UN Secretary-General Butros Butros Gali received the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania, Alfred Serreqi, at UN Headquarters on October 6. At the meeting, they discussed developments and democratic reforms in Albania, the situation in the former Yugoslavia and, in particular, in Kosovo, the role of preventive diplomacy in stopping the conflict from spreading, etc. UN Secretary-General Gali expressed his wish to visit Albania at a suitable time. (ATSH)

As part of its visit to our country, the Turkish military delegation, headed by Chief of the General Staff General Husein Dogan Gyresh, met on the morning of October 6 with senior officers of the General Staff of our army. At the meeting, Colonel Sheme Kosova briefed Mr. Gyresh on aspects of the work to reform the army in line with the most advanced European models. Army General Doan Gyresh, accompanied by the Chief of the General Staff of the army, Ilia Vasho, went to Air Force military units, where they met with personnel and asked about the pilots’ training, their readiness, etc. They observed military exercises at close range. (ATSH)

Yesterday morning, the People’s Assembly held its regular session. It was chaired by the Speaker of the People’s Assembly, Mr. Pjetër Arbnori. The agenda of this session included discussion of the approval of the “Press Law,” submitted by a group of thirty deputies from the PD parliamentary group. First, questions were put to specialists concerning articles and specific aspects of this draft law. They were answered by Mr. Zef Brozi, in his capacity as a specialist defending this law and, at the same time, as a member of the group that drafted it. After the questions, the deputies began a general discussion of the bill. Deputies Uran Butka, Dritëro Agolli, and Mojkom Zeqo spoke at the session; the latter also presented another draft law on behalf of a group of PS deputies. Deputy Rudolf Marku concluded the morning session’s discussions. In the afternoon, further discussion of the draft law “On the Press” continued. “RD” correspondent

From the speech by deputy Uran Butka, on behalf of the Commission on Laws, Culture and Public Information Media. The draft law submitted on the press, which also covers non-periodical publications, is of particular importance. For this reason, the Commission on Laws and the Commission on Culture and Public Information Media examined it seriously and responsibly over several sessions, making the observations we have before us. I think that, taking into account the observations and constructive amendments made during today’s plenary debate, we will produce a good press law. The draft law was prepared chiefly on the basis of the press law of Westphalia, Germany’s most developed state, which specialists consider the best and most suitable for Albania. Initially, questions were raised about certain restrictions and administrative measures. This law prevents the spread of freedom of the press; in our country it has reached scandalous proportions and threatens to pollute the social environment and poison democratic hygiene. Cases are by no means rare in which crime is portrayed through the press’s black writings; there are also widespread and serious insults to individuals, violations of others’ freedom, slander and unfounded denigration, and the provision of false information that has consequences, violates constitutional principles, endangers the national cause, or corrupts young people through pornographic publications, etc. Let me mention a very recent case: yesterday, an article was published in “ZP” casting doubt on the morality of the President and a minister, in an attempt to damage their character and dignity. Is this moral and lawful? This draft law also provides for liability to fall on the person who undertook the publication—that is, the publisher—and not directly on the journalist. For the responsible editor, or more precisely the editor-in-chief, as well as the responsible editors at major newspapers, administrative penalties are prescribed for violations of the law, mainly fines ranging from 100,000 to 800,000 lekë. As for criminal offences committed through the press, the editor, the journalist, and any other citizen who commits them are all criminally liable under the provisions of the Penal Code. This is the essence of this law—its democratic core. As for journalists’ rights and duties, these will be determined by the journalist’s statute, which the Journalists’ Association has prepared and will soon submit for approval. The Directorate of RTV is also drafting a new law on audiovisual media, which will complete the overall framework of legislation for the Albanian media. In A few weeks ago, a gathering of journalists called on Parliament to block the presentation of the draft Press Law until their comments had been received. The Presidium of the People’s Assembly immediately took this request into consideration and postponed its presentation at a plenary session for several weeks. The Speaker of Parliament, Mr. P. Arbnori, asked the journalists in writing for their views through Mr. Mero Baze, while I, as chair of the committee, made copies of the draft law and the committees’ comments available to them. Unfortunately, however, the gathering of journalists to give their opinions and comments was thwarted by the chairman of the Journalists’ Union himself, Mr. Baze. On the one hand, statements, insinuations and baseless attacks on the draft law in general; on the other, no serious response, no opinion or constructive comment—not even an avoidance of civic or journalistic responsibility. That is precisely why a televised face-to-face discussion about the Press Law was organized with representatives of the capital’s main newspapers, the ATA and RTV. Among other things, two main points emerged: first, the necessity of this law; and second, that journalists cannot make the press law—it must be made by specialists and lawmakers. It is the duty of this Parliament to enact a good press law that will serve both today and tomorrow, and that will unite European experience with that of our democratic press, whose roots go back to the time of our National Renaissance.

