Meanwhile, under the PD government, Albania remained the only country in Europe with political prisoners

In the framework of the intensification of interparliamentary relations between Albania and Austria, yesterday afternoon a group of Austrian parliamentarians arrived in our country, led by the President of that parliament, Dr. Heinz Fischer. During their three-day stay in our country, the Austrian parliamentarians will meet with the highest government officials as well as with representatives of the main parties. An important place in the Austrian parliamentary visit will also be the northern city of Shkodër, since the northern part of Albania is the epicenter of Austrian investments. At Rinas airport, the Austrian guest and the delegation he leads were received by the Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Pjeter Arbnori. Also present were the deputies Tomor Dosti, Ali Spahia and Namik Dokle.

Clear visions What is the vision of the socialists for the development of Albanian democracy? It is clearly reflected in the documents of this party, in the positions of its parliamentary group, in the speeches of Socialist leaders. But in a summarized form we find this vision in the Message of the chairman of the PS, Fatos Nano, addressed in recent days to the General Steering Committee of the Party. The ideas conveyed by this message speak of the progressive and modern understanding that socialists have of all the processes through which the Albanian transition is passing - the introduction of a market economy, the establishment of the rule of law, the respect for fundamental human rights, which, unfortunately for democracy, are being achieved with traumas and profound distortions by the PD government. That is the reason why, with just a cursory glance at this important document, PD propaganda, in thuggish language, tries to attack F. Nano’s message, the socialists and their alternative, in futile attempts to convince people that we, and only we, are the ones who should govern this country. The core of Nano’s message is the truth that everyone can now see: whenever elections are held, the socialists will come to power. Fatos Nano calls on his party to prepare fully for government. This is a very serious demand in a timely moment, which runs counter to the adventurism and authoritarianism, to the revanchism and relentless corruption that characterized the PD rulers since 22 March '92. How will the socialists govern? The European model of government of social-democratic parties is our inspiration, but Fatos Nano in his message appears to be trying to unpack the Albanian reality and the major idea that the opposition, that is, first and foremost the Socialist Party, looks to the future. This means that the socialists, while maintaining a critical stance toward the past and condemning the dictatorship, do not intend to turn the “autopsy” of that past into a suit for governing, as the Democratic Party has done and continues to do. The PD’s inability to govern and its crisis in the vortex of contradictions arising from incompetence, dilettantism, nepotism and regionalism have created a paradoxical situation today - everyone is demanding a different government and more and more people are coming to believe that the PS is capable of governing. (continued on page 3)

Regarding the statement by the Democratic Party broadcast yesterday on radio and television, according to which Namik Dokle allegedly declared that with the PS coming to power all PD members would be thrown in prison, Namik Dokle told our newspaper yesterday, among other things, that: “This banal fraud aims to terrorize the members of the Democratic Party themselves. The Socialist Party has asked for little social justice and it is power that builds a conflictual policy. We denounce gross lies and speak for our public statements.”

"We have no nostalgia either for the years of dictatorship, or for the years of the “continuity” evoked by Berisha! We will not revoke the decisions of the Political Bureau of the former PPSH regarding the recognition of political pluralism in Albania, which also gave the former communist secretary Sali Berisha the opportunity to shake off his fear and “come down from the Moon” as chairman of the PDSH! We will repeal the pseudo-law “anti-genocide” and other unconstitutional acts of the current regime. We will not hold political opponents hostage in prisons for 3/4 of our term in power and we will not treat them as enemies, but as partners! We will achieve National reconciliation and social peace". (From the message addressed to the General Steering Committee of the PS)

Yesterday, the Chief of the General Staff of the Army, General Sheme Kosova, left for Italy to take part in the closing ceremony of the NATO multinational exercise “Cooperative Dragon-Esperia 95”, being held in Pordenone, within the framework of Partnership for Peace. In this exercise, alongside several NATO member countries and partner countries, a representative unit from Albania is also taking part.

By Naim Baldidemaj Page 11

By Prof. Dr. Rexhep Mejdani Page 4

By Ylli Polovina Page 2

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A party with a vision for the future that preserves historical values 1.Socialists stand for a realistic, objective and critical review of the recent past. The PSH denounces the concepts and practices of totalitarian socialism. In its activity, the PSH will always be guided by the concepts and practices of Western democratic socialism. 2.We categorically denounce the communist regime, its political, social and economic method, which failed to ensure the rapid development of the country and the improvement of people’s well-being. We reject the practice of the party-state and Enver Hoxha’s dictatorship, which brought about the ideologicalization of everything, the violation of democracy, freedoms and human rights, and the persecutions in the name of the “class struggle” 3.Our vision for the future is an Albanian society of democratic socialism, which must naturally integrate with the countries of Europe, while also bringing its own values to the European civilization to which it historically belongs.