- Metush Saraçi elected Member of the Constitutional Court - - “Sponsorship Law” approved. Yesterday in the People’s Assembly Government changes receive Parliament’s vote of confidence - Metush Saraçi elected Member of the Constitutional Court - - “Sponsorship Law” approved. NDREKE GJINI Yesterday, in a plenary session, the People’s Assembly examined and approved the two decrees of the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, “On the dismissal and appointment of several ministers.” Before Prime Minister Aleksandër Meksi gave his reasons for these structural changes in the government and the new appointments, deputies asked to put forward a series of questions. In this connection, Mr. Pjetër Arbnori said that this was neither a question session nor an interpellation, but, he added, you may ask your questions. Afterwards, many deputies, including Dokle, Keko, Abdiu, Pashko, Hajdari, Puto, Agolli, Agasi, Metani and Zeneli, put questions to Prime Minister Aleksandër Meksi, who then explained the necessity of these government changes in light of developments currently taking place in Albania, and answered the questions put to him by the deputies. The plenary session then continued with speeches by deputies Abdiu, Gjinushi, Hajdari, Gjana, Peshkëpia, Kalakula, Shehu, etc. This time too, the opposition deputies, without bringing anything new to their position in their speeches, tried at all costs to do nothing but shut things down, insult and deny everything without offering a single argument. In their speeches they could not find a single constructive word or expression addressing the necessary reckoning with past events, the lost time and the communist regime, when they were all in power. The government [text unclear] and the discussion revolved around the method of voting, since the PS deputies insisted that it be secret, although this is not provided for in the rules. There were two… (Continued on page 2) (Photograph of a man at the lectern in the Assembly; the double-headed eagle in the foreground.)

- Prime Minister Aleksander Meksi’s speech in Parliament - Changes to the Government’s structure, as is clear to anyone observing it, are intended to adapt to changes taking place in the economic structure, to the desire for continuous improvement of institutions and the creation of new institutions in response to the roles they assume at a given moment, to the deepening of administrative reform, to the requirements for relocating the central apparatus and improving its efficiency, to defining a unified central structure for priority activities in view of the new tasks falling to particular branches of the state apparatus and the Albanian economy, and to other reasons. In world experience, changes—or the absence of changes—in individual ministers within a government are commonplace. Usually, hypothetically, questions are asked about them for the newspapers, but that is not a reason to repeat the same things in the Assembly. Indeed, I would say that, with very few exceptions, these changes are not presented anywhere. I tried to have them made at the same time, so as to make them more effective. Some of them had been planned before the referendum, and this is my answer to the question. The structural changes also created the post of Secretary of State, which has a specific scope of activity. These two structures are ones that we had tried to establish some time ago, because foreign economic relations absolutely require coordination between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and, on the other hand, a higher level of representation than that of a deputy minister: a person with specific powers and, to some extent, a direct relationship and subordination to the Prime Minister. The same applies to local government. In many countries this is a structure within the Ministry of the Interior. This experience, and these proposals also made by other deputies, were taken into account in this latest restructuring. The Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Construction were merged because it was considered that in this area they also have common objectives and parallel considerations on issues relating to each of their respective fields. It was thought that such a measure would give greater impetus to the various aspects of tourism activity and its coordination with construction. The Ministry of Public Order was merged… … changes—or the lack of changes—among individual ministers within the government are commonplace. Usually, hypotheses are discussed in newspapers, but this is no reason for such matters to be raised again in Parliament. changes are not presented to the Parliament of any country, but are approved by decree of the President of the Republic. These changes are made when the need arises, taking into account the experience of other countries in structuring institutions and at particular moments in a country’s development. Within… within a ministry, that is, under the relevant minister and directly linked to the Prime Minister’s Office. (Continued on page 2)

