Chairman of the DPA, Mr. Eduard Selami, and members of the Democratic Government in Mirditë: - On Friday, DPA chairman Mr. Eduard Selami, accompanied by representatives of the Democratic Government, Messrs. Petrit Kalakula, Abdyl Xhaja, Tritan Shehu and Dashamir Shehi, went to the district of Mirditë, where they held meetings with the metallurgical workers of Rubik and residents of Rrëshen and Perlat. AT THE DISTRICT COUNCIL After welcoming them, the chairman of the DP in Mirditë, Mr. Zef Bardhi, and the district council chairman, Mr. Pashk Gjoku, gave an overview of the achievements and difficulties facing the district at a meeting with local government representatives. - It is a major success, he said, that in recent days we have put the Copper Metallurgical Works and the Refinery Plant into operation. Likewise, although operating at a loss, work has also started at several mines. The wheat has been harvested, and the yield is expected to be satisfactory, while the agricultural land has been planted. Nevertheless, the district council chairman, as well as the mayor of Rrëshen, Mr. Pashk Biba, raised a number of concerns facing the people of Mirditë. - How can a family with 250 m2 of land and 8 children live without any income? the mayor asked, citing a concrete example. He then raised healthcare issues, saying that the hospital was even short of syringes; he also mentioned the importance of oil, chromium and energy, negotiations concerning the copper industry, and the launch of the second six-month period, when another 15,000 workers would be employed. Mirditë is a copper granary and the oldest center of the metallurgical industry, with qualified intellectual potential. The director of the Plant, Mark Ruci, asked government officials to lower the tax, saying that, particularly in the rolling department, because of it they could not compete in the market. There was applause in the hall when, in response to the director’s complaint that workers were not receiving the 20–30 percent salary supplement because, as he put it, “we have debts,” Mr. Xhaja replied that the new law did not make it conditional and that workers should be given this supplement starting in May. The metallurgical workers then spoke. For example, union representative Gjergj Lleshi criticized the MPs for not coming to meet them, and raised the issue of pensions, among others. Worker Lek Gjeta said that the Copper Corporation had its offices in Tirana while the copper was in Mirditë, and raised issues of corruption, etc. Union representative Ded Marashi said that we are being led— facing the people of Mirditë. - the hospital was even short of syringes; education issues, explaining that French and English teachers were leaving because their salaries were low, and that the Ministry of Education had given them no funds at all to repair the schools; housing issues, saying that in Rrëshen alone there were 800 homeless families and that the Ministry of Construction had provided no funds; the problem of dealing with the damage caused by the rainfall of 17 November last year; the powers of local government, etc. A lengthy discussion on all these matters followed with DP chairman Mr. Eduard Selami and the ministers accompanying him. Mr. Kalakula said the concern raised about the social consequences of the limited amount of land in these parts was justified. But, he said, remember that entire villages in Kukës, Fierzë, etc., whose land has been submerged, have requested this. This is a government issue, and working groups have been sent to other districts in the northeast; they will also come here to Mirditë to conduct a study. Nevertheless, Mr. Kalakula said, you must make greater efforts to prevent people from abandoning their homes. Mirditë is a rich area, and in time, with increased investment, life will gradually return to normal. Naturally, increased investment in this district will gradually improve economic conditions. And the first signs are already visible: we saw this in Rubik, where the chimneys are smoking; we saw it on the road, where it was being paved; and we saw it in Rubik, where the new national road route will be completed in the coming days. It will no longer pass through this town, where dozens of accidents have previously occurred. But the concerns raised have to do with the transitional period and urgent solutions, which the DP chairman, Mr. Selami, rightly recognized when he said: Having familiarized myself with the situation presented, I think the Government should also consider [the measures for?] the movement of the population; they could be implemented very soon. In the Tërbuf area there are about 7,000 hectares of usable land that could be made available to those who are free to move. Mr. Dashamir Shehi also offered another alternative, saying that once large-scale investments begin, people will be free to work wherever they want and will thus be able to get settled without changing the state. All the district’s investments, raised a number of concerns confronting the people of Mirdita. “How can a family with 250 m² mayor asked, giving the hospital lacks even syringes; education issues, saying that French and English teachers are leaving because their salaries are low and that the Ministry of Education has provided no funds to repair schools; housing issues, noting that there are 800 homeless families in Rrëshen alone and that the Ministry of Construction has provided no funding; the problem of clearing up the damage caused by the rainfall of November 17 last year; the powers of local government; and so on. A lengthy discussion on all these matters was held with the Chairman of the PD, Mr. Eduard Selami, and the ministers accompanying him.

