Meeting of the PDSH parliamentary group Distribution of securities, restitution of property and compensation for former owners on the agenda Full agreement on granting farmers on state farms the land they use The President of the Republic, Mr. Sali Berisha, also attended Yesterday afternoon, at the headquarters of the People’s Assembly, the PDSH parliamentary group discussed, at its meeting, issues concerning the distribution of securities, the restitution of property and compensation for former owners, etc. President of the Republic Mr. Berisha informed the parliamentary group about the outcome of his meeting with the PSD, PR, PPDNJ and PD on the issue of securities, and presented matters raised at that meeting: first, eligibility for the distribution of securities should begin at age 18; second, citizens’ contributions should be taken into account according to age groups; third, former political prisoners, former owners, the homeless and landless farmers should be given preference in this process. The distribution of securities, President Berisha stressed, is one of the most important measures for implementing the reforms in the PDSH program. The PDSH, he continued, is marking the moment by taking a decisive step in implementing its program and turning Albanians into owners of their own wealth. Another issue addressed in President Berisha’s remarks was accelerating the return of property to former owners and compensating them. President Berisha informed the deputies that he had asked the government, which agreed, to grant farmers on state farms the land they had been given for use. This issue received the full understanding of all PDSH deputies. The deputies who spoke afterwards discussed the general principles for distributing the securities and called for simple methods to be used and the interests of different groups in society to be met. Speakers expressed the view that population age-group criteria should be taken into account in this process. All the deputies agreed that the process should begin as soon as possible. They called for it to proceed in parallel with the deepening of the privatization process in Albania. The deputies called for improvements and acceleration in the process of restituting property and compensating former owners. They expressed the view that various methods should be used, suggesting, among other things, tourist and coastal areas. The deputies agreed that securities should be distributed to people aged 18 and over, according to age-group criteria and in proportion to contributions. They also decided to review the procedures for restitution of property to former owners and their compensation in depth, and to improve them.

Attended by PD leader Selami, Secretary General Shehu, and Deputy Chairman Hysenbegasi The day before yesterday in the city of Pogradec, as soon as possible. The mayor, Zhani Treska, also spoke about the real concern over the lack of cooperation, which he attributed to the branch chairman’s negligence, as well as the escalation of the conflict following P. Korfuz’s arrival as head of the police station. In his remarks, Selami emphasized the great importance of respecting the collective decisions of the respective councils. “I say this,” he continued, “not to protect the interests of particular individuals, but because by doing the opposite we are violating one of the basic principles of democracy and of the functioning of a political institution such as the party, damaging its image through the politics of individual cliques and a divided opinion within the PD itself. “Therefore, we decided that the mayor and the deputies should be members of the leadership, so that the PD’s views and policies as the party in power are respected.” This, Selami said, “is the way democracy works.” Regarding corruption, the PD leader stressed that the best way to clear away the fog is to fight corruption wherever it exists. Here he underscored the fight against what he called passive corruption, negligence and dereliction of duty. “Ultimately,” Selami said, “it is the PD that loses.” Members of the leadership also criticized the branch chairman, as well as the poor work of the section chairpersons. “One year,” Selami said, “is enough time to succeed, but also to do the opposite. Therefore, if the branch does not organize itself, restructure the sections and make improvements, we [The] blame [was attributed to] divisions within the leadership, especially the dispute between MPs Gjana and Meçe, which was further inflamed by the “Corfu” issue, stressing that problems can only be resolved by working together. Leadership member and MP Gjana, speaking about the aforementioned problem, argued that he had debated with branch chairman and MP A. Meçe not over personal matters but over fundamental issues. He criticized the branch chairman for misinforming the center about the situation at the grassroots and for taking individual actions without securing the leadership’s consensus and collegial agreement. MP Arben Meçe described this meeting as essential. He acknowledged that a conflict existed. But, he added, its future must always be the focus. As a result of the division, work with people also split at crucial political moments, paralyzing the leadership. Meçe asked why individual conflicts should be presented as party conflicts. In his intervention, DP chairman Selami praised the fact that the debate was taking place in a constructive and open manner. “We,” he said, “must acknowledge the mistakes we have made and try to correct them. There is only one conflict that is constitutionally legitimate: the one concerning the DP.” Other well as the poor performance of section chairmen. “A year,” Selami said, “is enough time to win, but also enough time for the opposite. So, if the branch does not organize and restructure its sections and membership, and if DP officials do not extend to every level of the district administration (80% of which is still the same as before), the ’96 campaign will be difficult. Selami urged them to overcome personal conflicts. “We must devote our energy,” he said, “to the right direction, while at the same time making a shift in how we conceive of our governance.” The necessary cooperation must be achieved to solve problems, prepare the campaign, select people, and so on. Problems must be resolved, and honest, idealistic people must be distinguished from the ordinary and the abusers through our commitment, Selami concluded. S. BALLA

