The day before yesterday in the People’s Assembly The day before yesterday, in the morning, the People’s Assembly held group meetings with parliamentary committees. In the afternoon session, it approved the decree of the President of the Republic, as follows: DECREE ON THE DISMISSAL AND APPOINTMENT OF SEVERAL MINISTERS Pursuant to Article 28, point 7, of Law No. 7491, dated 29.04.1991, “On the Main Constitutional Provisions,” on the proposal of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, I DECREE: ARTICLE 1 Mr. Genc Ruli is relieved of his duties as Minister of Finance and Economy, at his own request, and is assigned another duty. ARTICLE 2 Mr. Artan Hoxha is relieved of his duties as Minister of Trade and Economic Cooperation with Foreign Countries, as he will be appointed to another post. ARTICLE 3 Mr. Abdul Xhaja is relieved of his duties as Minister of Industry, Mineral Resources and Energy, and is appointed Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources. ARTICLE 4 Mr. Piro Dishnica is appointed Minister of Finance. ARTICLE 5 Mr. Selim Belortaja is appointed Minister of Industry and Trade. ARTICLE 6 This decree enters into force immediately. Tirana, 9 11.1993 Decree No. 686 PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC SALI BERISHA

From the activities and conferences of the DP in the districts FROM THE BEGINNING, SHKODRA AND COMMUNISM HAVE BEEN INCOMPATIBLE Messrs. Eduard Selami and Ali Spahia attended On Tuesday, the 3rd Conference of the PDSH district branch was held at the “Migjeni” Theatre in the city of Shkodër. Mr. Selami, chairman of the PDSH, and Mr. Spahia, deputy chairman of the DP and chairman of its parliamentary group, took part in its proceedings. Mr. Ili Ndocaj, a member of the branch’s governing council, opened the Conference and gave the floor to the branch secretary, Mr. Bujar Hoti, who informed those present about the branch’s activities over the past year, its achievements and shortcomings. Mr. Hoti focused mainly on the branch’s organizational problems. In general, the sections had weaknesses in their organizational life, weaknesses that drew the governing council’s attention during this election campaign. The results were immediate. The section groups functioned well. Respect for the first members, Mr. Bujar Hoti emphasized, and respect for those who were the first to suffer under the dictatorship, is unquestionable. But, Hoti continued, we will not turn a blind eye to honest, democratic people who wish to join the PDSH willingly and with dedication. In just three weeks, 400 new members have joined the branch. The report noted, together ... [cut off] ... district, Mr. Ali Kazazi. The branch’s concern has been, and will remain, the rapid privatization of various facilities in the district. The rapid development of livestock farming has significantly improved the food structure. The branch praised the meeting held by Messrs. Meksi and Selami with intellectuals in the district. The mayor, Mr. Filip Guraziu, praised criticism when it is made with the good intention of correcting shortcomings. We have established Shkodër’s cultural center; we are the only city with its own chamber of commerce; thanks to cooperation with foreigners, the orphanage is a model for such institutions in Albania—these were some of the achievements he listed. The speakers thanked the chairman of the Democratic Party, Mr. Selami, for his interest and presence in Shkodër, helping to ensure the branch’s work proceeded smoothly. In his speech, Mr. Spahia highlighted Shkodër’s anti-communist spirit. Shkodër and communism, he stressed, have been incompatible. Addressing the Democratic Party’s position toward extremism, he once again confirmed its position as a center-right party. The chairman of the PDSH, Mr. Eduard Selami, said among other things that we are democrats, not communists. We must organize and structure the great anti-communist and democratic potential within the DP. New memberships must be the branch’s main obligation. There are members of the Democratic Party, Selami continued, who do not properly understand our firm stance toward the far right and are concerned by it. We will not change our position on this, but that must not be understood as a concession to the far left. I assure you, Selami continued, that the PDSH will continue to be Albania’s leading democratic anti-communist force. Regarding the demand for the full return of property, he explained: It is the owners’ right to demand the return of their property, but it is not right to impose this on the DP. We have delivered what we promised. The PS, Mr. Selami replied to a question about it, has not changed. It is controlled by Enverists. We are convinced that, until communism leaves Albania, democracy will have difficulty. The proceedings then continued with the elections. After Mr. Nestë Kiri withdrew his candidacy for chairman in favor of candidates Ludovik Dega and Pjetër Kiri, the conference elected Mr. Ludovinë Dega as branch chairman by secret ballot. RD correspondent …is undeniable. But, in Vëjci Hoti, we will not shut the door on honest and joined the branch. The report noted effective cooperation with the branch’s governing council, with deputy Luli and the chairman of the council of … dran. Shkodër and communism, he emphasized, have been incompatible. Addressing the Democratic Party’s stance toward extremists, other things, that in Shkodër, unlike in other districts, from the very beginnings of democracy it had not been difficult to find…

