ATA News from Albania, 96-08-26

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From: The Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at <http://www.telpress.it/ata>

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CONTENTS

[01] PELLUMBI RESIGNS, SP FINDS NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE BESIDES NANO

[02] TWO LIBYAN CITIZENS DETAINED

[03] NONE KNOWS HOW MANY GROUPINGS ARE INSIDE SP - Ilir Meta

[04] SHKODRA COURT CHANGES CUSTODY FOR ITALIAN SMUGGLERS

[05] TWO ALBANIANS UNDER ARREST FOR STEALING AND ARM TRAFFICKING

[06] ALBANIAN ARMY PLATOON PARTICIPATES IN THIRD PHASE OF OSPREY '96

[07] Albanian Socialist leader, Nano, re-elected =

[08] Prison revolt ends in Athens high-security prison =

[09] Albanian opposition Socialists reach compromise over leadership =

[10] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT WISHES MOTHER TERESA ON HER 86TH BIRTHDAY

[11] Albania's left finally lays Marx to rest

[12] ALBANIAN CARDINAL MIKEL KOLIQI WISHES MOTHER TERESA A QUICK RECOVERY

[13] MEETING OF COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

[14] SERBIAN POLICE INTERROGATES ALBANIAN POLITICAL ACTIVISTS IN GJAKOVA

[15] SUMMER SCHOOL ON FINE ARTS FOR AMATEURS

[16] DEMOCRATIC PARTY SURE IN A LANDSLIDE VICTORY IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS - Meeting of DP activists

[17] SECOND SP CONGRESS PROVED BEFORE ALBANIANS AND THE WORLD THAT ALBANIAN SOCIALIST PARTY CANNOT BE REFORMED - Berisha

[01] PELLUMBI RESIGNS, SP FINDS NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE BESIDES NANO

Pellumbi explained this by saying "Nano has, like Berisha, severely criticised me. My resignation is not for that reason but for the benefit of the party."

The SP leader, Fatos Nano, has criticised Pellumbi for violating the statute of the party and for awkwardness in the party's leadership.

Servet Pellumbi speaking on Nano's report, accused the leader for "exercising his dictate, and demanding for an absolute power in the party and the right of veto."

His resignation was not approved by a number of delegates, whom even declared their disapproval.

But Pellumbi interfered by saying "my resignation is irrevocable" and added that "If Marx was scrapped from the SP programme, a Marxist remained in the party."

Pellumbi first SP deputy chairman, worker of former Institute of Marxist-Leninist Studies has been the main supporter of Marx' ideology in the SP programme, also approved by Nano. A bust of Marx, besides critics, was always present at his office.

Replying to Nano's report, Pellumbi said that "I joined the party not to be dependent. Nano failed to have faith in the party's leading bodies."

The SP deputy chairman Namik Dokle, at the quality of the SP presidency's representative interfered in the middle of noise and proposed to the congress people this presidency thought to be candidates for the party's leading bodies.

"You are not right in doing so," Dokle said to Pellumbi adding that the people love you and this action marks your first mistake.

Even deputy leader Dokle has been one of the persons who has been strongly attacked by Nano just like Pellumbi.

"All the party organisations are led by the pensioners and if Pellumbi leaves the party we all will follow him," a former communist aged 70 said to the guard who did not allow him to enter the hall.

Pellumbi also accused Kastriot Islami, a Socialist member, "for doing the utmost to occupy the post of the general secretary and that the report was not prepared by Nano himself but by Islami's clan. But Islami dismissed this accusation.

Pellumbi also accused Duro Zeneli, former close collaborator of Ramiz Alia, Albania's former president, for writing a letter of Gramoz Ruci, a Socialist member, addressed to the Congress.

After Dokle's intervention Pellumbi did not react creating a dilemma among the delegates whether he resigned or not.

Dokle speaking on behalf of the party board proposed the candidature of Fatos Nano, the present chairman, for the post of new chairman. Nano has still three years to serve of a jail term for embezzlement when he was prime minister.

There were also other candidatures for this post such as that of Kastriot Islami, Ndre Legisi and Maqo Lakrori, all Nano's supporters.

Legisi reacted to this saying that "the congress is not acting rightly and this is a trick." While another delegate said that they are acting as they did five years ago with Namik Dokle and Ramiz Alia.

