DUKAGJIN HATA According to “Zëri i popullit,” the day before yesterday a scheduled meeting of parliamentary parties on the draft constitution was apparently held in one of the premises of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly. The information goes on to present the political participants, whose “concern” for preparing the draft constitution is proclaimed with a pronounced propaganda slant. The anonymous correspondent of “ZP” seems to let slip that this meeting was held “in one of the premises,” and then goes on to describe the planning of such phantom “roundtables,” whose legitimacy, by what extraterrestrial codes, is unknown. In fact, such “scheduled” meetings are in the advertising style of the PS, and it must be said that they have not infrequently rendered “valuable” services to destabilization and propaganda smokescreens. The Constitutional [text] is full of tricks of this kind, which run on ideological fuel, and they, of course, do not constitute a parliamentary group, for the reasons mentioned above. It is normal for parliamentary groups, and even individual MPs, to take the initiative to meet, regardless of whether the majority is present, to discuss a wide range of issues, especially those connected with drafting laws and enforcing legality. But at this stage of democratic development and reform, Albanian society does not operate in a legal vacuum; it operates on the basis of the Main Constitutional Provisions, approved by an absolute majority in the Albanian Parliament. Article 44 of these provisions states: “The provisions of this law remain in force until the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of Albania, the draft of which shall be prepared by the special Commission assigned by the People’s Assembly.” The composition of the commission and the deadline for submitting the draft Constitution shall be set by a separate decision of the People’s Assembly. [The source repeats: “by a separate decision of the People’s Assembly.”] So where does the Albanian opposition find the courage to meet without the majority in order to begin work on drafting the future constitution, in violation of the Main Constitutional Provisions? Those who do not have the courage to face the realization of this major task—which has several times invited the parliamentary political parties to the legitimate table of consensus, which they themselves abandoned for reasons already known—have the shamelessness to convene groups of illegal pseudo-roundtables, from which nothing can be expected except political confusion. Thus, behind the “draft constitution Charter,” which is becoming worn out from being kept in their hands for so long and from propaganda misuse, lie the fevers of delirious people who feel the vacuum of their seats; so they do whatever comes to hand to fill this vacuum as much as possible, even with phantom meetings and propaganda tricks. “Planned” is the kind of language used in PS’s publicity style, and it must be said that they have often rendered “valuable” services to destabilization and propaganda smokescreens. The PS and the Albanian opposition’s archives are packed with tricks of this kind, powered by ideology. Apparently mired in a visible crisis of alternatives, they are trying to make up for lost time with weak scenarios in which the alibis compromise their civic standing more than they enhance it. What is striking is that the PAD is described as a parliamentary party, whose deputies apparently honored this meeting with their presence. In all, a few PAD deputies, who are in fact independents, do not constitute a parliamentary group; they are political marionettes who, after entering the Albanian parliament thanks to the PD they represented, abandoned the latter for various reasons that are now well known, becoming satellites of the PS. The same can be said of the independent deputies who once remembered to establish the PDD, who, although apparently did not attend this “rally” because they had expressed support for the Assembly

In the official news bulletin concerning President Clinton’s interview, the Greek government spokesperson states, among other things, that the U.S. government should communicate its position directly and through diplomatic channels, and should not wait to present it in an interview that was very likely based on questions prepared in advance. Meanwhile, the spokesperson for “Political Spring” blames President Clinton for urging Greece “to pursue an unconditional dialogue with Albania, Skopje and Turkey, without taking into account the fact that our country has no other claim than respect for international law.” The spokesperson for the Communist Party also accused the USA “... of continual interference in the Balkans, leading to a crisis in the region, including problems with our neighbors.”

