. For several days, the whole world celebrated 9 May solemnly. Nearly all humanity followed, through television channels, the magnificent events organized in London, Paris, Berlin, Moscow, and many other capitals around the world. The messages were clear. Such tragedies must never happen again, and they can be avoided through affirmation, trust, understanding, and tolerance. The celebrations were not accompanied by East–West hostility, demands to settle accounts between the defeated and the victorious, threats against communism or capitalism, or attacks on particular leaders who brought about tragedies that cost peoples millions of lives. But while the world celebrated, Tirana remained silent. This shows that the winds carrying these messages have still not begun to blow in Albania. The truth is that our rulers have not forgotten 9 May, and they began its “commemoration” some time ago through acts of revenge. Thus one can (Continued on page 4)

Even a drum does not beat for nothing. Even a drum, which is a drum, does not beat for nothing. It beats on occasions such as Ramadan Bayram, etc. But the DP’s propaganda drum never stops; it has become so hoarse that it only disgusts its listeners. Nevertheless, these drummers, who apparently consider themselves even more important than Qemal Stafa, do not care. Listen to them: “Once again, the representative of the Socialist Party has failed to appear at the televised debate on healthcare…” The SP has only specialists in explanations and deceptions… in fabrications, but cannot find even one specialist to present constructive alternatives.” Here is the truth: On Saturday, the Economic Department at TV notified Socialist MP Dr. Prof. Zabit Broka to take part in a televised debate on healthcare. It also sent him a written notice. Prof. Zabit replied and was ready for the meeting. On Monday at noon, TV notified him again that he would not be taking part; instead, MP Tefik Ajazi would. Modestly, MP Ajazi refused to go, and did not go. He said that he could not go in place of Dr. Zabit. Zabit Brokaj is a specialist in this field; he is a professor, has been a minister, and was dean of the Faculty of Medicine. Now let the reader judge for themselves who is slandering, who is deceiving, and who are the real specialists in the physical and psychological wrecking of Albania. Such Byzantine, demagogic, and specious attitudes toward the Pa- [text as printed] …to join their chorus. Political parties are organized and know where they should turn to be represented. Television organizes a discussion about investment and insists that the Socialist Party’s deputy chairman, Prof. Servet Pellumbi, go there. It will not accept, under any circumstances, Ylli Bunë, for example—a specialist, chair of the parliamentary industry committee, and former prime minister. For the discussion on education, the Socialist Party is invited to send Musa Ulqini, who is not an education specialist, while Dr. Luan Hajdaraga, a fully qualified education specialist in Albania with 20 years’ experience, including 10 years as director of the Institute of Pedagogical Studies, is not accepted. Nor is PSD MP Paskal Milo invited to this discussion: he is chair of the parliamentary education committee, a leading figure in education, and former dean of the Faculty of History. And yet the drum booms: “The SP cannot find even one specialist to present constructive alternatives.” Indeed, the Socialist Party cannot find one, because it does not have a specialist and orator like Tritan Shehu, who has been handed his walking papers in the televised discussions held so far. When it suits it, the DP applies the old maxim: “Every communist must be a specialist in the party line.” It is clear what the DP’s interest is: to hold on to power by any means, through lies, slander, and deception. Politically and morally discredited, the DP has now sunk to a state from which it can no longer emerge, neither before the people nor before genuine specialists, because it has no face to show. That is why it hopes to find a cure through sham displays and propaganda-TV scenarios. It is wasting its time. BEQIR SKRELI professor, has been a minister, dean of the Faculty of Medicine. And now let readers who the true specialists are on the physical and psychological causes of Albania’s [?]. Such Byzantine, demagogic and speculative attitudes toward the Socialist Party and the other opposition parties are the only working practice of the leaders, television and press of the Democratic Party. Those taking part in television discussions are representatives of political parties. Parties are not flocks from which Berisha’s and Tritan’s shepherds can choose whoever they want.

