Yesterday, accompanied by his counterpart, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Italian Parliament, Mr. Antonio Ca... rilgjia, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament and chairman of the Democratic Party of Albania, Mr. Eduard Selami, set off on a visit to Italy. At the meetings to be held, recent developments in the region will be discussed, as well as the need to strengthen ties and relations between the two countries. Recognizing Italy’s assistance in Albania’s integration into European structures, Mr. Selami will call for further commitment from the Italian Parliament and government in this regard. Press and Information Office

- Prime Minister Meksi talks with Mr. M. Muhamed - Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Dr. M. Muhamed, said during his meeting with his counterpart, Mr. A. Meksi, “We have come to Albania specifically to look at concrete areas of economic and trade cooperation.” Mr. Muhamed has come to Albania for the first time at the head of a government delegation from Malaysia, which also includes many businesspeople. Expressing his support for the Albanian government’s policy and progress in economic reforms, he said, “We have decided to engage the Malaysian market, especially with Albania, which is building a market economy.” In this regard, he called for meetings between officials and businesspeople from the two countries to continue in the future. During the talks, the Malaysian side expressed interest in Albania’s free industrial zones, banking system, transport, and infrastructure in general. After learning about Albania’s economic structure, they showed particular interest in investing in the processing industry for agricultural and livestock products, mountain and coastal tourism, etc. Prime Minister Meksi, assuring them of Albania’s favorable legislation for foreign investors, told the guests from Malaysia, “Our country welcomes foreign investors, and if they come from Malaysia too, this will mean that their investments in Albania are also investments in Europe, since Albania is part of it.” The Minister of Finance and Economy, G. Ruli, spoke about the priorities of the Albanian economy to date and expressed readiness to cooperate with the representatives from Malaysia at the meeting of foreign investors to be held in Tirana in September this year. The Minister of Industry, A. Xhaja, also offered cooperation in the fields of mineral extraction and processing. The Malaysian side showed particular interest in the port of Durrës and other sectors of the Albanian economy. (ATSH)

- MR. MUHAMED PROCLAIMED “HONORARY CITIZEN” OF TIRANA. Yesterday at 8:30, the Mayor of Tirana, Mr. Sali Kelmendi, received the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mr. Muhamed. Also present at the reception were the Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers in charge of reform, Mr. Bashkim Kopliku, members of the municipal council, journalists, and other foreign guests. After thanking the distinguished guest, Mr. Kelmendi read the municipal council’s decision proclaiming Mr. Muhamed an Honorary Citizen of Tirana. They then exchanged symbolic gifts. Taking the floor, Mr. Muhamed highly praised the hospitality shown to him, which he regarded as an honor bestowed not only on him but on all the Malaysian people. “If Malaysians,” he said, “do something for Tirana’s development, I will always be very pleased.” At the banquet held on this occasion, toasts were raised to the friendship between the two peoples. After the meeting, a visit was made to the Ethem Beu Mosque, followed by a walk through the city streets. “RD” correspondent

As reported in the press, PUK chairman Idajet Beqiri was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for libel in the press. This is not Beqiri’s first sentence; he has previously also been convicted of forgery. There has been much outcry recently over abuses of press freedom. PUK chairman I. Beqiri reached the peak in this regard when he accused and slandered the President of the Republic. Justice finally acted and carried out one of the actions it should have taken long ago. Thus, despite the “thousands of citizens” (as the newspaper “Kombi” put it) calling “Labor Party” for Idajet outside the court, the PUK chairman could not escape his “just deserts.” But what is Nano “doing”? He helped his “little brother” with rallies too, but we do not know how much Nano himself will like rallies. How soon will he be in the place where I. Beqiri was? The rally-goers Nano gathers will add to their repertoire of slogans; so, besides “Labor Party,” they may shout “Party-Enver,” “Nexhmije-Fatos,” etc. But surely they, too, will have the same effect as Idajet’s rally-goers. In other words, soon Nano may meet again with his “mother” and “little brother.” Fasko, Nano, and Beqiri belong to the same category; they are Albania’s shame. Such specimens should leave the Albanian political scene as soon as possible. With their deeds and scandals, they insult the nation, its unity, and its dignity. The sooner they understand this truth, the better it will be for them. Otherwise, the shame that has engulfed them will engulf them once and for all. EDI PALOKA

