Berisha: For Albanians, December 8, 1990, Is the Birthday of Their Freedoms

Albanian opposition leader Sali Berisha declared during a gathering at the Student City that "for Albanians in Albania, December 8, 1990, is the birthday of their freedoms."

Addressing the crowd, Berisha said: "Dear friends, gathered here to honor one of the most significant dates in the history of Albanian national freedom, December 8, 1990…"

He extended heartfelt greetings and deep gratitude to the December 1990 protesters, wherever they may be today and whatever they may be doing, for the extraordinary role they played in shaping the history of Albanian liberty.

"Dear members of parliament present, dear citizens everywhere, warm greetings to you all," Berisha continued.

He recalled that 35 years ago, on December 8, 1990, students from the University of Tirana and other higher education institutions, led by the "tribune of freedom," Azem Hajdari, launched protests that ignited a democratic revolution. In just three days, the movement swept across the country like a hurricane, bringing an era to an end and establishing political pluralism in what had been one of the world's most monolithic states.

"For Albanians across the nation, December 8 is celebrated as the most important date in the history of their freedom since independence," Berisha said.

On that day, the liberating students, referred to by some as "the angels of democracy," the most oppressed people in Europe, rose up to overthrow the harshest communist dictatorship of the time.

The students of December 1990 were tireless and undefeated pioneers of a monumental transformation in their nation's history. From their very first protests, they declared the motto of their revolution: freedom and democracy, Albania as part of Europe.

"Azem Hajdari, the tribune of freedom, and the December students were the true heroes," Berisha emphasized.

He stressed that they were heroes among heroes because they took to the streets of Tirana entirely on their own, abandoned by their fellow citizens, abandoned by Europe, completely alone.

Despite doubts in Europe following the failed peaceful uprising of July 2, the students dared to confront the most repressive communist regime, a regime that was still killing and executing their peers at the border, even dragging the bodies of young people through the streets of Saranda, Shkodër, Gjirokastër, and Korçë to frighten anyone who might rise up.

The December students prevailed because their only weapon was courage. The democratic revolution that began on December 8 rapidly became the most powerful peaceful movement in Albania's history. Within 72 hours, supported by the intellectuals and citizens of Tirana, it triumphed over the communist regime, forced it to accept political pluralism, and paved the way for the creation of the first post-war opposition party, the Democratic Party of Albania.

https://www.syri.net/politike/845499/berisha-per-shqiptaret-ne-shqiperi-8-dhjetori-i-vitit-1990-eshte-ditelindja-e-lirive-te-tyre/