. The adoption by the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly of the Draft Resolution on the Human Rights Situation in Kosovo is one of the most tangible successes of the new Albanian diplomacy. It was Albania that initiated this Draft Resolution, which, after its adoption as a resolution (expected to take place next week) by the General Assembly, would ensure that Kosovo is finally included on the agenda of the proceedings of the UN General Assembly. This is absolutely the first time that the Kosovo issue has been successfully addressed at such levels of international politics, and this is solely the result of a just and intensive policy pursued by Albanian diplomacy. This is the result of the work undertaken by Albanian political and diplomatic figures to internationalize the problem of Kosovo and the national question. Decisive roles were played in particular by the President of the Republic of Albania, Sali Berisha, and the President of the Republic of Kosovo, Ibrahim Rugova. This success confirms the sound policy pursued by Albanian diplomacy in resolving the national question. The problem of Kosovo has never before been addressed on such a scale as an issue in its own right by any international body, because the communist regime never stood by Kosovo. Only after the Iron Curtain was breached, after emerging from complete isolation, and after the intensive activity of the new Albanian diplomacy, was it possible to internationalize Albania’s national question, thereby marking an important step towards its resolution. This is also one of the main priorities of the foreign policy pursued by the present Albanian government, an objective set out as early as December ’90 in the minimum program of the newly formed DP. never before been addressed, in its full dimensions, newly formed DP. Albania’s representative at the UN, Pellumb Kulla, thanked the delegations of the Third Committee for taking this important decision, as well as for the restraint shown during the voting process. In particular, he [text breaks off and resumes with a different report:] during the referendum campaign, as well as through the unlawful actions (according to Ruci) of certain officials of law-enforcement bodies in the districts. Former Interior Minister Alise Gramoz Ruci, using typical communist slogans, tried to belittle the work of the law-enforcement authorities and blame them without presenting any argument. Minister Musaraj, taking the floor to provide explanations in this interpellation, for his part seemed to suffer from … According to the official information available to the ministry he heads, as well as the analyses conducted of the two SP protests connected with Gjirokastra, there is no indication that law-enforcement forces prevented this party’s rallies. The incidents, Musaraj emphasized, occurred in those cases or places where the rallies had been instigated by the SP without notifying the police. As for the SP protests concerning alleged problems at several polling stations, Musaraj explained that they had nothing at all to do with the duties of the law-enforcement forces or their involvement. He emphasized that in every case the police had acted as required by law, working with dedication in