A portrait of an abuser of freedom of expression Idajet Beqiri - lawyer, forger, chairman of an “army without a camp,” speculator editor-in-chief, ... - Idajet Beqiri: lawyer, forger, chairman of an “army without a camp,” speculator editor-in-chief, ... The time of epochal upheaval in Albania, the period we have described as the transition, would be the environment in which all species of trans-social phenomena—and, along with them, those called “genres” of types and characters—would find optimal terrain to move about. And so, alongside “seasonal reformers,” this period would also teem with speculators of this or that category, including some chosen chairmen of pseudo-parties, confederations, associations, forums, and so on and so forth... In this various “season” of transition, in this “ethos genesis,” the lawyer Idajet Beqiri would also emerge at the head of a party that had only the name of a national party. We do not wish to deal with the latter, but the fact that a figure like Mr. Beqiri stands at its head is what prompts us to comment, unbidden. As for who this person is, let us recall just one small detail from an event in Krujë on the occasion of the announcement of the party’s formation: When citizens noticed on the announcement poster that the chairman of the organizing committee was Idajet Beqiri, they crossed out the word NATIONAL in the party’s name and wrote “KUVART” in its place, indicating the word “QU ARTY,” and read it as “Party of National Unity.” We regret it, but this is the truth. In Krujë, his name also became associated with his friendship with Xhevil Gjoni. As chairman of the Krujë court, apart from political cases, which he successfully brought, in a civil case concerning a conflict of interests involving ... he reached a point where ... and was convicted as a forger, without being troubled either by his family’s ... with Xhel Gjoni, or by the sympathy he enjoyed from his superior, Aranit Çela. What gave him his identity as a party chairman was never clear, except for his drift into a grouping aligned with the forces of the former regime and the conservatives. This was also apparent at his latest trial, where the courtroom was filled with Enver’s activists and leaders of the Communist Party operating underground, such as Refik Kuqi (secretary of the M-L Institute of N. Hoxha), who inspired the courtroom to shout “Labor Party,” etc. A crowd in the courtroom staged a social spectacle for Fatos Nano, as if to “Nexhmije” him and mark the approaching trial of their ... and other blockages. In the audience there was also “material” that would make up part of it. In this sense, it was natural that, apart from “ZP,” no one else would “care” so much about Idajet Beqiri’s conviction for abusing freedom of expression. First and foremost, ZP is terrified by its own fate, as a symbol of the abuse and squandering of press freedom. Idajet Beqiri was convicted as the perpetrator of a proven criminal offense provided for in the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Albania. No one has the right to insinuate or claim that he was convicted as an “opposition figure” or “chairman of an opposition party.” We should express our appreciation that the rule of law is finally being upheld fairly, in accordance with the civil rights that derive from the law. Idajet Beqiri—lawyer, forger, chairman of an “army without a camp,” and now, finally, a speculator editor-in-chief—with such activity and such “bluster” has naturally prepared this inglorious end for himself. Whoever wants the rule of law and democracy must respect the law. RAKIP SULÇE