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Butros Ghali, said yesterday that the United Nations had been forced by events to focus on peacekeeping at the expense of other issues. The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Butros Ghali, said yesterday that the United Nations had been forced by events to focus on peacekeeping at the expense of other issues, [including] parliamentary matters of the five Nordic countries. He added that the United Nations is active in 27 disputes or conflicts, compared with 11 in 1988. At the same time, the number of military and civilian personnel... he said in a speech delivered to the Nordic Council, a forum of representatives of the governments and members of parliament deployed military personnel has risen from around 9,000 to 73,000. He cited the difficulties and contradictions that arise during UN operations in Bosnia and Somalia. Ghali went on to say that great importance should be attached in the future to establishing rapid-reaction forces for peacekeeping purposes, as well as depots of peacekeeping equipment. ATSH

The lack of clear alignment between the new laws and regulations issued from 1992 onward and the provisions inherited from the centralized economic system—which are often repealed—causes confusion in oversight activities. Even the fact that the legislation issued from 1992 onward (truly) suits a market economy much better than the inherited legislation does not justify the lack of clarity and, often, the confusion. The time has come to clarify everything, since there are more than two years of experience and it is known what needs to be clarified; otherwise, suspicion and fear of putting one’s signature to something will grow. Transparency begins and ends with legislation. More on page 4

The State Audit proposes punitive measures Read on page 4

- 4,000 workers were employed during the past year - The privatization of small and medium-sized enterprises in the city of Pogradec made it possible to employ 4,000 workers during 1994. Nevertheless, the number of unemployed in this city remains relatively high this year, while 1,532 people receiving social assistance are registered at the district Employment Office. This office has made continuous efforts to reduce the number of registered unemployed, but according to its director, Mondi Bllako, problems remain because the law does not oblige private owners to hire workers registered with this office and gives them the right to choose their workforce. Last year, the Pogradec Employment Office set up vocational training courses for the unemployed in handicrafts and dressmaking and significantly increased cooperation with employers. This year, the office will work with the World Bank to organize further training courses, with priority given to the tourism sector. Private firms will also receive loans to create additional jobs, and recruitment will take place through the Employment Office. Relatively high unemployment in the city of Pogradec, despite having been reduced through employment itself and the intensive work of the city’s Employment Office, has been a legacy since the beginning of 1992, when the closure of almost all the city’s enterprises left around 9,500 people unemployed. BEHAR FEJZULLAI

BUCHAREST, January 11 / AFP-ATSH / The Socialist Party of Labour, successor to the Romanian Communist Party, split on Wednesday after half of its leaders resigned in disagreement with the party’s policy of supporting the Romanian government. The split comes as most Romanian political forces have refused to reconsider their alliances ahead of the 1996 general elections. Recent opinion polls indicate that the opposition will win those elections. This split within the Socialist Party of Labour, led by former prime minister Ilie Verdet, is the first since the party was re-established after the December 1989 revolution. The Socialist Party of Labour, which holds 18 seats in parliament, is estimated to have support ranging from 3 to 5 percent, according to various polls. A parliamentary vote on a mass privatization law, deemed “important” by the government to help Romania move faster toward a market economy, is expected to provide the first real test of this split. The seven leaders who resigned have expressed their disagreement with Vakarul’s policy on this issue.

TIRANA, January 11 / ATSH / On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, the British government will invite to London on May 6 and 7 the leaders of 50 states that took part in the Second World War, British Prime Minister John Major said today in London, according to the DPA news agency. But no military parades are planned, he said. “It was a people’s war against tyranny,” he said. Referring to Soviet influence in Central and Eastern Europe after the war, he added: “At the moment of liberation, millions were re-enslaved.” “Those who remained enslaved for four decades after 1945 now have their freedom... But they would not have won this freedom if the Allies had not won in 1945,” he said.

Promenade: “Deshmorët e Kombit” Photo: Gani Xhengo Promenade: “Deshmorët e Kombit” — Photo: Gani Xhengo

Only 300 meters remain before the well begun by “Albpetroli”—a project that has lasted more than 3 years—is fully drilled. Page 3

This is confirmed by the head of the Prices Office at the Ministry of Finance and Economy Page 4

By what right does this ministry undertake to establish a hierarchy of writers, and by what criteria did it choose Naimi (for a statue), Noli (for a bust), and not others? Read more on page 6

“In November they gave me half the assistance; they tell me December is ‘burned up.’ I went to the PS to complain about the chairman, who belongs to this party, and they told me they would look into it. I went to the municipal council offices and they told me to go because the PD gives it out. The Municipal Council distributes financial assistance according to political affiliation, violating the criteria.” Page 2