NATIONAL LIBRARY FROM THE PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY 28 November PROCLAIMED NATIONAL HOLIDAY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA On Thursday, the Assembly discussed the adoption of the draft law “On an amendment to the Main Constitutional Provisions,” concerning the coat of arms and the flag. In the vote on principle, the draft law was unanimously approved. The Assembly also discussed at length 28 November as the day of the National Holiday. On this issue, Mr Arbnori proposed a consensus, which was not achieved because of the PS parliamentary group. Then, by vote, the draft law was adopted in full. Thus, it finally proclaims 28 November the day of the National Holiday of the Republic of Albania.

The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Mr Miguel Martinez, who arrived in our country yesterday at the invitation of the Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Mr Pjetër Arbnori, attended a session of the proceedings of the People’s Assembly. At the entrance to the People’s Assembly, Mr Martinez was received by Pjetër Arbnori, and the chairmen of the parliamentary groups. In his welcoming address, Mr Pjetër Arbnori said that this was the first time Mr Martinez had visited a country that was not a member of the Council of Europe but had observer status. This is a great honor for our poor country. Europe greatly values the fact that Albania embarked on the path of democracy without major clashes and without bloodshed. Freedom of speech, of the press and of conscience has now been achieved in Albania. We would like the rest of the Albanian people living under the yoke of the former Yugoslavia to enjoy these rights too. Mr Martinez, Mr Arbnori continued, has been a reliable ally of Albania. Albania needs friends like him, and we thank him for the help he has given us. Then Mr Miguel Angel Martinez took the floor. “For me,” he said at the outset, “it is a great pleasure to be here in Albania. On 6 May last year, when I had just been elected I had the pleasure of receiving President Berisha and becoming better acquainted with the processes of democratization in your country. The Parliamentary Assembly had granted Albania observer status. Cooperation between your country and the Council of Europe had thus begun. Albania is now among the countries striving for democracy and prosperity. It is a pleasure for me to welcome Albania into the temple of European democracy. You have made great efforts to move from a totalitarian state to a democratic state. “The Assembly of the Council of Europe,” Mr Martinez continued, “has stood by you, and I am pleased to see that our cooperation has been fruitful, and that you are moving rapidly toward a better future and toward integration into Europe. The road you have embarked on is long. You have much to do to achieve full democratization, and we must all agree on this. We must work for a future that belongs to us all. The Albanian people and the Albanian state must strive in two important areas: the consolidation of democracy and respect for human rights. Democracy means pluralism, and pluralism means that everyone can express their opinion on possible solutions. There are several solutions to a problem. The best solutions are those supported by the entire population. The consolidation of democracy and the stability of the country are the best guarantees of progress. “Concluding,” Mr Martinez said, “Albania is moving toward the moment when it will become a member of the Council of Europe, and I am convinced this will happen during my term as its president. So let us work together, you and we, hand in hand, so that Albania can take the place it deserves in the family of the peoples of Europe. Tell the Albanian people that Europe is committed to making this a reality, to making Albania European.” Mr Pjetër Arbnori thanked the distinguished guest for his commitment to our country and assured him that Albania would know how to earn the place it deserves in Europe. Mr Martinez departed amid the applause of the deputies, For me, it is a pleasure to welcome Albania amid the deputies’ applause,

MEETING BETWEEN PRESIDENT BERISHA AND MR MARTINEZ These were the words of greeting that the President of the Council of Europe, Mr Martinez, addressed to the President of Albania, Mr Berisha, at their meeting yesterday at 5:30 p.m. at the Presidency. “I have come to assure you that you will be an open country for the Council of Europe.” President Berisha, for his part, after welcoming Mr Martinez, briefed him on the situation in our country and the progress of reform, particularly in the economic sphere, with extensive and rapid privatization. He stressed that without rapid and immediate privatization in both the cities and the countryside, we would not be able to achieve rapid development of the country. He also spoke about establishing and maintaining public order and reforming the justice system, which is proceeding more slowly. He then informed Mr Martinez about the work being done to draft the constitution, adding that we should also have a package of laws on human rights. Mr Martinez, for his part, praised the work done by Parliament and the Government. “As for the outside world, you are the ones responsible for it. We will offer you everything you need. We are ready to put pressure on the governments of our countries to support every initiative for concrete cooperation with you. Also,” he continued, “the European Balkans has signed an agreement with the European Council for the latter to monitor its investments. I assure you that it will come to Albania very soon and provide you with concrete assistance, and that many projects related to your country’s future need financial support. I think this country deserves a major investment.” The conversation then turned to the crisis in the region. Mr Martinez said: “I am not entirely pessimistic about the Kosovo issue. My concern is that the borders must not be touched. Every community should live within the current state.” President Berisha, after once again assuring him of Albania’s position against changing the borders, stressed that the people of Bosnia are experiencing a tragedy that is provoking a Balkan war. We demand and insist on urgent measures to prevent conflict in Kosovo: demilitarization, the neutralization of the army, as well as placing it under UN supervision. Likewise, a serious danger threatens Macedonia. We have supported and continue to support Macedonia, have spoken in favor of the inviolability of its borders, and are trying to create a climate of understanding and cooperation with Macedonia. But the recent events in Skopje—the criminal killings of Albanians—were carried out by the same Greater Serbian hand that carried out the killings in Prishtina. We believe that recognition of Macedonia by the international community should be conditional on transforming this state into a state of free citizens, because only in this way will there be stability for itself and the region. I think the international community should not base Serbia together with Montenegro. The Montenegrins are an old state of Albanian traditions—although, despite the conflicts that would [text cut off] Martinez on rights. Mr. Martinez, for his part, praised the work carried out by the parliament and the democratic Government. He emphasized his desire to cooperate and praised the efforts being made to draft as democratic a constitution as possible, stressing that the responsibility rests with you, the Albanian people. Do not wait for someone to bring you a constitution. ... must be addressed. Every community must be a current state community. President Berisha, having once again assured him of Albania’s position against changing great tragedy. The international community’s efforts to protect the children and women of Bosnia, who are dying from bullets and cold, have produced no concrete result. The architect of this conflict, Milosheviçi, will transfer it to Kosovo and Macedonia, which ... ... in this way there will international community should not equate Serbia with Montenegro. The Montenegrins are an old nation with freedom-loving traditions, regardless of past conflicts and misunderstandings. We are ready to have friendly relations with an independent Montenegro that aspires to democracy and peace. Press and Information Office of the President

