Following the President’s decree on the restructuring of the Government, deputy editor-in-chief Edi Paloka interviewed Prime Minister Aleksander Meksi The restructuring is intended to achieve greater progress in the pace and precision of the reform and in its social dimension. After the President’s decree on the restructuring of the Government, deputy editor-in-chief Edi Paloka interviewed Prime Minister Aleksander Meksi. On what basis were changes made to the methods and restructuring of the Government, and in what ways is it thought that this new structure will be more effective? The restructuring of the Government and the changes in the Government were made on the basis of ongoing ideas for improving the progress of its work in many areas, bringing in new people who could give greater impetus to the management of economic reform, and preparing to raise the level of work by addressing shortcomings that have been observed recently, bearing in mind the analysis conducted by the Democratic Party and public opinion in light of all the referendum results and signs of rejection of the draft constitution. Do you think the basic principles of the reform being implemented by the Government will remain the same, or will there be changes after this restructuring? The Government has its own program, an agreement with the International Monetary Fund, a public investment program, a pro- Is the change based on methods of privatization? Issues connected with reform will also be handled, among others, by the two Deputy Prime Ministers, one of whom also has the Construction and Tourism portfolio and the other the Finance portfolio. It is understood that, among other things, their duties will be to assist the Prime Minister, support the Government’s overall work, and ensure that the Council of Ministers’ leadership can act more effectively in resolving problems involving those who do not declare the source of their income or do not guarantee the retention of a substantial part of the workforce, or the reopening of a factory or department, etc. In addition to public-order issues, the Ministry of the Interior will also oversee local government. Is there a risk that local government will be placed under the dictates of maintaining public order, as some newspapers have alleged? Prefectures have been established to improve the direction and oversight of local government activity, and to ensure compliance with parliamentary laws and government legal acts. The prefectural structures have precisely this purpose. In many countries around the world, the entire structure for directing local government is under the Ministry of the Interior. This experience, as well as various other experiences, was certainly taken into account by us in order to centralize this oversight more effectively, ensure that all local government activity conforms to the laws of the Albanian state, and I am convinced that this positive experience will produce useful results. - At the center of the debate: not consensus on the Constitution, but the way it is to be adopted. - Spahia: “If we are in favor of drafting the Constitution, then let us begin work on setting up the commission that will draft the Constitution.” The second meeting of the political parties on the issue of the Constitution was held yesterday at the Presidium of the People’s Assembly. Those attending included PD Deputy Chairman A. Spahia, PR Chairman S. Godo and Deputy Chairman Mediu, PS representatives S. Godo and P. Dokle, PSD representatives S. Gjinushi and P. Milo, PBDNJ representatives Vasil Melo and Kosta Makariadhi, and PAD representatives A. Imami and P. Teta. Although the meeting was held to discuss and reach consensus on the content of the Constitution, the debate focused solely on how the Constitution would be adopted. Representatives of PS, PBDNJ, PSD and PAD insisted that it first had to be decided that the Constitution would be adopted by Parliament. Representatives of PAD and PSD called for consensus on the two main constitutional provisions, according to which Parliament would approve the Constitution and it would then be ratified by Referendum. Opposing the Referendum, Imami of PAD declared that only in fascist countries could a Constitution be put to a referendum. Taking the floor as PD representative, Mr Ali Spahia said that the question of whether to accept or reject the Referendum as a means of approving the Constitution should not be postponed. “My view,” said Mr Spahia, “is that if by democracy we mean the expression of the people’s free will through voting and respect for that will, then the Referendum is a great achievement and an excellent experience for Albanian democracy. To those who attack the fundamental constitutional provisions, I say that Albanians, by implementing these provisions, have achieved the expression of a true democracy. Those laws bring democracy toward consolidation and improvement. If we truly begin by setting up the commission to draft this Constitution.” Then, after speaking about The government has its program: an agreement with the Monetary Fund, a public investment program, a program for phasing all the reforms over time (a three-year plan), and short- and long-term programs for capacity-building. These are improved every year but are not changed, because the reform has a clear program, known to everyone and tried and tested. In general, its results have been adequate and have been assessed as very positive for Albania compared with other countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The government’s decision aims to ensure that the pace of reform, its precision and its social dimension make much greater progress than they have to date. In the new structure, the post of Deputy Prime Minister responsible for reform and privatization issues is being abolished. Which ministry will now handle privatization, and will there be changes? Privatization responsibilities will be assigned to the Ministry of Finance. As for privatization, comprehensive observations have been made regarding long-term needs, so both negative and positive experience has been accumulated. The PD National Council and the group of deputies supported our idea, as well as that of the President, the State Audit and others, that privatization should take place only through auctions or securities, with securities also allocated to employees, apart from former political prisoners and former owners. I think that, as soon as possible, on the basis of material prepared in advance, we will approve a new decision that will provide the basis for privatization. Of course, as before, people described as “tools” will be excluded from privatization. As for the accusation, it is simply the expression of a desire to criticize everything the democratic government does; there is no reason for a Ministry of the Interior to treat local government as though it were a matter of … . On the contrary, it will ensure a better connection and better oversight at government level of public activity in every district. We will have more organized and more independent work, because the local structures are now better prepared, since the directive comes at the same time to all branches of central and local government at the grassroots level. On the other hand, I would say there is no reason to suspect that a system that works in other countries would not be suitable in Albania’s case.

