The expanded meeting of the DP branch for the Laç district was held —Attended by the Secretary General of the DPA, Mr. Tritan Shehu, the Minister of Labour, Dashamir Shehi, MP Golemi, and others. —345 new members joined the DP in Laç. On Wednesday morning, in one of the halls of the military cultural center in the city of Laç, an expanded meeting of the DP branch for the district was held. Also present were the chairman of the district council, Mr. Bardh Rica, and the mayor, Mr. Zef Gjonaj. The main topic of this meeting was “further speeding up the privatization process and returning properties to their owners in accordance with existing laws.” In the report by the chairman of the DP district branch in Laç, Sami Metalia, it was stated that from January to April the number of new admissions had increased by 345 people, a not insignificant proportion of whom were intellectuals. By the end of ’94, the number of members is expected to double. Mr. Bardh Rica, chairman of the district council, focused in his speech on problems currently affecting the Laç district. After reviewing the reform and the stage it had reached in this district, he asked the government to give the Laç district priority for several reasons: it is a new district with no infrastructure whatsoever; it is one of the districts that was completely burned and destroyed during the Government of Stability; and it suffered heavy damage from the 1992 floods. Some of the achievements include the completion of housing privatization at a rate of 100%. Land has been distributed at a rate of 93%, and title deeds at 45.9%. Likewise, 93% of the land belonging to the former state agricultural enterprises has been distributed. After the district council chairman’s report, those present asked many questions and held extensive discussions about the privatization process, the distribution of land and title deeds in the villages, the granting of loans, the valuable latrines to be provided by the government, the return of properties, and so on. Messrs. Tritan Shehu, Minister Shehi, Deputy Minister of Agriculture A. Kora, and the representative of the Ministry of Local Government also answered many of these questions. P. Hisku, secretary of Mamurras commune, Mr. Perfizi, chairman of the Laç DP sub-branch P. Tanushi, municipal councillor M. Haxhia, the district chairman of the BSP, and others discussed the district’s main current problems. In his speech, Minister Shehi focused on the economic reform of the Meksi government and its achievements and shortcomings. The Secretary also spoke at the meeting (Continued on page 4)

—There are no unresolved problems between Albania and Bulgaria. —Within 18 months, 20 agreements have been signed. As official contacts between Albania and Bulgaria continued, at the invitation of the President of Bulgaria, Mr. Zhelev, the President of the Republic, Mr. Berisha, and Mrs. Berisha, at the head of a government delegation, began an official visit to the Republic of Bulgaria on 27 April 1994, in return for the visit to Albania by the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Mr. Zhelev. At Sofia Airport, the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Mr. Zhelev, welcomed the President of the Republic of Albania, Mr. Berisha, Mrs. Berisha, and the members of the Albanian delegation. After the national anthems of the two countries were played, the presidents reviewed the guard of honour. After this ceremony, Mr. Berisha and Mr. Zhelev held a one-on-one meeting behind closed doors, which lasted 45 minutes. Later, the two delegations, headed by the two presidents, held talks at the round table. In these talks, it was once again stressed what had been emphatically underlined in Albania: there are no unresolved problems between Albania and Bulgaria. The rapid progress in developing relations between the two countries was noted, as evidenced by the fact that 20 agreements have been signed within 18 months, including an agreement on education between the two countries, an agreement on economic relations, and agreements on culture, transport, and other matters. Proposals and new agreements were put forward for resolution at the meeting, such as the harmonization of the legal frameworks of the two countries, so as to better serve trade and economic cooperation. Agreements were signed on investment, reciprocal legal protection of citizens, the return of persons wanted by the two countries, free movement of the citizens of both countries, and the establishment of a joint commercial bank; agreements on tourism and other matters. The role of Albania and Bulgaria in maintaining peace and stability in the region was emphasized at the meeting. It was stressed that, despite the current difficulties in the region, the need for joint political action by the two countries would remain a priority. It was also considered that Albania and Bulgaria, as two post-dictatorial countries, should help one another and act as each other’s advocates in international institutions. A special place in the bilateral talks was given to the situation in the Balkans, including the issue of Kosovo, Macedonia, the war in Bosnia, and possible ways of resolving them. In the presence of President Berisha, the respective agreements were signed by both delegations. In honour of President Berisha, the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Mr. Zhelev, hosted a dinner. The visit continues.

