of a young woman, but we are using it to draw the attention of the audience, she says. And as I think about it, the words of Sabi Berisha come to mind: “We have won freedom!...” But what freedom have we won, Mr. Pre-

I watched the Albanian Television news broadcast of 4 June. Our esteemed president performed yet another “patriotic act”: he received at the presidency the chairman of the association “Albanian Heroine Nduè Pjetër Gjonmarkaj.” We were all astonished at the president Sali Berisha’s courage, wisdom and manliness in receiving one of the leading figures of the treacherous organization “Committee of the Mountains.” No greater service could be done to Albania, the nation and the diaspora than this action by the president. Pjetër Gjonmarkaj is, learn the truth, since these things are known to everyone who speaks Albanian. And you too, Mr. President, surely have heard enough about this family. But you pretend not to know anything, because that is what you are ordered to do, Mr. President of Albania! Now I will focus only on the “contribution” of Ndue Pjetër Gjonmarkaj. According to the documents held in our archives—not those held by the “Albanian Heroism” association, founded in exile in America and also active in other European countries, especially Italy—Ndue Pjetër Gjonmarkaj, as is also stated in … [Right-hand column:] ... had only a few days left. Under the signature of the “Committee of the Mountains” and its representatives, the People’s heroines Mrika Loka, Prenë e Marta Tarazhi, and Shkurte Cara were killed; Dilica was killed in the Lezhë area. They were among the first symbols of the emancipation of Albanian women to emerge from the war. These bands killed the teacher in the village of Nënshjet, Orosh, Ndue Gjin Tuci, massacring him in front of the children. This “Committee of the Mountains” is the one that killed the pioneer Nik Pjetër Ndreka; it killed the “People’s Hero” Hajdar Tafa; it killed Ndrecan. If it was not Ndue Pjetër Gjonmarkaj who killed them, it was his bandit companions. They are still senior leaders of the traitorous organization «Committee of the Mountains». This is not among the material America and also active in other European countries, especially Italy. Ndue Pjetër Gjonmarkaj, as I emphasized above, is one of the principal leaders of the traitorous organization «Committee of the Mountains», which operated brutally in Mirditë in the years immediately after Liberation, until this organization was destroyed. By order of this Committee, dozens of murders were committed in Mirditë. Historians and analysts of the time, judging even today, regard them as the final, failed attempts by the Gjonmarkaj family and foreign secret services, encouraged by Rome, London and America, to overthrow the government that had just emerged from the National Liberation War, by exerting pressure and openly making appeals to the honest, poor and brave people of Mirditë in those difficult postwar conditions. The purpose of this Committee was to prepare a horrific civil war to overthrow the people’s government. This was a «criminal committee», O Sali Berisha. How can you bear this disgrace, O president, and how long will you bear it, O Sali Berisha?! Mirditë and its people do not forget the gangs of saboteurs who operated savagely and barbarically in Ujëlurth, Orosh, Xhuxh të Fanit and throughout Mirditë, seeking to create the conviction that the people’s government born of the war Does the president not remember what happened—that one man, by his decision, even if not by his own hand, since the document bears his name and signature, on 7 August 1949 killed MP Bardhok Biba, Hero of the People? This does you no honor; it is a disgrace, and in this way you insult Mirditë twice: first, you did not speak out and kept silent about the removal of the bust of Bardhok Biba and the other heroes of Mirditë; and second, you officially meet a criminal who, by his decision, carried out… (Continued on page 2)

