STATEMENT by the Presidium of the Socialist Party of Albania The political situation in Albania is deteriorating with particular speed. It is moving toward deliberate aggravation, escalation, and an expansion of violence and revenge. The space for democracy is closing within critical limits. The strategy of heightening political tensions, present throughout the three years of Democratic Party government, has recently entered a new phase of escalation. Faced with falsehoods in government and growing popular discontent, with a crisis in its structures and clan warfare within its own ranks, with the premature and unconsidered changes driven by obsessions over resolving the national question and by failures in foreign policy, and with an expected defeat in the upcoming elections, the DP leadership is escalating psychological and physical terror against various sections of the population, against the opposition as a whole, and particularly against the Socialist Party and its electorate. Certain parts of the state machinery—the State Control Service, SHIK and the law-enforcement bodies, State Radio and Television, the Prosecutor’s Office and the courts—and, first and foremost, the President of the Republic, have been enlisted in the unrestrained campaign of slander, accusations, attacks and illegal actions. Abusing the prestige of the presidential office, Mr Sali Berisha has now openly declared himself the instigator and leader of the unscrupulous campaign against the socialist opposition. It is the President who sent the chairman of the SP, Fatos Nano, to prison and keeps him there unjustly; it is he who turns a deaf ear to the repeated demands of the Albanian electorate and prestigious international organizations for his release; it is the President who publicly accuses various innocent Albanians of being set against one another and of splitting the country into north and south. President Berisha and his staff make unbelievable statements that socialists are unwelcome in the north, in Shkodër, Tropojë or elsewhere. Only such malicious aims and notions can explain the setting up of ambushes against three SP leaders at the entrance to Tropojë, including Shaqir Vukaj, Deputy Chairman of the Presidium of Parliament. The SP knows how to distinguish the strategy of thugs and ambushes from the nobility and hospitality of the people of Tropojë, Kukës, Dibër, Mat, Mirditë—in other words, all the highlanders. The SP is welcomed and respected by the authorities throughout Albania, in the south and in the north. Voters have entrusted the socialists with local government in almost all the towns and municipalities of Albania, including Bajram Curri, Pukë, Kukës, Bulqizë, Dibër, Koplik, Mat, Lezhë, and others. Recent meetings held by senior SP leaders in several northern districts provided clear evidence of the SP’s standing, influence, authority and the electorate’s confidence in it. The intensified police violence, illegal arrests and surprise searches, reminiscent of the black squads of the most brutal dictatorships, are evidence that life in the country is being fascistized. But the violence of the DP government recognizes no regional boundaries. The unprecedented police violence by the same police force and SHIK employees against the SP District Council in Rrogozhinë, which was merely holding a meeting, is the regime’s latest act of provocation. The marked expansion of violence and reinforcement of the police apparatus, in uniform and in plain clothes, in Tirana and elsewhere; the use of external phalanxes on the right; the use of illegal armed counter…; the campaign against the senior SP leadership; the attacks and accusations against its principal leaders; the calls and threats of arrests and imprisonment; the accusations and threats against SP Deputy Chairman N. Dokle and its newspaper «Voice of the People»; and the arrest of former ZP editor-in-chief and PSSH District Council member Perparim Xhixha show that Berisha’s regime has embarked on a dangerous adventure. The SP denounces these actions and this dangerous escalation of violence, emphasizing the grave responsibility borne by those who planned and carried it out. It will denounce it, paralyze it and ensure that Berisha’s police adventure fails. This new escalation of the strategy of tension on the eve of new parliamentary elections aims to terrorize and intimidate the electorate, to spread the prospect of widespread violence, and points to dark plans to manufacture Libofshas and carry out manipulation and deception. This new escalation of tensions aims to make the SP retreat and abandon its active struggle to expose government corruption. Accusations against socialist local officials are part of the strategy to perpetuate corruption. The SP will never abandon its fight to expose government corruption until it is fully brought to light. The SP calls on the Albanian electorate as a whole to participate actively in the mass movement against corruption. Aware of the situation the country is going through and of the serious political, economic and social consequences caused by DP rule, the SP has delivered and will continue to deliver messages of stability, self-restraint and moderation. It has called and continues to call for dialogue between the government and the opposition, and for reaching a pre-election social pact in order to banish revenge, violence and mistrust from Albanian life, and to end the division of Albanians into friends and enemies. Reaching this social pact will expose the cards of all those who promote personal power and sow and carry out revenge, destabilization and division among Albanians. The pact will create the appropriate conditions for holding the forthcoming new elections under normal, peaceful conditions, without excesses, and will give voters the opportunity to assess the alternatives realistically and express their will freely. It calls on the socialist electorate and the Albanian electorate as a whole to prepare properly for this strategy of tension and its escalation, for its malicious aims and the antidemocratic means used to implement it; to understand the dangers it carries, as well as their responsibility and role in preventing its implementation. The SP calls on the electorate not to be frightened by such failed strategies and to remain alert so as not to fall into traps laid by those who set ambushes and seek revenge. The SP calls on all progressive political forces in Albania to become fully aware of the great dangers posed by this new escalation of tension and to help expose and prevent it from being carried out. Tirana, April 20, 1995 The Presidium of the PSSH …the Prosecutor’s Office and the courts and, first and foremost, the President of the Republic. President who unjustly put the chairman of the SP, Fatos Nano, in prison and keeps him there; the SP leadership of «corruption», «nihilism», psychological terror against its own people and unrestrained anti-reform propaganda, of incitement and «organizing clashes between people», of being bearers of «outdated Marxist principles», and of the Socialist parties being a destructive and anarchizing force. But now, after the lesson the electorate gave him on November 6 and after he openly took the leadership of the DP into his own hands following the removal of E. Selami, the President has become uncontrollable in his attacks and defamatory accusations against the Socialist Party. The political philosophy of neototalitarianism is the basis for conceiving and implementing this strategy of violence and heightening tensions. This strategy serves to create a pretext for the public proclamation of dictatorial power; it serves the antidemocratic and anti-Albanian aim, publicly declared, of keeping the corrupt DP in power for a long time and by bloodshed. The deliberate heightening of tensions serves to destabilize Albania and to facilitate the dark anti-Albanian designs of certain circles, which «have never abandoned their aim of seeing Albania fragmented, impoverished, isolated and destabilized». The accusations President Berisha made against the SP at the improvised meeting of the expanded LGD gathering are part of a scenario devised in dark rooms by antidemocratic and anti-Albanian hands. The President accuses the SP of being far-left extremists to justify the blows he has prepared against it. He accuses the socialists of roaming Albania as «Marxists and Enverists» in order to «justify» his violent actions against them, now and in the future. Both the accusation, the malicious aim and the chosen methods clearly demonstrate that the President has placed himself in the position of the far right. But the deafening propaganda initiated and directed by the President cannot conceal the truth. There is no one who cannot recognize the SP’s political maturity and high sense of responsibility, even when it has been deliberately provoked or illegal violence has been used against its members and supporters, leading officials and MPs at peaceful public and election meetings. The SP’s contribution to the adoption in Parliament of a great many democratic laws and important codes cannot be ignored. The SP has contributed to Albania’s entry into the Council of Europe and helped normalize and maintain relations with neighboring countries. It has contributed to the development of market economic relations, the introduction of market-economy reforms, the establishment of the rule of law, and the consolidation and protection of democratic institutions in Albania. It has firmly defended the national question with arguments: the rights of Kosovo and Albanians as a whole, the survival of Kosovo and of Albanians in their own lands in the former Yugoslavia, and the Cham question. The Albanian electorate, and not only it, makes this position of the SP clear. This is precisely the fact: the SP’s unwavering and consistent position, its authority and its role in the country’s political life. …so. And most of the vehicles that were deployed to deal with this problem were driven by PD officials, state employees appointed by the PD. legally established right to escort members of the People’s Assembly, and in particular the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, in order to prevent any incident. They had also been notified in good time. The police escorted the group of deputies only in the district of Tropojë, as we stressed after passing through … Tropojë, and we call on the ruling party to prevent incidents of this kind, which could have unforeseen consequences for social peace in the country. We denounce the obstruction of the activities of representatives of the people from opposition parties and demand that the or- …be distorted in this way, just as the Declaration signed by the chairmen of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Shaqir Vukaj, and Namik Dokle, is being distorted.