Luan Hajdaraga and Ilir Meta were proposed as deputy leaders but they rejected the candidature. Thus, the congress decided to have a candidature for the post of chairman who will be elected by a secret vote.

This is contrary to the SP statute which envisages more than two candidates for chairman.

Besides the delegates's proposals, the congress also accepted those of the party leader which included Alia's former ministers for the election of the Steering Committee.

The congress decided that the statute envisages that the general secretary be elected by the Steering Committee and not by the congress. Though 123 delegates urged this be put to the vote again, their proposal was rejected. ksh/fh/ak/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] TWO LIBYAN CITIZENS DETAINED

This happened on August 18, when they were entering Republic of Albania, said spokesman of the Interior Ministry.

The two detainees pretend their visas were taken from the Albanian Embassy in Bulgaria.ssh/eva/mt/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] NONE KNOWS HOW MANY GROUPINGS ARE INSIDE SP - Ilir Meta

"It is not known how many groupings exist inside the SP. I consider a danger their creation in the party. It is difficult for the SP to come out of the present situation. SP is in a deep political crisis which may send it offside the political game" said Meta.

He contradicted, in his discussion, the SP leader Fatos Nano, for the critics he had directed to the party's presidency and to Meta personally for insufficiency in foreign policy.

"Great efforts have been taken to introduce the SP in the world, as it came from the PLA and had a bad image in the world" said Meta.

Meta tried to attack Nano by responding to the accusations.

"Nano believes the words of others and what he has expressed on the press do not belong to the presidency. The congress lowered itself in a very ordinary level, and responsibility for this falls to the leader. The congress has fallen down on reaching its aim in reformation" said Meta.

He reminded Nano of his actions while in the post of the SP chief of foreign policy before Meta took it.

"There is a scandalous request for acceptance into the Socialist International but we are at the end of the list because confidence is needed for it. We had relations only with PASOK, Bulgarian and Hungarian Socialist Parties, while today we have contacts with the European SP, with German and Austrian SDP, and that because we have an inheritance we should accept" said Meta.

He added that "the Socialists from the former PLA, who did not attain posts as collaborators of the communist regime are trying to control the SP."

Figures of the SP deputy chairman Servet Pellumbi show that 75 per cent of the SP are former members of the PLA.

Inner SP sources said "delegates are divided, pro and against Nano. Congress was reduced into a fight for power which hindered efforts for reformation in the SP." eva/fh/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] SHKODRA COURT CHANGES CUSTODY FOR ITALIAN SMUGGLERS

The court also decided that they be present three times daily at the judicial police and be not allowed to leave Albania for a year.

Pascalo Luco and Kosino Angeli from Napoli and Mario Martini from Brindissi, have been put into custody three weeks ago by the police forces of the Shkodra Commissariat for smuggling 105 packages of cigarettes via the border in the Pulaj village in Velipoja. am/kei/ak/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] TWO ALBANIANS UNDER ARREST FOR STEALING AND ARM TRAFFICKING

The police intercepted them with seven pistols and some jewellery stolen in Greece, while passing the border crossing point of Kakavija.

Court of the Gjirokastra district arrested and charged them with stealing and arm trafficking. s.sh/eva/mt/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] ALBANIAN ARMY PLATOON PARTICIPATES IN THIRD PHASE OF OSPREY '96

All the troops passed the night in the PENSACOLA warship. They were transported to the warships by different military means such as AAV amphibious, small warships and LCAC pneumatic boats.

They returned to shore by the same means but this time they changed them. The Albanian platoon which was transported to the warship by a small military boat was now airlifted to the shore.

Each platoon has to face an unknown situation.

The Albanian one should defend the supply warehouse for civilians. It "should supply" food to "hungry persons" who are being seriously represented by the U.S. troops in civil uniform. It is also charged to help civilians who need medical help.

The Romanian platoon guards the entrance to the area by creating a check point with improvised means and is charged to stop any "suspected" and control the bags of "civilians" to prevent them from bringing arms and military materials in the zone. Polish and Lithuanian platoons are the reservists which will intervene in case of emergencies.

A "civilian revolt" broke out in the afternoon not far from the area defended by the Albanian platoon. The Polish and Lithuanian troops were transported to the area by AAV tanks to face the situation.

The exercise is being seriously conducted under the burning sun some ten metres from the forest.

