Premier Berisha celebrates together with the citizens the fall of communism 20 years ago.
Berisha: February 20 is the day of triumph of human freedom and dignity over the cruel oppression and the undeserved humiliation; it’s the triumph of hope and trust over the deep despair, the bitter past, the greatest evil that the Albanians have known throughout their national history.
Tirana, February 21, 2011 NOA - Prime Minister Sali Berisha attended today the big outdoor concert organized on occasion of the 20-th anniversary of the overthrow of the totalitarian regime, the symbol of which would be the toppling of Hoxha statue on February 20, 1991 by Tirana citizens.
PM Berisha addressed hundreds and thousands of supporters gathered at “Mother Teresa” square:
We are gathered here to celebrate one of the most important events of the history of freedom and dignity of the Albanians citizens, the February 20-th, the day when the toppling of Hoxha statue would mark the fall of dictatorship as well as the national day of remembrance of the martyrs and victims of the communist brutal regime.
Merry Feb. 20, the day of courage, bravery and freedom!
All the Albanians celebrate the Day as they see on February 20, the day of triumph of human freedom and dignity over the cruel oppression and the undeserved humiliation; they see the triumph of hope and trust over the deep despair, the bitter past, and the greatest evil that the Albanians have known throughout their national history.
20 years ago, the liberator students of Tirana University would go on hunger strike quite determined for removal of the name of dictator Enver Hoxha from the university in which they used to study. All Tirana and Albania people would come out in their support.
The people of 1991 who toppled the statue of the dictator mark the day of their freedom, triumph, courage and bravery over the terror and the cruelest dictatorship that Europe has ever known.
The toppling of the dictator’s monument was their lifetime decision by which they made themselves free as the Democratic Party then in opposition would get transformed into one of the most powerful anti-communist forces in Europe.
We honor today the people of Tirana and all Albania who on February 20 toppled dictatorial regime, the statue of Enver Hoxha, the Hitler of the Albanians.
There are millions among present-day fortunate youth who have not gone through that day, who have now known the enslaving communist regime. But, still we are the most fortunate together with our generation of freedom.
On behalf of human virtues, values and the sacrifices of the nation, I call on the Albanians to mark this Day and never forget that our freedom pushed away the obscurity, isolation, poverty, oppression, persecution, concentration camps, genocide and crimes against humanity- several times tougher as compared to all the communist cliques taken together- that was where the barbarous regime had plunged Albania.
This will remain the day of remembrance of the victims of communism.
In the then-Albania of Enver Hoxha, at its class struggle guillotine, hundreds of innocent people lost their lives only because they dared to pray to God and wanted to live like free people in the free Albania. They wanted to sing the song of freedom in a country where trust in God, the human rights and the Western vocation of the Albanian citizen were sentenced to death. The paranoiac dictator with his policy of total collectivization and follow-up hunger and sufferings took the lives of hundreds and thousands of people.
Thus, now let us observe a minute of silence in memory of the victims of communism.
The toppling of the statue would mark the de facto fall of the Hoxha dictatorship. But, although in its last breath, the regime in those February days executed without trial tens of youth. But the terror of Alia- Ruçi clique in 1991 could not fade the flowers of February 20, hope and the warm wind of freedom would melt the frost of terror from the hearts and minds of the Albanians.
We are the people determined not to allow the past being back to hamper the future. The ones who made an attempt failed and we advise them never to try again.
We passed through difficult times over these 20 years. Hoxha dictatorship had destroyed Albania more than any war could do or other disaster.
On February 20, 1991 we were the most oppressed and the poorest nation in Europe and we were among two to three most oppressed and poorest in the world. The nation has also a history of long occupations, partitions, racisms and dictatorships. In the 90-ies we used to be the country of banned freedoms and rights and also the country where although the Berlin Wall had fallen still used to drag along the streets tens of youth in search of freedom.
