Interview with the deputy chairman of the DP and chairman of its parliamentary group, Mr. Ali Spahia —As chairman of the DP parliamentary group, you held talks at the presidium of the People’s Assembly with the chairmen of the other parliamentary groups. Judging by the meeting that took place, how do you see the prospects for future meetings (when will they be held)? Although this is not the first time that the consensus reached by the chairmen of the parliamentary groups has been broken (I have in mind the meeting of the parliamentary group chairmen with the President concerning the Charter of Human Rights, on which consensus was reached and then broken in Parliament by the PS), even after the consensus we reached at the meeting of the Parliamentary Presidium with the chairmen of the parliamentary groups was broken, I have not lost hope that, with work and effort, consensus can be achieved. At Wednesday’s plenary session of Parliament, I spoke about our position at that meeting, but TV showed none of my speech. We agreed that Parliament should address the Constitution, and on behalf of the DP group we proposed establishing a new parliamentary commission to draft the Constitution. All political forces and groupings in Parliament should be represented on this commission. A group made up of the best specialists, appointed in proportion to the number of deputies, should assist this commission. A group of constitutional law specialists from the Council of Europe and the Venice Commission should be attached to this commission, without voting rights. The DP parliamentary group proposes choosing as a model for the separation of powers and the establishment of judicial institutions one of the models used by the 15 countries of the European Union, which have proved to be successful parliamentary democracies. If the political forces are interested in giving Albania a Constitution as soon as possible, the DP parliamentary group suggests that: Parliament should authorize the commission, so that, taking into account the observations of the Council of Europe, it can choose as a model for the separation of powers one of the Constitutions of the 15 European Union countries. To arrive at an agreement on the exact proportions of representation on this commission, after a lengthy discussion it was agreed that the DP would have 8 deputies, the PS 4, the PSD 2, the PR 1, the BND 1, and the other parties 1 deputy each. This consensus was broken the following day by Mr. Dokle, with a few changes also made by Mr. Gjinushi. It was even said that the Presidium has no right to make decisions, but I remind those gentlemen of Article 13 of the Rules of Procedure of the People’s Assembly, which states: “The calendar unanimously approved at a meeting of the Presidium attended by the chairmen of the parliamentary groups becomes binding once it is submitted to the People’s Assembly. When a unanimous agreement on the calendar is not reached at a meeting of the parliamentary group chairmen, the Presidium draws it up and notifies the People’s Assembly. After 10 minutes of discussion for each parliamentary group and 2 minutes for each deputy, the Presidium draws up the final calendar. In any case, I think that on an issue such as the Constitution, consensus must be reached among all political forces, among all Albanians. —The National Council of the DP is considering other suggestions regarding the possibility of new alliances for the DP. Which parties do you see as closest, given that the DP represents the centre-right in the Albanian political spectrum? Looking at the programmes of the parties... PHOTO: A. BABANI

The DP parliamentary group suggests that: Parliament should authorize the commission, so that, taking into account the observations of the Council of Europe, it can choose as a model for the separation of powers one of the Constitutions of the 15 European Union countries. To arrive at an agreement on the exact proportions of representation on this commission, after a lengthy discussion it was agreed that the DP would have 8 deputies, the PS 4, the PSD 2, the PR 1, the BND 1, and the other parties 1 deputy each. This consensus was broken the following day by Mr. Dokle, with a few changes also made by Mr. Gjinushi. It was even said that the Presidium has no right to make decisions, but I remind those gentlemen of Article 13 of the Rules of Procedure of the People’s Assembly, which states: “The calendar unanimously approved at a meeting of the Presidium attended by the chairmen of the parliamentary groups becomes binding once it is submitted to the People’s Assembly. When a unanimous agreement on the calendar is not reached at a meeting of the parliamentary group chairmen, the Presidium draws it up and notifies the People’s Assembly. After 10 minutes of discussion for each parliamentary group and 2 minutes for each deputy, the Presidium draws up the final calendar. In any case, I think that on an issue such as the Constitution, consensus must be reached among all political forces, among all Albanians. —The National Council of the DP is considering other suggestions regarding the possibility of new alliances for the DP. Which parties do you see as closest, given that the DP represents the centre-right in the Albanian political spectrum? Looking at the programmes of the Albanian political parties and their positions on the national question and all the other very important issues concerning economic reform and social development in Albania, I think that in any case, on such important issues as the Constitution, we should seek allies and consensus both to the right and to the left of the Democratic Party, such as the PR, PSD, Te Berlet, Balli Kombëtar, Demokraci? Legaliteti, the Albanian Democratic Union, the Universal Party, and perhaps other political forces as well. —Which of the following two issues would be the main one for Mr. Sphahia: a joint plan for drafting a new draft, or the procedural method for approving it? The main thing for me is the Constitution—that is, a good draft, a joint effort to draw up a good new draft for Albanians and for Albania. I think the people will know how to decide on a good draft. NDREKE GJINI