we will not allow corrupt and incompetent officials to toy with your fate As in Kaliçac, Podgozhan, Trebinjë and in Zënçë or Proptisht and the surrounding villages; Albanian identity and patriotism, too. Hundreds of villagers gathered and expressed their will for today’s bitter reality, hopeful that tomorrow is not far away. So, as I close these lines, I quote the villagers of Proptisht: “We are not holding an illegal rally, but we are not asking permission to meet in our own home with those our hearts desire.” LUAN M. RAMA Mokër, 5.6.1993 [unclear] mil? The reason? Your demagoguery does this, just as you are constantly accused. Mokra, because your demagoguery was exposed quickly. Nevertheless, the poverty you brought to this area, as to all Albania, has not changed these people, even though you do not deign even to meet them. All along the road through Mokra I found the traces of the freedom partisans untouched, and by chance I remembered Maro Podgozhani, or Maro Mokra, because every mother in Mokra is a Maro in her own right. They are Maros who gave birth to and raised sons and daughters who will build Albania. In Podgozhan, where hundreds of residents had also gathered, several mothers in black headscarves, with flowers in their hands, came up beside Fatos Nano and addressed him with the words: «Take these fresh flowers and keep them as a memory for your whole life, because they are flowers from Mokra and they never wither». At that, those present at the rally burst out: «Long live the Socialist Party», «Long live Albania», «Long live true democracy». It is a special pleasure to meet you, people of the region, and all the residents of Mokra, because here one finds wisdom and courage, dignity and pride—everything that makes up Albania. With these words Fatos Nano began his greeting, and in his speech he went on to discuss the current situation in the country, which is becoming increasingly tense as a result of the DP’s policies. But we will never allow corrupt and incompetent rulers to make a mockery of your fate.

- An infant needs its mother’s milk, not laurel wreaths - According to all accounts, the merchants were believers; the ideas of the DP and our government officials, who most loudly claimed Albania’s “great achievements,” sought—and still seek—the same thing in trade. “Trade is flourishing, and this is a reflection of the brilliance of democratic governance”; many have fallen so much in love with trade that one day they introduced a law to regulate new retail shops with economic nuances, which have been put in difficulty—something the Party holds dear. Trade, this tender branch of the economy, is like a child growing among trees and straw in a dark forest. Nothing else is growing in the Albanian economy except trade. But trade is “flourishing” on refugees’ money, not thanks to the government’s merits. On the contrary, with its budget it resembles a leech, sucking this blood so that government officials can distinguish themselves around the world. The President boasts about trade because he cannot point to factories that are not working. He cannot point to fallow land, left untouched amid the greed of a handful of old landowners. He cannot address the 400,000 unemployed, who see the market as a “forbidden fruit.” Nor can he address schoolchildren, for whom the government cannot even provide paper for their exercise books. That is why this little “oasis,” nestled on the slopes, is being dried up by the economic desert surrounding it, which advances every day. Everything Albania has today has been poured into that small, blessed trade sector. The country’s investment funds and working capital have all been directed there; the first Albanian capitalists are there, and the hopes of the unemployed collide there. An infant needs its mother’s milk, not laurel wreaths, Mr. President. SHYQYRI MEKA

— Protest by the National Committee of LANÇL Veterans — We were pleased that our President, Mr. Sali Berisha, as on other occasions, spoke this time in Korçë about the veterans’ issue. Naturally, this pleases the veterans, but at the same time it puzzles them, because a great deal is being said and nothing is being done. Why? Because for so long the National Committee of Veterans of the National Liberation Anti-Fascist War, through repeated, insistent requests, pleas and protests, has asked many times for the issue of their status to be resolved. And now, astonishingly, the President presents as some kind of spontaneous idea the half-hearted proposal of an independent veteran in Korçë on this issue. And can this group of several «veterans» stand up to the more than 1,500 veterans in Korçë, veterans’ other ceremonies were not attended? branches throughout Albania, and in Korçë represents [the] percent of former participants democratically 35 years ago and today has been legally recognized as an independent and pluralist organization, unaffiliated with the politics of any party. We are glad that the President finally remembered to mention the issue of Status. The veterans did not ask for it as alms. They are not beggars. They have sought this right and continue to demand it as a legitimate right, just as veterans in various countries around the world have it. We regret only one thing—and we say this not out of jealousy: to date, neither the President nor his subordinates have made a conscious effort regarding our requests and proposals and this protest (Continued on page 2)

The people’s lives tell a different story; government officials and the president say otherwise THE MASS MEETINGS OF SOCIALIST PARTY LEADERS AND ITS MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT WITH THE PEOPLE EXPRESS THEIR DISSATISFACTION WITH THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT AND THEIR EVER-GROWING SUPPORT FOR THE SOCIALIST PARTY’S ALTERNATIVE AND POSITIONS,