5 May - Day of the Nation’s Martyrs President Berisha and high state and party figures paid homage and laid wreaths of fresh flowers at the “Mother Albania” monument and at the graves of the heroes of independence. From early morning, under a clear sky, hundreds of citizens, families of martyrs, veterans and representatives of institutions climbed toward the cemetery to remember those who fell for the freedom of the homeland. The ceremony was attended by state leaders, members of parliament, representatives of political parties and social organizations. The President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, laid a wreath of flowers at the “Mother Albania” monument and greeted those present. In his speech he emphasized that the memory of the martyrs remains alive in the conscience of the nation and that their sacrifice is the moral foundation of freedom and democracy. After the homage, the delegations also visited the graves of the heroes of independence, where wreaths and bouquets of fresh flowers were likewise placed. The ceremony took place in an atmosphere of respect and humility. Many citizens stopped by the memorials and read the names of the fallen, while schoolchildren recited verses dedicated to the homeland and the martyrs. This day of remembrance also served to convey a message of national unity, that freedom and the democratic state are defended by honoring those who sacrificed themselves for them.

Yesterday, the fans, yes of the opposition (and in essence of the pseudo-opposition), with zeal, the innate zeal of positioning, tried to claim a “victory” by clinging to a legal process launched months earlier and which simply required the application of the “arbitrary” law, as the opposition members themselves call it, and the success of “independent justice”. In fact, as always, what happened was quite different. The prosecution requested the arrest of two MPs for serious criminal offenses, and Parliament, doing its constitutional duty, gave the justice system the opportunity to continue the procedures. There is no victory for the opposition here and no failure for the majority. There is only the application of the law. The opposite of this, this opposition seeks to turn every act of the rule of law into a political crisis, to instrumentalize every procedure, and to hold public life hostage with hysteria, boycott and disorder. This is not opposition. This is sabotage. Real opposition checks the government with arguments, alternatives and responsibility. It respects institutions, does not use them according to momentary interest. It takes part in parliament, it does not abandon it whenever the law does not serve it. It does not defend individuals suspected of violations, but demands transparency and justice for all. Instead, these “champions” of democracy speak of oppression, yet they themselves have turned political debate into shouting, slander and pressure on the courts. On Friday, the opposition did not win. The constitution won. And that is precisely why the pseudo-opposition is so far from the real opposition.

The agreement signed on 4 May in Cairo between the PLO and Israel to establish a partial autonomy in the West Bank and Gaza represents another step toward peace in the Middle East. The U.S. NGO “Freedom House”, in a press release, stated that Yasser Arafat’s personal freedom is guaranteed, as is the physical safety of his family. According to the statement, this decision was taken at the personal initiative of U.S. President Bill Clinton, following concerns expressed by two American political figures. The Gaza agreement is signed about 27 years after the start of Israel’s war in 1967, which resulted in the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, the Sinai Peninsula, the Golan Heights and East Jerusalem. This may be the only case in the history of wars and liberation in this century in which a land occupied in a war is returned to those who previously held it without war. Of particular importance is also the fact that peace was achieved on the basis of a bilateral agreement, without mediation by the United Nations or the major powers, except for the United States, which has worked closely with Russia, sharing the role of mediator with it. Since the Israeli-Palestinian issue is closely linked to the Arab world and to neighboring countries of Israel such as Syria, Jordan and Lebanon, the signing of the agreement will inevitably also affect Israel’s relations with these countries. It is likely that the Golan Heights may be returned to Syria and that Southern Lebanon will no longer be administered by Israel. The PLO is losing ground in the Arab world, but on the other hand it is undeniably gaining sovereignty, even if partial, in the occupied Palestinian territories. According to observers, Yasser Arafat appears before the whole world as a man who knows how to make compromises and end up winning. However, the issue of the stability of this agreement remains open. In the past, the State of Israel and the Palestinian movement PLO have more than once failed in attempts to resolve the conflict. Finally, it is known that the most radical forces on both sides have not approved the latest decisions and apparently will oppose them by every means. For Israel, these forces are the “Likud” movement and far-right groups, while for the PLO they are the Islamist group “Hamas”, which, according to Western sources, has found shelter in Tehran. In the first reports of the news about the signing of the Cairo agreement, the statement stood out that Yasser Arafat was so determined to sign that, allegedly, he had to leave Tunis secretly and fly to Egypt on a luxurious “Boeing” belonging to a Gulf king. Nevertheless, Arafat’s star is no longer in Tunis. It can be said that it now shines more brightly in Gaza and Jericho. Once upon a time he had called himself “king of Palestine”, thereby expressing his conviction that one day he would be known throughout the world as the “father of the nation”. Is this perhaps a final bell or only a temporary stop on the long road to a true and lasting peace? The future will provide the answer. However, under strong international pressure and with the reward of several billion dollars in exchange for peace, Yasser Arafat seems more ready than ever to lay the first foundations of peaceful coexistence and bring to an end the long conflict with the Jewish state. ATSH

Protection against any external and internal threat to the state. Article 50 (A) for the first time in the history of our country calls for legal security against violence and political terror. According to it, “Armed uprising and its organization”, if aimed at overthrowing the constitutional order, is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The same article provides for action against violent acts against the constitutional order and public institutions. Sali Berisha, who for 23 consecutive years lived under a regime in which the Constitution had no force, declared yesterday that “the rule of law begins where arbitrariness ends.” Article 79 (A) of the Penal Code also stipulates punishment for terrorist acts, hostage-taking and the use of explosive devices for political purposes. This provision has been assessed by jurists as necessary in order to confront modern forms of political violence. In addition, a special chapter is devoted to the protection of public officials, judges and witnesses. According to specialists from the Ministry of Justice, the new code constitutes a necessary basis for building a safe society, where the freedom of the citizen and the authority of the law go hand in hand. In the parliamentary debate it was emphasized that punishments are not intended as revenge, but for prevention and rehabilitation. This code also provides measures to fight corruption, abuse of office and economic crime, giving the country a clearer and more contemporary criminal justice instrument. ATSH

(Continued on page 2) The Austrian president benefited from his emergence out of the winter in the Albanian state. “Such an act gives the impression of excessive tolerance toward professional violations,” said the “ZP” office yesterday in a press release. Describing it as “a temporary victory of media pressure”, the statement underlines that respect for legal procedures should not be confused with moral amnesty for those who violate ethics. According to this version, part of public opinion is trying to turn into a political conflict what is essentially a matter of professional standards. “ZP” warns that it will continue to react against any attempt to portray the media as an area beyond the reach of the law. Meanwhile, sources close to journalistic circles say the statement risks deepening the tension between power and the independent press even further. P. P.

-And somewhat red cat heart and some mongrel “ZP” tariff; “We are for true democracy.” This model reappeared yesterday, as the protests of part of the opposition tried to be presented as a principled stance. In fact, according to observers, the rhetoric used was full of insults, insinuations and pressure on the institutions. A cartoon published on the page reinforces this perception, mocking those who speak of freedom but act with the instinct of exclusion. The accompanying note says that democracy is no one’s monopoly and that it is not defended with shouts, but with rules accepted by all. Many saw this as a direct jab at the PS and its allies, who, according to the newspaper, remain far from the standards of a responsible opposition. The cartoon comment underlines that anyone who seeks to govern tomorrow must today show the ability to respect institutions and the opponent. Cartoon comment: They call me a “democrat” because I do whatever I want and overturn all the rules. But when I am asked to account, I shout that I am being oppressed. This is their model. Cartoon comment in the figure: “Konopi i lëvërur te PS pse kërceve te pe ty” [?]