Opening speech by Mr. Godo at the first session of the 10th legislature of the People’s Assembly The ten oldest deputies chose me to open and chair this first session of the new legislature of the People’s Assembly. I wish you success in your work, trusting that this Parliament will make the laws the people want, to protect the Nation and individual freedoms, and to promote economic and social prosperity. I hope that a spirit of understanding and tolerance will prevail among us, with partisan differences increasingly set aside. Regardless of the events that came before, the Assembly must seek ways to resolve the urgent problems we face; this can be achieved if each of us, and all of us together, honourably shoulder the responsibilities of a deputy. The truth must be spoken here, and politics must serve as a means of civic agreement for governing together. We must never forget that we are under the watchful scrutiny of the people, as well as of the Western democracies, which are showing considerable goodwill and concern toward Albania. The left-wing opposition represented by the Socialist Party is absent from this Assembly today. It would be appropriate for the deputies of this party to follow the recommendations of the Council of Europe and take their seats here. Disagreements, however difficult they may be, can be resolved only through open dialogue, and the Assembly, among other things, offers an opportunity for dialogue. I believe we will proceed quickly with the reorganization of the parliamentary structures, taking the first step toward the orderly functioning of the Nation’s highest institution. Once again, I wish you success in your work in the Assembly and happiness in each of your lives.

Last night at 18:00, the 140 parliamentary seats welcomed the members of Albania’s ninth Parliament. Exactly 76 years and 6 months after the first Parliament, made up of 37 deputies, marked the beginning of parliamentary history in our country, a Parliament composed of 140 deputies from 5 political entities began its work. Of the 140 deputies elected on 26 May 1996, 129 were seated in the parliamentary chamber. Nine deputies from the PS and two deputies from the PBDNJ were absent. The “inauguration” of the new Parliament yesterday was conducted by PR deputy Sabri Godo. In a short speech, but one with a very clear message about consolidating democracy in the country, deputy Godo chaired the opening session. “I,” Godo said, “have been appointed by the oldest parliamentarians to chair the first session of the Albanian Parliament elected on 26 May.” After his greeting, Godo asked the parliamentarians and everyone present to stand and sing the national anthem together. This anthem, sung on 8 January 1921 by the 37 deputies of the first Albanian Parliament, and then seven times in succession: on 21 April 1921 by 78 deputies, on 1 June 1925 by 57 deputies, in 1939 by 57 deputies, and three more times, up to 22 March 1992, when Parliament took on the character of yesterday’s Parliament—democratic in the absolute sense of the word. After the anthem, Mr. Sabri Godo gave the floor to the President of the Republic, Mr. Sali Berisha, to deliver the presidential greeting marking the start of the new Parliament’s work. Continued on p. 2 Godo opening the parliamentary session The President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, greets Parliament

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