The President of the European Parliament, Dr. Egon Klepsh, was born on 30 January 1930 in Bodenbach (Elbe). He studied history, political science and geography, in which fields he also earned a doctorate, and has been a member of the CDU (Christian Democratic Union) since 1951. From 1963 to 1969 he was Federal Chairman of the Young Christian Democrats; from 1964 to 1970, chairman of the European Union of Young Christian Democrats (EUY); from 1977 to January 1992, vice-president of the European People’s Party; and since June 1992, a member of the Bureau of the European People’s Party. He was a member of the Bundestag from 1965 to 1980, chairman of the CDU/CSU Parliamentary Group’s Working Group on Defence Policy in the Bundestag from 1976 to 1980, and a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and of the Western European Union. From 1969 to 1980 he was a member of the European Parliament (not directly elected), and its president from 1979. From 1977 to 1982 Dr. Egon Klepsh was chairman of the EPP Group; from 1982 to 1984, vice-president of the European Parliament; from 1984 to January 1992, chairman of the EPP Group; and since 14 January 1992, President of the European Parliament. BIOGRAPHY OF DR. EGON KLEPSH, PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT A member of the CDU Bureau, Mr. Klepsh has been a member of the Bureau of Europa-Union Deutschland since 1977, chairman of Europa-Union Deutschland from 1988 to 1989, chairman of Europa-Union Deutschland since 1989, vice-chairman of the German Council of the European Movement since December 1990, a member of the Board of Governors of Deutschland-funk since 1991, and, until January 1992, a member of the Bundestag Committee on European Affairs. Dr. Egon Klepsh is the author of many publications on European affairs, political science, international relations and defence policy. These include «Communism in Germany», «The Programme for Europe», «Problems and Prospects of the European Union», «Voices of the World in the European Parliament», etc. Mr. Klepsh has also received numerous honorary distinctions, such as the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy, the Order of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Order of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, an honorary doctorate from the Austral University of Chile, etc. (ATSH)

The list «virus» has caused around 13 «victims» It has reached its peak. While Albanians have been legally enjoying the two weekly days of the «weekend» for no more than three weeks, for social-communist-style parliamentarians their «weekend» of destructiveness has been past the peak of its withered moral «summer» for about a month. At Mr. Gjinushi’s latest meeting with PSD sympathizers—social-communist «fans»—in Tirana, in response to the question, «Do our MPs live on greens?!...» And then, after expressing his «obsessions»—his reservations about the DP over the National Liberation War—and astonishing us by saying that Enver Hoxha did not write history during these 50 years (?!!), he finally replied that they (in the PSD...) would come to Parliament only when the DP created the proper conditions for them (?!!). So Gjinushi is concerned neither for Albania nor for its constitution, but for «conditions». Yet again, by abandoning— At Mr. Gjinushi’s most recent meeting with PSD supporters—“cheerleaders,” the social-communists—in Tirana, we asked him: “We have seen that these days PS deputies, such as Lush Perpali, Halil Lala, etc., have begun coming to the People’s Assembly, whereas not one member of the PSD group has shown up. Could it be that your ‘sponsor’ is more powerful than the PS’s? Or have you decided not to ‘surrender,’ remaining faithful to the very end to the ‘action’ of Enverian greenness? So, will you come, and when will you come to the Assembly?” In fact, in his reply Mr. Gjinushi dismissed this ‘action’ as neither a necessary nor a sufficient condition. Indeed, ‘astonished,’ he turned to the audience and asked how it could be possible that The parliamentary circle, the social-communist type of “unikendi,” their destructiveness has for about a month passed the peak of its dried-up, immoral “value.” could be possible that The parliamentary circle, their “unikendi” of its dried-up, immoral “value.” could be possible that

In one of the departments of the Rubik Refinery Plant, Mr. Selami and the ministers accompanying him had a warm conversation with the copper metallurgical workers. - We have gathered here, Mr. Selami said, to see the problems brought together and find out what can be resolved. Mr. Abdy Xhaja then spoke about the situation in which the Democratic Government found the copper industry, as well as the prospects opening up. The financial blockage of the participation has now been removed, and around 7 million lekë in financing has been unblocked. Investments are at the stage of being made in this