Integration in Europe in all fields is the key to peace, stability and prosperity —The President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, also attended and gave a speech —Work begins on the Institute for International and Strategic Studies of Albania— Last night, the International Conference on the theme “International and Atlantic Institutions: The Need for a New Integration Strategy for the Countries of Eastern Europe” began at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana. The conference was organized by the Institute for International and Strategic Studies of Albania in cooperation with the Institute of International Affairs in Rome, the Institute for Foreign Policy in Ankara, and the Hellenic Foundation for Defence and Foreign Policy in Athens. The President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, also attended and spoke at the conference, along with NATO representative Spyros C.Philipas and many other guests. After the opening speech by Mr. Cezare Marilini, president of IAI, the President of the Republic, Mr. Sali Berisha, took the floor to offer his greetings. He said that the conference was devoted to perhaps the most important process in the history of the post-Cold War era: the process of integration in our region and continent. President Berisha congratulated the newly established Institute for International and Strategic Studies and also greeted the respective institutions in Rome, Ankara and Athens, as well as NATO, for the great assistance they had provided in establishing this Institute. The firm resolve of the new democratic Albania to open up to the world and cooperate with it would, President Berisha noted, be significantly advanced, among other factors, by establishing institutions that could professionally analyse and forecast developments in the region and the new aspects of foreign policy. Further evaluating the conference, he emphasized: “This conference is a good example of the Institute’s aims and of significant topics and solutions. The integration of Eastern Europe into Western Europe is the principal feature of the transformations of recent years. Defining sound policies aimed at achieving this goal and reforming existing institutions and organizations to adapt them to this new reality is an important item on the agenda.” “I have always been convinced that European integration in all fields is the key to peace, stability and prosperity, and we are determined not to repeat the bitter experiences of history,” Berisha concluded.

President Sali Berisha receives the delegation of the National People’s Congress of the PR of China, led by its vice-chairman, Mr. Bu He “I am pleased to welcome you and your delegation as representatives of the Parliament and the Chinese people,” President Berisha said, welcoming the members of the delegation. “I wish to express my great satisfaction at the intensification of relations between our two peoples. We follow with admiration the important progress your country is making, which is in the interests not only of China and its friends, but of the whole world. I wish to convey my greetings to His Excellency President Jiang Zemin and assure him that relations with China are of special importance to Albania. They have been placed on a new footing and are constantly advancing through mutually beneficial cooperation at all levels. In this context, we consider cooperation in the field of investment particularly important. The Albanian government is ready to create favourable conditions for Chinese investment and guarantee it.” For his part, the vice-chairman of the National People’s Congress of the PR of China thanked President Berisha for the warm and friendly welcome he had received in Albania. He considered contacts and discussions with the leaders of the Albanian Parliament, as well as establishing closer relations between the parliaments of our two countries, very important. He said that China was pleased to see the renewal of friendship and cooperation between the Albanian and Chinese peoples, and that every opportunity existed for cooperation between our friendly countries in the economic, educational, cultural, technical and scientific fields. “Taking advantage of this opportunity,” President Berisha said to Mr. Bu He, “I wish, through you, to send a very warm personal message to the distinguished Tien Ciao Pin, praising his steadfastness and ideas, which opened a new era for China. Wishing once again to assure your President of the friendship of the Albanian people, I express my desire to welcome him to Albania as a friend of the Albanian people and government.” PHOTO: G. XHENGO

