ON THE OCCASION OF KOSOVAR CULTURE WEEK As part of “Kosovo Culture Week,” several collective and individual exhibitions by painters, graphic artists and photographers opened in the capital. On Monday, the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, together with his wife, Mrs Berisha, paid a visit and viewed this exhibition, which is being held in the National Art Gallery and the National Historical Museum. Here the President was received by the Minister of Culture and Art, Dhimitër Anagnosti, the artists exhibiting, the Gallery director, Mr Qirjako Meniko, and others. The President began his visit at the exhibition of the painter Myslim Muliq, which attracted interest and was praised by the President as powerful painting that expresses the strength of true art. Myslim Muliq is a well-known painter, developed in Albania, and is an asset to Kosovar and Albanian art in general. The painter Muliq, enthused (Continued on page 3)

The expulsion of emigrants from Greece and the Serbo-Macedonian provocations at the border constitute a twofold attack on the Albanian state. These events are also connected with the rising tensions in the Balkans. We call on the President and the Government to take the initiative once again to find a multilateral solution to the problems that have arisen. The Balkans can be settled without war, which would mean everyone’s defeat. The peoples and governments of the countries concerned cannot accept such fantasies or a course so harmful to the Balkans themselves. The Republican Party believes that the current situation calls for joint action by political forces in Albania. What is at stake is the nation’s state interests, the security of the state, and the protection of citizens’ lives and livelihoods. In these circumstances, we call on the political parties that have left Parliament to return immediately, postponing discussion of other issues for a time. In this way, a political unity and a common voice among the parties will be created for the President, so that he can address the external situation as well as the fundamental question of the country’s progress. Under the circumstances, it is not appropriate to make decisions concerning the rights of the majority, and no one should evade their responsibilities toward the country. The Republican Party fully supports the President’s position in the situation that has arisen. THE GOVERNING COMMITTEE OF THE ARP Tirana, 30.06.1993

What was expected has happened. This time the pretext was the entirely justified measure taken by our government to expel from Albania the Greek armiqndrit Kristo Stamos, who, alongside his religious activity, was also conducting other activities of a political nature, such as distributing maps showing the territories of Southern Albania as part of Greece, distributing leaflets with anti-Albanian content calling for autonomy for the so-called “Northern Epirus” and claiming that Albania’s Orthodox Christians are Greeks, etc. These activities constituted an open breach of every kind of international rule governing the presence of foreign nationals in a country. The activity of this armiqndrit posed a threat to our country’s sovereignty, and no country in the world would allow activities of such a nature, laying claim to entire territories, as in the case of the self-styled armiqndrit of “Gjirokastra.” How would the Greek government act if an Albanian refugee or member of the Albanian minority working in Greece distributed maps showing Albania’s borders extending to the Gulf of Arta? What, indeed, would the reaction of Greek political circles be if people in Albania, through Albanians living in Greece, called for the territories inhabited by the Arvanites (Arbëreshë) to be considered Albanian, even though they had settled there many centuries before Greek minority agents came to Southern Albania? Analysing this incident, it is not difficult to conclude that it originated in Athens. Why was the armiqndrit not expelled in due time, before the Albanian authorities notified the Greek consulate in Gjirokastra regarding his expulsion? About a week before this incident took place, the Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman, following the Serreqi-Papakonstantinu meeting, made a strange statement according to which “the Greek government will suspend all visits by Greek delegations to Albania, as well as the Greek representatives at the Greek Foreign Ministry in Albania, because the Albanian government has made no progress in improving the status of the Greek minority in Albania since Meksi’s visit to Greece.” “Naturally, such a statement, made without any accountability and not reflecting the truth about the progress of the Serreqi-Papakonstantinu meeting, caused surprise and prompted a protest from the Albanian Foreign Ministry.” As a result of the Albanian response, the Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman was forced immediately to issue a retraction of his earlier statement. And now, before even a week has passed, there come (Continued on page 2)

More than two months have passed since the documents accusing former PPSH leaders in connection with the loss of 8 million dollars were presented to Parliament. The General Prosecutor’s Office has been informed that the denunciation material was submitted some time ago and forwarded to the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office, which has also appointed the team of investigators handling the case. Stop. “Convicted and the process of deprivation of liberty is being sentenced.” Nevertheless, at the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office, details can also be provided about the matter, according to institutional sources and deputies, who say that he is no longer being investigated. The angry questioners ask: “What is happening with Nano? When will he be sentenced?” Of course, the justice authorities have their duties and powers, and we do not claim to interfere. Nor would I want to prejudge the actions of any lawyer who says that “power can be exercised.” “Intentional commission of acts contrary to the proper performance of state or social duties, or intentional failure to perform a duty, where these have caused or could cause serious consequences for state or social interests or for the lawful rights and interests of citizens and the state.” if he sought to destroy the monist constitution. It is also known that 8 million dollars were lost through this misappropriation; Nano therefore fulfils the elements of the crime of abuse of office, thus the judiciary has only to issue its decision: send Nano to dig ditches, open new canals or old ones, or sentence him to imprisonment. We have learned from several well-informed sources, who do not agree to be identified, that two investigators from the investigation team have also been to Italy regarding this matter. “The judge, according to these same sources, (?), has l...??) the investigation and will be questioned by the investigative team. In response to some, Nano’s parliamentary immunity will be lifted; it should not be someone else? It seems there is no way to do it immediately, because it will continue, etc.” EDI PALOKA

