The Conference on Yugoslavia agrees on principles for peace The joint European Community–United Nations Conference on Yugoslavia yesterday published a number of principles as the basis for any negotiated solution to the conflicts in the former disintegrated communist state of Yugoslavia. Diplomats note that 13 principles were accepted in their entirety by the Conference. The first principle is the need to stop the fighting, respect the agreed ceasefire, and restrain those who carry out or seek to provoke violations of it. Among the other principles are: - no advantage gained by force will be recognized, - all parties will take part in talks to resolve the problems of the war and political issues, - full respect for human rights, - implementation of guarantees for the fundamental rights and freedoms of persons belonging to ethnic and national communities and minorities, - an end to ethnic cleansing and concentration camps, - personal accountability for those who violate the Geneva Conventions concerning war crimes, - the obligation to respect the borders, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states in the region, - questions concerning the rights of succession of the various states to the former Yugoslavia are to be settled by consensus or arbitration, together with mutual recognition of all these states, - all states and factions must respect UN resolutions, - humanitarian aid must be provided to people who need it, especially children, - all parties must cooperate fully in international monitoring, peacekeeping and arms-control operations, - international guarantees to ensure implementation of the agreements reached at the Conference ... the positions of all heavy weapons around the main cities of Sarajevo, Bihaç, Gorazhdë and Jajçë. The weapons ... are to be placed under the permanent supervision of permanent United Nations observers. The Bosnian Serbs undertook, with immediate effect, not to fire any heavy artillery weapons; the Bosnian Serb side accepted that in talks with the Bosnian parties they would reach an agreement to withdraw from a considerable part of the territory currently under their forces’ control. - The second result ... is that, for the first time, all parties accepted that a solution must include ... recognition of Bosnia-Herzegovina by all the former Yugoslav republics and respect for the integrity of the present borders, unless they are changed by agreement, as well as the principle of not accepting territory acquired by force, - The third result is agreement on a (new) peace mechanism through which we hope to bring the clashes to an end. We have agreed on the essential steps needed to end the conflict. - The fourth result is an agreement to expand humanitarian efforts and improve the conditions in which UN aid agencies work. The Secretary-General will ask the Security Council for a mandate to extend the period of operation of the United Nations humanitarian aid operation, supported by blue helmets throughout Bosnia. All the parties in Bosnia have committed themselves to an action program for delivering humanitarian aid. - The fifth result is an unconditional agreement on the dissolution of the concentration camps. The international community will be allowed to enter them immediately. Humanitarian organizations will arrange temporary options to help ... The topics of the debates and discussions are varied; there is great curiosity about Albania, but they focused mainly on party-related problems and issues. These concerned how parties are organized and function during and after election campaigns, their relations with parliament and government, how the reciprocal links between ... levels of government function, etc. At one of the sessions held by the American Republican Institute, Jack Bikner, who has visited Albania, spoke at its opening about the progress, trends and successes of the countries of Eastern Europe, then spoke for about 20 minutes about Albania and the Democratic Party. He described the democratic process in Albania and the DP as the most successful, noting that what the DP had accomplished in Albania in 1–5 years had pushed the boundaries of the impossible. This was a very strong tribute to the DP and Albania, and it was received very well. But the Convention, alongside this aspect, is important because