- Press conference by the Albanian Prime Minister, Mr. A. Meksi, and his Malaysian counterpart, Mr. Mahathir Bin Mohamed. A few days ago, at the Palace of Brigades in Tirana, the Prime Minister of Albania, Mr. Aleksandër Meksi, and his Malaysian counterpart, Mr. Mahathir Bin Mohamed, held a press conference for local and foreign journalists at the conclusion of their bilateral talks and, respectively, at the end of the Malaysian dignitary’s visit to Albania. “In our talks,” Mr. Meksi stressed, “we addressed many bilateral economic issues as well as matters concerning political developments, particularly in our region. On these matters, we reached an understanding.” “I am convinced,” the Albanian prime minister continued, “that Malaysia will help Albania in the textile, chemical, and electrotechnical industries, in banking, etc.” “The establishment of a joint economic commission would help these projects become concrete as soon as possible,” Mr. Meksi said. This is a hopeful and positive outcome of the friendly talks with the Malaysian prime minister, which also concretely express the goodwill and readiness of both sides to cooperate. Taking the floor, Malaysian Prime Minister Mr. Mahathir Bin Mohamed emphasized: “We are very happy to establish contacts and relations with Albania, and we are pleased to note that there is common ground and that things can be achieved jointly, with responsibility on both sides. Moreover, in Malaysia we have long experience in the market economy, particularly in trade and investment. Through direct contacts with Albania,” the Malaysian prime minister continued, “we will work on detailed programs for Albania’s development and for accelerating its economic development.” “We appreciate Albania’s critical moment, just as Malaysia’s situation was before its victory and independence, and for this reason we will support your country,” the Malaysian prime minister emphasized. “I guarantee this economic and political support to both the President of Albania, Mr. Berisha, and the Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Arbnori, at the meetings I had with them,” Mr. Mahathir Bin Mohamed underscored. “We,” he continued, “will encourage private businesspeople to invest in Albania. We have now agreed in principle to invest in these markets and in shipbuilding in Durrës, and this will pave the way for other very important investments.” Mr. Mohathir Bin Mohamed continued, saying that he was very interested in receiving the title “Honorary Citizen of Tirana.” “I saw Tirana with particular goodwill and observed that it could very quickly become a major commercial center.” “To exchange experience,” the Malaysian prime minister continued, “we will send from Malaysia businesspeople, mainly traders and bankers, as well as people in this profession and academic leaders, etc.” “I think,” the Malaysian prime minister concluded, “that this visit will pave the way for significant developments in cooperation between our two countries.” The press conference then continued with questions from the journalists present. The question “Did ...?” Next, questions concerning the timing of the joint commission between the two countries were addressed. The Malaysian prime minister replied that this would be done as soon as possible, since there was no real obstacle to its establishment. Asked about any specific agreement reached during these days, the Malaysian prime minister replied that an agreement had been concluded between the Albanian Bank and the Malaysian Bank, the Bank of the Association of South Asian Countries. Another question concerned the possibility of accepting Albanian workers in Malaysia. Mr. Mahathir Bin Mohamed replied that Albania has about one million illegal emigrants and that this raised the question of that possibility. In response to other questions about the situation in the region, the aggression in Bosnia, and Serbia’s expansionist policy of a Greater Serbia in the Balkans, the Malaysian prime minister emphasized that his government and country condemned the aggression in Bosnia and would take all measures to oppose its normalization. “The whole problem lies with Serbia, which has been and is involved in ... Bosnia ... Kosovo and another country. This would be a concern for the international community, and for the Malaysian government as well, which will do everything possible to prevent this situation,” concluded Malaysian Prime Minister Mr. Mahathir Bin Mohamed. At the close of the conference, the Albanian prime minister and the journalists present exchanged greetings. Prepared by: M. BUÇPAPAJ

On Tuesday, the Minister of Culture, Mr. Dhimitër Anagnosti, held a meeting with Messrs. Mandi Kotani and Gramoz Burba, representatives of the autonomous trade union of culture and public information, and with ... At the meeting ... they discussed ... culture and public information and ... issues ... as well as ... For ... ...

YEAR III OF PUBLICATION No. 413 Wednesday 14 July 1993 Price: 5 lekë

The PS is preparing its new chairman - Idajet Beqiri may succeed F. Nano. - This, too, could happen in a party of absurdities - The PSSH, from the day and in the manner of its birth, fully deserves to be called a party of fairy tales and absurdities. Anything, however absurd and abnormal, can happen to it and be expected of it. Naturally, this is also a consequence of its legacy. For it, it is entirely logical, normal, and possible to think about and prepare Fatos Nano’s most worthy successor as soon as he gives up the comforts of the PS chairmanship and car and is ushered into... a deserving retirement. The list of candidates has been drawn up and studied collectively. The testing criteria have also been determined. According to biographers and the most competent analysts, chosen with [ ?] by the PS leadership, the strongest rival is Idajet Beqiri. He meets the criteria much better than all the others. To satisfy readers’ curiosity, we will make known some of the main criteria: 1. He must be a forger, 2. he must be tried and tested in the art of distortion, 3. he must have good theoretical and practical knowledge in the field of political and financial business, 4. he must know how to act the victim even when he is a great sinner, 5. he must know how to speak for hours and appear to have listened, while remembering nothing himself. There are also several other criteria that favor the strongest candidate, Idajet Beqiri. But in addition to meeting the criteria, he also enjoys the full and powerful support of the PS leadership—the “ZP”—24 hours a day, as well as of the gang of the PS’s red brigades, who are trained and paid to shout slogans at rallies or terrorize the public with acts of vandalism. On Monday, too, in front of the Tirana court, they went all out with a rally for Nano, at the “spontaneous” demonstration shouting for the future chairman, Idajet Beqiri. Their sweat and tears streamed down them, as in the time of Enver and Ramiz, as they screamed, “Party-Enver, we are always ready,” “PSSH—Idajet Party—we’ll topple the Meksi government this year.” OLTION BARDHI