Last night, on the occasion of the beginning of the new year 1995, President of the Republic Sali Berisha hosted a reception for the diplomatic corps and representatives of the International Organizations accredited in our country. In his speech, greeting those present, President Berisha noted that 1994 marked a genuine further consolidation of Albanian democracy, and went on to say: “Democracy, despite the difficulties, sacrifices, hardships, pain, dedication and experience that its construction demands, is 100 or 1,000 times better than dictatorship. This is true for all people for whom freedom is a natural condition of existence. But above all, it is true for those who experienced dictatorship. For them, perhaps more than for others who have freedom as an inheritance, the days, weeks, months and years of freedom and democracy are more precious, more valuable and more blessed. And such was 1994 for us Albanians, who experienced one of the harshest dictatorships Europe has known.” Berisha then spoke about the efforts to develop a market economy, saying that the Albanian economy, although the most modest in Europe, can today take pride in having achieved dynamic macroeconomic growth. Berisha also dwelt on the path followed during ’94 toward Albania’s integration into Europe, the situation in the Balkan region, and the efforts to contribute to peace, stability and the easing of tensions in the region. In closing, Berisha said: “On the eve of 1995, we can clearly see that the bitter legacy of poverty and destruction cannot be overcome immediately, and that efforts to overcome it are far from painless. But I can assure you that our determination to achieve this remains undiminished. Thus, the policy of taking rapid steps toward liberalization and the maximum privatization of the economy will continue. In 1995, the priority will be the privatization of large joint enterprises (Continued on page 2).”

Albania’s military relations with the U.S. remain a priority

The director of the American intelligence service in Europe, Brigadier General Baumann, in Albania The priority Albania attaches to its military relations with the United States, and plans for cooperation in this field, were at the center of the talks between the Minister of Defense, Zhulali, and General Baumann, held yesterday at midday at the Ministry of Defense. The Albanian Army is predisposed to receive and apply American experience in the field of military preparation and training, Minister Zhulali said. “At this meeting, I appreciate your country’s desire to apply American experience in the field of defense, an experience that we are pleased to offer you,” Baumann said. He continued: “I am convinced that every opportunity exists for contacts to be intensified. The Americans will become closely acquainted with the situation in the units and detachments, ensuring effective cooperation. I believe the benefits will be mutual,” he concluded.

The new Albania desk officer at the European Command, Futch, was introduced at a meeting held yesterday, January 17, at the Ministry of Defense between the Chief of the General Staff of the Albanian Army, Major General Sheme Kosova, and a U.S. Army delegation led by Colonel Allewei. This is a six-month assignment in which Lt. Futch will replace Major Menn. The meeting discussed the progress of the work of the American team at the Ministry of Defense and recognized the team’s assistance in reforming the Albanian Army.

The well-known jurist Kristaq Traja “figured” for at least a few days as a name on the phantom and unlawful commission for drafting a draft constitution by the PS, whose fate is known even before it has been written. When questioned by an RD journalist, Mr. Traja categorically denied this, calling it “manipulation and deception of public opinion.” Such acts are the result of the desperation and forced tendency of the PS and its “little ones” to create a new tension in Albanian political life, always “seeking” consensus and compromise, with the good “desire” to find “common ground” and provide the country with a “constitution.”