—An important moment in addressing the Kosovo issue in international organizations and forums— At the 49th Session of the UN General Assembly With 105 votes in favor, 3 against and 36 abstentions, the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly adopted by a majority vote The Draft Resolution, initiated by Albania and co-sponsored by 38 states, including Germany, Italy, Austria, the USA, Turkey, France, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Denmark, Pakistan, Malaysia, Norway, Portugal, Canada, etc. The Russian Federation, Tanzania and India voted against, while the states that abstained included the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Greece, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, etc. Some countries, such as Romania and Armenia, did not take part in the vote. The Third Committee recommended that the General Assembly adopt the resolution, which is expected to happen next week. This represents organizations and forums. Its expected adoption by the Assembly would finally mark the inclusion of the Kosovo issue on the agenda of the General Assembly’s proceedings. In this way, the UN’s highest political body, the General Assembly, would address the human rights situation in Kosovo. [The text here is corrupted:] … thanked the delegations of the states co-sponsoring the draft resolution for their contribution. The Draft Resolution is based on the fundamental documents of the United Nations, such as the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the international conventions on human rights, on the prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide, against torture, etc. It is based on the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, in which he describes discrimination in the legislative, administrative and judicial fields, acts of violence and arbitrary arrests against ethnic Albanians in Kosovo, and the continuing deterioration of the human rights situation in Kosovo. The Draft Resolution includes passages from this report describing police brutality, the killing of Albanians, their expulsion and abuse, torture and ill-treatment, arbitrary dismissals of Albanian officials, especially in the fields of public order and justice, and confiscation of their property. It records discrimination against Albanian teachers and pupils, the closure of Albanian schools and universities, cultural and scientific institutions, the persecution of political parties, and conflicts in Kosovo. It considers the restoration of an international presence there to monitor and investigate the human rights situation to be of great importance in preventing violent conflicts. The resolution strongly condemns the measures and practices of discrimination and violations of the human rights of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo, carried out by the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro). It calls on these authorities to take all necessary measures to put an end to human rights violations, repeal all discriminatory legislation, and in particular legislation that has entered into force since 1989, establish democratic institutions in Kosovo, including a parliament and judiciary, and respect the will of the people of Kosovo as the best means of preventing conflict. The resolution calls on the authorities in Belgrade to reopen cultural and scientific institutions and to engage in dialogue with representatives of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo, under the auspices of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe and the International Conference on the former Yugoslavia. At the same time, it calls on them to allow the return of workers and the immediate resumption of long-term CSCE missions, also requested by the Security Council in its resolution 1167 of last year. The resolution calls on international humanitarian organizations to take practical steps to address the critical needs of the Albanian population. It asks the UN Secretary-General to provide the means and modalities, through consultations with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and other organizations in this field, to establish an international monitoring presence in Kosovo. The resolution asks the UN Secretary-General to report on this to the General Assembly. the international visibility of the Kosovo issue in international definitively place proceedings. In this way, the highest political body of the UN, the General Assembly, would address the human-rights situation in Kosovo, with the aim of restoring normal life there. Among the resolutions on specific countries considered by the Third Committee, the resolution on Kosovo received the largest number of votes in favour. Many delegations, including those of the USA, Germany, and others, said that the voting result was very positive. positive. The draft resolution notes that the long-term CSCE missions played a positive role in monitoring the human-rights situation and ensuring the escalation of expulsions and violations, torture and mistreatment, the arbitrary dismissal of Albanian employees, the confiscation and expropriation of their property. It identifies schools, universities, and associations and their leaders; the imprisonment of Albanian journalists; the systematic obstruction of the independent Albanian-language press; the dismissal of male healthcare personnel; and the elimination of the Albanian language, especially in state administration and services. All of these, which have led to the forced migration of Albanians, are considered in the report to be overt forms of ethnic cleansing. arbitrary dismissal of Albanian employees, the confiscation and expropriation of their property. It identifies schools, universities, and [?] of the UN for Human Rights, as well as report on this matter to the General Assembly.

Yesterday morning, Prime Minister Meksi and the delegation accompanying him on his visit to Cairo paid their respects and laid a wreath at the monument to the Unknown Soldier and the mausoleum of President El Sadat. Yesterday morning in Cairo, official talks were also held between the Albanian delegation, headed by Prime Minister Meksi, and the Egyptian delegation, headed by Prime Minister Sedki. Both delegations expressed their desire to deepen bilateral relations and considered trade, culture and science to be the most important areas for cooperation in the future. Views were exchanged on the situation in the Balkans, the conflict in Bosnia, the relations of the two countries with the EU, and multilateral cooperation with the Mediterranean countries. Mr. Meksi noted, among other things, that this meeting opened up the possibility of expanding relations between the two countries in their mutual interest, and invited the Egyptian prime minister to visit Albania. Mr. Sedki spoke in favor of increased future cooperation, especially in the fields of the economy and culture, to raise it to a higher level than before, since, as he said, the interests of both countries point in this direction. At the conclusion of the talks, Prime Minister Meksi and Egyptian Prime Minister Sedki signed an agreement establishing a joint commission between the Government of the Republic of Albania and the Government of Egypt, as well as a program for cultural, scientific and technical exchanges between the two countries. Also signed were the protocol on economic, scientific and technical cooperation and the framework agreement on economic, scientific and technical cooperation between the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Government of the Republic of Albania. For the Albanian side, the agreement was signed by the Chairman of the Committee for Science and Technology, Maks Kononi, and for the Egyptian side by the Minister of International Cooperation, Dr. Yusuf Butros Gali. Also signed was the protocol on cooperation in the field of trade between the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Albania and the Ministry of Justice of the Arab Republic of Egypt. For the Albanian side, the agreement was signed by Deputy Minister of Justice Vladimir Kristofor, and for the Egyptian side by the Minister of Justice, Faruk Seid El Naser. Yesterday, Prime Minister Meksi and the delegation accompanying him also visited the Egyptian Museum here in Cairo. Prime Minister Meksi continues his visit to Cairo today as well.