At the meeting organized in Perlat in the courtyard of Ll. Mace’s house, Mr. Selami informed the villagers about the situation the country is going through. - Despite the possible risk of war, and despite the fact that we could have had a more lasting understanding with our southern neighbors, things have moved in a positive direction. Nevertheless, Mr. Selami continued, we have a lot to do. I have observed one thing: people do not ask for things that cannot be done. So let’s talk about what your concerns are and discuss together what we can do. The commune chairman, Ndrec Doda, gave a brief account of the situation in the area, noting in particular that 60 percent of the villages produce their own wheat for bread, but said that we have faced social problems connected with land. The villages tend to return to their own lands, regardless of the law; agricultural machinery is scarce and the charges are high. Villager Dod Leshi said: I work in the mine, but we are not paid compensation. I came all the way to Tirana for a visit because I am disabled, and the doctor will not see me unless I pay 5,000 lekë. Regarding this last concern, Mr. Tritan Shehu explained that the ministry was preparing a study that could reduce these practices, which he described as inhumane acts, if not crimes committed by some doctors. A young man deported from Greece in recent days said that they had kept 1 million drachmas from him there and that he wanted the Government to intervene and do something. It should be said that at all the meetings held, the incompetence of local government leaders in solving problems was evident. Mark Nika from Perlat said: The land law is not being applied in our village. My land has been planted with [Ligjen e Urës?], the State gave me a house on someone else’s land, and he is threatening me. As is known, Parliament has introduced an amendment to the land law giving local government full powers to implement the law. So why are local government leaders not acting? Do they not know it, or do they not want to enforce it? Mr. Kalakula drew attention to this fact, saying that the land law would certainly be implemented. He said: I think they should bring it to completion where the land was, but only insofar as the law entitles you to it. Those who have undertaken [the violations?] of the established value, let them enjoy it! The State will compensate for the property of the land. He then told the villagers about a fund allocated for Mirditë, Bulqizë and Has, which would improve the irrigation system. (Continued on page 6)

MY BIOGRAPHY CAN BE WRITTEN BY THOSE WHO HAVE FACED DEATH ALONGSIDE ME - Pjetër Arbnori’s speech delivered before the joint meeting of the MPs of the DP Parliamentary Group, the DP Presidency, the President and the Government, on 14. 7. 1993 The Democratic Party has for some time, in addition to the not inconsiderable burden of governing, been under attack from outside and inside by a group of people whose nature they have not yet managed to determine, but who have caused them a great deal of trouble. I do not want to follow the simplistic, but undignified, formula of saying that those who cause us trouble are agents of this or that. For me, it is enough to explain that to assess a person you must look at the course of their life, at what they have actually done. From that you can understand whom they have served. Personally, I have known him for some time through many articles in the newspapers «Zëri i Popullit», «Koha Jonë» and «Bashkimi», and through Azem Hajdari’s statements about you, which have been interpreted excessively. You can see me listing political issues, the suffering caused by careerism, and the pursuit of grandeur. Listen to Azem Hajdari in his discussions: «I have held 1,854 rallies, visited 1,983 villages, travelled 162,721 km, founded the DP, was the first chairman of the DP, I can gather 100,000 people at a single meeting.» All these are empty phrases. We, without the Democratic Party, are nothing politically; the DP can very well exist without us. This is also one of the reasons why Azem Hajdari, despite all his threats, does not leave the DP. We heard that he could not gather even 100,000 people—not 100,000 to overthrow the Meksi Government, as he declared, but even 1,000. He is not the founder of the DP; its founders are thousands of students, intellectuals, friends, people persecuted and hungry for freedom. They are all the founders of the DP. «He and several others in his circle made Azem Hajdari chairman of the DP, perhaps by chance, perhaps because we were many, perhaps because he seemed a more suitable opponent. A little later, when it was once proposed that Mr. Meksi be elected chairman, Azem left the meeting deeply upset, and it took a great deal of effort to call him back.» As for bringing down the Government, A. Hajdari did not bring it down in five days, as he declared, nor in fifty; I hope five hundred days will pass and neither he nor his allies will be able to shake it. When he has been cornered and confronted by activists and voters, he says: «I am with Sali Berisha, I am with the DP.» Good; that is what I want too, but immediately after that he—