NATIONAL LIBRARY TIRANA PRESIDENT BERISHA RECEIVED THE DELEGATION OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC ASSEMBLY President Berisha briefed the delegation on developments in the country and emphasized Albania’s will to integrate into Europe and into the structures of Western Security. “We aim for ever-closer cooperation with all NATO structures, with the aim of joining this alliance,” he said. President Berisha went on to say: “The mechanisms of Western Security had not been found to be adapted to dealing with the unrest and risks that emerged in the former communist countries after the fall of the Iron Curtain. The membership of these countries must be considered seriously. NATO’s umbrella is a guarantee for keeping nationalisms under control and for containing the dangerous consequences they bring. The President also emphasized that the problems of the countries of Eastern Europe should be addressed through a general plan, like the postwar Marshall Plan. (ATSH)

— In a democracy, the vote decides, not the “hundreds of thousands” on the pages of “ZP.” — After hoarsely insisting that the PD’s promises had faded, through “ZP” they are forced to admit (not without pain) that the people have not only not lost faith in the PD, but, on the contrary, that this faith has grown. — The change in electoral ratios (PD from 46% to 84%) shows that new elections really should be held, but in those areas where the socialists won. For more than a year, immediately after the elections of 22 March, the printed propaganda of the PS has been clamoring for the overthrow of the Democratic Government and the holding of new elections. According to the socialist extreme, these are “objective” demands arising “from the heart of the people,” who are “suffering under the PD dictatorship” and “dying of hunger.” To make their propaganda more convincing, they brought 70-year-old pensioners who were demanding work and former Security Directorate criminals protesting against the “dictatorship” out into the streets. After this “convincing proof” of the people’s will, the letters in “ZP” grew even larger in the columns calling for new elections; the “arguments” claiming that “the people were dissatisfied” and that the electoral balance had changed multiplied, but... As so many times before, here too the propaganda of “ZP,” “Isami, Rumi,” failed. Nevertheless, as we have mentioned, the vote, symbol of democracy, would once again be the most appropriate response to the PS’s politics and propaganda. The elections held in Zerqan and Luzni left the PS extremists’ propaganda with no option other than to vent their anger at the population of this community: the leading article in “ZP” dated 14 September insults the population of these areas in the most disgraceful way because they voted for the PD. According to “ZP,” the thousands of people who gave their vote to the PD “voted for a sack of old clothes”! The shamelessness and cynicism of the PS extremists know no bounds. I understand the PS’s “pain” over the election results in these municipalities, and I do not want to take advantage of another’s misfortune, but it cannot be allowed that, out of despair, certain Enverists on the PS leadership insult an entire population. The results of these latest elections proved it too: the PD, from 46 percent, won; in the July elections it received 84 percent. Yet, despite being confronted with such facts, the socialists of “ZP” make strange and somewhat absurd statements: “The PD victory in Zerqan and Luzni is an invitation to respond to the opposition’s challenge for early new elections,” reads the headline at the top of the front page of “ZP.” It is well known and understandable that facts and great pain can cause distress to particular people, but for a party leadership to lose its bearings is strange. O “intellectuals” of the leadership, the PD’s victory and increased electorate in these areas really do show that the balance has changed, but it has changed in favor of the PD. So, if you wish, new elections can be held in those... areas where the PS won on 26 July, since it is precisely the PS’s reputation that has been called into question by the election results in Zerqan and Luzni. In fact, “ZP” throws down the gauntlet for an electoral “duel” in parliamentary elections, but the problem is that we won those elections through... the votes from Zerqan and Luzni merely confirmed the PD’s position. The PS’s call for new elections would be understandable if they had won in Zerqan or Luzni, because that would indicate an increase in the PS’s reputation. Unfortunately, the results showed the opposite. Nevertheless, their reaction is— (Continued on page 6) ...even the letters “ZP” in the rows calling for new solutions were made larger, and “arguments” purporting to show that “the people were dissatisfied” and that the electorate’s views had changed were added, but... As so many times before, this time too the propaganda of Islami, Ruci, or Dokle fell flat. The PS communists still have not learned that in a democracy it is the vote that “ZP.” But how could people with delicate skulls like Islami understand this? When he found himself in front of a shouting crowd, he thought himself a hero. Unfortunately, neither Islami nor the other delusional members of the PS leadership could see that those who gathered at the PS rally in Tirana from all over Albania had been summoned and sent at the leadership’s behest; they could hardly represent “the entire PS electorate.” The failed attempts to organize PS rallies in the districts showed this all too clearly. “Old!” advantage of another’s misfortune, but it cannot be allowed for some Enverists in the PS leadership, out of despair, to insult an entire people. Or do they perhaps remember the trick they played on the villagers before the March 31 elections, only to take it back a week after the election?! In fact, in that lead editorial, “ZP” is forced to admit (not without regret) that “the people of these areas” once again trusted the “promises” of the PD. So, after shouting themselves hoarse that the PD’s promises had proved worthless and that the people no longer trusted them, they themselves are now forced, through “ZP,” to acknowledge what is in fact true: PD, but, on the contrary, that faith has grown. At this point the socialists may have been right when they said that the electorate’s balance had changed. This,

— IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS LAW RESULTS IN APPROXIMATELY 1,900 OFFICERS RECEIVING AN INCREASE OF ONE TO TWO RANK LEVELS, WHILE ONLY 280 OFFICERS ARE DEMOTED. — Despite any accusations that may be made, this is a new draft law that differs fundamentally from the existing one, both in the way ranks are awarded, aligning them better with the role, and in the addition of rank levels for both noncommissioned officers and officers. The opinion expressed here by some that high-ranking positions in the army are given to incapable cadres and on the basis of regional and family connections is unfounded and malicious. The reality in the army is generally better than that. To claim otherwise is to demand that the substantial work that has been done, and continues to be done for the first time in the history of the Albanian army, be denied: the testing and examination of cadres at these ranks by a central commission of the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Public Order. The level of the officers who take the tests is precisely an important criterion for appointing them to senior positions, alongside other criteria, such as graduating from the FT Academy and the General Staff Academy, leadership and organizational abilities, commitment and work results, etc. The reinstatement of ranks, which was carried out under the existing 1991 law, was a necessity, since the dictatorship had depersonalized military cadres and this important aspect of their dignity and that of the army. And it is a fact that this law served to strengthen discipline and hierarchy in the army. Nevertheless, ranks were not awarded on the basis of testing or examinations of military abilities, but simply on the basis of the position on the establishment, making it possible for senior ranks to be held mainly by the nomenklatura of the former Political Bureau of the PP, whether they had attended a military academy or party school, and whether they came from the working class or agricultural cooperatives. This serious defect in the existing law, alongside subjectivity in its interpretation and implementation, created concern among a considerable number of cadres, who did not receive the rank they deserved on the basis of their abilities, education and merits. In the Mi- (Continued on page 6)

— In the vote on the bill as a whole, the SP voted “against,” the PSD “abstained,” the independent MPs ... did not take part in the vote — — Statement by MP Uran Butka. Thoma Miço is responsible for “International News.” Makarkadhi declares: “We stand for the inviolability of Albania’s territorial integrity!” — The day before yesterday, the People’s Assembly convened and began this week’s work in a plenary session by continuing discussion of the Republic of Albania.” First to speak was the chair of the parliamentary Committee on Defence and Public Order, MP A-zem Hajdari, who argued, using figures and facts, for the value of the draft law, its legal basis and constitutionality, and the countless successful reforms of our armed forces. After that, the draft law was put to a vote article by article. It was clearly established that this law applies only to ranks in the armed forces of the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Public Order, and the National Intelligence Service. Finally, the law was also approved as a whole by a majority vote. During this vote, the SP parliamentary group voted “against,” the PSD “abstained,” while At the end of the session, MP Uran Butka made a statement condemning the anti-Albanian and unconstitutional position of PDNDJ MP Thoma Miço and Mr. Vasil Gaqo, chairman of the Saranda district council, expressed in the American newspaper (Continued on page 6)