The Albanian platoon will continue military drills in the area 2. am/eva/ak/E

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] Albanian Socialist leader, Nano, re-elected =

Nano is serving a 12-year prison term for misappropriation of government funds while he was prime minister in 1991. He is scheduled to be released from prison in August 1997 as a result of a series of amnesties and penal reforms.

At the end of its two-day congress, the party also approved major changes aimed at ending its communist legacy.

Marxist terminology was dropped from the party documents, and, for the first time since it was founded in June 1991, the Socialists condemned tthe communist dictator, Enver Hoxha, and his successor, Ramiz Alia.

The congress emphasized the Socialists' commitment to market economy reforms and Albania's eventual integration into the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the European Union.

However, a fierce power struggle overshadowed reforms adopted at the congress and one of the party's four vice chairmen, Servet Pellumbi, resigned.

Party sources said that Nano had succeeded in placing the party under his firm control.

The congress approved a resolution that described Nano as a political prisoner and called for his immediate release from prison. dpa ac wp 252224 GMT Aug 96 nnnn

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] Prison revolt ends in Athens high-security prison =

The mutiny broke out Sunday evening in the youth wing of the prison when about 30 Greek, Albanian and Romanian inmates overpowered warders and took one hostage. Negotiations with the prison management and prosecution authorities followed during the night.

Radio reports said the mutineers released inmates from cells in other parts of the prison during the night. The inmates reportedly took control of the pharmacy, the sick bay and the kitchen, supplying themselves with large knives and anaesthetic drugs in the process.

A major force of police surrounded the prison complex, with several squads entering the jail but avoiding clashes with the prisoners so as not to endanger the negotiations.

Several people were killed in a similar revolt at the same facility last November. At the time, inmates were protesting against poor prison conditions, including overcrowding. They returned to their cells after the Greek justice minister promised that conditions would improve. dpa jbp 260559 GMT Aug 96 nnnn

Athens (dpa) - A prison revolt at the Korydallos high-security detention centre in the Greek capital Athens appeared to have ended Monday, with the mutineers releasing their hostage, a jail warder, and returning to their cells, morning radio reports said.

The mutiny broke out Sunday evening in the youth wing of the prison when about 30 Greek, Albanian and Romanian inmates overpowered warders and took one hostage. Negotiations with the prison management and prosecution authorities followed during the night.

Radio reports said the mutineers released inmates from cells in other parts of the prison during the night. The inmates reportedly took control of the pharmacy, the sick bay and the kitchen, supplying themselves with large knives and anaesthetic drugs in the process.

A major force of police surrounded the prison complex, with several squads entering the jail but avoiding clashes with the prisoners so as not to endanger the negotiations.

Several people were killed in a similar revolt at the same facility last November. At the time, inmates were protesting against poor prison conditions, including overcrowding. They returned to their cells after the Greek justice minister promised that conditions would improve. dpa jbp 260559 GMT Aug 96 nnnn

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Albanian opposition Socialists reach compromise over leadership =

The rivalry between reformist party leader Fatos Nano on the one hand and his four deputies on the other overshadowed the congress of the SP, which emerged from the former ruling communists.

Nano, who is still serving a prison term after being sentenced in 1991 for misappropriating state funds, was confirmed as party leader.

Vice party chairman Servet Pellumbi, who represented Nano during the latter's detention and who was regarded as leader of the SP's dogmatic faction, resigned and said he would be a simple party member in what was seen as a victory for Nano.

The other three vice chairmen, Luan Hajdaraga, Namik Dokle and Ilir Meta - the latter also heads the party's youth wing, FRESH - , were all elected to the party's 101-member steering council.

In a statement from prison read to the congress, Nano had heavily criticized his deputies accusing them of "Stalinist practices".

The steering council is to elect a secretary general and two secretaries in the next few days.

The congress was seen by analysts as a victory for Nano's conservatives. Some of his ex-ministers in the communist government, which he headed in the spring of 1991, are included in the new steering council.

The power struggle overshadowed reforms in the party programme and statute. The delegates approved unanimously and through a quick procedure resolutions denouncing the philosophy of Marx, the communist dictator Enver Hoxha and his heir, Ramiz Alia.

The new programme also expressed the Socialists' firm commitment to market- economy reforms and to Albania's integration into NATO and the European Union.