Evidence of the majority’s political will to continue the work of the People’s Assembly THE DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY AND YESTERDAY, THE FOLLOWING WERE APPROVED IN THE PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY: ◉ The draft law “On the National Archival Fund and Archives” ◉ The draft law “On the accession of the Republic of Albania to the ‘Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.’” ◉ The draft law “On the ratification of the cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Albania and the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Bulgaria.” ◉ And in the afternoon, the Minister of Justice, Mr Kudret Çela, and the Chairman of the State Control Service, Mr Blerim Çela, appeared before the People’s Assembly for a question session. (We will inform you in greater detail in forthcoming issues of “RD.”)

STATEMENT OF THE PARLIAMENTARY GROUP OF THE DP On 26 June 1993, the parliamentary group of the Democratic Party met and, with a sense of responsibility, considered and discussed in full its work and duties in connection with the political and economic situation, the circumstances that have arisen recently, and the complex international context, particularly the intensification of actions against the Albanian nation and state undertaken by neighbouring chauvinists. After a detailed analysis of this situation, it found that anti-democratic and anti-national political forces in Albania and abroad are trying at all costs to undermine the achievements of democratic government and to complicate and destabilise the political situation in our country, preventing the Republic of Albania from playing its rightful role in defending the rights and interests of the entire Albanian people. On this matter, anti-democratic forces with no legitimacy in the overthrown order, who do not want democracy, are making efforts and persisting in their attempts to undermine our country’s standing in Europe; they have undertaken repeated and endless official démarches with neighbouring states, with serious consequences. THE PARLIAMENTARY GROUP DECIDED 1. To denounce as an act devoid of political responsibility the unjustified and unreasonable withdrawal from Parliament by the parliamentary groups of the SP and PSD, and by the PPDN deputies. This act, carried out according to a politically prearranged script, aims to create a parliamentary crisis that would destabilise the country and increase the difficulties and suffering in this phase of transition we are going through—it would satisfy only the enemies of the Albanian nation. 2. To denounce the joint declaration of the SP and PASOK as an act and document with openly anti-Albanian and anti-national aims and spirit, which jeopardises the fate and rights of the Albanian nation and state in the current situation. The obvious consequences of this anti-Albanian document are already beginning to emerge. 3. To declare mistaken and unacceptable the position of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly and, personally, of its Chairman, Mr Pjetër Arbnori, who, in the presence of the German parliamentary delegation, received Nano as a person denounced for criminal prosecution and whose anti-democratic and anti-national actions have aroused concern and indignation in Albanian public opinion. 4. To consider unjustifiable the hesitant and indecisive stance of the governing bodies, which are dragging out the investigation, trial and enforcement of accountability for those responsible for the failures and actions in question, as well as the delays in dealing with matters relating to their detention and trial, especially that of Ramiz Alia, who, although under house arrest, is being given opportunities to engage in political intrigues to the detriment of stability and democracy in Albania. The justice authorities must hold accountable all the criminals who committed acts of terror during the communist dictatorship, violating even the laws then in force. The DP parliamentary group declares and pledges before the entire people that it will continue its work in Parliament to justify the trust placed in it on 22 June and 22 May, with the full responsibility of defending the interests of the nation and its sovereign rights. Today, only communism is in crisis; no other crisis directed against democracy will be allowed. This group will exercise its functions throughout the term for which the people gave it their vote of confidence. We have seen where 50 years of communist-socialist dictatorship and rule led the people of Albania. 22 March created a new opportunity to lead Albania, exhausted by communism, along a new path. Whether or not certain domestic or foreign political forces or groups that dislike democracy approve, on 22 March the people sanctioned the legitimacy of democratic government and the parliamentary group. Our parliamentary group is conscious of the responsibility and historic mission entrusted to it. It will support the President and the Democratic Government to the end in their efforts to advance and establish democracy and to defend state and national sovereignty. It strongly supports the President’s positions, expressed in the message sent to senior international figures concerning the hostile armed activity of neighbouring chauvinists against Albania. The Group considers it essential that the Government and the justice authorities provide all necessary support to the State Control Commission in intensifying the fight against corruption. The DP Parliamentary Group calls on voters and all democratic patriotic forces to give it every assistance and their full support so that it may honourably carry out the duties it has undertaken. This statement was also endorsed by a deputy of the Republican Party.

The Tirana District Prosecutor’s Office opened criminal proceedings against Indajet Beqiri, accusing him of the criminal offence of theft against the President of the Republic; notwithstanding Article 11/8 of the Criminal Code, house arrest was imposed as a security measure. The investigation established that the defendant Indajet Beqiri, using the pseudonym “Arbër Kastrati” in the newspaper “Kombi” dated 22.6.1993, wrote an article for the lead story and used insulting and defamatory words against the President of the Republic. On 23.6.1993, the criminal case was sent to the District Court for trial. SPOKESPERSON FOR THE DISTRICT PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE EDITORIAL NOTE This reality is distorted by its publication in the newspaper “RD,” which is the newspaper of an unlawful group, among the most unscrupulous and absurd. The public is familiar with the function of this newspaper from almost half a century. But when