10/10/1997
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Republika

10 October 1997

VEFA employee tells of Alimuçaj’s escape

Berisha’s rival—A farce. PSD, with the help of the Greeks, tightens the screws on PS Head of the creditors’ association sued. Municipality buries the dangerous [items] Berisha’s rival—A farce. PSD, with the help of the Greeks, tightens the screws on PS VEFA employee tells of Alimuçaj’s escape Head of the creditors’ association sued. Municipality buries the dangerous [items]

Meidani today in an interpellation before the Council of Europe

Albania—a jungle of lawlessness and an arena for government–individual confrontations Today, leaders of 40 countries, members of the Council of Europe, the largest organization representing the democratic interests of our continent, will meet in Strasbourg. At this high-level meeting, the possibilities and real scope for providing a [cut-off portion] further impetus to respect for human rights and the integration of the former communist countries will be examined. Such meetings have now become a tradition on the Council of Europe’s diplomatic agenda, which has viewed the former communist East as a region with broad interests but also ruled by old complexes that re-emerge at different times. As has been announced, the Albanian president, Rexhep Meidani, will also attend this Council of Europe Summit. Meidani is the youngest head of state compared with his counterparts in the Eastern countries. He was appointed to the high office following a victory by the socialists and their left-wing allies that was not particularly convincing, with a symbolic electoral percentage. Mr. Meidani’s presence at the Council of Europe Summit on human rights represents the first opportunity given to the Albanian president to confirm the socialist majority’s new political position on tangible problems related to citizens’ universal rights. Meidani must present before the Council of Europe’s high-level forum not the platforms of the political parties, much less that of the party in power, which set out the standards for respecting the undisputed rights of Albanians. Our president must put forward his view that the Albanian state has still not been institutionalized and is therefore far from the contemporary standards currently required. In Albania, a proper position on property, individual interests, the laws of the market economy and civil liberties has yet to take shape. Albania remains a jungle of lawlessness and an arena for government–individual confrontations, where the government always triumphs unilaterally at the expense of individual interests. Meidani’s presentation at the Council of Europe Summit will nevertheless show this high-level body whether our country will deserve to be called a democratic country after one, [series of] reforms in the field of improving human rights.

Zani’s trial in Flag Square

page 10

Otranto, recovery of the bodies of the missing Albanians begins

Immunity saves PD leaders from prison

page 2

Unearthed: 340 kg of TNT and 72 anti-tank shells

Unearthed 340 kg of TNT and 72 anti-tank shells page 5 Masked men rape in the capital page 2

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