—An amendment to the law on urban planning is approved— Yesterday in the People’s Assembly Yesterday’s session of the People’s Assembly, which began at 10 in the morning, opened with an interpellation of the Prime Minister of the Republic, Mr. Aleksander Meksi, concerning the government’s measures to raise the prices of heating fuels and electricity. Prime Minister Meksi’s interpellation followed a number of questions submitted by several independent MPs and MPs from the DP and PS, seeking explanations on various aspects of this problem, which is very important for the continued progress of economic reform in our country. Given the importance of this issue, we will provide you with the full text of this parliamentary interpellation in our next issue. Also at yesterday’s session of the People’s Assembly of the Republic of Albania, a decree of the President of the Republic introducing an amendment to Law No. 7693, dated 06.04.1993, “On Urban Planning,” was approved by a majority of votes. RD CORRESPONDENT

—B. Zeneli expresses the PS’s loyalty to PASOK while accusing the Albanian government and thanking the Greek government “for its noble stance.”— For a long time, the PS has spoken of the democratic government’s “amateurish” foreign policy. In this spirit and with two aims, it publishes a newspaper page (“ZP”), as does the chairman of the PS Foreign Affairs Section, Bashkim Zeneli. “With Greece we want understanding, lack of professionalism and believes this right is granted to him by the experience that will be provided by the government, the return of properties, etc.”

Have other threads of red corruption begun to emerge? —Vilma Nushi (Hido) and her sister Majlinda Hido have been charged with smuggling LM and Marlboro cigarettes. Have other threads of red corruption begun to emerge? According to information received from various well-informed sources, Vilma Nushi (Hido) and her sister, Majlinda Hido, have recently been placed under criminal investigation on charges of smuggling LM and Marlboro cigarettes. Vilma Nushi once worked in foreign trade enterprises, so it is not difficult to connect these facts—from a privileged employee to the LM cigarettes that captured the Albanian market in a short time. Considering what has been arrested. What will the investigation uncover? Information from the judicial authorities is limited for reasons related to the stage of the investigation. Will this investigation uncover old connections to cigarette smuggling carried out by the communist state?

For a long time, the PS has spoken of a “cavalier” foreign policy by the democratic government. “With Greece we want understanding, good neighborly relations,” Zeneli writes in his article criticizing the Albanian government, as though the democratic government had not clearly expressed the same thing. In any case, with his article B. Zeneli aims to achieve two things: to “criticize” the policy of the Albanian government while at the same time expressing the PS’s loyalty to PASOK, thereby in some way correcting the “mistake” they made by signing the Albanian Parliament’s declaration holding the Greek government responsible for the 10 April crime at the border. The Albanian government’s commitment to good neighborly relations with Greece has been expressed at all bilateral meetings and confirmed; but to accuse the Albanian government of driving us apart from our neighbors—as Zeneli does—is, once again, [text unclear]. He protests at the lines of Albanian troops and the Greek government’s solidarity for its “noble excavations.” There is no ground in Albania on which these claims can stand. It seems B. Zeneli forgets that this is not the only instance of the integrity of Albania and the rights of Albanians being violated by Greek state forces and representatives. To imply that none of these actions took place would mean treating them as something continuous and normal, something that cannot be stopped. In several official statements and articles in “ZP,” it has been explained why the Greek government bears responsibility even if the terrorist group was not organized by it. B. Zeneli talks of amateurism and lack of professionalism and thinks he has the right to do so because of his “experience” as a former head of the Foreign Affairs sector at the Central Committee of the Youth; but Mr. Zeneli and the others know well that their only “merit” is the isolation of Albania from the world, which they achieved, one might say, with professionalism. In any case, “professional” Zeneli, who apparently does not know democratic norms well, could be cited some of these norms so that he is clear that the Albanian government does not relinquish its rights. I will not cite some of the commitments of UN member states concerning respect for the rules and spirit of good neighborly relations, but another resolution. I quote verbatim: “On the basis of the UN Charter, the General Assembly, by resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, adopted without a vote by consensus, [text unclear]: The UN Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the UN Charter solemnly proclaims the principles: ‘In accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN, states have a duty to refrain from propaganda for aggressive war.’ —Every state has a duty to refrain from organizing or encouraging the organization of irregular forces or armed bands, including mercenaries, for incursions into the territory of another state. —Every state has a duty to refrain from organizing, instigating or participating in acts of civil strife or terrorist acts in another state, or from acquiescing in organized activities within its territory aimed at carrying out such acts... Thus, as can clearly be seen, it is not the Albanian government that held the Greek government responsible “in order to fall out with our neighbors,” but the principles of the UN. I also mentioned above that the severity of (Continued on page 4)