Korçë As part of these commemorations, the Korçë division and the army’s social and cultural institution organized another session of this kind, attended by representatives of local government and leaders of various political forces in the district. Both the main paper, delivered by Colonel Halil Kulla, and the five preceding presentations recalled the contribution and commitment of the people of Korçë to the great victory. At the end, those present were treated to a musical and literary program of partisan songs and poems. Correspondent of “Zëri i popullit” Gjirokastër The committee of veterans of the National Liberation War of the Gjirokastër district organized a meeting the day before yesterday with former partisans, former internees in the camps, and the families of martyrs and heroes. Comrades Vera Sako and Zilfo Latifi spoke. Theofan Zoto, a former internee, shared deeply moving recollections. Kosta Zaval read the message from the national committee of veterans to the partisans and the families of the martyrs on the occasion of 9 May, while Comrade Resul Llongo delivered greetings on behalf of the district Socialist Party. Yesterday, representatives of the veterans’ organization and the leadership of the SP visited the families of those killed and former internees in the Nazi-fascist camps. Mirditë The steering committee of the Socialist Party in the Mirditë district, in cooperation with the district veterans’ committee, organized a commemorative event on the occasion of 9 May, the 50th anniversary of the victory over fascism. The chair of the district veterans’ committee, Ndue Dodbiba, spoke about the people of Mirditë’s contribution to the National Liberation War and the military actions to liberate the district. At the end, Mark Nikolli, chair of the district SP Steering Committee, also offered greetings. B. Z. Kurbin Yesterday morning in Laç, the committee of Pren Pershepfni, chair of the PAD of the town of Laç, etc. For those present, the artistic group “Gurra e Kurbinit” performed a rich program. Those attending the meeting were struck by the absence of representatives of local government and of the district branch of the Democratic Party.

Durrës On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the end of the bloody world war, veterans of the National Anti-Fascist Liberation War respectfully commemorated this important historical event at the obelisk dedicated to the heroic resistance of fighters from Albania and other Balkan countries. Qemal Zeneli, a former internee in the Nazi camps, delivered greetings. From this memorial in Porto Romano, a place where hundreds of people suffered, were tortured, and persecuted, a tribute was sent in memory of the 17,000 anti-fascists arrested by the Nazi-fascists and the [unclear] ballisto-zogist collaborators of the occupier. Veterans and representatives of the SP visited the homes of martyrs and former internees. Skrapar The event organized by the veterans’ committee in cooperation with the historical museum, the cultural center, and the children’s cultural center was entitled “The Victors Celebrate.” It opened with the national anthem and a minute of silence for those who fell in the war. In addition to former partisans, members and relatives of martyrs’ families, eurosocialists, etc., those present included the mayor, Bashkim Neullari, the chair of the SP Steering Committee, Shkëlqim Meta, and others. The director of the museum, Nuri Çuni, spoke about the Second World War, the anti-fascist coalition, and Albania’s contribution. Interviews featured the vivid recollections of former partisans Vaip Gogo, Abedin Saliasi, and Bajram Radeshi. Songs and recitations about the partisan war, martyrs, veterans, and the homeland made this commemorative gathering even more moving. Afterward, the district historical museum hosted a cocktail reception, at which the chair of the veterans’ committee, Skënder Bega, delivered greetings. RIZA BREGASI Mat The activities began with tributes at the martyrs’ cemetery, where wreaths were laid on behalf of the war veterans’ committee, local authorities, and political parties. Later, a commemorative meeting dedicated to this historic date was held at the town’s Palace of Culture. The main address was delivered by the director of the district historical museum, Mr. Vladimir Berhani. At the end, an artistic concert was given for those present. Lezhë

the victory over fascism, the district historical museum, under the care of the municipality and sponsored by the District Council, organized a jubilee academic session at the Palace of Culture on the topic “The contribution of the Lezhë district to the fight against Nazi-fascism,” at which six papers were presented. An exhibition by the painter Pashk Pervathi was also opened as part of the event.

— Statement by the Fier SP Steering Committee — On behalf of the thousands of members and supporters of the SP in the Fier district, bearing in mind the responsibility officially demonstrated on 26 July 1992 and 6 November 1994 with the declaration against the lies and by more than 70 percent of the Fier electorate, the Fier SP Steering Committee, reflecting on current political developments, FINDS: 1. That the recent positions and statements of the PDSH’s leading forums are characterized by party fundamentalism and anti-pluralism, showing disregard for the democratic concept of political alternation and unwillingness to accept the impartial verdict of the people in the coming elections; 2. That developments in the DP are becoming increasingly worrying because of the marked weakening of internal democracy, the dominance at its head of irrational antagonism toward the reformist leader and personality, and the inability to break away from outdated dogmatic positions and theses. 3. That there is an undeniable contradiction between the PDSH’s public claims that it has a reformed structure and the extremist, radicalizing spirit conveyed by the concrete positions and statements of this party’s leadership. 4. That former communist Sali Berisha has subordinated the institution of the President of the Republic to a partisan, passionate, and extremist agenda, seriously undermining the unity of the people and the functioning of the rule-of-law state. 5. That the PDSH lacks the ability and potential to understand once and for all that the defeat of the monist constitution project in the nationwide vote of 6 November is not a loss but a notable victory in the genuine democratization of Albania. Aiming to contribute to finding ways out of the artificial escalation of political relations and to ensure the normal course of the pre-election period, the Socialist Party of Fier CALLS FOR: 1. All political forces, especially those in opposition, to make every effort to make up for the diplomatic vacuum and delays (Continued on page 3)