WHAT THE DP HAS DONE IN ALBANIA IS BEYOND THE BOUNDS OF THE POSSIBLE From 16–21 August, the Republican Party convention was held in Houston (Texas), America, to choose the Republican Party’s candidate for president and vice president in the November elections and to discuss the election platform. The convention, which meets once every four years, is the party’s largest political event. It is held on the eve of every election campaign and aims not only to set out political viewpoints, but also to mobilize all party levels to the fullest in support of the election campaign. About 300 representatives from 60 different countries around the world took part in this convention, which was a political and festive spectacle. They included heads of state, party leaders, various politicians, etc. In such circumstances, there is no better opportunity at party level than meetings like this, where representatives from almost the whole world gather together, meet, exchange experiences, establish new ties and agreements, and strengthen existing ones in a very short time. Indeed, this is also one of the main purposes of the guests’ presence. This is all the more important when one comes from Albania—the country that had been isolated for such a long time. Although, as the DP, we are open to different political groups and European and world parties, our preference, which we have declared and for which we will seek membership, is with the center-right parties. This is because most of the guests at the Republican Party convention belonged precisely to this grouping. I had the opportunity to meet representatives of parties from various countries, including Germany, England, Spain, Italy, Canada, Latin America, Greece, Norway, Sweden, South Africa, China, Japan, Russia, etc. I was meeting most of them for the first time; it was my first contact with these parties. I had met some of them before, and as the DP we have regular contacts with them at party level. Eduard Selami: Chairman of the Democratic Party They are a very great opportunity to get to know a country and its politics. You can understand a country politically better than during an election campaign, when it is more open than ever and the sharpest issues are brought into focus with arguments and counterarguments. The Houston convention—or the Republicans’ convention—was held one month after the New York convention, or that of the Democrats, when the election battle between the two parties and the two candidates, Bush-Clinton, had reached its peak. The Democrats accuse the Republicans and President Bush of having been unsuccessful in domestic policy and of having dealt more with foreign issues. The Republicans reply that the disagreements are not connected with them, but with the majority the Democrats have had in the American Congress for 56 years. The election campaign is, in fact, a spectacle of politics and ideas. For me, it was a special opportunity to become involved in this political debate, which stands out for the depth of its mission and analysis. Moreover, at a time when the whole world is changing, to see how the causes are analyzed and how plans for the future of a country that is now at the forefront of the world are discussed and put forward is truly a privilege, and this is wonderful. The Americans emerged victorious from the Cold War; the end of that war also requires America itself to change. In what way and how? This was the essence of the election debate, which is of interest not only to Americans, but also to the rest of the world. The Democrats want to focus the issue on the American economy and domestic investment. The Republicans agree that the American economy has weaknesses, but disagree about the solutions and believe that an isolationist policy should not be pursued; the Republicans pay greater attention to the family and strengthening it. The Democrats are more open and more liberal in this regard. But in a life that must change, the political struggle was conducted more on the basis of facts and arguments, rather than assumptions and slander. On the other hand, what also impressed me was the fact that ... In this party, I had met some of them and we maintain regular contacts, as the PD does at party level. The topics of debate and discussion are varied, and curiosity about Albania is great, but they focused mainly on party-related problems and levels: how parties are organized and operate during and after an election campaign, their relations with parliament and the government, how the links between the different levels of power function, and so on. In one of the sessions held at Party, after beginning with an account of developments, trends and successes in the countries of Eastern Europe. He described the democratic process in Albania and the PD as the most successful, noting that what the PD had achieved what was thought possible. This campaign, unlike the previous one, features strong competition between the two candidates, Bush and Clinton, and their victory will bring major changes to America. Those changes will also be reflected in the rest of the world.

- especially children, - arms-control operations. - the EC-UN Conference, which began in London and is being carried forward through an ongoing UN process based in Geneva. The Reuters news agency transmitted the following list of the six achievements of the international Conference on Yugoslavia, as announced by British Prime Minister Xhon Meixhër: - First, ... the Bosnian Serbs will inform the United Nations of the UN positions within 96 hours. The fifth result is an agreement on the conditions for temporary options to help people before they return to their homes. - The sixth result ... is an agreement on special measures to strengthen the current sanctions regime, including faster reporting of violations and improved reporting to ensure that these violations are stopped. Most participants at the Conference agreed that pressure should be increased through further sanctions, which would lead to the complete isolation of those who fail to meet these obligations.

