Arrested Haxhi Lleshi speaks: Let us remain calm because democracy will triumph Sali Berisha? He is nobody Read on page 3

Our comment: “Anti-genocide” back on the offensive The fight against genocide, one of the largest actions undertaken by the current authorities in Albania, has once again struck its opponents. It is reported that 14 former state officials or former State Security officials were arrested late on Friday night. After the sensational arrest of Shefqet Peçi, who died at the hands of the PD authorities as a sign of protest against this extreme measure against a hero of the anti-fascist resistance, this is the second act in putting into practice the anti-genocide program drawn up by the Democratic Party. The moment chosen for this action, which without any doubt aims to keep political tension in the country artificially high, is closely linked to the permanent crisis that is continuously deepening within the ranks of the ruling party, a crisis that is reflected in all its governing structures, up to their paralysis. Another sign of this crisis is the deep rift created between the PD’s factions and today’s authorities, all the way to the Berisha-Meksi disagreements, which the prime minister made public apparently as a request to find support for his objections to the head of state’s course. And this is happening while the wounds from the actions undertaken by the PD for the fifth anniversary of its founding have not yet healed. But the crisis the PD is experiencing today is not only political. Its reform course has stalled; solving the most acute social problems is today a dream. Under these conditions, no matter how prominent the figures targeted by the latest police action may be, this action can in no way erase from the popular memory the fact that only a few days earlier a real tragedy struck dozens of Albanian families who lost their sons in the waters of the Adriatic, as a sign of the impossibility of living in today’s Albania. The blow delivered by the police operation arresting several officials of the former regime seems to overshadow the unprecedentedly false, demagogic campaign full of slander and insinuations carried out by the ruling party and its servile press against the leaders of the Socialist Party and the opposition in general. The same is true as long as the situation is presented as though it were directed by the PS, while politics, perhaps even after the failure of '90, have been promoted without hesitation as altruistic ideas of communist crime! Naturally, the accusations against it cannot hide a wrong, because Albanian socialism and the crimes of the past are incompatible. Today we have the right to accuse the old denouncers as the truth, therefore some well-known figures were not denied participation in the anti-fascist war or in the building of the Albanian state after the war. Precisely for this reason, we cannot accept that the fight against genocide be replaced by a new political action of revenge and manipulation. (Continued on page 4)

The state announces with great fanfare: 14 former officials under arrest - Serious procedural violations: arrests are made at night! Yesterday morning the government newspaper “Albania” announced the arrest of 14 former high-ranking officials of the previous regime, stressing that this was the night of sensational arrests in Tirana. Meanwhile, the news of the responsibility of the 14 former officials was also confirmed by the spokesperson of the Tirana prosecutor’s office. In general, the procedure reveals a series of paradoxes, which are neither the first nor, it is hoped, the last: Servants of power put the prosecutor’s office in an awkward position: “The first notice was given by the newspaper Albania”, the favorite of sensational news with state sources.” After stating that the sensational arrests were carried out at night, it does not dare to declare: “The Tirana prosecutor’s office ordered yesterday, around 10 p.m., the arrest of 14 former high-ranking officials of the communist state.” Along with the article, this newspaper publishes the facsimile of the prosecutor’s spokesperson’s notice, in which the absence of a date is clearly visible. When was this notice prepared? (Continued on page 4)

The crisis in the Democratic Party will not take long to reveal itself in all its dimensions Read on page 4

Yesterday in the city of Burrel, the regional meeting of FRESSH for the northeastern areas was held. Dozens of FRESSH representatives from the northeastern district, together with FRESSH leaders from Shkodra, Lezha, Kurbini, Kruja and Tirana, gathered yesterday to discuss the political and social situation in the northeastern districts. Also taking part in the meeting were the deputy chairman of the PSSH, FRESSH chairman Ilir Meta, MP Halil Halaj, FRESSH general secretary Monika Kryemadhi and FRESSH international secretary Gjergj Koja. The chairman of the Agrarian youth, Edi Metani, also took part and greeted the FRESSH meeting. We will inform you more fully about this meeting in the next issue.

The split among writers and artists Page 7. By Friedrich Nietzsche: “Thus Spoke Zarathustra” Page 9 Exclusive for the newspaper: The intimate love of Migjeni Page 10