— From Mr. Ali Spahia’s speech in the debate on Liberation Day — For centuries, enemies have tried to leave us without a national identity, without history. “History has come to a halt,” the socialists say (!?) Why? What is being sought for clarification? One date: that of Albania’s liberation. No one has denied the struggle against fascism; it is our people’s struggle for freedom and democracy, which Enver Hoxha and the communists usurped in order to build the well-being of their caste upon that blood. But you, gentlemen, who claim to have distanced yourselves from Enver, from communism, from putschism, what is troubling you? The true date of liberation? No, gentlemen! Stop these philistine tastes! The truth has been found. From its very beginnings, the Albanian Communist Party was a Serbian agency in Albania, and for many, many years the Serbs have tried to leave Albanians without a national identity, without history. They wanted there to be no mention at all of our struggle against fascism. There were those who wanted us to have no day marking liberation from fascism. And, unfortunately, even today, although they swear and protest that they no longer have anything in common with Enver, communism and the PP, the communists’ successors continue to perform the same service for the Serbs’ anti-Albanian policy. We are not debating for nothing; it is the same War: we stand for our national identity; our opponents stand for the policy of Greater Serbia. But today, gentlemen, fortunately, we are no longer in the 1940s, and Popoviq and Mugosha no longer call the tune here. Even if someone still goes today to put a fig leaf on Milošević, Serbian policy cannot dictate Albanian developments. Someone among you asks: “Who are you?” “Who are we?” Well, gentlemen, we represent those whom, after you despised us for half a century, called traitors and massacred in the name of communist proletarian internationalism, we finally saw you disavow both communism and Enver (but only in words). Therefore, gentlemen, we leave you to the facts; the historical facts are about the day of liberation from fascism. The facts speak for November 28.

— Interest from 25 countries, represented by 280 participants from 150 well-known companies across five continents. — 100 million dollars declared by the Arab Islamic Bank to finance projects ... [cut off] — Project programs presented by the World Bank, EBRD, Ministry of ... [cut off]

— well-known companies across five continents. — — finance projects that will be of interest to foreign investors. — Project programs presented by the World Bank, EBRD, the Ministry of Mineral and Energy Resources, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Industry and Trade. — — The investment company “Development for Albania” is established.

Prime Minister Meksi presented the medium-term economic development program for 1993–1996 Yesterday morning, the People’s Assembly held a plenary session devoted to the presentation of the Government’s medium-term program for economic development for the period 1993–1996. For about two hours, Prime Minister Aleksandër Meksi presented to the Assembly, in detail, the main guidelines for the economic development set out in the government’s program for the period in question, which consisted of: 1. Introduction on the economic situation of the 1980s; a brief description of the crisis. 2. The Government’s program for 1992–93. 3. Medium-term macroeconomic policy, 1994–96. 4. Restructuring national production and sectoral policy. 5. The Public Investment Program (PIP). 6. Human resources sectors. 7. Annex 1 — Preparation of the legal framework. 8. Annex 2 — Summary of the main measures in economic policy and their deadlines, 1993–1996. 9. Annex 3 — Table of selected economic indicators. Mr. Meksi will answer questions and provide various clarifications about the program presented at a later session. In upcoming issues, our newspaper will publish this program in full. RD correspondent

