THE FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS must remain OUR INFALLIBLE CRITERION
- Speech by Mr. SALI BERISHA delivered at the National Council of the DP -
- No one can deny the successes of the reform.
- The dire predictions of the destructive forces will be disproved.
- The DP has adhered, and will adhere rigorously, to its program.
- Not puppet MPs, but professional politicians.
- Communication and transparency—the fundamental conditions for democracy to function.
- 1993—the year of full privatization.
We are gathered here today to responsibly analyze what we have accomplished over the past 9 months and what our fundamental lines of work should be in order to responsibly complete the year that has begun. I can tell you that this is a year of extraordinary importance for the country’s consolidation and for the development of democracy.
On March 22, the Democratic Party came to power with a victory unprecedented in Eastern Europe. The DP’s landslide victory was the result of the Albanian people’s great trust and determination to follow the path of democracy. It is, of course, also connected to the fact that the Democratic Party of Albania was the only political force in Eastern Europe to come to power directly through a free vote, coming to power from the opposition. Thus, leaving the Government of Stability was an extraordinarily important and correct step, which greatly contributed to the victory of March 22.
On March 22 the scale of the victory was indeed [unclear in source]. The international institutions of the Council of Europe and all the other international institutions with which we cooperate are very satisfied with the progress of reform in Albania and its results. We adhere to them, just as we will continue to do in the future.
Very important steps have been taken toward guaranteeing human rights and freedoms. Naturally, we must pause here on several points. The DP, when it was founded, was founded as a party of freedoms and human rights, as a center-right party. In our view, it is precisely center-right parties that best and most fully guarantee the individual’s fundamental freedoms, because these parties declare private property and the freedom of ownership sacred. Free enterprise, in the concept of a center-right party, is a fundamental condition for expanding other political freedoms as well.
The truth is that during these 9 months Albanians have had the freedom of—
I would like an example, but you know that there must be room for free thought in the Albanian parliament. A parliament cannot be judged by one article, honorable MPs; a parliament cannot be identified with one parliamentary group, because we must not forget that behind it stand hundreds, thousands of votes that we must respect. Therefore, even if an MP loses his dignity, even if he takes a wrong position, his constituents will judge him. This will be a democratic stance; it will do you and democracy credit.
It is essential that the DP adhere rigorously to its program, as it has done until now. This program was publicly proclaimed; it was presented to the people and, to our satisfaction, the DP has adhered rigorously to its program to this day.
I came here, naturally, not to parade our successes, but to show that during these 9 months the DP parliamentary group, the DP and the government have had—
In this country, when in power, we must change the political apparatus. We are seeing this now in the Clinton administration, but every administration does this. In any case, I urge you to choose capable, competent people, dedicated intellectuals committed to democracy; there are many of them, and we must know how to engage them.
In administrative reform, institutional reform must also be essential. It is difficult, in the first months or days, to know what the most appropriate form of administration is, or what the organizational form of government should be. In this regard, by seeking the assistance of international institutions, we are trying to make use of the assistance we have been given.
A serious shortcoming in the work of the state administration has been coordination. The lack of coordination among the various ministries is one of the issues requiring swift correction.
[Top portion cut off] ...connected to the other was indeed great, but, of course, many times greater and much heavier was the burden we were taking upon ourselves. Democracy, the Albanian democratic reform, carried with it a legacy unprecedented throughout the European continent. The truth is that in many respects Albania is a third-world country, unlike any other country on the continent.
Besides the many complex problems, it must not be denied that there have also been numerous destructive and conservative forces which, grouped into various associations and political parties, have tried to oppose the government from its very first steps and to oppose the reform from its very first days. With their psychology, they began setting deadlines for the government and democratic rule, but, as you can see, all their predictions failed. For the first time, Albania has had its longest period of parliamentary life, of parliamentary democracy. If Albanian democracy failed in 1924, it was not because the Albanians wanted it to, but because Albania was surrounded by a reactionary clique, whereas today Albania is in a close alliance and relationship with democratic states which, together with the efforts of the Albanians, make it possible for democracy to develop ever further in Albania.
Naturally, these 9 months have been months of great achievements. No one can deny this in the field of administrative reform, or in the fields of political and economic reform. In 9 months, we can say that Albania has become an open country, a respected country, a country with sound and strong ties. In 9 months it represented Albanian democracy and all Albanian national strata with dignity in all national and international forums.
In 9 months, the Albanian parliament approved laws that will remain for a long time among the foundations of a society based on free enterprise, a society whose values have been fully demonstrated in the developed countries of Europe and other continents.