“The assistance you have given us and our cooperation are extraordinarily important, not only for the difficult transition we are going through, but also for the future,” said Minister of Defence Safet Zhulali. . “The assistance you have given us and our cooperation are extraordinarily important, not only for the difficult transition we are going through, but also for the future,” said Minister of Defence Safet Zhulali at the start of his meeting with the Chief of the General Staff of the Republic of Turkey, Army General Ismail Karadaj. In his remarks, the latter said: “We have just returned from the Kuçova air base, where we saw an excellent demonstration.” He continued: “You have an extremely important geographical position and a young, dynamic population; therefore, I see your future as very promising. Without doubt, you are the best country in the region,” concluded Army General Karadaj. The meeting was also attended by Turkey’s ambassador in Tirana, Metin Onerkol, the military attaché of that embassy, Deputy Minister for Defence Policy Alfred Moisiu, and other members of the General Staff. As a further step in implementing the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Albania and France, an agreement on cooperation in the legal field and the Ministry of Justice of the French Republic was signed today in Paris. Minister of Justice, Hektor Frasheri, and for the French side by the Minister of Justice, Pier Mehenjeri. The agreement provides for the regular exchange of experience and information between the two ministries, cooperation with experts in drafting legislation, assistance in training Albanian lawyers, material support for our legal institutions, etc. In the talks held on this occasion, the French Minister of Justice spoke in favor of putting the cooperation envisaged by the agreement into effect without delay. He assured his Albanian counterpart that the French government appreciates the persistent efforts being made in Albania to build a state governed by the rule of law, as a necessity for guaranteeing democracy. Mr. Mehenjeri also emphasized the extensive support the French government would provide to our country’s efforts to integrate as quickly as possible into European political institutions.

and Understanding legal field signed today in Paris. Minister of Justice, Hektor Eras[?], and for the French side by the minister

NDREKE GJINI At the beginning of yesterday’s plenary session of the People’s Assembly, deputies discussed the agenda item on reviewing and approving the draft law “On an amendment to the law ‘On Administrative Violations.’” Deputy Petrika Minga, who spoke on behalf of the PD parliamentary group, as well as other PD deputies and members of the parliamentary group, took the floor, called it incomplete and proposed that the draft law be revised by the parliamentary committees on the economy and legislation, and then brought to Parliament for review. The plenary session then continued with an interpellation of the Minister of the Interior, Agron Musaraj, requested by the PS parliamentary group—a request that had been made in the Assembly five times. The reason for the parliamentary interpellation, requested on behalf of the PS parliamentary group, was stated by deputy Gramoz Ruçi, the infamous former Minister of Internal Affairs of the PPSH. The memory of Albanians still associates him with the former minister of the tragic events of 2 April in Shkodër, the former Minister of Internal Affairs and the leaders of the security organs; he appeared with a number of allegations about the conduct of today’s government, a book of accusations concerning its predecessors... During the referendum campaign, as well as regarding the alleged illegal actions (according to Ruçi) of certain heads of law-enforcement bodies in the districts. Former Interior Minister Gramoz Ruçi of Alia’s government, using typically Communist slogans, tried to disparage the work of the police and blame it without presenting any evidence. Minister Musaraj, taking the floor to provide explanations during this interpellation, for his part made clear that, heads and the analyses conducted into the PS’s two protests connected with Gjirokastër, there is no indication that the law-enforcement forces prevented this party’s gatherings. The incidents, Musaraj emphasized, occurred in cases or places where the gatherings had been provoked by the PS without notifying the police. As for the PS protests over concerns whatsoever their involvement. He emphasized that in all cases the police had maintained the position prescribed by law, carrying out their duties with dedication in (Continued on page 2)