The commission for establishing the date of liberation at the Institute of History fulfilled the task assigned to it by our Parliament last year. The working groups and the commission worked solely on archival documents as well as on the testimonies of prominent figures and participants in the National Liberation War, in order to determine objectively the date of the Liberation of Shkodër and all of Albania. Relying on the written document «28 NOVEMBER», issued on 28 November 1944 by the District Committee of the Albanian Communist Party of Shkodër, which establishes and defines 28 November as the day of Shkodër’s liberation, «all Albania is celebrating Flag Day without occupiers and traitors». (AQSH, file 10, p. 24). In the archival notes on episodes of the war, it is said that 28 November 1944 was a magnificent day for the partisans of Sh… (Continued on page 6)

Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shimon Peres, will come to Tirana for an official one-day visit from 28 to 29 November. During his visit to Tirana, Mr. Peres will meet with his counterpart, Mr. Sërgej, as well as with Albania’s highest-ranking state officials. Press Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

— Interview with Mr. Abdyl Xhaja, Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy and chairman of the conference — «RD» — What objectives did the conference have, and what was achieved? — First, it was established and confirmed by all three foreign and domestic participants that Albania has economic reserves that can be the subject of investment. Among such reserves, we can mention the production of agricultural crops, hy-… (Continued on page 6)

(GERMAN LAWYER) Mr. Braun’s response to «ZP» and comrade Ilir Kadia, who, hampered by his old connections, is misinforming the public over the BBC airwaves— The Albanian press law, for the most part—I would say 95–98 percent—conforms to the law of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is an essential factor in creating a free press in Albania, supported by Article 2 of the Human Rights Charters. It guarantees a free press, independent of the state. It gives the press a supervisory role as well as the right to request information from the state. The rights of citizens affected by the press are also fully guaranteed. Regarding Articles 21 and 22, which have been criticized by some journalists, I would like to point out that they are formal rules. These formalities, the non-compliance with… (Continued on page 6)

— Says Evelina Evanole, the Italian investigator assigned to investigate the aid scandal involving Albania — As is known, about a week ago prosecutor Qeleshi and investigator Fatos Peroshi returned from their mission in Rome, where they had been assigned to investigate the scandal involving Italian aid. The major press called their mission a «failure». Meanwhile, on Monday, Italian investigator Evelina Canale, assigned to this case, arrived in Albania. «The investigations into this case,» she said, «began at the end of 1992, based on reports published in the press as well as parliamentary interventions and interpellations». Speaking about cooperation between the judicial authorities of the two countries, she stressed that «there has been comprehensive cooperation. The Albanian judicial authorities have made themselves available to us. We are questioning witnesses and defendants. The Italian side has also provided considerable assistance in this regard. The Tirana prosecutor came to Rome last week and took part in questioning witnesses and defendants. These reciprocal visits to Rome and Tirana are fruitful in the two countries’ joint fight against corruption. It is understood that statements by an investigator about a case that is still in progress cannot satisfy journalists’ desire for detailed information. Nevertheless, Evelina Canale, in connection with the corruption case, emphasized that Italy has been engulfed by corruption and that its elements have also reached Albania. The context of such a statement is understandable. Canale also stated that the investigations conducted in cooperation with the Italian and Albanian judicial authorities had led to the conclusion that «the Levante-Co settlement was made by the Albanian side». The investigations are continuing, and the Italian investigator will remain in Albania for several more days. She is expected to question prosecutor Fatos Nanos himself, as well as Gra- ma? Pashkon, Zabit Brokajn, etc. By ED[?] PALOKA