According to information received from various well-informed sources, Vilma Nushi (Hido) and her sister, Majlinda Hido, have recently been placed under criminal investigation on charges of smuggling LM and Marlboro cigarettes. Vilma Nushi (Hido) and her sister Majlinda Hido charged. cigarettes. Vilma Nushi is the wife of Drini Nushi, the son of Gogo Nushi. In Tirana she was known as the “President” of short time. is not difficult to connect these facts: from a privileged employee at Agroeksport to “President,” a millionaire in no time. For now, the case is still under investigation, but the accused have cigarette smuggling carried out by the communist state? What other threads connect the two sisters, who certainly were not working alone? Let us wait. E. P.

A new fabrication by “KJ” On April 28, all of Korça was outraged by an article in the newspaper “Koha Jone” by Zamir Dule. On its front page, “Koha Jone” announced in large, sensational letters: “The PD building in Korça is robbed and engulfed in flames!” According to the author, this was the third time in a year that the PD building had been robbed; indeed, Dulja (not the Dulja of the Moniques mentioned in Korça, since he was a respected man, but the Dulja of Nikollë Lesi) had supposedly received this information from the PD leaders themselves! What can you do? Little by little, the new “independent” bride, Koha Jone, is gaining experience as a political prostitute in its kinds of articles, lies, fabrications and fantasies. Who was killed, who was slaughtered, who was raped—that is the panorama offered by this rag of a newspaper. Although we have the PD’s building pictured, “engulfed in flames,” we are waiting for the “martyrs” of the Albanian free press, the Frrangajs, the Lehs and their wretched servants such as Zamir Dulja, to come and see once again where and how the PD building in Korça was robbed, and what was stolen there!... The PD building in Korça has never been burned. Of course, this is what “Koha Jone” and its Zamir Dules dream of and desire so much; their hearts burn to hear about democracy. Therefore, all the people of Korça—and even any fan of “KJ” sensations—are invited to read the newspaper dated April 28, after having had their fill of its lies... We are convinced that if this newspaper of Nikollë Lesi asks forgiveness for a writing error, it will say that it was not the PD but the PS of Korçë that was burned! As always, Dulja gets his information from the former branch of the “xhahtije,” with whom he goes strolling through the backstreets of Korça. We are telling Dule and “Koba” that here in Korça, the building that burned was the PS building; indeed, a Llashku inner tube itself [was burned] at the ticket booth by some kids on its benches. In any case, it is up to the PD branch of Korçë, which, under the press law, has been misinformed and persecuted by the “Koha Jone” journalist Zamir Dule, to take the matter to the courts. PETRAQ KITA

-Dokle: “This is a provocation against the PS” With the President of the Republic in attendance, Parliament discussed the amendment of the “General Election” Decree. Perhaps this would not have been so contentious ... [partly illegible] R. PESHKËPIA thrown out for the Nth time During yesterday’s parliamentary session, in the course of Prime Minister Meksi’s interpellation, the “independent” MP R. Peshkëpia was ceremoniously thrown out for the third time. The reason was ... [partly illegible] PS MPs “listen attentively” to Meksi’s answers All the PS MPs “listened attentively” to the answers Meksi gave to their questions, and after they had finished and the schedule for the preparations was completed, Ndërqenji even said that he was satisfied with the answers; but this did not stop them from then taking out the prepared sheets and replying with them ... [partly illegible]

Yesterday at around 5:00 p.m., the President of the Italian Republic, Oskar Luigi Skalfaro, summoned the Milanese business magnate Silvio Berlusconi to the Quirinale. Berlusconi had won the latest elections in Italy. Skalfaro informed Berlusconi of the decision to appoint him Prime Minister of Italy. Thus Silvio Berlusconi will be the first Prime Minister of the Second Italian Republic. He must now form a government with his allies, including Alleanza Nazionale and Lega e Venut. Berlusconi, who entered politics only two months before the elections were held “to save Italy from communism,” now finds himself at the helm of Italian politics. Let us wish him success with his government. KORRIERI “RD”

[Satirical illustration with the inscriptions “KJ”, “KOHA JONË” and “KOMBI”.]