Hence, we should celebrate on this day. No other nation has progressed faster than the Albanians on the way of freedom over the last two decades. Today we are the country of human rights and freedoms guaranteed by Constitution, the freedom of religion belief and tolerance, the freedom of thinking and expression. Today we are the country of free vote, free elections, the rule of law and a functioning democracy. The democratic system, the system of the best human values is the greatest deed of our life.
Like 20 years ago when the communist fathers used to speak on behalf of the people, today their sons do the same. But, they never got to understand that the Albanian people have never spoken through their voice while the free people always speak by their own voice.
On January 21, 2011 the sons of the topped communist fathers on February 20, 1991 would be the only ones in the post-war Europe who attempted by stones, sticks, fire and explosives to overthrow the legitimate government of Albania, but failed. Thus, January 21 drew once again the lesson that the free vote of the citizens is stronger than any stone, stick or any weapon.
I say to the sons of the communist fathers that they will never take power by force as freedom is our passion.
Following the demise of the Berlin Wall in Tirana and opening of the gates of freedom for the Albanians, today we feel proud and have great trust in freedom and its strength.
Also our freedom reflects the strength of the Constitution and the institutions of this country. We shall eternally remain people of the free world. The Albanians will always vote in free and fair elections with us. May 8 is our new challenge and it will be a day of celebration of the free vote.
20 years ago we did away with the alive busts, the statue of the tyrant, the total isolation of the country and by sweeping reforms we succeeded to make Albania a NATO member, the most powerful Alliance of freedom of all times.
Thus, the centuries old dream of the Albanians to live their future in a secure way, to live in peace and free became a reality. We didn’t get discouraged by the anti-NATO resolutions of the former Party of Labor under a new name or by the anti-NATO rallies of the followers of the communist regime. It was the major promise of ours and so “Albania a NATO member is actually a deed of our trust in freedom.
The same like their fathers used to label the NATO member countries as imperialists, their sons label at present your government as fascist and which needs to be toppled.
Thus, we tell from this platform to the descendants of the communist leadership not to attempt again what they did on January 21 because a legitimate government and the Constitutional order of a NATO member country cannot be toppled by force. The constitutional institutions of a free country are the towers of freedom. Poor them who dare touch the institutions.
20 years ago Albania used to be the country of clones, barbed wires and banned movement. Today, we managed to realize your finest dream, i.e. the visa-free travel all over Europe.
Also 20 years ago, the sons of the communist father who executed youth on the borders, last year launched a campaign of shame conditioning your visa-free travel with their ballot boxes of shame, but they failed. Today, you can travel freely and we delivered to another great promise.
20 years ago Albania used to be the third poorest country in the world with an average salary of 5 up to 7 USD per month. Today the Albanians have an average salary of 500 USD. Present-day Albania is ranked the 87-th best place to live. 20 years ago Albania had an almost primitive infrastructure, but at present it’s building one of the most modern road networks in Europe. Some years ago the country knew no Internet or high technology, but today it has reached the European average in the digital age. A few years ago the country didn’t exist on the map of world tourism, but this current year it was defined like the main tourist destination in the world.
Let us ask the descendants of the communist leadership: on whose behalf they were blowing the trumpets in the Parliament when the country was signing the stabilization-association agreement, or on whose behalf they staged rallies to hamper the NATO membership or on whose behalf they were slandering to hamper the building of the corridor of the nation, the visa-free travel for the Albanians and recently stormed the Council of Ministers building and attempted to take power by force?
I believe it is crystal clear to every Albanian that irrespective of the political belonging, all these stands run counter to the vital interests of the common people. They serve only to their own interests, the communist-mafia clones.
Let everybody share with the message of freedom of February 20. Let us unite into our unwavering trust in the European-like future for Albania and let us build together the magnificent edifice of the European-like Albania.
Our strength stands in our trust in God, freedom and mutual trust.
Our march toward Europe cannot halt. Our time of freedom cannot stop as it beats in accordance with the beating of our hearts.”
