Socialists invite the DP to a one-on-one meeting through the newspapers “The PSSH invites the PDSH to a bilateral meeting.” This is how a press release by the Socialist Party ends—a release that appeared on the front page of one of the Albanian newspapers the day before yesterday and has stirred interest in the country’s politics. The chairman of the Democratic Party replied yesterday to this invitation, saying that he had received no such thing from the Socialists. “When I receive it,” Shehu said yesterday, “I will see how serious it is and how appropriate their proposals are.” The Democrats were displeased that the invitation for them to attend a meeting first appeared in the press, rather than being sent to their party, and called it a lack of political etiquette. They even went so far as to describe it as an attempt by the SP to “counteract” positive developments in the country, such as the opening of Parliament, the Government, and so on. The Socialists, however, say the opposite. The Political Information Department of the PSSH, which signed the press release, emphasizes that the PSSH is open to dialogue with all the parties that took part in the election campaign, in accordance with the recommendations of resolutions by international institutions. “The start of dialogue among all the parties,” the SP statement says, “would also be served by organizing bilateral meetings between them. In keeping with this idea, the PSSH invites the PDSH to a bilateral meeting.” The Socialists were not very surprised by Tritan Shehu’s response. “We will certainly send it in an official form,” says the chairman of the Tirana SP, Musa Ulqini, “and we will contact the Democrats. The important thing is to talk with them, because the task of initiating a round table of the parties belongs not to someone else, but to the major parties. We need to meet to discuss the arrangements for this round table, despite our disagreements.” Deputy chairman Pellumbi says: “With the DP, we will discuss the issues decided by the Council of Europe, not those decided by the DP’s National Council.” Sabri Godo has watched the exchanges and counter-exchanges between these parties calmly. “That is their business,” he says, without rushing to judge the bilateral actions of these political forces. On the other hand, the chairman of the PR is among the first and most persistent advocates of dialogue. “Dialogue must be encouraged,” he says, “regardless of which parties initiate it. What matters is that political forces do not impose conditions on one another.” Aurel Simoni

“Sali Rexhepi no longer has any connection with the SP.” It is Musa Ulqini, a member of the Socialist Party leadership and chairman of the Tirana SP, who says that the ties between the left-wing party and its MP have been severed. “I understand that he may hold a different opinion from others in the SP,” says Ulqini, “but it is disgraceful of him to call himself a Socialist Party MP when this party has not recognized this Parliament.” In this way, one of the SP leaders explains the Socialist Party’s position: it has cut off all relations with its candidate in Librazhd because Rexhepi disagreed with one of the SP’s fundamental decisions, namely its refusal to recognize the elections. Only a few days earlier, Rexhepi had decided to go against the tide and enter the People’s Assembly. His aim, as he himself stated in the press, is to represent left-wing ideals in the Albanian parliament and “to present the SP’s program.” Nevertheless, the day before yesterday he felt uncomfortable, because he would have liked to be together with his comrades. Rexhepi says, “I have not broken away from the group. I have relations with leaders within the SP.” This once again confirms that, despite appearances, there are groups among the Socialists that do not share the publicly stated position. According to Ulqini, Rexhepi’s reasons for entering Parliament are more economic than political. But when journalists asked Rexhepi about economic reasons in an interview after the end of the first session of Parliament, he shook his head, implying that if there was one thing he did not need, it was economic reasons. A.S,

Yesterday evening, the new parliament, with 129 MPs present in the chamber, elected its new chairman. The only nomination for parliament chairman was that of Mr. Pjetër Arbnori, put forward by the DP; he also held this position in the previous legislature. The opposition and the other parties represented in parliament did not put forward a candidate. Likewise, there were no other candidates for deputy chairwoman besides DP MP Margarita Qirko. Yesterday’s session was chaired by Mr. Godo. At the start of the session, he gave the floor to the Credentials Verification Commission. The Commission found that all 140 MPs registered in the electronic system were duly elected. The DP also brought in six women MPs from its list, since the women MPs who had won directly held posts incompatible with the mandate of an MP. The new parliament consists of 140 MPs with an average age of 46, including 20 women. All the MPs have higher education, and 35% hold scientific titles. The MPs then took the oath, read out by Mr. Godo. There were votes against in the election for parliament chairman. Godo congratulates Arbnori Photo: Petrit Kenuti Godo congratulates Arbnori. Photo: Petrit Kenuti

The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, the organization’s executive body, decided yesterday in Strasbourg to admit Croatia as its fortieth member. Croatia’s accession also comes with an essential condition: implementation of the peace agreement signed in Dayton. Under a procedure without precedent in the history of the Council of Europe, the decision of the Committee of Ministers will not take effect immediately. This was announced in a statement issued last night by the Council of Europe. The Committee reserves the right to review its decision after the first postwar elections in Bosnia, scheduled for September 14.

More than 100 million Russian voters have been called to choose the president today. More than 100 million Russian voters have been called to choose between President Boris Jelcin and Communist Party leader Genadi Zhuganov in the second round of the country’s presidential election today.................p.4

The first change to emerge from the initial discussions at the parliamentary parties’ round table is that five more committees will be added. From the nine in the previous legislature, their number is expected to rise to 14....p.2

For 6 months, 32 people have been sentenced for serious crimes by the Tirana Court; they are the perpetrators of serious murders. The announcement was made by the president of the Tirana Court, Qazim Gj[o]ni........p.3

Every moment of their arrival was broadcast live on TV, including the 30-minute journey from the airport to the square. Samër and Filtz went to the emergency room to have their “finals injuries” checked.........................p.8