Strong socialist protest over the incidents in Tropojë - The Democrat, Mr Hajdari, called the socialists «irredentists» and «chauvinists». Ranković and Arkanio have used and continue to use such labels against Albanians. TIRANA. A day later in Parliament, the socialist parliamentary group, through a statement read by MP M. Ulqini, a member of the PSSH Presidium, condemned the serious incidents that took place on April 14 against socialist MPs Shaqir Vukaj, Deputy Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Musa Ulqini and Lush Përpali, who had been invited to a socialist meeting in the town of Bajram Curri, in the Tropojë district. The first part of the statement gave a full account of everything that happened to the socialist MPs on their way to the town of Bajram Curri. The statement went on to stress: First, the event organized by the socialists was legitimate, and no one has the right to obstruct the lawful activities of a legal political force in a democratic state. Second, all those who exerted pressure on the SP leaders and had participants actively involved in all three organized ambushes were exposed as members of the DP. A good number of the cars used in connection with this matter belonged to DP leaders and officials appointed by the DP to state institutions. Third, the law-enforcement forces had a duty to exercise their legally defined authority to escort members of the People’s Assembly—and especially Shaqir Vukaj, Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Presidium—to Nikaj Mërtur. We denounce everything that happened in Tropojë and call on the party in power to prevent such incidents, which could have unpredictable consequences for the country. Yesterday afternoon in Parliament, [the statement referred to] the ambushes and also, in part, the district of Mirditë. So we emphasize again: the police were absent in Pukë, despite the fact that the main ambushes had also been set up there. The leaders of the Ministry of Public Order knew the MPs’ route. Most residents of B. Curri knew where the main ambush had been set up. The blocking group had been positioned on the national road since the afternoon of April 13, and, it is said, during the night they burned the desks of a nearby school for warmth, having broken up its doors. Then why did the law-enforcement agencies not take measures to have the perpetrators act in accordance with the law and clear the national road? There is no one in Bajram Curri who does not know exactly who organized the ambushes, and that DP leaders were determined to prevent the SP’s lawful event. We therefore cannot understand what the ruling party’s newspaper wrote yesterday: that DP leaders in Tropojë helped reduce tensions and made it possible for the socialist event to take place! It is shameful to distort the truth in this way, just as the statement by Assembly, to Namik Dokle has also been distorted. Regardless of their political sympathies, the people of Tropojë can in no way agree with such actions, as was also demonstrated at the events held on this occasion. Dozens of citizens whom we met in Tropojë during this election campaign denounced this action, the socialist parliamentary group’s statement concluded. The next morning, the floor was taken by the very dissatisfied Azem Hajdari, who burst out that the representatives today [unclear: thousands of students of Dhejtorit], that is, Azem Hajdari, the man accidentally awarded a degree in philosophy, had described [them] and [the] chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Order. The defender [Minister?] of Defense and SHIK came to the defense of the ambushes set up by «the men lying in wait with rifles for…» (Continued on page 4)

