Addressed to the Conference in Dayton, USA, on the crisis in the former- Intellectuals, professors and students of the University of Tirana, Albanian writers and artists express their deepest concern and regret that representatives of the Albanian people of Kosovo are not participating in this Conference. Without securing for the Albanian people of Kosovo the right to self-determination over their own fate and their political status, in accordance with all recognized international Acts, there is no—and there will never be—true and lasting peace in the Balkans. Otherwise, everything will turn into bitter disappointment. We are fully convinced that the representatives of the Contact Group will defend the aspiration for freedom and the inclination toward integration and peace, creating favorable conditions so that the Albanian people of Kosovo are not forced to seek, against their will, other painful paths for World Bank President, Xhejms D. Willenson

Intellectuals, professors and students of the University of Tirana, Albanian writers and artists express their deepest concern and regret that representatives of the Albanian people of Kosovo are not participating in this Conference.

PRSH spokesperson’s statement The article entitled “Association of the Persecuted excluded from the elections” was published in the newspaper “Koha Jonë” on October 29, 1995. Without wishing to analyze the article writer’s intention, the Persecuted will not have any candidate on the electoral lists. Expressing regret that the author of the article is unfamiliar with the issue, I emphasize that the Association will present its own list of candidates, who will be supported by all the entities of the League as joint candidates in designated constituencies. To this end, relevant amendments have also been made in the joint declaration of the 13 parties on the electoral law, initiated by the PR. 3. This method of standing for election does not exclude the Association of the Persecuted from voting. It will not be “persecuted within the LDSH.” The Association will stand in the elections with its candidates within the LDSH, but as for entering Parliament, that is not determined by the wishes of newspapers, but by the people’s will expressed through the free vote. 4. The authors also include PBSD and Teodor Laco among the members of the LDSH. Apparently, he has become badly confused. It is not the Social-Democratic Union Party that has joined the LDSH, nor can it join, but the Albanian Democratic Union. On the basis of the above, the PRSH spokesperson regrets to observe that the article “Association of the Persecuted excluded from the elections” was written, if not with complete political ignorance, then at least with a marked lack of professionalism. PRSH spokesperson Neritan Alibali

“Albania must make the radical change. The World Bank is very much convinced—better [sic],” said yesterday at a press conference concluding his two-day visit to Albania the President of the World Bank, Xhejms D. Ulfenson. The World Bank has earmarked over 200 million dollars to assist Albania through 23 projects, of which 100 million have been finalized. Albania became a member of this Bank in October 1991, and to date it has received 18 loans worth 204 million dollars from the International Development Association (SHNZH), an affiliate of the World Bank. Albania received its first loan in June 1992, when the Bank provided 41 million dollars to finance the Critical Imports project. The World Bank has helped promote employment in Albania with a loan of 4 million dollars aimed at making small enterprises more efficient. It has consistently supported projects that have helped rehabilitate schools, social services, health services and housing, with a loan of 45 million dollars and their provision. The main objective of the Bank’s loans is to help alleviate long-term poverty and continues on p. 3 World Bank President, Xhejms D. Ulfenson

The Constitutional Court is asking for time to reach a decision on the lawsuit filed by two left-wing parties against the law on the 50-year communist genocide. Yesterday, this court was made up not of nine people, but of seven. The reason was that Manol Konomi acceded to the preliminary request by these parties not to take part in the hearing, since, after the legal acts were issued, he was affected by the implementation of the law. But while Konomi’s request was accepted, the requests concerning the other members were rejected in a decision made by the court itself at the start of the trial. Manol Konomi asked not to take part because in 1951 he was Minister of Justice. That was when the perpetrators of the bombing of the Soviet embassy were sentenced, and for a long time he was also chairman of the Commission for the Punishment of War Criminals. The defendants—the authors of the anti-genocide law—also failed to appear at all at yesterday’s hearing. Nevertheless, the trial went ahead. While the SP, represented by N. Dokle, F. Abdiu and P. Majko, sought to have the law declared unconstitutional, the other left-wing party, the PSD—represented by S. Gjinushi and P. Milo—asked only for Article 3 of the law to be repealed. After hearing them speak for two hours straight, Chief Constitutional Court Judge Rustem Gjata confirmed that the decision would be issued at another time, after all the issues raised by the plaintiffs had been studied in detail. As is known, this law is causing the SP its greatest haemorrhage, starting with its chairman and around 50% of its Steering Committee and district committees. In any case, yesterday’s trial was a routine procedure, given that the law had already received parliament’s approval a month ago and had been promulgated by the President of the Republic. In the next elections, 135 parties will take part, and which of them will win no less than 31%. The Communist Party will receive 15% of the votes and three seats in parliament. If the law on genocide comes into force after the next elections, then within three months we will have early preparations for early elections. The left-wing newspapers will support the right-wing forces during the campaign, and vice versa. Zëri i Popullit will come out as an independent newspaper. The stock value of prospective MPs has fallen noticeably because all the current MPs also want to run again, provided that the files are not opened. “Closing the files will put an end once and for all to the troubles of this poor, freedom-loving people,” a people’s representative is quoted as saying. Oil is [unclear], and sometimes there is even an embargo. There are now no obstacles to setting up kiosks; the problem is that there is no land for kiosks. A long [unclear] has been appointed so construction of the kiosks’ second floors can begin, while the problem of owners without permits will be resolved. They will be issued permits. The municipality could also remove the [unclear] from the streets, but does not want to create social problems for the underprivileged. When the SP comes to power, it will make the [unclear] into cadres. Since television will still be in the hands of the PD, the SP will carry out the reform with [unclear].

Left-wingers

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With the chairman of Macedonia’s PDP, Iljaz HALIMI P. 5

P. 4