After Parliament approved by majority vote the two decrees of the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, “On the dismissal and appointment of several ministers,” questions were put to the Chairman of the PDSH, Eduard Selami: Mr Chairman, the PDSH parliamentary group once again gave its full vote of confidence in support of the President’s two decrees concerning changes in the Meksi Government. . After Parliament approved by majority vote Berisha, “On the dismissal and appointment of several ministers,” questions were put to the Chairman of the PDSH, Eduard Selami: Mr Chairman, the PDSH parliamentary group once again gave its full vote of confidence in support of the President’s two decrees concerning changes in the Meksi Government. What is your comment on this vote of confidence? Selami: First of all, I would like to thank the PD Parliamentary Group, which, on such an important vote as a presidential decree, voted in accordance with the decision the group itself had made. In particular, I would like to thank those PD deputies who openly expressed their reservations at the parliamentary group meeting and voted against, but joined the rest of the group in the plenary session. I believe that this vote, which was unanimous in support of the government, places an additional obligation on the Government. I take this opportunity to wish the government success in its work, and to emphasize that there are several priorities that we all know as Albanians, and the Government must focus on these priorities, especially those relating to our everyday lives, in order to resolve them. On the other hand, I would like to apologize to those Albanians who are facing particular hardships today, and utmost to resolve these problems as soon as possible.

. Two Council of Europe rapporteurs, Mr DUMENI COLUMBERG, a Swiss member of the Legal Affairs Committee, and ALBERT PHULI, a German member of the Political Affairs Committee of the same Council, spent two days on a working visit to our country. During their two-day visit, their aim was to learn about the situation in Albania regarding its admission as a full member of the Council of Europe. To this end, they met with PD leader Selami as well as representatives of the opposition. Interview with the CoE rapporteurs, Mr Dumeni Columberg of the CoE Legal Affairs Committee and Mr Albert Phful of the CoE Political Affairs Committee, given in the presence of journalists from RTSH and “RD”. QUESTION: You have been in Albania for several days. Based on what you have seen, do you think Albania meets the standards for joining the CoE? ANSWERS, Mr Domeni Columberg: First, I would like to say that this is my seventh visit to Albania. I observe that considerable progress has been made here in all areas of life—in politics, in the democratic system and in the economy. nal. QUESTION: Have you met with representatives of political parties in Albania? ANSWER, Mr Albert Phful: Certainly. We come from a pluralist democratic forum and always meet with all the parties. We spoke with the leader of the PD, have just spoken with the leader of the PS, and likewise with the leader of the PSD. We always try to contact all the parties, not just one, because we think this is the way to see the situation from every side. One of the issues discussed was Albania’s admission to the CoE. QUESTION: And what was their opinion on this? ANSWER, Mr Phful: All the party leaders agree and are working for Albania to become a full member of the CoE. No one was against this. Albania’s admission to the Council of Europe. Therefore, at our meeting with Mr Selami and Spahia, we discussed two issues. First: the path the constitution would take after the referendum of 6 November. Setting subjective opinions aside, the referendum was a real indication that the sovereign people had become aware of democracy. The referendum showed that people can vote against their government’s positions under certain conditions that determine their vote. We believe that, in order to achieve the majority required in parliament, you have to compromise. This is something we do all the time in our countries, since we come from countries with parliamentary democracies, such as Switzerland and Germany. We currently have a situation requiring compromise with the opposition in Germany as well. This is an issue Albanian politicians should discuss in the near future if they want to pass it in parliament and then submit it to the people for general approval in another referendum. The other issue we discussed was the passage of the Criminal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure, issues that go together. And this has nothing to do with the constitution. In Germany, the Code of Criminal Procedure was passed back in 1878 and survived the First Republic and Hitler; it is still in force, with a few minor amendments. —Can you tell us what the opinion of Mr Selami and Spahia was regarding the expedited approval of these two codes, which have been put forward as formal conditions for Albania’s full membership of the CoE? —We were deeply pleased when they told us they would pass them in the coming weeks. —And the opposition’s position on the same issue? —The Socialists also told us they were interested in passing these two codes through an expedited procedure.