The police with due commitment - There is no indication in any case that the law-enforcement forces prevented gatherings of the Socialist Party; on the contrary, they ensured them by taking comprehensive measures - From the explanations given by Interior Minister Agron Musaraj during yesterday’s interpellation - During October through 4 November 1994, political parties held gatherings in public places and squares, and meetings in enclosed halls, where they explained their positions on the draft constitution. The law-enforcement forces had only one duty: “To ensure the normal conduct of these gatherings, meetings and demonstrations and to ensure the maintenance of order and calm, the protection of people’s lives, dignity, health and personality, while guaranteeing the freedoms and rights granted to citizens by the constitutional law ‘On the Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of Man.’” Convinced of the mission and duties of the police in a democratic state, and aware of the importance the referendum on the constitution had, from the beginning of the campaign I instructed the police to exercise greater care regarding the activities to be held on this occasion by all political entities. These instructions, expressed in orders or directives, have been set out in plans containing concrete measures and in guidelines for ensuring the gatherings of all the various entities, under orders (Continued on page 2)

Parliamentary working-group chair deputy Hajrie Kruja speaks to “RD” The chair of the parliamentary working group, deputy Hajrie Kruja, speaks to “RD” The working group, composed of deputies from various parliamentary groups, specialists from the State Audit, the Ministry of Finance and the Committee of Former Political Prisoners, and established by the two standing parliamentary committees on Economy and Finance and Social Affairs, was formed on the initiative of a group of former political-prisoner deputies to verify the implementation of the laws for former political prisoners. It focused its work on inspections conducted in seven districts of the country and in all central government departments. The inspection conducted in the districts (Continued on page 2)

The signing of the memorandum of understanding in the field of defence was the result of goodwill, ties and cooperation, and the efforts of our two countries for peace and stability in the region. It is directed against no third country; on the contrary, it was concluded in the spirit of general cooperation among European countries and the “Partnership for Peace” initiative, the defence ministers of Albania and Slovenia, Safet Zhulali and Jelko Kacin, stressed in their press statement. Following the signing of this document on 14 December in Slovenia, the Ministry of Defence officially announced it. This agreement comes immediately after the signing of the defence cooperation agreement with Croatia. During the continuation of its visit to Slovenia, the high-level military delegation, in addition to holding talks with the Slovenian defence minister, was received in separate meetings by the Deputy Prime Minister and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia.

In yesterday’s issue, the newspaper “ZP” splashed another disgusting deception across its front page (it would be no surprise if the “independents” comment on it today). “Uncle and nephew: the first Meksi ministers” is the headline at the top of “ZP”’s front page, and below it the paper writes that the newly appointed Minister of Labour and Emigration, Engjell Duka, is the son of the sister of the Minister of Energy Resources and Mines, Abdyl Xhaja. This is just another disgusting fabrication from “ZP”’s stock. Minister Dakli is not only not the nephew of the Energy Minister, but the sister of Mr. Xhaja, if she were still alive, would be the same age as uncle Dakli. These unscrupulous deceptions are not accidental. They continue to violate people’s dignity and personal freedom; therefore, the law must act against such acts.

- Press conference at UNICEF’s office in Tirana Yesterday, 15 December 1994, UNICEF Executive Director Mr. James Grant held a press conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York to officially announce the release of the report “The State of the World’s Children 1994.” The event took place precisely at 18:00 London time yesterday. All the world’s radio and television stations broadcast the news over the air just seconds after that hour. On this occasion, yesterday morning at UNICEF’s office in Tirana, Mr. Duka, head of the education projects, as well as Ms. Arlinda Bushu and Mirela Vezaj, representatives of this institution in our country, gave a

YEAR IV OF PUBLICATION No. 832 Friday 16 December 1994 Number of pages: 8 PRICE: 5 LEKË

DUKAGJIN HATA Page 2 The purity of the Albanian race through the centuries LULEZIM GAZHELI Page 5 The new director of the National Theatre is introduced Page 6