For Albanian Socialists, the key point is their ongoing social-democratic orientation. It was Fatos Nano who long ago formulated this advanced democratic stance. He declared his very modern political motto: “Neither with communism, nor with anti-communism.” Page 2

“Regarding the noise in the press and the mass media about the so-called ‘erasure’ of Marx’s philosophy, mentioned in the introduction to the PS program alongside currents such as Enlightenment philosophy, humanist philosophy, etc., I turned to the deputy secretary of the PS, Dr. Servet Pëllumbi, who declared to “Zëri i Popullit”: Nothing of the sort happened at the latest meeting of the PS Presidency. Therefore, what is being stated as truth is Berisha’s dream and that of the other easalin-jve who have seen it together in some vision. But a dream remains a dream even when seen with open eyes. The fate of the PS is decided neither in Berisha’s cabinet nor in audiences where protocol is also not forgotten. Even less can its fate be determined by the games of the press and state RTV.”

The Democratic Party has no allies among the political forces Today our newspaper publishes a joint statement by all the political forces of Gjirokastra, which strongly denounce organized crime in this sensitive area of southern Albania. These days, “Zëri” also published a petition from councillors of all the political forces in the district of Fier demanding the release of Fatos Nano. Late in the day, several major Albanian opposition parties sent us a request denouncing the police violence used against the President of the Court of Cassation and his staff. Yesterday, the representative of the forces grouped in the Right Alliance also joined this group. What do all these facts mean? They express one great truth: that naturally, quietly, but with the logic of life and the need for understanding and dialogue, all Albanians, and in particular all political forces, are interested in reaching an agreement. And they find the road toward this noble goal. This is what the situation in the country demands; this is what the overcoming, with as little pain as possible, of the difficulties brought by the transition demands. This shows that the democratic potentials are on the side of the opposition, because democracy first and foremost wants agreement. The only political force excluded from this spirit of understanding, tolerance and necessary dialogue is the Democratic Party. This is a paradoxical situation at first glance. But it is in the logic of life, it is in the logic of pluralism and the laws it imposes, that the DP should find itself today in the days of great loneliness. It finds no allies in the Albanian political spectrum. Everyone opposes it, everyone has become its enemy, everyone intrigues it, from everyone it expects ambushes. So it is human for this situation that has been created in Albanian political life. “What is wrong with the DP, with the ‘party of great hopes’ that today seeks to put Mr. Berisha at the center in order to destroy his moral authority, because he has fallen at their feet?” The Democratic Party was an anti-communist force that never managed to become a true political party with a program, statutes, an electorate, objectives, or seriousness. It remained in the hands of clans who, especially after March 22, sought to subjugate poor Albania, and were counted among those pleased to have won a post, a tender, an auction, some road abroad, a scholarship. The genuine democrats left the Democratic Party not without pain, because it disappointed them in their dreams of a better life, of a democratic Albania where the laws of democracy are not played with and not manipulated. They are sacred. Meanwhile, while the Democratic Party seeks to impose order by reminding everyone of barracks discipline and by demanding that every state employee join this party, it is entirely logical and necessary that the other political forces seek, within the political alternatives they represent, what they have in common, what they must do to oppose the phenomena that undermine the democratic aspirations they represent. The Socialists are broad cooperation, without prejudices, far from the schemes proposed by the President for coalition games that suit Albania in this difficult period of transition. Albania needs only one coalition: let us establish democracy, let the homeland flourish, let us enrich the people and their spirit.

Socialists and social democrats call on Meksi to explain himself before Parliament The attack by the executive power on the judiciary has shifted the crisis into the Albanian Parliament this afternoon as well. Although it had been announced that Parliament would begin work yesterday in the autumn session, that did not happen. Everything was closed before opening, around 10:00, and the deputies left the hall and the inner and outer premises of the Albanian Parliament headquarters. For more than two hours the presidium of Parliament discussed the agenda, what it would present to Parliament for approval. The two afternoon hours were filled with meetings held before midday. And after four hours of debate, Parliament was unable to open at all. The crisis was clearly fueled by the latest event - considered a military attack on the Court of Cassation - which took place on Wednesday morning inside the premises of the highest Albanian court. Yesterday morning the representatives in Parliament of the PSD and the PS - members of a group of opposition parties - asked the presidium of Parliament to open its work with an urgent question session for Prime Minister Meksi regarding the police siege of the Cassation. But nothing was achieved in the morning and nothing was achieved in the afternoon. The Socialists and Social Democrats did not budge from their demand, while the Democrats represented by S[h]pahia, Albnori and others did not budge from their view; nothing happened at the Cassation, they are certainly there. The three-to-three result blocked everything. Thus Parliament began the season in crisis. Its most serious crisis yet. But everything will begin tomorrow, when at midday the presidium will meet and at 18:00 it is said Parliament will open again. It will open..!! ERION BRAÇE

The President of the Socialist Youth International, Mr. Roger Hallhag, today in Tirana Today, at the invitation of FRESSH, the President of the Socialist Youth International, Mr. Roger Hallhag, arrives in Tirana. Without a doubt, this movement is a historic event for the entire democratic left movement in Albania and especially for FRESSH in particular. After the unprecedented visits of delegations from the Socialist and Social Democratic Youth of Western Europe to our country, the Socialist Youth International, today’s visit by President Hallhag demonstrates that the curve of political trust enjoyed by FRESSH among young European socialists is steadily rising. The importance of this working visit is truly multifaceted. Mr. President of IUSY, who has seen a thousand and one political delegations in Albania, is in Tirana at a time when Albanians, only a few months from now, are heading to the ballot boxes, at a time when FRESSH, through its chairman, is issuing an SOS to its peers to return to Albanian political life in order to defend your vital interests from further governmental disregard. The message of the visit is clear: FRESSH contains the largest part of that wonderful young idealistic generation that is fully capable of reviving the nation, that is able to defend the ideals inherited from the year ’90, that is able to fight the “Albanian-type” corruption. The visit of the President of IUSY takes place only four days before the congress of the Socialist Youth International, where its fate and significance are great. Starting from the current relations that IUSY has with FRESSH and especially from our confidence in the success of Mr. Hallhag’s visit to Albania, we have reason to hope that the FRESSH delegation at this important congress will secure even greater political support from the European social democracies, winning what truly belongs to it also in international politics. This will perhaps “ratify” IUSY immediately after the Congress with the visit to Albania of IUSY vice-president, the Norwegian Rita Ottervik. The political cooperation program between IUSY and FRESH will be implemented at the highest levels! We once again wish Mr. Hallhag success in his visit to Albania. GJERGJI KOJA International Secretary of FRESH On Saturday at 11:00 at the PS headquarters, ROGER HALLHAG and ILIR META will hold a press conference