The Korçë branch of the Republican Party, as an opposition party allied with the Social Democratic Party, fought and worked as an opposition ally to establish democracy in our country, struggling to overthrow the communist system in Albania once and for all. After the March 22 elections, when the opposition parties became a leading force in establishing democracy and developing economic reform, the Korçë branch of the Republican Party worked for a constructive alliance in the economy and in establishing pluralist government. Until the law reforming local government was issued, representatives of the Korçë RP branch were active members of the district Pluralist Executive Committee, with two committee members and two section chiefs. During their work, the district Pluralist Executive Committee provided no information about the quality of the duties assigned to our representatives by the Committee. Immediately after the law was issued, one of the Committee members was removed from the reformed Committee, as were the two sections that the RP had overseen at this institution, with no evaluation of their work, but simply on the basis of the percentage of the electorate. If the people representing the RP on the Committee were not devoted to their work, the branch should have been notified so that it could replace them. This did not happen. We believe the reason was simply to keep representatives of our Party off the reformed Committee, thereby violating one of the fundamental norms of democracy. In this way, this governing institution became simply a one-party institution of the DP. To make it appear justified, the DP took only two representatives from the Korçë branch of the SDP. We consider this decision, by which the allied parties of the DP were eliminated from this broad democratic development, to be inappropriate and contrary to democratic norms. Therefore: We are withdrawing from the district Pluralist Executive Committee our sole remaining representative, Committee member PANDI PAPANDO, thereby giving the DP the opportunity to govern as the only force in our district. We are making this statement to clarify matters for public opinion in the Korçë district, which should understand us correctly: we will continue to fight in the future to resolve its vital problems. Even this body, elected on March 22, 1992, has still not adopted a constitution. It is a known fact that the People’s Assembly elected on March 31, 1991, through Law No. 7491, dated 29, 4. 1991, “On the Main Provisions of the Constitution,” repealed the 1976 Constitution. Later, the People’s Assembly elected on March 22, 1992, which continues to exercise its functions as the highest legislative body and the highest organ of state power, made several additions to this law during this period. Point 2 of Article 16 of the law “On the Main Provisions of the Constitution,” which concerns the duties of the People’s Assembly, states: “It adopts and amends the constitution and makes the final decision on the compatibility of laws with the constitution.” Yet if the situation is as stated, where is this constitution with which the laws enacted by the People’s Assembly must comply? The law “On the Main Provisions of the Constitution” and the additions made to it have neither displaced nor can they displace... neither displaced nor can they displace... We are making this statement to clarify matters for the people of the Korçë district, who the future to resolve its vital problems. neither displaced nor can they displace...

A few days ago, we saw on television the chairman of the Constitutional Court and the members of that court take their oath before the President. Among other things, the chairman said in his oath: “...we will defend the Constitution of the Republic of Albania...” Likewise, among other things, the President of the Republic wished them “...to defend the Constitution of the Republic of Albania...” and so on. I do not understand which Constitution the gentlemen of the Constitutional Court and the President are talking about. As we speak about this matter, neither the People’s Assembly elected on March 31, 1991, nor the one elected on March 22, 1992, has yet elected on March 22, 1992 ... The role of a constitution, which is the fundamental law of a state, is to enshrine its basic principles and all branches of law. Put more simply, a constitution sets out the fundamental principles on which civil law, labour law, criminal law, administrative law, and all branches of law—in other words, the entire body of legislation—must be based. It is an indisputable legal principle that every law approved by the People’s Assembly must be enacted on the basis of, and in implementation of, the constitution. If a law conflicts with any constitutional provision, in legal terminology that law is null and void (0), meaning it is not applied. Thus, the Civil Code, the Criminal Code, the Labour Code, the Family Code and other laws must necessarily be based on the provisions of the constitution. Does the law “On the Main Provisions ...” meet this basic criterion for legislation in Albania? Recently in Italy, I had the opportunity to meet powerful industrialists, major landowners, owners of coastal and mountain tourist areas, wholesale traders and food producers, managers of transport companies, and even representatives of the European Community. But what did they say and ask for? Guarantees for their investments. To that end, they want public order, law and order, and peace and quiet to be established. They want clear and serious laws that do not change every time governments change. The laws should protect and guarantee both our investments and foreign ones. The sale of land. They cite their own assets as an example and ask for the most favourable conditions possible. Someone wishing to buy 10 or 20 hectares should be able to buy as much as the project requires, while someone seeking land for production could buy a larger area, but no more than 500 to 1,000 hectares. The sale price of land should depend on supply and demand, as well as the land’s intended use. Creating favourable conditions. A foreign investor does not have time to waste. Those receiving them must be prepared with all the information needed to determine whether an investment is worthwhile. Above all, the bodies that approve investments must be efficient and quick, so that the process can be completed as soon as possible. We must consider taxes that are fa- FATMIR TURKESHl (Continued on page 2)

It is a fact that the Government has continuously worked to secure foreign aid and loans. But is that enough? With these funds, the technology we have, and the lack of development of specialist staff, we cannot reach where we want to be. It is precisely in this situation that the Government is showing sluggishness in the privatization process and in creating favourable conditions for foreign capital. To achieve results in this area, we must understand the interests of foreign businesspeople and their demands, so that the most favourable conditions possible can be created for them. wholesale traders and food producers, mana- Hungary, which has made significant progress by legalizing sales, or Tunisia, which gave land without compensation to Italian capital, which invested in that country and gave its economic development a major boost. Finally, they talk about Italy itself, where after the Second World War the Americans bought a great deal of land, built and produced, made profits and later left, after selling the land they had bought there. What did Italy lose from this? Nothing but gain in development, progress and prosperity. Land should be sold, but according to certain criteria. A businessperson seeking to build a factory would buy 10 or 20 hectares, than 500 to 1,000 hectares. The sale price of the land should be ...

