There can be no democracy without punishing crime
. The issue of institutionalizing democracy reappears on the political propaganda scene. The leader of the DP, Berisha, declared yesterday at the press conference that “1998 will be the year of the institutionalization of democracy.” During the June election campaign, the PS and its satellites also recited this reference by heart. The issue of “institutionalization” nevertheless remains highly debated. There can be no true democracy in a country where crime goes unpunished and the concept of criminal complicity rules politics. All political and democratic developments in Albania take place under mysterious circumstances. Thieves and murderers are declared innocent, and justice is dictated to by politicians. Nothing is carried out in accordance with the will of the state and the basic rights of the individual. The state hierarchy has been usurped by people connected to crime, who are ready only to abuse power. Most of the political forces in power or in opposition lack a sense of national responsibility and submit to an emotionally corrupt environment that is unfavorable to develop- Continue on page 4