Breaking news Once again, «ZP», the socialists’ serious newspaper, has been fined 10,000 old lek for «insulting a public official», in connection with Mr. Ilir Manushi. After eight postponed court hearings, which continued for three months in the labyrinths of the judicial laws, the Chief Judge of the Tirana Court, Mr. Llambi Kule, ruled that «Zëri i popullit» should simply be fined. In any case, this court ruling also shows how serious the newspaper «ZP» was during the election campaign, as well as throughout its existence. We feel sorry for its readers, who took seriously what this newspaper published and what it continues to publish. … were trying, making efforts unanimously … with the minority, even in cases when it, the minority, seems to deserve less. Our opposition is an opposition, even though foul-mouthedness, they perhaps…

- The Prime Minister of the Albanian Republic earns about half as much as his escort. Let us see how much the Prime Minister of the democratic government will earn.

– Democracy also respects the minority – Everything was done to overthrow totalitarianism, the unlimited power of one individual, of a political clan in power. The aim was to establish a different kind of power, one that only feigned popular support and had only a democratic façade. Democracy of the masses meant the subjugation of the masses «in the name of their ideals», which the individual, the clan, claimed to safeguard. This «popular» power was constantly (!) threatened by the «minority», which was continuously suppressed and punished, even when it was entirely innocent. Its only «fault» was that it was a minority! True democracy manages to respect the minority. By prettifying government? By giving up the winners’ interests? By distributing voters’ ballots? (!) On the contrary. From now on, there is no longer room for «strong» rule, for imposed authoritarianism. Democracy, as the rule of the majority, does not presuppose violence against the minority, even when that minority seems to deserve it more. Our opposition is an opposition, even if its press («ZP», «24 orë», etc.) often does not deserve to be valued and respected. After a not-so-short period of being silenced, perhaps they find it difficult to become constructive. All the more so since even in power they were unable to do so! Incompetence and instability are not faults... Nevertheless, we must respect the people who voted for our opposition. This is absolutely no occasion to use the election-secured majority as an argument for the right to strong rule. «The people gave us their vote... we will do as we say..!» This concept of democracy is based on outdated mentalities. The opposite concepts are undoubtedly more numerous: democracy recognizes no losers; it also respects those who did not vote for it; it must keep the democratic revolution in the phase of freedom... It is precisely on this ground that democratic society must be built. The calm after the elections is undoubtedly an expression of the people’s confidence in this future. Everywhere, efforts to get things started can be felt. From collective work to private work, we are breathing again simply because it is now clear that a time has come when everyone can be respected. The majority in power has its role and its responsibilities. As such, it has no reason to fear power, nor should it be afraid of it, especially when it comes to stabilizing order and speeding up market-economy reforms. At no point should the implementation of democratic legality be taken as the wish of the election winners. But the majority has no axiomatic right! It should not claim one for itself. First, in order to remain the democratic majority in the future, and second, because what is directly connected with the longevity of power is the guarantee of the people’s vote tomorrow. The idea must now be born and grow in everyone that there are no eternal holders of power, and there cannot be. Abuse of power comes precisely from its excesses, from crossing over from what is right to the other side, to the side of the minority. Beyond what is right, even the «minority’s right to power» is transgressed. The only sustainable alternative is liberal democracy (even though the last term has been given a bad emotional charge for us). Naturally, this is no easy matter. The dictatorship has scarcely left room for equality and democracy to take root immediately after it. (Continued on page 2) FARUK MUSTAFAJ ...so that, immediately after it, the weeds of democracy may... After Mr. Pjetër Arbnori read the text of the oath, all the deputies present solemnly answered in unison: WE SWEAR! They then proceeded to elect the Presidium of the Assembly. Although it had been agreed beforehand by consensus between the two main parliamentary groups, discussion of the Presidium’s composition lasted the longest, especially after PSD deputy Paskal Milo proposed that the group of 10 deputies (PSD+PB-DNJ+PR) be represented on the Presidium by PSD deputy Teodor Laço. Following the vote (secret and by roll call), at last, around 15:45, the «enigma» of the Parliamentary Presidium was resolved: Among the six… … Dokle responded with a rejoinder. After that, they proceeded to approve the preliminary report presented by Mr. Zhulali on behalf of the Commission he heads. … of the People’s Assembly. Vice-chairmen: Mr. SHAQIR VUKAJ was born in the Shkodër Highlands. He is a chemical engineer by profession. He worked in Kurbnesh and later for many years in the food industry. He also worked for several years in our diplomatic representation abroad. He is now Chairman of the Steering Council of the PS for the Shkodër district. He is a person of good judgment. He was also a Shkodër deputy in the previous Legislature of the People’s Assembly. Mr. TOMORR MALASI was born in the city of Elbasan in 1936. He is a mechanical engineer by profession. He worked as such at many sites throughout the republic, for example at the Geology Mine, the Metallurgical Combine, N.N. Mines, etc. He is a person with broad technical and cultural horizons, … from this new Parliament. But in fact, this trial had been going on all those days, from December ’90 onward. It was this trial that forced him to ask for his resignation today. And Albania’s busy future has no more room for spectacles; exhausted by the day’s proceedings, the deputies in the hall do not want to tire themselves further. The request for Ramiz Alia’s resignation from the post of President is passed unanimously. 15:52. From this moment on, Ramiz Alia is no longer President, but merely the head of the Republic of Albania!... Finally, PD deputy Mr. Eduart Selami proposes adding several provisions to the agenda concerning changes to the national symbols, the Constitutional Court, and the President’s powers. With that, the session concluded its work. RAKIP SULÇE