FROM THE 29TH MEETING OF THE CSCE COMMITTEE OF SENIOR OFFICIALS Yesterday in Budapest, the 29th meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials was held as part of the CSCE Review Conference. The Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs delegation, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Arian Starova, also took part. One of the items on the meeting’s agenda was the report by the High Commissioner on National Minorities, Mr. Maks Van der Stoel. Van der Stoel presented a brief summary of his report on the situation of minorities in Albania, which was circulated as an official document at the conference. The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Albania, Mr. Arian Starova, thanked the High Commissioner on National Minorities, Mr. Van der Stoel, for his presentation, describing it as informative and focused on the issue in question. “First of all, I expressed my high appreciation for the cooperation extended by the Albanian government, both during my mission to Albania on 17–23 October and during my earlier visits, helping me in my efforts to gain a comprehensive understanding of minority issues in Albania. We were free to meet and talk with members of minorities, while all conversations with unofficial representatives took place privately and without the presence of any government representative. During this period, we met with Greek representatives and petitioners, as well as those of Albanian nationality.” —FROM VAN DER STOEL’S REPORT— “First of all, I express my great appreciation for the cooperation shown by the Albanian government, both during my mission on 17–23 October and during my earlier visits, helping me in my efforts to gain a comprehensive understanding of minority issues in Albania. We were free to meet and talk with members of minorities, while all conversations with unofficial representatives took place privately and without the presence of any government representative. During this period, we met with Greek representatives and petitioners, as well as those of Albanian nationality.” 18 Greeks sentenced for opposing official positions on minorities —GREECE BOASTS OF ITS “HOMOGENEITY”— Athens. Greece asked Albania to recognize the status of minorities after the Greek press published a document attributed to the State Department, which reported the existence of Slavic and Albanian minorities in Greece, official spokesman Evangelios Venizelos pointed out on Thursday. The government was “surprised” by the document’s response, a letter from the State Department sent to representatives of the Albanian-American association, Venizelos said. According to the Greek press, the letter notes that by refusing to recognize the existence of minorities on its own territory, Greece weakens its position on respect for the rights of the Greek minority in Albania. Greece, which regularly boasts of the “99 percent Greek and Orthodox homogeneity” of its population, recognizes only a “Muslim” minority, most of Turkish origin, and denies the existence of any other minority. “But the reality is different,” says the Greek section of Helsinki Watch in a report published this week. According to this study, nearly 10 percent of Greeks belong to “ethno-linguistic” minorities: 3.3 percent Roma, 2 percent Arvanites—Albanians settled in Greece for centuries—and 2 percent Slavo-Macedonians, as well as Turks and Roma. Eighteen Greeks have been sentenced for publicly expressing views contrary to official positions on minorities or for criticizing Greek Balkan policy, the report notes, condemning these violations of freedom of expression. AFP

Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Janis Kranidiotis, speaking at a press conference in London, said the following to the BBC, in addition to discussing issues relating to Albanian-Greek relations: “After the referendum on the Constitution was held, we believe our doubts were confirmed regarding the lack of democracy and respect for rights in Albania.”

DUKAJGIN HATA The deathly bells of the PS leadership’s obsession with early elections have been ringing in the ears of people who, after nights of delirious nightmares, want to breathe freely, calmly and without constraint as they go about their work, plans and dreams. Since March 23, the day after the governing mandate was confirmed for the DP and the other democratic forces, armchair politicians with ideas mouldering for 47 years have continued to unleash the defeated “knights” of the ill-fated battle to create destructive and destabilizing precedents, who then set the Albanian press buzzing about early elections. ...