As has been reported, the Albanian delegation, headed by the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, is also taking part in the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe in Budapest. The objective of the conference, which began yesterday at 9 o’clock, is to strengthen CSCE institutions in order to prevent conflicts and resolve crises, as well as to increase the role of this forum as a primary instrument in the context of conflicts. The former Italian Prime Minister and the core priorities of CSCE activity, which, according to him, will in the future require goodwill in order to make decisions. As an obligation in resolving problems, he said that they require cooperation with other security organizations around the world, and he also added that conflicts and the establishment of stability. In this regard, the CSCE has the task of restructuring itself and responding better to urgent problems. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi welcomed [them] in his capacity as the current chair of the CSCE. The organization of preventive diplomacy on issues that concern Europe today, as well as conflict prevention, were decisions. (Continued on page 2)

- At the center of the debate: not consensus on the Constitution, but the way it is to be adopted. - Constitution, but the way it is to be adopted. - then let us begin work an amendment to Article 16, point 2, of the countries can a Constitution be put to a ref- [article continues outside the frame]

Yesterday’s meeting at the residence of PD leader Mr. Selami with well-known intellectuals of the capital, including those who have consistently supported the PD in all its efforts to advance reform, deepen democratic processes and engage in constructive dialogue to give the country a European-level Constitution as soon as possible, once again highlighted the mutual desire for cooperation and openness, and the strong support intellectuals give to Albania’s largest political force, which overthrew communism and is building the major institution of Democracy. The frank discussion between Chairman Selami and Tirana’s intellectuals stressed the need to devise new ways, outside propagandistic clichés, to draw on intellectual thought, and to organize the PD’s groups and branches more flexibly and effectively, including forms of organization for intellectuals based on their professional fields and the contributions they make. These intellectuals, who appeal to the Albanian people to support the Constitution—which, although not perfect, expressed the good intention of giving Albanians the fundamental law guaranteeing their freedoms—see in the PD a political force that has not exhausted its democratic alternatives, as its ailing nihilists claim, but is continually seeking people and new paths. Along this path, intellectuals have made, and will make even greater contributions in the future.

—ORGANIZED BY THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY— As part of the exchange of experience in consolidating democracy, protecting human rights and establishing the rule of law in post-communist countries, the Parliamentary Conference began in Tirana yesterday. It was organized and sponsored by the United States House of Representatives, the special group tasked with developing parliamentary institutions in Eastern Europe (Frost Task Force), and the People’s Assembly of the Republic of Albania. Members of parliament and staff of the Presidency of the People’s Assembly were in attendance, as well as friends and …

As we are informed by our correspondent in Elbasan, by decree of the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, the chairman of the Elbasan District Council, PD representative Mr. Nardçim Allaj, has been dismissed from his post.

SENATOR BOB DOL SAYS The well-known Senator Bob Dol reiterated these days the concerns of the United States about the situation in the Balkan region, stressing that a war in Kosovo would directly affect American interests there. In an interview given from Brussels to the American television network ABC, Dol stated that the spread of the conflict to Kosovo would affect American interests and, especially, NATO’s interests there. Dol, who is the Republican leader in the U.S. Congress, visited Europe in recent days and discussed with his political interlocutors the Western alliance’s policy in Bosnia, which, he said, has failed. ATSH

will remain the same as those the government implements, or will there be changes after this restructuring?