Yesterday, US Under Secretary of State Lorenc Igëllberger arrived on an official visit, at the head of a delegation that includes Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Xhon Robson; Robert Beri, special adviser to the Under Secretary of State for aid to Eastern Europe; M. Rasell, adviser at the US Information Agency; Dr. Karol Edelman, assistant administrator for Europe; and an assistant adviser to the agencies coordinating aid for Eastern and Central Europe. At Rinas Airport, the American delegation led by Mr Lorenc Igëllberger was received by Foreign Minister Aleksandër Sereqi, Minister of Finance and Economy Genc Ruli, and other dignitaries. The extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of the United States to the Republic of Albania, Uilljam Raierson, was also there.

On May 25, 1992, the conference of the RP branch was held in Shijak. Attendance was good. A report was presented on the branch’s activities over the past year, and the election campaign period in particular was reviewed. People spoke, expressing their views sincerely about the election results and the future of the RP, and the role it should play in the situation we are going through. It was discussed that there should have been closer contact with the Shijak branch from the outset; the newspaper should have played a greater role during the campaign; and, generally, the organization should have been better. Speakers emphasized the role the RP should play in the current situation and the work that needs to be done to prepare for local government elections. They also discussed how Committee members should act in the circumstances in which they find themselves, so that the RP can have members who are genuinely members of the RP. The issue of ... was also raised [partly illegible] The conference also noted concern that RP members were not participating in local government. At the end, elections were held for the Steering Council, with Mr Nazmi Balla as chair. By secret ballot, the Council elected the Steering Committee, with Mr Haki Baçi as chair and Mr Qemal Preza as secretary. Tamara Luarasi participated in the conference on behalf of the RP Steering Committee. On May 26, the first conference of the Republican Party branch of the Fier district was held. The conference was eagerly anticipated not only by members of the Republican Party in Fier but also by its many supporters. The conference was honoured by the presence of Gino Paulucco, a friend from Italy and a member of the Italian Republican Party, and Mr Aleksandër Garulli, delegate of the Republican Party Steering Committee. The conference was opened by one of the organizers of the establishment of the RP branch in the Fier district, engineer Lirim Çuçi. The RP branch chairman, Fatmir Media, presented a report on the work carried out by the Republican Party in the Fier district. The conference reviewed the poor work done by the Republican Party sections in the city and villages, identifying the following shortcomings. It was said at the conference that the Republican Party includes intellectuals and workers, honest and respected people, but during the election campaign they did not know how to campaign for their own candidates’ victory as [illegible] separate from the Democratic Party; they did not know how to draw certain comparisons, because they confused the Republican Party with the Democratic Party and were constrained by the idea that we were one bloc, and therefore would campaign until, in the end, we were rewarded with no sincere coalition. This should be a lesson for us at the conference ahead of the local elections to be held in the city and villages. Another reason was that during the campaign it was not possible to reach all the villages for the local elections, and there was also a lack of means of campaigning from village to village and to the city; ... [partly illegible] The Fier Republican Party Steering Committee was also criticized at the conference. It was said that the members of the Steering Committee had not been active in the district in election campaigning, and that, in order to make the party stronger and expand the Republican Party further in the future, the Steering Committee should be refreshed with new members. After the report, questions were asked and discussions held. Mr Gino Paulucco also spoke, first greeting the conference and then saying: “The future belongs to the Republican Party. Do not think that because you did not win this time, you will not win next time. You need work, concrete work, and you will win.” The hall resounded with applause as it greeted the member of the Italian Republican Party. In his remarks, Perikli Ziu said: “I know that the election result was due to the fact that our Republican Party lacked experience and was unable to meet the demands arising from the size of the Fier district.” (Continued on page 3)

Why the socialists’ bells are tolling The Pasha of the dictatorship in Delvinë - A few words about the PS chairman in Delvinë, etc. In the review conducted by the PS Steering Committee of the city of Delvinë after March 22, it was noted, among other things, that one of the reasons for the result achieved was the failure to purge the PS ranks of corrupt PPSH members. What was unusual about this conclusion was that it was made and accepted as a real cause by the PS chairman in Delvinë himself, comrade Gafur Brahimi. I would never have wished to repeat or recall episodes from the life of this man, who served the dictatorship so devotedly, but I am compelled to do so because of the new farce of democracy this man is trying to impose, a phenomenon that poses a new and real danger to democracy, which is still fragile. With an average reason as such, no measure (in any case, five years both) ... [partly illegible] Appointed school director sometime in the 1970s, he understood well the rules for making a career under the dictatorship. After becoming a communist and graduating from the Party school, the way was opened for his career. Thus, summoned from Lazaret, after giving his opinion— [text cut off] In Delvinë, etc., he became director of the Delvinë agricultural secondary school, one of the country’s best-known agricultural schools, which Gafur turned into one of the most politicized schools in the republic because of his inability to hold the director’s post competently. Declared to be an employee of the State Security, he openly imposed his rule on anyone who opposed him or failed to toe his line. Under these circumstances, many former staff members of the school he headed were forced to teach his subjects; this was the case with the persecuted teacher Panajot Marto. Meanwhile, the school he headed broke all records for politicization, inventing and concocting new political subjects with no pedagogical basis and no approval from anyone, such as the subject “Enver’s Wednesday,” which was taught every Wednesday during the first period, with the class registers arranged ... [text cut off] JORGAQ SHKURTULI (Continued on page 2)

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ADVOCATES CRIMINAL LEGISLATION BUILT ON DEEPLY DEMOCRATIC AND HUMANITARIAN PRINCIPLES, SOCIAL JUSTICE, THE RULE OF LAW, AND INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR CRIMINAL OFFENCES.