— From the interpellation of the Minister of Economy and Finance, Mr GENC RULI — Two weeks ago, the Minister of Economy and Finance, Mr Genc Ruli, had been sent the questions of the PSD parliamentary group in writing for an interpellation. The Thursday afternoon plenary session of the People’s Assembly was devoted precisely to this interpellation. First, speaking on behalf of the PSD group, MP Gjergj Kajsiu stressed that they had requested this interpellation with the good intention of creating conditions for dialogue and greater transparency with the ministry on the many difficult issues, and with the aim of ensuring that support for their resolution came from as broad a spectrum as possible of qualified and competent intellectual and economic opinion. He then presented some figures and facts about the current state of the economy, production, and enterprises. At the start of his response to the interpellation, Mr Ruli stressed that Mr Kajsiu, through his explanations, had at the same time answered several questions the PSD group had put to him. Mr Ruli then answered the six questions submitted to him in writing. In response to the question of whether the Government had sought the approval of various political forces for support of its program, it was said that the Government seeks the approval of a large majority, which it received from the outset when its program was approved in the Assembly. Outside the Assembly, however, especially in the opposition party press, there have been distortions and cynical attacks on that arrangement, which brings together the political forces represented in the Assembly. Ruli [unclear in source] on progress along the path of reform, Mr Ruli stressed ... economic direction; it will certainly continue, but will be reshaped. For the time being, however, given the mechanisms and resources available to the state, this role is still dominant, since its restructuring as the director of direct economic activities has begun to be reduced. Meanwhile, Mr. Ruli compared the private sector of the economy to a train moving at speed, while the state sector was like a cart with broken wheels following behind. Regarding the question about the conclusions and observations from the visit of the IMF Managing Director, the Minister said that Michel Kamdessy was more concerned with… (Continued on page 2)

- Press conference by the Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Mr. Miguel Martinez - Yesterday, in one of the halls of the «Palace of Congresses», the Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Mr. Martinez, held a press conference. After speaking about the meetings he had held in our country, Mr. Martinez stressed that this was the first initiative he had undertaken. He will make his second visit later to Russia, whose parliament is also a candidate for joining the Parliamentary Assembly. “The most positive thing to note,” said Mr. Martinez, “is that your country is making good progress in the political field, and that the things we expect of you are being fulfilled. ‘Your country is gaining ever greater respect in Europe.’ President Berisha made a serious and good impression with his speech, and your parliamentarians who take part in our Assembly as observers are working seriously.” Mr. Martinez said this, then continued: “I must tell you that the Council of Europe needs Albania; it needs all countries. Therefore, we will make every effort to bring Albania in.” Mr. Martinez then answered journalists’ questions. Regarding how the Council of Europe monitors respect for human rights in different countries, he said there were several ways to do this. First of all, laws are examined—that is, the legal guarantees a state provides for respect for these rights. Secondly, it is checked how such guarantees are implemented in practice. An important point is that member countries of the Council of Europe sign the Convention on Human Rights, after which every citizen has the right to appeal to the Strasbourg Court of Human Rights if they believe these rights have been violated. The state must submit to the court’s ruling. Asked about the Cham issue and minority rights, Mr. Martinez said that this issue had not been raised so far and, regarding their property, “in that protection”... (Continued on page 4)

- Second DP conference in Vlorë - - Attended by Mr. Eduart Selami - The Chairman of the DP, Mr. Selami, took part in the second conference of the Vlorë branch of the DP. The report of the branch’s governing council, delivered by Mr. Tafili, clearly showed the branch’s progress over the past year, along with its successes and shortcomings. Other participants then spoke as well: Mr. Sharaj addressed local government issues, Bastri Sofiri discussed corruption, Mr. Hamzaraj called for a review of the position on property, and so on. There were several discussions that fell outside the conference’s remit, and others in which it was not difficult to discern a certain nervousness or strong feeling in the analysis of the proposed candidacies. In his speech, Mr. Selami pointed out that the Vlorë branch was a successful branch. This was evident not only in its effective handling of election campaigns but also of the branch’s internal problems. “Tolerance toward one another,” Mr. Selami continued, “should characterize your discussions. The fact that three or more candidacies have been put forward shows that there is no single shared opinion. This is natural. The question arises: will there be debate? Certainly, but it should be tolerant and civilized, and the secret ballot will of course decide. On the other hand, the conference has a more clearly defined purpose. There are important matters of principle that can be analyzed here, such as what the branch is and what problems…” In his speech, he said that the necessary steps should be taken, on human rights. As far back as two years ago, the questions of the PSD parliamentary group for an interpellation had been submitted in writing to the Minister of Economy and Finance, Mr. Genc Ruli. At the beginning of his interpellation, Mr. Ruli stressed that he had answered the questions. This is here, such as: (Continued on page 2)