- PS’S BOUNDLESS HYPOCRISY AN EXPRESSION OF ITS IMMORAL POLITICS PAGE 3 VLORA: 70,000 OLIVE TREES AND 1,200 CITRUS TREES TO BE SOLD TO FARMERS PAGE 4 - “VALUE ADDED TAX: ABUSE IS MINIMIZED PAGE 5 - HISTORICAL TRUTH, ITS DENIAL AND REASSESSMENT PAGE 6 - THE EYE OF DURRËS IN THE SIGHTS OF THE ALBANIAN-ITALIAN MASTER PLAN PAGE 7 - ADVERTISING FOR YOU - ENCYCLOPEDIA PAGE 8 - FOOTBALL: “TIRANA” ALSO BEATS “PARTIZANI”; 4 POINTS AHEAD OF THEM, IT WAITS TO BECOME AUTUMN CHAMPION

On the release and appointment of several ministers Pursuant to Article 28, point 7, of Law No. 7491 dated 29.4.1991, “On the Main Constitutional Provisions,” on the proposal of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers: I DECREE: ARTICLE 1 1. Mr Bashkim Kopliku is released from the position of Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers, with special responsibility for economic reform; this position is eliminated in the organization of the Government, and he is assigned another duty. 2. Mr Kudret Çela is released from the position of Minister of Justice and assigned another duty. 3. Mr Pirro Dishnica is released from the position of Minister of Finance and assigned another duty. 4. Mr Selim Belortaja is released from the position of Minister of Industry and Trade and appointed State Secretary for economic relations with foreign countries at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 5. Mr Ilir Manushi is released from the position of Minister of Construction, Housing and Territorial Regulation and assigned another duty. 6. Mr Dhimiter Agolli, [partly cut off] 7. Mr Bashkim Kopliku, [partly cut off] 8. [text cut off] 9. [text cut off] 10. Mr Rexhep Uka is released from the position of Minister without Portfolio responsible for local government issues and assigned another duty. 11. Mr Agron Musaraj is released from the position of Minister of Public Order and appointed Minister of the Interior. 12. Mr Dashamir Shehi is released from the position of Minister of Labor, Emigration and Social Support and appointed Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Construction and Tourism. 13. Mr Dylber Vrioni is of Finance. 14. Mr Albert Brojka is appointed Minister of Industry, Transport and Trade. 15. Mr Njazi Kosovrasti is appointed State Secretary for local government at the Ministry of the Interior. 16. Mr Hektor Frasheri is appointed Minister of Justice. 17. Mr Teodor Laco is appointed Minister of Culture, [text cut off]

of Industry and Trade and is Territorial Regulation and assigned another duty. 6. Mr Dhimiter Anagnosti is released from the position of Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, at his request. 7. Mr Fatos Bitincka is released from the position of Minister of Transport. 8. Mr Edmond Spaho is released from the position of Minister of Tourism and assigned another duty. 9. Mr Eduard Ypi is released from Mr Teodor Laço is appointed Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports. ARTICLE 2 This decree enters into force immediately. Tirana, 4.12.1994 Decree No. 973 PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC SALI BERISHA

Minister of Industry, Transport and Trade Born in Tirana in 1958. Graduated from the Faculty of Mining Engineering. Employee of the Institute of Geology and Mines from 1981 to 1992, with specializations in Turkey and Japan. In 1992–1993, Director of the Institute of Geology and Mines. Subsequently, Adviser to the Prime Minister and, until December 1994, Deputy Minister of Mining Industry.

Minister of Justice Born in 1930 in Korçë. Graduated from the Faculty of Law in 1958. After 1958, he worked as a lawyer until he ceased practicing law in 1967. From 1967 until 1990, he was a legal specialist in the Tirana railway district. After 1991, he returned to the legal profession.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Born in Korçë in 1936. Graduated in Agronomy from the Higher Agricultural Institute in 1958. He worked until 1960 as an agronomist in the agricultural sector in Korçë, and then until 1964 as a teacher in Bilisht. He began writing in 1958. From 1968 to 1970, he was Chairman of the Korçë Branch of the Writers’ Union, and then until 1975 worked in the literature section of the Writers’ Union in Tirana. Criticized for “decadent” literature, after 1975 he was sent to Fier, where he spent seven years as a playwright at the Fier Theatre. In 1982 he returned to the Writers’ Union, where he worked until 1986 in the young talents section. From 1986 to 1990 he worked at the Albanian Film Studio as head of the film editorial department, and from ’91 to ’92 he was director of the Film Studio. Since March 22, he has been a PSD deputy in the Albanian Parliament and deputy chairman of the PSD. As a writer, he has created dozens of stories, novels, plays, etc. He has won several awards, and his works have also been published in foreign languages.