A mass rally of Socialists in Pogradec and Korçë! - Sali Berisha, who beats his chest while trumpeting freedom and democracy, sends dozens of police officers and police batons from Tirana to prevent the Socialists from freely expressing their views - The people of Pogradec and Korçë, just as on 6 November, showed Berisha, the divider of Albanians, what true democracy is

Once again, the police and Sali Berisha are facing the people. They had been brought in from Tirana—or who knows from where—to stop the people of Pogradec from freely expressing their views at the rally organized by the Socialist Party. The leaders of the Socialist Party in Pogradec had informed the public-order authorities, in accordance with all the rules and regulations in force, about the rally planned for the town’s central square at 6:30 p.m. on 11 August. However, the police have been ordered not to allow the Socialists to hold their planned rally. And, as always, the usual pretext: the police do not (Continued on page 2) I went out into the street, and the letter from the Internal Affairs Branch arrived at the headquarters of the PS steering committee; it annuls—

Brothers and sisters, members and supporters of the PS; It is a pleasure, but also an honor for us, the MPs and leaders of the PS, to take part in your rally today, which continues the successful democratic tradition that you are creating. After the very enthusiastic and encouraging rally held in Tirana on 2 August, the question was raised: “Why has the PS returned to rallies?” We replied: We believe this is a fundamental right of free people, who use such a deeply democratic means as rallies, which have many merits, especially when there are problems with elections, when democracy is threatened, and when human rights and freedoms are systematically violated. You have gathered here today not because you have been threatened or because someone has lined you up. No, you are here today fully aware that democracy needs your voice of protest, your support and your commitment. We are here together to demand an end to political revenge; to demand the independence of the judiciary; and the release of political prisoners and of the Chairman of the PS, Fatos Nano. We do not deny at all the achievements of Albanian democracy, among them the right to hold rallies and protests. But we believe that all Albanians are entitled to take part in them, not only those grouped in the PD, which arbitrarily continues to identify itself with democracy while considering everyone else its enemy. But the medal has another side, too... Achievements cannot conceal the widespread reality of political revenge, party-based measures, the revival of the customary-law mentality, and the government’s incapacity and corruption... (Continued on page 3)

Correspondent Franko Egjo reports that the numerous reports concerning the settlement in the territory of Kosovo of Serbian refugees expelled from Krajina, which have reached Albania, have caused growing concern. In this context, the latest announcement by the Red Cross of Kosovo contributed most to the concern; according to it, the organization is prepared to receive and resettle around 20,000 Serbs driven out of Krajina by the Croatian victors. The press reaction today was joined by Albania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Its spokesperson, Ylber Delanxhi, told Bi-Bi-Si: “This plan is nothing other than a continuation of the chauvinist policy to create a Greater Serbia, as well as a grave provocation against the people of Kosovo. It is a component of the ethnic cleansing begun earlier, aimed at overturning the ethnic structure.” “According to the notorious plan for the co- Bi-Bi-Si’s ‘lonization of Kosovo with Serbs’, prepared by the chauvinist political circles of Belgrade.” The statement by Albania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs further stresses that implementing this colonization plan would further escalate the already grave situation created in Kosovo, and through it appeals to the International Community to pay special attention to this problem so that a second Bosnia does not recur in Kosovo. Precisely to avoid such a situation, the statement says, the government of the Republic of Albania once again emphasizes the necessity of including the Kosovo issue on the agenda of the International Community for the peaceful resolution of the crisis in the former Yugoslavia. Without an acceptable solution to the Kosovo issue, peace and stability in the region cannot be ensured.

The first Albanian peacekeeping company, together with 3,000 troops from the United States, England, Canada and 13 Eastern European partner countries, is continuing the multinational “Cooperative Nugget ’95” exercise. At the opening ceremony of the exercises in Louisiana, USA, a military delegation from Albania was also present, headed by the Chief of the General Staff of the Army, General Sheme Kosova. During the ceremony, the participating troops were greeted by U.S. Secretary of Defense William Perry and the Chairman of NATO’s Military Committee, Field Marshal Riard Vincent. In his speech, Albania’s friend Mr. Perry said, among other things: “I greet above all the others ... Albania...” After the troops’ parade, Mr. Perry met with General Sheme Kosova and the personnel of the Albanian peacekeeping company. At this warm and cordial meeting, as a great friend of Albania, he said: “You Albanians, you must feel very proud at this ceremony. I felt proud of you too. I will write to Minister Zhvali that you ... with dignity to open this first-class multinational exercise, with a high-quality program. I came to Albania last year. I will come again next year...” The Albanian peacekeeping personnel are continuing their training through its various phases, with classroom preparation and practical field training.

Thousands of people from Korçë broke through the police cordon, took to the streets and shouted: Free Fatos Nano - The situation in Korçë was the same as in Pogradec. The Socialist Party branch in this district had asked the local Department of Internal Affairs to approve a protest rally with its members and supporters at the “Tamara Nikolla” Sports Palace. The district leaders, and specifically the chairman of this branch, Pellumb Kofuzi, had initially responded positively to the Socialists’ request, even indicating his commitment to ensuring the event ran smoothly. The sports palace had been booked, as had the sound system, and announcements had even been made through the press and local radio. However, immediately after Berisha’s speech at the Tirana PD meeting, everything took a different turn. Less than 10 hours before the rally was due to begin, a letter from the Department of Internal Affairs arrived at the PS Steering Committee headquarters, cancelling the permission that had been granted. For their part, the authorities began taking a series of measures to implement this order, which had come from the villas of the authorities by the lake in Pogradec. Not only that, but “Katani,” in the letter he signed, revealed himself to be entirely a tool in the hands of Berisha’s authorities, threatening that strict measures would be taken against both the organizers and the participants in the rally. Before the appointed time, large groups of people headed toward the sports palace. The numerous policemen of Berisha, led by Pëllumb Korfuz[i], this [unclear] citizen of the PD, had decided to beat— (Continued on page 3) on 18 August, the question was raised: «Why has the SP returned to rallies? We replied that this is a democratic right of free people: to use such a profoundly democratic means as rallies, with values of