"The congress was an important event for marking our departure from the communist past," the SP spokesman, Jonuz Begaj, told the German Press Agency dpa on Monday.

He denied reports about serious divisions in the party following the congress. But a former SP vice chairman, Ilir Meta, said the Socialists were facing their gravest political crisis since they founded their party in June 1991.

Meta also warned about a splitting up of the SP and said Nano would be to blame.

The SP in 1991 emerged from the communist Party of Labour which ruled Albania with an iron hand for almost half a century.

Nano and the group around the vice chairmen had submitted two separate lists of candidates for the steering council. The voting was made for a long list with names from the two rival lists, with the delegates crossing out undesired candidates.

But party sources told dpa that they were investigating the voting protocols on Monday following suspicions of manipulations.

They said that the SP information director, Kastriot Islami, one of Nano's strongest supporters, had not won enough votes, but had later been included in the final approved lists. They spoke about a chaotic situation in the voting procedures. dpa ac ba 261300 GMT Aug 96 nnnn

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT WISHES MOTHER TERESA ON HER 86TH BIRTHDAY

All Albanians today are celebrating and your birthday and are grateful and proud to your noble deed. With love for the God they pray and wish you a quick recovery to continue your human and divine mission. ssh/kled/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Albania's left finally lays Marx to rest

TIRANA, Aug 26 (Reuter) - Albania's Socialist Party, the successors to communists, dumped Marxist doctrine and officially condemned the former Stalinist dictatorship in the biggest push for reform since the fall of communism in 1990.

About 600 delegates ended a two-day congress by voting unanimously on Sunday to back sweeping changes to a party once regarded as the most hardline among Eastern Europe's communist states.

"We have dropped from our previous programme all references to Marxist philosophy as a theoretical source of the Socialist Party," said Ermelinda Meksi, a senior official of Albania's main opposition party.

In an historic step, the congress backed a proposal which officially condemned the 45-year communist regime of Stalinist leader Enver Hoxha for denying democratic values and human rights and for carrying out political persecutions.

"We propose the decisive and irrevocable detachment from the dictatorial regime of Enver Hoxha and its continuity under (last communist president) Ramiz Alia," Meksi said, reading out a recommendation later backed by delegates in a vote.

The congress, shifting direction to a more Social Democratic vision, agreed that party reform was needed to keep in step with the social and economic changes in the Balkan state.

Meksi said the party would help to stimulate the private sector, support legitimate private business and back private ownership of land.

Delegates also voted to retain jailed Socialist leader Fatos Nano as party chairman and issued a fresh appeal for his release. Nano has three years left to serve of a prison sentence imposed for embezzlement.

Nano, in an address read to delegates on Saturday, urged members to reform the party and criticised the current leadership for resisting change.

Acting leader Servet Pellumbi resigned despite calls from the congress floor for him to stay. "I cannot remain any longer because my concept for building the party differs greatly from those of the chairman (Nano)," he said.

Many in the party praised Pellumbi leading its campaign in disputed general elections in May, boycotted by most opposition parties which accused the ruling Democrats of President Sali Berisha of rigging the poll.

The congress said the Socialists should maintain their stand against taking up the handful of parliamentary seats they won in the election.

Most opposition parties have also threatened to boycott local polls on October 20, arguing that an electoral commission set up by Berisha is biased in favour of the ruling party.

The United States urged the Democrats on Friday to give a bigger role to the opposition parties in preparing for the elections, to adopt a new constitution and to hold fresh general elections at the earliest opportunity.

Despite the show of party unity, some Socialist delegates were critical of Nano, accusing him of being out of touch in an isolated prison in the southern town of Tepelena.

One senior Socialist said that although Nano had attacked the current leadership for resisting change, he had also urged the congress to nominate officials who had served under the last communist regime to a top policy- making body.

REUTER

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] ALBANIAN CARDINAL MIKEL KOLIQI WISHES MOTHER TERESA A QUICK RECOVERY

"I wish and prey together with all Albanians for your quick recovery and return to your benevolent work in the devoted service to ll the needy of the world," says the message.

The Albanians, as your compatriots, are proud of your precious deed which has now turned into part of their national pride, the message says. kled/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] MEETING OF COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

The meeting approved some changes to the law "On the documentation and accounts on levies." The draft aims to solve the problems emerging when the law "On the value-added tax" is not executed.