in the democratic system and in the economy. its admission to the CoE. In principle, we think that, since you meet all the conditions we have set, our wish is for the Albanian Parliament to approve as soon as possible the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Criminal Co- one was against this. This is a good sign, because in some countries in the past, the minority opposed this in a similar case. In Albania, we were confident and are impressed that everyone agreed. This is a good thing. QUESTION: In your opinion, when (Continued on page 2)

Address by the Secretary General of the PD, Mr Tritan Shehu This period of government, from March ’92 until today, has been one of the most difficult parts of a profound transition: moving from a dictatorial country to a democratic one, from a completely centralized economy to a free-market economy. Based on what has been accomplished, this will remain in Albania’s history as one of the periods of success achieved in a short time, and of the most profound changes Albania has ever made. I do not want to speak at excessive length, but I want to say that the changes and achievements during this period have undoubtedly been great. Let us remember Albania in 1991–1992, when everything was paralyzed, blocked and on the verge of total destruction; a country without order or rules, where nothing existed. In general, the reform has progressed well. The country now has political, economic and rule-of-law stability, legislation, and has taken on the appearance a democratic country should have. Undoubtedly, among the achievements, particular credit belongs to the country’s government and to the people who worked to achieve these successes. Someone might say that many things need to move faster, that they should progress better and undoubtedly have been carried out more effectively in reality. That is true; nevertheless, I want to say that everything has been addressed by striving to do the best, while being aware that perfection can never exist. Judging all these exemplary changes in this light, they should not be repeated, so that we can make up for the time we lost over 50 years. These very changes in the Government serve that purpose. They are intended to give the Government new momentum and energy, the ability to govern more quickly and to correct the things that need correcting. In general, changes in government are normal in democratic countries. (Continued on page 2)

As has been reported, on 19.12.1994, with the support of the security forces, the Tirana Bailiff’s Office carried out the handover of the building that housed the headquarters of the Albanian Muslim Community to its owners. Since there is nothing unusual about this, we are dealing with a lawful act. But what astonished, troubled and outraged us was the way the procedure was carried out in practice, the course followed in “resolving” this problem. While office materials are being forcibly removed—and not the religious community, such as the Muslim community—the state authorities do not have the “strength,” or do not want, to move the office that once housed the community’s headquarters there, the tax office, and so on. To get as close as possible to the truth about this event, we met with the leader of the Albanian Muslim Community, His Eminence, the Community’s leader, and he replied that… QUESTION: What was the situation in Tirana? … the Albanian society of 1991 under the regime’s government… (Continued on page 2) (Photograph of an elderly man wearing a white hat.)

—Interview with Mr Fatjon Tugu, Director of KESH— Question: What duties does KESH perform? Does KESH deal with the export and import of energy? KESH’s primary duty is to supply the country’s electricity needs, while also forecasting reserves for this purpose. When there is a surplus or a shortage of energy, it is exchanged. Only surplus electricity is exchanged and exported. In certain cases, we also import electricity to cover the country’s needs, for example during 1990, when around 206 million kWh were imported. Question: Who plans electricity production? Electricity production is planned by the operating-regime group of the National Dispatch Center of the Albanian Electric Power System, based on long-term data on river inflows and internationally recognized meteorological data. Long-term practice shows that reservoir filling begins in November and ends in April–May. Electricity is exported mainly during this period in order to eliminate possible water spills. Question: Was electricity exported in 1994? Answer: In 1994, a total of 238 million kWh was exported, whereas in recent years the average annual amount exported has been around 860 million kWh, and we have also reserved around 40 million kWh in Greece. Question: How do you assess… (Continued on page 2)

—Private bakeries produced around 450 quintals of bread yesterday— After the considerable gap in Tirana’s bread supply caused by the electricity situation, observations made on 20 and 21 December at bread factories and some units indicate that the situation is improving. Thus, on 20 December, the bread factory at the food combine produced and sold more than 28,000 loaves; Factory No. 7 produced and sold 12,000 loaves, and the Vora factory 2,400 loaves. It must be said, says (Continued on page 2)

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