FROM THE DEBATES IN PARLIAMENT ABOUT THE EVENTS IN POLICAN Ladies and gentlemen, members of parliament! Something we are living through in the history of our nation is among the most important events. At the London Conference, the fate of half our nation, living beyond the borders of our homeland, is being discussed. Within the country, economic reform is taking decisive steps. But now we are becoming accustomed to the fact that, precisely at decisive moments in our history, certain internal forces and external forces undertake destabilizing actions aimed at overthrowing the constitutional regime and undermining the integrity and independence of our homeland. I ask the ladies and gentlemen members of parliament in the hall to listen to the incident connected with 2 July 1990, precisely the day the Assembly of Kosovo was meeting. Now, on the eve of the London Conference, a certain political force undertook extremely dangerous, criminal, destabilizing and vandalistic actions in the town of Polican. We are absolutely convinced that the people of Polican, like those of Skrapar and all of Albania, are democratic people with distinguished patriotic traditions, but representatives of a particular political force incited these acts at an extremely delicate moment in our national history. In addition to other criminal acts, an unprecedented criminal act in our history also took place there—the taking of people hostage, especially public officials. An officer of the Ministry of Public Order and the head of the Skrapar Public Order branch were held hostage. Throughout this whole incident, the role of PS MP Mr. Ilir Meta is highly suspicious. To undertake destructive actions today is a crime against the people, a crime against the nation. I call on all political forces to analyze this incident calmly and act in accordance with the interests of the country and the nation, in defense of the constitutional order. I also call on the government to take all measures to identify the organizers and those responsible and bring them to account.

showed that the social-communists had prepared the scenario for a civil war, a counterrevolution, with dangerous consequences for Albania; they are determined to act against the law, against the constitution, against the people’s desire for peace, work and justice. The encirclement of the municipality of the town of Polican, the holding hostage of state officials, the burning of offices and cars, the use of weapons and explosives, and the mass terror, with songs of the former dictator on their lips, sent the newborn democracy in Albania a significant warning that it would remain constantly at risk from these revanchists, carefully directed by the social-communists. The events in Polican showed that Enverist revanchism is the Socialist Party. This is borne out by the fact that the party’s MP Ilir Meta took part in organizing the terror and holding members hostage, and by the threat made against the serviceman Pashk Tufa to deny that people had been held hostage. This is borne out by the fact that Mr. Servet (Continued on page 4)

- ILIR META is trying to evade the truth - It is one thing to be evasive, to hide (?). It is another to face the truth. ... to organize the acts of vandalism in Polican, because she had returned from a 20-day visit to Denmark and therefore, coming from Denmark, he cannot be said to have been able to do such a thing. It is true, comrade Ilir, that we were in Denmark. But does everything end there? What did you do after you returned from Denmark? In the days following your return, you were in Polican two or three times. You know this very well. You know it very well throughout Skrapar. Why are you hiding the truth? What happens here if, oh com[rade] ...? To twist away from the truth and say that you are without dignity. This and you, comrade Ilir: an MP without dignity? From people like that, who lack what is most essential in a human being, you can expect anything; there is nothing to be surprised about. But the worst thing is that comrade ... (Continued on page 4)

Everyone, even among the ranks of the socialists (!), agrees that the old communist administration must be loosened up, lightened, renewed, reshaped and recreated. In other words, everyone thinks and is convinced that offices should not be staffed by the old people, with the old mindsets, the old monist practices and their shadow. The question arises: yes, those who need to be removed should be removed, but who will be put in their place? That is precisely where the problem begins to become more difficult. It is easy to understand why. During the dictatorship, not everyone could become a representative, a judge or ... It was well known that, as a rule, to attend these higher-education institutions one had to belong to the upper strata of the communist hierarchy. The whole point of that practice at the time was this: the communist hierarchy wanted to have a hand in everything that made up what is called the STATE. That is why today’s fragile democracy finds it difficult to answer without hesitation the question: whom shall we put in place of the former administration? This is why this is a “difficult” point even in discussions with Democrats and their supporters among the wider public, who are tired, almost to the point of impatience, of the old communist administration. We were struck by the Republic’s Prosecutor, Maks Haxhia, and his desire to convince us that he was entirely right when he said, in the course of the discussion, that he considered professionalism an absolute requirement as the first criterion, and a matter for compromise in those bodies. He has his own opinion and, out of respect for these opinions,

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