The library of the Gjirokastër municipality and the association of minority writers organized a celebration on Saturday evening for the 70th birthday of Pano Çuku, a distinguished intellectual from Albania’s Greek minority. The director of the library, Petraq Qurku, presented an overview of his life and extensive work as a poet, translator, publicist, and author of school textbooks. His contribution to the development of the language and culture of Albania’s Greek minority, and to Albanian-Greek friendship and cooperation, was especially praised. Many writers and friends of the author spoke, shared memories, and wished the writer a long life and a continued creative career.

World leaders gathered in Moscow commemorated the 50th anniversary of the victory over fascism and the end of the Second World War. Among the participants were U.S. President Clinton; French President Mitterrand, German Chancellor Kohl, British Prime Minister Major, etc. Albanian President Sali Berisha also took part. For many of the world leaders hosted by Russian President Boris Yeltsin, this was the third day of festive ceremonies marking this 50th anniversary, in London, Paris, Berlin and finally Moscow. President Clinton, who arrived in Moscow on Tuesday morning, laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and bowed respectfully before it. ★ ★ ★ Russian President Boris Yeltsin, speaking in Red Square at the war veterans’ parade on Tuesday, greeted the participants, saying that the world must never again allow fascism. “Let the memory of the end of the war become a factor for unity now,” Yeltsin said at the large veterans’ parade. “I call on the Russian people and the peoples of other countries not to allow the birth of the fascist monster to appear again. Let this day of remembrance of the dead be a day of uniting the forces of good, a day of condemning fascism and a day of hope for lasting peace.” As is known, more than 26 million Soviets were killed during the Second World War. ★ ★ ★ Russia’s Minister of Defence, Pavel Gracov, speaking at the first military parade, said that Moscow would modernize and

- The closure of the Fani mine has left more than 2/3 of the workers without jobs and without any kind of support. - The residents of the Bytyç area in the district of Tropojë have reached a peak of poverty and destitution. And this misery, which is becoming more widespread there, has led to organized bloody actions, apparently intended to remind the local authorities of the residents’ situation. The main problem has been created, along with the consequences that may result from it. The biggest problem remains employment, because, as is known, the Fani mine has been closed for some time. There is no other way to earn any income. Miners are not even receiving the subsidies resulting from the embargo, which is driving the mine toward complete destruction. Thus, more than 2/3 of the working-age population currently have no opportunity to find work elsewhere and receive no support. Many workers’ families in the town—

A powerful tremor at around 03:15 on May 9 caused the city of Korçë to experience real panic. Our inquiry to the Korçë seismological center, asking about the magnitude of this earthquake and its epicenter, was met with pure conjecture: it may have been around 5 on the Richter scale, while its epicenter was somewhere north of Korçë. To be more precise, they directed us to our center in Tirana, whether or not our instruments are very good [?] There was no material damage. M. MEKO

A few days ago, at the invitation of the Mayor of Patos, Baftjar Zeqo, the municipal council organized a meeting with the German ambassador, Mr. Klaus Fëler. He was given an overview of the municipality’s economic development and was presented with its most pressing economic and social problems. After learning about the concerns, Mr. Fëler expressed his commitment to resolving some of them, such as the hospital’s rehabilitation, and expressed hope that the embassy would provide support. Meanwhile, a German loan [?] is to go to this municipality for the reconstruction of the city’s water supply system. The possibility of twinning with a municipality in Germany was also discussed. A number of local-government issues were also addressed at the meeting. To provide the appropriate assistance, Mr. Fëler had brought with him the General Representative of Hamburg. The two gentlemen made clear their positive relations with local government, as well as their willingness to help resolve the issues. After the meeting, the two guests went to visit the Amphitheatre of Horë(?) ... Correspondent of “Zëri i Popullit”