SOCIALIST MEETINGS IN LIBRAZHD AND PRENJAS - S. PËLLUMBI: We say «No» to the strategy of political tensions - SOCIALIST MEETINGS IN LIBRAZHD AND PRENJAS Socialists guarantee professionalism and honesty - S. PËLLUMBI: We say «No» to the strategy of political tensions - The town of Prenjas, spread along the edge of the Domosdovë Plain, conjures up images of the bustle of life… It even seems that the former bond between this town and the green crown of pine trees has been broken. And yet the people of this town have hope and know how to turn toward those political forces in which they see their hope. This was once again evident at the meeting with residents of the town and surrounding villages, together with comrade Servet Pëllumbi, Deputy Chairman of the PSSH, and MP Anastas Angjeli. “We have come to exchange views and engage in dialogue, because meetings like these are essential for us,” comrade S. Pëllumbi began the discussion, “without paying heed to those who tell us that we have supposedly begun an election campaign.” Those who say this, he continued, are afraid of meetings with the people, afraid of the campaign, and have reason to be afraid because they deceitfully promised the people paradise and then abused their vote to devise and install an absolute power in Albania; through corruption they plundered the people’s wealth in order to illegally create a clan of rich people. Comrade S. Pëllumbi then explained the political situation in the country to those present, describing it as one in which power… is fragmented and perverse, but these [forces] recreate it. He called out. …describing it as one in which power… (Continued on page 3)

- Minister Brojka: Telecommunications service is the most backward on the continent. - Socialists call for the draft law on compensation for state enterprises to be completed. Yesterday’s plenary session of the People’s Assembly began with an amend…ment to Law No. 7512 of August 10, 1991, concerning the privatization of healthcare facilities. Under this amendment, even after privatization, pharmacies are required to retain their designated use for a long period of seven years. Next, in accordance with the agenda, the Assembly held an interpellation with Minister Brojka concerning the work and measures taken in the field of telecommunications. In his remarks, as was discussed at length, he spoke of the difficult state in which this service currently finds itself, which, according to Mr Brojka, «is among…» (Continued on page 4)

Dear many readers of «Voice of the People»! As we have often discussed the many difficulties facing the press today—the difficulties of market costs, which you feel just as much in your own pockets—we are obliged to inform you of a decision to raise the price of the newspaper to ten lekë. We are taking this step only after considering every other financial possibility for coping, to some extent, with the galloping increase in the price of paper on the world market, apart from the endless peak of taxes imposed by the present state. Conscious that we owe you a great deal, our longstanding supporters—whether workers, farmers, intellectuals, young people or pensioners—since your contribution is the only source of funding for «Voice», we will always strive to ensure that «Voice of the People» also appears with a new look, in a quality newspaper and with higher-quality articles. We are taking this measure in the conviction that you will understand us: despite all your financial difficulties, «Voice of the People» will record an increase in circulation and remain, as it has until now, the country’s largest newspaper. THE EDITORIAL OFFICE

Readers of the newspaper «Kombi» are informed that, for technical reasons, this newspaper will come out tomorrow. Among other things, you will read: - The arrest of Prof. Dr. ILIR HOXHES shows that today’s Balli-fascist government is disgracing itself. Prime Minister Meksi gives 7,000 dollars for Lekë Zogu’s return to Albania. - A document about Mehmet Elezi, published for the first time. - Sali Berisha shows Mrs Flutura Hasko where she belongs! - The people of Kolonjë gave the tin to today’s Balli bastards, etc. The editorial office of the newspaper «Kombi»