Protest rally in Sarandë On Tuesday afternoon, the “Butrinti” cinema-theater in the city of Sarandë rang with the powerful calls raised at a gathering of PS supporters, Euro-socialists and veterans, who had come together to protest violations of human rights and freedoms, to support the opposition and the PS, and to oppose the unjust imprisonment, as a prisoner of conscience, of PS Chairman Fatos Nano. After the rally was opened by the deputy chairman of the PS in Sarandë, Qirjako Maqiko, the chairman of the city PS, Astrit Llanaj, expressed in his speech, on behalf of Sarandë’s broad Socialist electorate, solidarity with the demands put forward at Tirana’s enthusiastic rally for the release of PS Chairman Fatos Nano. Then the Euro-socialist representative, E. Halimi, a second-year high-school student, took the floor. She strongly expressed the solidarity of Sarandë’s Euro-socialists with the call for Fatos Nano’s release, addressing the President and the government and urging them to ensure the independence of the judicial bodies. With this message, the rally con- (Continued on page 3)

At the meeting of the Executive Board of the Socialist Party of Elbasan on 4 August 1995, and at the expanded meeting organized on 9 August 1995 with members, organization chairs, and local council chairs, the participants analyzed the inflamed political situation currently facing the whole country, and especially the opposition, as a result of the strategy of violence and tension that Berisha’s regime is pursuing at present. At these meetings, indignation was expressed unanimously, not only by members and supporters of the Socialist Party but also, among them, by thousands of honest people, citizens of Elbasan who are experiencing today the undeniable medieval-Byzantine reality that the PD government, gripped by an extremely aggressive delusional psychosis, is turning into a democratic absurdity. The basic requirements of democracy—pluralism, a free-market economy, individual liberty, and respect for individual rights in accordance with international standards—are now being cast aside and trampled underfoot by Berisha’s party-state. The anti-pluralist state now tramples parliamentarians; the political state tramples ... (Continued on page 2)

In its presentation of a statement by this Committee concerning the law adopted by the People’s Assembly on 26 July 1995, published in the 08.09.1995 issue, the newspaper «Rilindja» clearly displayed a bias that is unbecoming of an independent newspaper. First, your newspaper attempts to place the KSHH on the left wing of the political spectrum when it says that this Committee’s reaction came after that of the Socialist Party. The Albanian Helsinki Committee takes this opportunity to emphasize once again that it does not belong to any political grouping, left or right. Its purpose and task are to monitor respect for human-rights standards and the principles of the rule of law, as defined both in domestic legal acts and in international documents. The KSHH is guided solely by these principles and, if its positions happen in some cases to coincide with those of opposition parties, this is because of the opposition role the Committee plays on particular issues of a legal nature. It has played this role in the past, plays it today, and will continue to play it in the future, regardless of which party is in power. Second, no journalist from «Rilindja», contrary to what is claimed, has made any contact with the Committee’s «sources»; therefore, the words attributed to them in this instance are not authentic. Third, the above presentation blatantly distorts the position this Committee took toward Mr. Kurt Kola several months ago. It criticized him not for «his political aims against former communists», as «Rilindja» says, but for his statement that weapons would be used if a legal party such as the Socialist Party came to power. We add that, before criticizing Mr. Kola, the KSHH had previously defended him, calling his placement under house arrest an unlawful measure. One would expect a newspaper such as «Rilindja», which presents itself as independent, to be more accurate and impartial. Respectfully, The Albanian Helsinki Committee. Tirana, 10.08.1995.

Statement by the Gjirokastër Socialist Party In recent days, throughout the district of Gjirokastër, the organizations and governing bodies of the Socialist Party have discussed with concern the tense political situation in the country. At these meetings, many members and supporters expressed indignation and protested against the anti-democratic and unconstitutional actions of the PD and President Berisha. They strongly supported the activities of the PSSH leadership and its insistence on the release of Comrade Fatos Nano. The Socialist Party organizations, whose membership across the districts exceeds a thousand people, along with its entire electorate, feel the weight of severe social wounds on their shoulders. These have been caused primarily by the paralysis of today’s state amid the PD’s governing crisis, the government’s impotence, and Berisha’s political revenge. The electorate of Gjirokastër, like all of Albania, understands clearly that Sali Berisha, de facto leader of the PD, does not spare the opposition and its leadership in the party’s name. The Socialist Party of the Gjirokastër district

Statement by the Executive Board of the Socialist Women’s Forum - The Socialist Women’s Forum of Albania, indignant at the ongoing attacks against opposition and independent women journalists—attacks that in recent days did not spare even one of the youngest and bravest journalists, M-ral Ndinin—feels it its duty to declare: - Retaliatory attacks and pressure against women journalists who dare to point to the wounds of corruption, crime, and governing incompetence are a vestige of the psychology of a totalitarian and dictatorial society. - We cannot remain silent when the organs of power try to encroach upon independent journalism. (Continued on page 3)