Mr. Chairman, I wish to make the following statement: 1. The American newspaper “International News,” dated August 7, 1993, as well as the latest issue of the newspaper “Saranda,” reports, among other things, a statement by Albanian MP Mr. Thoma Miço: “90 percent of the population wants union with Greece.” Asked for his personal opinion, Mr. Miço adds, “And I do, of course.” I request an explanation from the MP (Continued on page 6)

(Interview with the Ambassador of Italy in Tirana, Mr. Paolo Foresti, given to our journalist, Edi Paloka) Mr. Ambassador! — Unintentionally, Italy is the country that has helped Albania more than any other country during the transition period, and thanks to this assistance Albania overcame the emergency. Will Italy continue to be the primary partner in this new phase of the revival of the Albanian economy, and what commitment have the two governments made to achieve this? — Italy aims to remain a “special” partner for Albania, not only with regard to the direct assistance that will continue to be intensive, but also through the support our country provides by way of contributions to international organizations participating in the moral, political, and socioeconomic reconstruction of Albania. As part of Italy’s significant commitment alongside Albania, a number of initiatives to foster the development of the post-emergency phase are already under way. Our interventions have begun in the energy sector— — A number of initiatives to foster the development of Albania’s post-emergency phase are already under way. — Our relations are excellent. — The Nano matter: Trust must be placed in the Albanian and Italian justice systems, which are investigating possible abuses involving Italian humanitarian aid. — Your Parliament and political leadership are doing well: the quantity and quality of the new laws proposed and approved every day is impressive. — They issue one thousand visas a month. — electrical power, water supply, heating, and healthcare. I would particularly mention work on some of the most important projects, which are now at an advanced stage of implementation. The programme to support agro-livestock production envisages intervention in seven districts, including the establishment of several pilot centres, technical assistance, and supplies worth 12 billion lire, to be implemented through FAO; reconstruction of grain storage facilities at the port of Durrës, worth 7.3 billion lire; rehabilitation of Tirana’s electricity grid, a project in one phase worth 15.1 billion lire. Rehabilitation of Tirana’s water network, a project worth 13 billion lire that should begin soon and for which the Albanian Government has completed the procedures to select the implementing company; construction of a food-production plant for children, worth 8.9 billion lire, which should be completed by January 1994. For the longer term, we have planned further interventions, including completion of the Bovilla water supply system, reconstruction of the electricity grids in several other major Albanian cities, reconstruction of the Tirana–Durrës railway, an integrated telecommunications development project, a plant for producing prefabricated components, and many other initiatives, the most important of which is support for the rural population most in need (for example, in the northeast). In fact, we do not intend to limit ourselves to assistance for the large cities, and we have already begun assistance projects for small villages in the Albanian mountains. In addition, we want to extend our assistance to the cultural and vocational training sectors. To conclude, as mentioned above, Albania has overcome the emergency phase. Under the new circumstances, what will the role of Operation “Pelican” be? There has been talk of a change in the objectives of this operation. Can you tell us something about this? During the visit to Rome by the Minister of Defence, Zhulali, where he met with our Minister of Def— (Continued on page 5)

THE DRAFT LAW “ON RANKS IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA” WAS APPROVED — In the final vote, the PS voted “against,” the PSD “abstained,” and the independent deputies... did not take part in the vote — — Statement by Deputy Uran Butka, Thoma Miço refutes—

STATEMENT BY DEPUTY URAN BUTKA REGARDING CERTAIN ANTI-ALBANIAN AND ANTI-CONSTITUTIONAL POSITIONS IN “INTERNATIONAL ...

Members of the National Council of PDSH are hereby informed that on Friday, 17.09.1993, at 11:00, the Expanded National Council of PDSH will hold its proceedings in the hall of the National History Museum, with the following agenda: - Further consolidation of the democratic structure and development of the reform—a new phase for the promotion of democracy in Albania. The PDSH parliamentary group, government officials, and the chairpersons of the district and municipal councils of the Democratic Party are invited to attend the Council’s proceedings. Press and Information Office of the Democratic Party