- Another political blunder by the former Albanian communists - The theory of a violent “proletarian revolution” continues to remain a basic principle of old and new Albanian communists. - Kaq i zi and his criminal appeals, the clearest example of “socialist democracy.” The phrase “shook the world” can be used without exaggeration for the events of recent days in Russia. We were dealing with a political duel between democracy in Russia on one side and active conservative, anti-reform forces on the other. It is true that, viewed from above, the crisis looks simply like a struggle for power between Jelcin and Rutskoi and Hazbulatov, who at first stood on the side of the Russian President, but... To refute this theory, which contains some truth, it is enough to look at the ideological stance of the supporters of both sides. On this point, let us also refer to the views of Fabrizio D’Angeli, RAI’s correspondent in Moscow. Speaking in his commentary on the events in Russia, D’Angeli says that Rutskoi and Hazbulatov’s supporters are old “Stalinists” in their political convictions and ideology. They are the same crowds who opposed Gorbaciov during the coup. Nevertheless, to be sure of the above, it is enough to look at the red flags of communism they carried and the slogans they shouted in favour of using violence. So, it was clear to the whole world who those people were: at Ruskit’s calls, they charged forward and used violence in an attempt to overthrow the legitimate democratic government. The events of October 3 and 4 in Russia were described by the entire democratic world as a communist-fascist coup against democracy. In his statement on Russian TV, after explaining the situation, Jelcin once again described the rebels as “gangs of murderers” seeking to restore dictatorship. “Democracy must be defended,” he said, “and the state must use force if the security of citizens and democracy are threatened.” There will be no forgiveness for the communists and fascists in Russia. Those who used weapons against democracy will answer before the law.” This was Jelcin’s position at the outset of the crisis, and it continued to be supported after he put it into practice, because the world assessed both sides in the conflict. But what did the “socialists” of Albania do? No one in Albania has any doubt about what the Albanian communists said, which became a basic principle of old and new Albanian communists. And the article in “ZP” says that Jelcin was the instigator of the crises in every case. Jelcin’s actions are called unconstitutional and anti-democratic. Here is what “ZP” wrote on October 7: “Jelcin won ... carrying on his shoulders the consequences of this repressive undertaking by force, which has undoubtedly nothing at all to do with democracy and democratic elections...” It seems that the Albanian communists are more concerned than anyone else about democracy, but, to everyone’s “surprise,” unlike the rest of the world, the Stalinists who launched the bloody attack are not seen as violations of democracy! This is another political blunder by the PS extremists, who constantly claim to have become modern socialists. This blunder is made quite evident by the declaration of the Socialist International’s meeting, which fully supports the actions... (Continued on page 4) from the earliest moments of the crisis and continued even after he put it into effect, because the world judged both sides in the conflict. But what are the Albanian “socialists” doing? No one in Albania has any doubt about what they were hoping for ex-

- In response to some questions from Dokles (who speaks on behalf of Europe) Among the latest images broadcast by various television stations concerning the events in Russia were shots of Rutskoi, with a Kalashnikov in his hand, trying to convince some French journalists that not a single bullet had been fired from his weapon. On the other hand, Hazbullatovi, with a frightened look on his face, declared that he knew nothing about the attack on TV and that he himself had not ordered such an attack, thus leaving Rutskoi to bear responsibility for what happened. The television stations’ commentary on these images made clear that these two figures, having seen that their attempt to challenge Jelcin by force had failed, themselves came face to face with the fear of death. “Such fear is understandable after what happened,” RAI also commented. After surrendering, Rutskoi and Hazbullatovi were arrested and taken to one of Moscow’s prisons. Such an outcome allowed not only Russia but the entire West to breathe freely. Clinton and his government once again voiced their full support for Jelcin’s latest actions. These were the recent events in Russia. Meanwhile, in Albania, “ZP” publishes an interview with Dokles under the bombastic headline “At the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the Nano question...” (Continued on page 4)

The chairman of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament, Zhan-Pierre Cot, in a letter addressed to the Albanian ambassador in Brussels, Artur Kuko, after thanking him for the information about the Constitutional Court’s decision in the Nano case, writes: I am sure that Mr. Nano will be tried in accordance with Albanian law, with due respect for human rights. He also asked for further information on this matter, emphasizing its importance.

— From the speech by deputy Rudolf Marku The draft Press Law, from the moment it first emerged as an idea, aroused understandable interest, opposition and questions. The Albanian press, repeatedly left to fend for itself, has deserved [the law], undoubtedly amid the partisanship of communism and the burden of post-dictatorial phenomena of [hogjërise]. The Albanian democratic process began among newspapers, programs and writings published for information in the newspaper of the Writers’ Union, «Drita», with the first Albanian newspapers appearing... I want to note precisely today, when the Albanian Parliament ... is discussing the Press Law, that this is the first Parliament of Albania. ... [In an] unconstitutional effort ... a draft law was created which is in fact an adaptation of the press law of the Land of Westphalia. It seems to me that the first question—whether we should have a press law—has now been overtaken. A televised discussion broadcast a few days ago showed that representatives of various newspapers now accept that the chaotic and extremely disorderly traffic of Albanian journalism must have its own lawful traffic lights. Nevertheless, I would like to add that the Press Law itself stems from the Constitutional Provisions of the Republic of Albania. (continued on page 4) constructive during today’s plenary debate, will make a good press law. The draft law was drawn up relying primarily on the press law of Westphalia, Germany’s most developed state, considered by specialists to be the best and most suitable for Albania. Naturally, the translation, the transplantation of the ideas, as well as the drafting of the first version are not successful in every respect; but it is up to the deputies, taking into account the comments of the committees involved, and in particular those of language professors Mr. Lloshi and Mr. Marku, as well as the jurist Mr. Brozi, to make the necessary additions. I believe it is necessary to take into consideration the comments and suggestions of newspapers, the Helsinki Committee, library employees, etc. As representatives of the press said in the televised discussion about this law, «our press deserves a press law». On the one hand, by elaborating Article 2 of the law on fundamental human rights and freedoms, this draft law secures freedom of the press, guarantees press activity, allows press enterprises to be established without the need for a licence, ensures the obligation to obtain information and the right to disseminate that information freely, and secures the conditions for developing a deeply democratic, oppositional and nonconformist press, which is so necessary for the future of democracy, freedom and progress. But, on the other hand, by means of