Disinformation and malicious commentary by the newspaper “Populli PO” Not a hair on Arben Lika’s head has been touched Bedri Çoku: I invite the Albanian Helsinki Committee, together with journalists, to go to Tirana Hospital 7 to verify The newspaper “Populli Po,” in its January 17, 1995 issue, is spreading disinformation when it writes that former MP Arben Lika was left for dead in Tirana prison; it then lets its imagination run wild with fabrications about political involvement, maliciously intended, which certainly serve a policy of destabilization. To learn the truth about this issue raised by “Populli Po,” we contacted the Prison Administration Directorate for information, where Mr. Bedri Çoku, the director of the first directorate, told us: What the newspaper “Populli Po” writes about Arben Lika is true, but it is not true that a hair on his head was touched. Mr. Bedri Çoku went on to say: It is not true that any journalist—let alone the author of this article, as the claim goes—came to ask for information, as “Populli Po” alleges. go to Tirana Hospital 7 to verify whether what “Populli Po” writes is true. The truth, once again, is that I want to tell “Populli Po” that with its slander it only humiliates itself. It is truth that gives it credibility, and truth is entirely absent from its article. MENTOR SHEHU

—How is the judicial system in the Federal Republic structured, and what is it based on? To explain many things that you now see as facts, we must return to history. We too emerged from dictatorship, just as you have today, and our first thought was that we must not allow the past to be repeated. For this reason, we thought we should have a democratic constitution. It was also decided to establish a parliamentary republic. In drawing up our constitution, we relied considerably on the 1919 Constitution of the Weimar Republic, but made one change: we moved Human Rights, which had been at the end, to the beginning of the new constitution, to make clear that they are the most important. The judicial system of the Federal Republic was also built on the principles of respect for Human Rights. We have six types of courts: civil, criminal, social, labor, financial and, since we are very fond of order, administrative courts as well. All cases pass through three levels of jurisdiction, depending on the courts: first-instance or trial courts, second-instance or appellate courts, and third-instance or review courts. In civil cases there are also different types of courts dealing with specific matters separately. Some cases can be heard by the Federal courts and some cannot. As I mentioned above, the courts are also connected with the Human Rights enshrined in the constitution. All institutions, even Parliament itself, are not unlimited in their powers. But the courts are not unlimited in their powers either. Could it happen that Parliament complained that the Government was taking away its rights, or vice versa? This is how the need arose for a supervisory body, which could have been a parliamentary commission, but which we later considered should be a constitutional court. It was established in 1951. It is stipulated when this court may be convened. The Constitutional Court is very powerful, but it is set in motion only when requested; otherwise, what happened in Russia could happen, where it became involved in politics, which must not happen. —How are the members of the Constitutional Court chosen? The Constitutional Court handles cases involving disputes between state bodies, as well as cases in which a citizen complains that their Rights have been violated. For this reason, it was initially thought that there should be two senates, one for state matters and the other for citizens. But from the outset it became clear that citizens’ petitions were numerous and there would not be enough work—or perhaps [the source text is unclear here]. From 1968, however, [the source text is unclear here]. They are elected, and not for a maximum period of 12 years; re-election is excluded. Judges are elected in equal proportions, 50% by Parliament and 50% by the Federal Council (the Federal Council is composed of representatives of all the Länder, ed.). A two-thirds majority is always required to elect a judge. —Who nominates the members of the Constitutional Court? Nominations come from the political parties, the Minister of Justice and the President. —Do you think a strong Constitutional Court is necessary, or could it be superseded by the Court of Cassation? Laws in Parliament are formulated in general terms, and the more general the laws are, the harder it is to determine who is right. Decisions are made by the ordinary courts. We thought there should also be a court that reviews the decisions of the other courts, rather than having that oversight exercised by Parliament. It acts when constitutional rights are affected. I believe that a strong Constitutional Court is necessary. —Besides this, do the higher courts deal with their own rights? But are they unlimited? Regarding Human Rights connected with the constitution.

before deciding whether or not to revoke the mandates of Ruli and Uka —From yesterday’s meeting of the Standing Committee of the People’s Assembly on Mandates, Immunity and Rules of Procedure NDREKE GJINI At yesterday’s meeting, the Standing Parliamentary Committee on Mandates, Immunity and Rules of Procedure considered the request by the Prosecutor General, Mr. