I am pleased to welcome you as representatives of the Council of Europe, President Berisha said. On this occasion, I would like to thank the Council of Europe for the assistance it has given Albania, and I am pleased to confirm that this assistance was used efficiently by the Albanians. Perhaps the most spectacular change achieved by any country is the one Albania has made in respect for human rights. A country that until yesterday had no Ministry of Justice and no lawyer today has an independent judicial system and a Constitutional Court with some of the broadest powers. (ATSH)

From the meeting with Durrës intellectuals. Messrs. Selami, Meksi and Kopliku took part DP membership has been increasing every day so far. - To date, membership in the DP has been increasing every day. - The government is working on an imminent increase in the low salaries of the budget-funded system, pensions, assistance, etc.; this increase requires a fund of 10 billion lekë. - The government is considering and working to ensure that those who have not benefited also receive support, first and foremost intellectuals. - The successes achieved so far belong not only to the Meksi government and the DP, but to all of Albania. - The further consolidation of democracy necessarily requires the political mobilization of intellectuals. While a torrential rain flooded the streets of Durrës one afternoon, an auditorium full of intellectuals packed the main hall of this city’s Palace of Culture. A few days earlier, Prime Minister Meksi, at a meeting of the Durrës branch of the DP, had agreed—also at the branch’s request—to meet with Durrës intellectuals. He fulfilled that promise the day before yesterday amid their great interest. At the meeting, Mr. Meksi was accompanied by DP chairman Mr. Eduard Selami and Prime Minister Bashkim Kopliku. Also present were the district’s local government leaders: Mr. Vasillaq Papaj, chairman of the District Council; Tomorr Golemi, mayor of Durrës; and Mr. Edmir Kapedani, chief ... [text continues outside the frame] ... around 10,000 other members have joined, and the pace of 10 billion lekë ... from national wealth during the privatization processes ... intellectuals first and foremost ... all of Albania. Today they represent Albania’s democratic face to the world. Meanwhile, Mr. Selami stressed that today, in addition to other difficulties, Albania faces another misfortune—one that need not have been a misfortune—and that is precisely the destructiveness of the Albanian opposition. “Everything takes its time” was the point with which Prime Minister Meksi began his speech. The DP, he continued, has consistently adhered to its electoral program during these months in government; otherwise, we would have committed a major political deception against those who voted for us. In keeping with this program, the government program, from 1992 to today, has been further refined and, naturally, it can now be seen to follow the logic of the past, for guaranteeing democracy and the rule of law on the basis of European standards. The assistance secured by the government and its efforts have been directed toward investment in the public sector as well. By securing this assistance through engaging the governments of other countries, work is under way to obtain funds for housing for those persecuted for political reasons. Speaking about the problems of the city of Durrës, the Prime Minister said it was essential to “free” Durrës beach from the “interventions” that had arbitrarily taken place there. Putting this beach to effective use could provide employment for around 1,000 people. Mr. Meksi then also addressed issues related to investment ... [text continues outside the frame] in the city of Durrës, customs, the financial police, the practice of competitions, tenders and auctions—a practice that prevents corruption—as well as the need to raise awareness of the necessity of property taxes, etc. Through an operation requiring around 10 billion new lekë, the Prime Minister said, the government is working toward an imminent increase in low wages in the budget-funded sector, pensions and assistance. The political mobilization of intellectuals is essential at the present stage of democratic developments, Mr. Meksi stressed at the end of his speech. Democracy is not an “autok uz” where whoever gets on first takes a seat and never moves from it. Democracy is a competition that gives the highest recognition to the most capable and the most honest. It quickly puts the incapable and corrupt out of the game. The Albanian government, too, is insisting today on cleaning them out of its administration. The meeting then continued with questions and answers between the audience and Selami’s deputy; Meksi and Golemi, with personal and local issues concerning Durrës taking up most of the discussion. Mr. Meksi also addressed the separation of the three branches of government as essential to avoiding action by ... The ceremony was also attended by the chairman of the Democratic Party, were the district’s local government officials: Mr. Vasilla Durrës; as well as Mr. Edmir Kapedani, chairman of the Durrës branch of the Democratic Party, and Egerem Dakoli, secretary of that branch. At the beginning of the meeting, Mr. Selami took the floor and gave a general overview of the current stage of democratic developments in Albania. He also devoted particular attention to the Democratic Party’s current campaign in preparation for its 2nd National Assembly. He informed those present that, to date, another 10,000 members had joined the ranks of the Democratic Party, with the number signing up showing an upward trend. Mr. Selami stressed that the Democratic Party, as the largest political force and the driving force of progress in Albania, has always felt—and continues to feel—the need for contact with the broad Albanian electorate, for criticism and suggestions, as well as the need for support in its difficult mission, vital to the nation’s destiny. Democracy, he said, is an endless process, a process that goes on indefinitely within a closed cycle among a country’s political forces, in which the force that guarantees the most optimal progress for the majority leads every atom. In this context, Meksi government and the Democratic Party, but also to the government… The meeting were the district’s local government officials: Mr. Vasilla the majority leads every atom. In this context, government… The meeting were the district’s local government officials: Mr. Vasilla the majority leads every atom. In this context, government… Next, Mr. Selami reviewed the government’s work from 1992 to the present, naturally emphasizing that there was still a need for further corrections. for further corrections. for further corrections. for further corrections. for further corrections. for further corrections. for further corrections. for further corrections. Prime Minister said that it was essential to «remove from our beach in Durrës those who have entered there arbitrarily!» Putting that beach to effective use could provide employment for 1,000 people. Mr. Meksi also discussed issues related to investment practices governing competitions, tenders and auctions—practices that encourage corruption—and lek, the Government, the Prime Minister said, is working to raise soon the low salaries of the budget sector, as well as pensions and assistance payments. The political mobilization of intellectuals is essential at the current stage of democratic development, Mr. Meksi himself seat and never moves from there. Democracy is a contest the game. The Albanian government, too, is now striving to clean questions and answers between the audience and deputies Selami, Meksi and Golemi, with the personal and local problems of Durrës taking up most of the discussion. «RD» Correspondent

Minister of Agriculture and Food, Mr. Hasan Halili, in an interpellation - The government is working on a carefully planned program for the relocation of families with little land. The day before yesterday afternoon, the Minister of Agriculture and Food, Mr. Hasan Halili, appeared before the People’s Assembly for an interpellation session requested by Socialist Party MPs Ndre Legisi and Ibrahim Baçi. Mr. Halili responded with figures and other data to questions about the problems faced by the relocation of peasant families with little land in hilly and mountainous areas, their compensation and social assistance needs, as well as issues concerning implementation of the land law and the distribution of title deeds. Among other things, he stressed that relocating families with little land. «RD» correspondent

«ZP», the organ of this extreme Although SP leaders try hard to make it appear that the SP is completely “united” around its leader, it is now an indisputable fact that there is a group of moderates in the SP. It could hardly be otherwise, since when it was thought that something would change in that party, young people and intellectuals with ideals having nothing in common with Enverism joined it. This is logical, because today, to be young or an intellectual and, at this point in time, to be an Enverist means either that something is not working in your nervous system or that you have been deeply disappointed by the mire of Enverist communism’s crimes, to the point that turning back is impossible. There are also members of the SP’s “moderates” on its leadership and in parliament, but they do not seem powerful enough to oppose the extremists and their absurd actions. A simple proof of this is «ZP», which is called an SP organ but is in reality only an organ of the SP’s left-wing extremism. None of the moderates has ever managed to express their views in «ZP», and that is understandable: those views do not resemble the historicisms of «ZP». «RD» is often accused of only praising the DP and the government. This is not true. Of course, «RD» will support the DP and the government, especially when they are subjected to the frenzied and illogical attacks of all the newspapers of the far left, which see everything in black; but the truth is that «RD» is the only party newspaper—I stress, the only one—that has criticized its own party or specific individuals who have made mistakes. (continued on page 4)

Social-communists, who have not yet signed the charter on the protection of human rights, stand up more than anyone else for human rights. They have a... [text continues outside the frame] ... their 45-year [rule], still without removing from party offices the pickaxes with which they destroyed churches and mosques, still without handing over the pistols with which they executed ... [text continues outside the frame] ... today they artificially present themselves as champions of its protection. (Recall the boycott they staged when its adoption was put to a vote in the Albanian parliament in the spring of this year.) ... without handing over the pistols with which they shot conscientious objectors and Arben Broci. The Socialists, who have not yet made a clean break within their own camp, who—regarding the Charter of Human Rights of this year)—now artificially present themselves as its champions. In the democratic Albanian state, freedom of speech and property are guaranteed by law and in practice,

On November 5, at 10 a.m., the request by defendant Marsel Skëndo to change the detention measure was taken up for consideration at the Tirana Court. The panel, composed of Uk Cenaj as presiding judge and Bakir and Arban Vasha as members, with the participation of the prosecutor in the case, Ardian Leka, and Skëndo’s defense lawyer, Maks Haxhia, after consideration, heard the request by defendant Marsel Skëndo in open court. After opening the hearing, presiding judge Uk Cenaj established the defendant’s identity and introduced the judicial panel and the prosecutor in the case. The defense, as well as defendant M. Skëndo himself, was then asked about the request submitted by M. Skëndo. In their statement, the lawyers asked to withdraw the request to change the detention measure. In these circumstances, the court decided to dismiss the request made by defendant M. Skëndo. The defendant wanted to remain under arrest for as long as the investigations concerning him had not been completed.

A telegram whose content is a request that no more «RD» newspapers be sent to the town of Prrenjas, because the Democratic Party section does not distribute them, compelled us to ask the question in the headline. This is because many Democratic Party branches in the districts show a marked indifference toward the newspaper. All the more so when each of these branches has someone assigned to propaganda. The case of Prrenjas also points to the Democratic Party organization’s anemic and weak work, an issue our observations and remarks have passed over in silence. The Observer

A puzzle that needs solving Rail transport continues to be an activity funded through state allocations. The subsidy amounts to 30 percent. But beyond the official subsidy figure, it emerges that the amount is even greater. The director of the Durrës Railway Region, Luan Corbaxhiu, asks for my help as a journalist in solving a puzzle. According to him, rail transport carries out the transportation process at a rate of 4.5 lek per ton/km. Its competitor, road transport, carries out the same process at a rate of 10 lek per t/km. Meanwhile, in addition to its lower cost, rail transport also has the advantage of safety, as shown by experience to date. So what is happening? The state enterprise NFU favors private road transporters, even though they offer less acceptable standards than rail transport. Meanwhile, the railway region itself operates, in most cases, on the basis of orders from private parties. Goods such as wheat, flour and cement at the port of Durrës wait every day for various trucks. They are now unacceptable to them. Ultimately, the puzzle is this: why do managers of a state enterprise cooperate with private operators whose activity is costly, and why do private parties who want to transport goods cooperate with the railway region? The answer is simple: experience shows that such concessions and preferences are motivated by an «envelope». It is an «envelope» that turns absurdity into normality. Solving this puzzle also requires the Government’s willingness to show its interest in its enterprise and its 300 workers. SH. LUKU

On 4.11.1993, the Tirana «Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception» community and the Church of the Heart of Christ organized the ceremony for the reburial of the remains of the Catholic priests D. Zef Bici and D. Mark Dushi, and the commemoration of D. Shtjefën Kurti, former parish priests of Tirana who were executed by the communist regime. On this occasion, the massacre of the Catholic clergy in Albania during 1944–1990 was commemorated, as was the date marking the revival of religious freedom, which began with the first Mass in the Shkodër cemetery on 4.11.1990. Hundreds of worshippers from Tirana attended the ceremony, as well as worshippers from Shkodër, Malësia e Madhe, Lezha, Laçi, Durrës, Kruja, Mirdita, Elbasan, Lushnja, etc. Many guests came from the Albanian and Italian Catholic clergy, clergy of other faiths, government authorities and diplomatic representatives, and the families and relatives of the martyrs. The President of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Mr. Pjetër Arbnori, the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Bashkim Kopliku, MPs Pjetër Pepa and Alfred Paloka, the rector of the Polytechnic University, Gëzim Karapici, and others came to attend the ceremony. The ceremony began at 8:30, to the sound of funeral music, with tributes around the martyrs’ coffins, placed before the church altar, and with the inauguration of the plaque—

«Sokol Hoxha “visits” M. Skëndo two days before the arrest» by E. Paloka «THE BELL HAS TOLLED FOR ALL OF US» — interview with Socialist MP PANDELI MAJKO