In order to stabilize the situation in the drinking water system in Bajram Curri town, the Council of Ministers authorized the Public Service, Territorial Adjustments and Tourism Ministry, to provide directly the necessary funds to repair the aqueduct.

A group of decisions adopted in today's meeting is related with questions of secondary and higher education. Hence, permission for private educational institutions was adopted. The Ministry of Education and Sports will control the laic educational process and the execution of laws in the educational field.

Teaching in the Greek language for the Greek minority pupils in the secondary schools of Dervician, Bularat, Aliko and Livadhja, will be extended to the second classes as well. Also approved were 101 scholarships for the Higher Nurses School in Tirana for the 1966-1967 school year. A project for the administration of the Lake Ohrid was also approved in principle. The project will be financed by the World Bank and the Global Environment Facility (GEF.) The investment is estimated at 4 million USD. In regard to this project, a Memorandum of Understanding between the Albanian and Macedonian parties was also approved.

The Council of Ministers approved an agreement of the Japanese grant between Albania and the International Development Association as an administrator of the funds granted by Japan for the preparation of the second project of the transport for the amount of 500 thousand USD. am/eva/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] SERBIAN POLICE INTERROGATES ALBANIAN POLITICAL ACTIVISTS IN GJAKOVA

The Commission for Information of the Branch of the Democratic League of Kosova (DLK) reported Sunday that four Albanian activists were interrogated by police.

For the third time this week, Serbian police bodies have summoned "in informative talks" the member of the DLK branch Presidency in Gjakova, Mark Malota and the director of the 8th form school in Lipovec village, Mate Berisha.

They have been questioned in details about the political organization and activity of the DLK and the Albanian school. pta/kled/xh/SH/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] SUMMER SCHOOL ON FINE ARTS FOR AMATEURS

"Albanian and foreign lecturers will deliver lectures on contemporary art and culture and the attendance will be free," said the chief of the cultural sector Buron Kaceli. kled/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] DEMOCRATIC PARTY SURE IN A LANDSLIDE VICTORY IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS - Meeting of DP activists

Taking the floor in the meeting, DP chairman Tritan Shehu focused on the great experience won from the May 26 elections and the efficient and successful work made during the campaign for the parliamentary elections.

Further on Mr Shehu said that "the political developments after May 26, 1996 have confirmed completely what we have said for the Albanian political life, they have manifested the efficient strength and support for the Democratic Party. It has also brought to the fore the mentality, the completely denying and destabilizing objective and profound isolation in which the Socialist Party and the entire red front is experiencing today. The theory and practice of boycotting is a continuation of a totally nihilistic and destructive policy which they constructed for four successive years. But this month they showed that the Albanians are leaving them increasingly in oblivion, because the road of political struggle they chose was that of oblivion.

We are convinced, said Shehu further on, that after local elections, despite the fact that the red Front may or not take part, the new local government to be elected will be more professional and it will reflect a higher stage of its development. Albania and democracy will carry out a new positive leap. They will never be pawns of permanent boycott of the Marxist type.

Aleksander Meksi, Prime Minister, also took the floor in the meeting. He pointed out that the elections to the local government are the most important action after May 26 parliamentary elections. He said that the government is totally committed to the local elections and is parallely working for the local finances so that the local government has more competencies and possibilities to act and play the role it should have in a democratic system.

The DP organizational secretary Ylli Vejsiu laid the stress on the preparation and organization of the working groups according to the experience gained from the May 26 elections. Vejsiu also pointed out that candidates for the local government elections are being selected. These questions were also analysed from another aspect Ferdinand Xhaferri, DP political secreary, who concentrated on the preparations underway by the working groups.

Mr Azem Hajdari stressed the fact that during the past four years, the local government prevented the realisation of the economic reform because it had the influence of the Socialist Party. Mr Hajdari also said that the SP boycott policy was an anti-constitutional stand.

DP Secretary General Besnik Gjongecaj said that the SP initiative for reformation was not realised in its second congress, and expressed the conviction for another landslide DP victory in the local government elections. Afrim Krasniqi spoke in the name of the DP Youth Forum underlining the role of the youth during the electoral campaign of May 26 elections.

The speaker of Parliament, Pjeter Arbnori, said that SP could not be reformed despite the demagogy and slogans by its chieftains.

At the end of discussions, President Berisha took the floor.

He said that this meeting was convened "in the context of the DP commitment for the most important developments before us, the revival on October 20 through free elections for the local government. DP comes to this event as the most powerful, most successful, and reliable force of Albania, and consequently with greater and all-sided responsibilities for the electoral process. It is resolute in this extremely serious battle, honest and sure in a profound victory. But the security and the convictions are and should always be the premises for what we shall attain.

The basis of our success stands and should stand first of all on the selection of most capable individuals, the most devoted to lead and govern in our cities and villages. Secondly, it stands on a national and local program which will broadlt reflect the interests of the electors in the city and countryside and on national scale in general. Thirdly, it stands in our intensive work to explain our goals asking the vote of Albanian voters.

Presently, youths in all DP leading forums and in the main forums and institutions of the country consists about 34 per cent of all the seats whereas women about 25 per cent," said Berisha. The involvement of the youths in the local government should be one of our priorities. This commitment makes more vital the local government but on the other hand this is also a valuable political school for the coming Albanian politicians. The youth forum should select the best individuals for candidacy in the local government elections.

I think that this forum is facing another important task at present, to find all proper forms to draw into its ranks all the members disillusioned by the Eurosocialist Forum. When I say this, said Berisha, I do not intend to prejudge the Eurosocialist Forum. But the youths of this forum have been during the past two months an object of real ideological aggression by Enver's advocates in the ranks of the party of Labour of Albania now with another name and feel now completely neglected and disillusioned. They have greatly abandoned the SP conferences being convinced that the newly named party of labour cannot be renovated, that the so-called renovation was simply a struggle between clans.

The youth toppled the dictatorship, they are the promoters of reforms. The Democratic Party was founded by youths and this will remain their party for ever. Also important is that the local government should also consist of more capable girls and women. kled/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] SECOND SP CONGRESS PROVED BEFORE ALBANIANS AND THE WORLD THAT ALBANIAN SOCIALIST PARTY CANNOT BE REFORMED - Berisha

This clique consists of groups of Albanian secret police which exerted terror on Albania and which for the interests of clans and personal interests have pledged to completely destroy the Albanian left wing. In its yesterday's congress, as it was expected, said Berisha, the place of the reformers was taken by former ministers of Ramiz Alia, hardened collaborators of the State Sigurimi, those who in the last communist dictatorship of Albania organized the putsch in the Officers United School, the Shkodra massacre and the plundering in the country's cities, those who stole the food articles, the drugs for the sick and starving people, who closed the universities and who pledged for killings in the name of the state and who called for blood, sluggishness in the parliament, those who sought to plunge the country into a civil war, who described the Shkodra martyrs and the courageous people who broke the Berlin wall in Tirana as hooligans.

This clique, said Berisha further on, which in order to escape trials for the ugly crimes it has carried out, has isolated SP from all the world. Due to this, SP of Albania found itself in the last congress as the most isolated political force of the globe, the most isolated in the PLA history. The congress of clans had only one message of greetings from foreign representatives which in no case was a greeting for SP, said Berisha pointing out that never before a left wing party in Europe and in the world has convened in such loneliness. It showed itself for the past two days before Europe and the world as a stalinist party demanding power. The SP drama is total and without any hope.

Totally manipulated by most anti-Albanian elements, involved in secret and anti-national agreements, the PLA under a new name, is a relic of shame of our national history, said Berisha.

The Albanian Socialist party is today more Enverist than never in the past five years. It represents at present the most discrete political force in Albania and in Europe. It is the last detachment of stalinists in Europe. These adventurers imagine Albania to be Bosnia, they call for bloody clashes. They have no future. They convened to denounce Stalin and Servet, they condemned Enver and elected his son, they denounced Ramiz and brought in the lead his ministers and denounced the euro-socialists.

Victims of the latest Stalinist processes of this party were the euro- socialist youths and genuine socialdemocrats in it, said Berisha. He added that the PLA today more than ever boasts of its age. It started the campaign of reformation, it divided into clans as an aged party and closed the campaign as an old party.

In this situation, the DP responsibility for the development and consolidation of democracy becomes ever greater. It is resolute to guarantee an electoral process which will ensure free and fair elections. We tell those who want to use dictate, boycott in order to undermine this process, knowing that a profound defeat lays in store for them, that they are failing and have no future, " said President Berisha. kled/xh/ From the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at http://www.telpress.it/ata

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