At 10:15 on 6.3.1992, the new Albanian Parliament began its effective work at its first plenary working session. On this occasion, in our own name and that of all our readers, we wish it: Good luck with your work! At the beginning of the session, its chair, Mr. Pjetër Arbnori, gave the floor to the Chairman of the Commission for the Verification of Mandates and Immunity, Mr. Safet Zhulali, who read the report prepared by that Commission. Mr. Zhulali then answered questions concerning several cases of violations of procedures and the Electoral Law. These questions were put by the socialist deputies Ugjini, Ruci, Meksi, Dokle, and Lalaj. During both the questions and the socialists’ speeches, their tendency to present themselves as terrorized and persecuted during the election campaign was apparent... Mr. Skënder Gjinushi spoke for the PSD, Ali Spahia for the PD, Mehmet Çeliku for the PR, and Thoma Miço for the PBDNJ. In response to Mr. A. Hajdari’s remarks, Messrs. H. Lalaj and N. Dokle made rejoinders. After that, they proceeded to approve the he heads. all the deputies present solemnly answered in unison: WE— Among the candidates presented for Chairman (Pjetër Arbnori and Tomorr Malasi of the PD) and for Vice-chairmen (Tomorr Malasi and Franko Kroqi of the PD, and M. Laçrori and Shaqir Vukaj of the PS), the winners, with 115, 100, and 105 votes respectively, were: Chairman Mr. PJETËR ARBNORI He was born in Shkodër in 1935. He began his anti-communist political activity while still at secondary school. He completed higher studies in Literature and Philology. In the spring of 1961, he was arrested because, together with other comrades, he had formed a social-democratic organization. He was sentenced to death, a sentence that was later commuted to 25 years’ imprisonment. During his imprisonment, he was sentenced again to a further 10 years, spending a total of 29 years in prison up to the final days of democracy. Now the victory of democracy is placing on its pedestal the dignity and character of this broad-minded and democratic man. He was also elected Vice-chairmen: Mr. SHAQIR VUKAJ He many years in the food industry. He worke- persecuted by the dictatorship, an honest man. He was also a PD deputy in the previous Legislature of the People’s Assembly. After the composition of the Assembly Presidium had been determined, a minute’s silence was observed in memory of Petrit Llafi, a PD deputy in the previous Legislature who lost his life in February of this year during a humanitarian mission in Italy, together with the patriot and compatriot Zef Markgjaj. RAMIZ ALIA LEAVES THE POST OF PRESIDENT At 15:50, the newly elected Chairman, Mr. Pjetër Arbnori, announced that a letter had arrived for the People’s Assembly. It was the request for the resignation of the current President... And so, Ramiz Alia was asking to resign. Everyone expected this, though perhaps not in precisely this way. Indeed, someone (PSD deputy Lisin-Bashkurti) proposed that the departure from the political stage of the last pupil and follower of the Bolshevik school in Albania be judged by held against him every day since December ’90. his resignation today. And Albania’s busy future no longer waits for spectacles; tired from want to tire themselves any further...

The Ministry of Agriculture, in cooperation with the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), with funds from the United States Agency for International Development, will bring in 20,000 tons of urea from the end of April until May 15. This quantity will be unloaded at the following ports: Port of Durrës 15,000–17,500 metric tons Port of Vlorë 3,000–5,000 metric tons Port of Sarandë 500–1,000 metric tons IFDC, the sales administrator, invites all organizations, enterprises and individuals wishing to market this chemical fertilizer to meet with its representatives in Tirana. The Center will also provide guidance to interested parties during two sessions to be held at the Soil Studies Institute on April 9–10 and 13–15, at 8 o’clock. Those who will attend these sessions are asked to submit their names to the Institute, where IFDC’s offices are located, two days before the session begins.