In 9 months, the government of Mr. Meksi had the courage to begin economic reform. The great reform—[source wording unclear]—of this major economic and political reform is undoubtedly the substantial increase in investment; the reform encompasses [unclear] aspects, because in itself the reform encompasses [unclear] aspects; price liberalization, assistance—all these do not work in our favor, but rather the opposite. Nevertheless, bold decisions were made, because without bold decisions the country cannot move forward. The Meksi government committed itself strongly to implementing economic reform, signed the IMF agreement and, to our satisfaction, it was welcomed by the IMF and the World Bank.
[Second column, beginning cut off] ...human rights; it was founded center-right parties that guarantee the individual’s fundamental freedoms better and more fully than the others, party, is a fundamental condition for enjoying these 9 months Albanians have had the freedoms of thought and expression, belief, assembly and association, initiative, and private property fully guaranteed. Dozens of parties have been formed, including one founded by a group that put forward views outside the DP program. This is democracy, and we are very pleased that parties are being formed and various associations organized.
I believe that the rights of the individual must be a fundamental matter to which we must adhere at all times. Everyone must understand clearly that we will be able to integrate Albania into Europe and achieve our goals and ideals only by being and remaining a party of human freedoms and rights.
Anyone who thinks that by bending the laws and establishing rules that conflict with the Helsinki Charter or that of the UN will help Albania is seriously mistaken.
It is true that integration into Europe increases responsibility; it is true that the more open we become, the more responsible we are for formulating [unclear] whose values lie at the foundation of Western civilization. It is true that Albania will not lose its identity; rather, it will grow stronger, develop and draw ever closer to the civilized world. Therefore, honorable MPs and members of the council, I urge you, in all your activities and at every moment, to refer to fundamental human rights and freedoms. This is and must be the infallible criterion. If we adhere to them, we will not make mistakes; but if we do not, we will push the party to the left or right, toward extremes, and we will not build democracy but the opposite. Therefore, I urge you to adhere closely to these principles in all your activities. It is true that in a democracy the majority governs, and this must be a great lesson for all Albanians. It is also true that the majority has its own tolerance. I am displeased when members of the DP, despite their extraordinary contributions at certain stages, restrict the space available to other political forces in parliament.
When the law on invalidity was approved, it must be said that, indeed, in the sense that the law also included those who fought against their fellow fighters, our deputies would only have been honored by adding those categories of fellow fighters. No one should restrict another’s space. We must be clear that the DP has [unclear] with the occupiers and their former collaborators and all [unclear]. The DP is a center-right party, not a party of extremists. The extremists are fascists and collaborators; they have nothing in common with the DP.
[Third column, beginning cut off] This program was publicly proclaimed, has adhered rigorously to it our successes, but to show that over the government have undoubtedly achieved results that are also the foundations of a democratic Albania. But have there been shortcomings and weaknesses in the work of our institutions? There have been, and not a few. I will try to mention some of the main ones here:
First, the relationship between MPs and the government. I say that after the last meeting the government has made a profound change in its attitude toward MPs. I ask that MPs be fully respected, and I am not asking this only for DP MPs. Mr. Minister, an MP must be respected. His requests must be followed up carefully and resolved.
If he makes suggestions that conflict with the government’s program, you need not take them into account; but if an MP raises issues that are in line with the government’s program, you, honorable ministers, are obliged to see their resolution through to the end.
I can say that strengthening the role of the MP is a fundamental condition for democracy to function in Albania. Albania does not have and cannot have puppet MPs, but professional politicians, elected by free vote and trusted by those who elected them. Their activity will be decisive both for the smooth running of affairs and for the development of reform in your domain. for the development of reform in your domain. through to the end.
[Fourth column] ...whether there have development of reform in your domain. through to the end.
[Fifth column, continuation] ...it is true that the DP must now. This program was publicly proclaimed and show that over
[Right-hand column] ...whereas previously they attributed everything to the state, today it must be the opposite: we must attribute everything to ourselves. We must develop this concept. As for privatization, although successes have been recorded in the privatization of trade and land, the delays in some ministries are serious and unjustifiable. They reflect the old mindsets and attitudes of the directors of these ministries, who still believe in state property, forgetting that it belongs to an old state. Therefore, I urge you to commit yourselves—as MPs, members of the National Council, government officials and citizens—with all your strength to carrying out the privatization process. This is the year that will be decisive, and I would call it the year of privatization; this is the year that will determine the success of reform through privatization efforts.
The fight against corruption should undoubtedly have been one of the government’s and other state bodies’ fundamental areas of activity. I cannot say that no important steps have been taken, but the effort is still far from being at the necessary level.
It is true that there is a decree, but ministries such as the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture have done little to implement it. They have preferred to leave it to the State Audit Commission, whereas the government must establish all the concrete measures to be taken in the fight against corruption, which is undoubtedly one of the bitterest legacies.
In conclusion, I once again express my conviction that by adhering to the DP program and the program that the Meksi government presented to parliament, the democratic forces within and outside the DP will advance the reform, develop democracy further, and Albania will make very important progress this year in affirming its ties with Europe.