“Everything is better in Albania” PRESS CONFERENCE: BERISHA–CARTER “Everything is beter in Albania” – “Everything is better in Albania” EVERYTHING NEW IS BEAUTIFUL; THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS FREEDOM PRESS CONFERENCE: BERISHA–CARTER Yesterday, in the press room of the Palace of Congresses, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and President of the Republic Sali Berisha held a press conference for Albanian and foreign journalists. PRESIDENT BERISHA: President Carter’s visit to Albania is a very important event in relations between Albania and the United States of America, and once again demonstrates President Carter’s great interest, an interest that has existed since the beginnings of the democratic movement in Albania. We are happy and pleased that, after a relatively short time, we have been able to show the first advances of reform in Albania, and Albania’s developments on the path to democracy and a market economy. [The source text is corrupt here: “ri dhe së Fondacioni Karter do të kujdesejë një vëmendje të veçantë kundrejt të tij në marrëdhëniet midis Shqipërisë dhe SHBA-së si dhe bashkëpunimit direkt me Shqipërinë.”] Once again, I would like to thank the President for this fruitful visit to Albania. FORMER PRESIDENT CARTER: What has been happening here in Albania over the past 3–4 months is truly remarkable. I have come to learn through meetings with the President, the Prime Minister and other members of the government, and with other people—the ordinary people in the streets, in cafés, and so on. Everything here is beautiful, but the most important thing is freedom. Albania has suffered more than any other country in the world over the past 50 years, as a result of complete isolation and now, like a flower in bloom, human feelings here are truly inspiring. [The text then abruptly continues with a separate article:] We, the members of parliament, have proved that we are deep-distance runners, often also steeplechase runners. We have reason to be proud of our work. We are now enriched with considerable experience in drafting laws and in parliamentary procedures, which makes our work much easier and saves us time and energy. It is pleasing that, at the opening of this Session, the overwhelming majority of deputies from all parties are present. Parliament is the arena of men, but also the arena of women. Debates in Parliament are very useful, and the people should become accustomed, day by day, to the face-to-face contest of their representatives. This is a trial run for everyone. It is good for the contest to take place in this chamber and to be a battle of thoughts and ideas, not a battle of insults and offenses. On the other hand, we members of parliament, through direct contact with the people—through meetings, visits, letters, hearing complaints, and resolving or failing to resolve problems in ministries, government bodies and the various parliamentary groups… As the deputies greeted one another and took their seats in the Assembly hall… = Views from deputies of various parliamentary groups. The day before yesterday afternoon, the People’s Assembly began its work in the third session of this Legislature. As the deputies greeted one another before the sitting began (mostly without regard to religion or ideology), we went among them and, on the occasion of the opening of this session, gathered the following views for RD: Teodor Laco (PSD): We hope that the new session of the Legislature of the People’s Assembly will begin precisely with the issues of the Constitution. Our group, which today will be represented by one deputy and 2–3 others, will place an urgent question on the agenda, supported by Article 87 of the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure. This question concerns the progress so far of the work on the Constitution and the Assembly’s future programme for the Constitutional Commission. Thus, this is not a question about the content of the Constitution, but simply about the working procedures followed so far. This is our wish for the beginning of the new session of the People’s Assembly. We also hope that the issues of the Constitution and other important matters concerning laws will be resolved by consensus, through cooperation and understanding among the political parties. This will help ease the tense political climate in Albania and positively support the implementation of the laws by the people and all their representatives, who have this matter in their hands. Ali Spahiu (PD): Our parliamentary group comes to this session with the duty of drafting laws that will accelerate economic reform, stabilize democracy in Albania and help further the development of democratic processes. Pjetër Arbnori (Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly): This is a session like all the others. We have worked hard and will work even harder. Very important laws lie ahead of us and, above all, the Constitution, on which the commission must continue its work. The political forces must come to an agreement and reach consensus on this. Naturally, there can be no Constitution without political agreement, because otherwise a “minority” emerges and imposes its will on you. The Constitution belongs to everyone, not to one party. The Constitution belongs to everyone and is not made for one year or two; we hope it will last a century. I wish this session success, much hard work and, above all, tolerance and parliamentary etiquette. Namik Dokle (PS): Our group… (Continued on page 3)

— From the opening speech for the work of the third session of the thirteenth Legislature by the Chairman of the People’s Assembly, Mr. Pjetër Arbnori — Honourable deputies! A long session lies ahead of us which, following the Christmas and New Year break, will continue until the summer of 1994, unless we decide otherwise through the New Constitution. But we, the deputies of this… [The source text is corrupt and incomplete here.] We have worked hard and will work even harder. conducting parliamentary proceedings. I would like to recall here two major laws, the law on local government, [corrupt text: “kaluadorë programet, mbi bazën të cilave kemi fituar”], on the basis of which we have won. We look at what we have achieved, what we can do in the future and what we can correct, so that we truly remain representatives of the people and do not become separated from them. One area where much remains to be done is tolerance. We must understand that cooperation in the field of legislation is essential. We cannot pass laws… [The source text is corrupt and incomplete here.] In particular, we must also devote attention to the draft laws “On the Preparation and Implementation of the Local Government Budget,” “On Local Government Assets,” and “On Local Fees and Taxes.” Independence is not something theoretical. Once they have their own assets and independent budget, they will have no reason to complain about the so-called obstruction. We must continue to complete the legislation concerning local government in concrete terms, and this benefits both sides: the centre and the local level. During this session we must speed up question sessions for the Government, without exceeding the time set out in the Rules of Procedure, and strengthen the work of the committees, not only as reviewers of draft laws, but also as preparers of draft laws and decisions, declarations and appeals. They should also study the effectiveness of laws in force, propose appropriate measures where necessary, and monitor the activities of ministries and other state bodies. The Legal Affairs Committee must focus more on its main task: ensuring that all draft laws comply with the Main Constitutional Provisions. I wish this Session success and serious, productive work.

Former President Carter’s visit to Albania is a message of understanding, not only for Albania but for the entire region. President Carter, whose interest path to democracy and a market economy. feelings here are truly inspiring. We consider Albania a country threatened by the conflict in Croatia and Bosnia, in the Balkan region, and deserving of the strongest and broadest support from the U.S. government and other states in this part of the world, in order to oppose aggression and contain the violence that has been so troubling in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. This is important to us, too. What is happening in Bosnia today must be brought under control, and I believe the future of the Albanian people will be important within this country. Albania’s stability in a peaceful and secure zone for the whole region will also be a stabilizing factor in Europe. My wife, with whom I am travelling, and I can say that this trip has been very informative. We pledge our support for the continuation of this progress and for all that has happened so far in Albania. President Berisha and Carter continued… (Continued on page 4)

NATIONAL LIBRARY WHAT ALTERNATIVES DO THE LEFT-WING EXTREMISTS OF THE PS, MR. DOKLE AND HIS ASSOCIATES, PUT FORWARD AND WANT TO IMPLEMENT? - Cracking skulls - Dragging victims - Protecting crime and corruption - Breaking the laws - Releasing the former communist nomenklatura from prison and restoring all their former powers and privileges GO FIND SOME OTHER PLACE TO IMPLEMENT THEM, MR. DOKLE, BECAUSE IN ALBANIA THE DEMOCRATS WON’T LET YOU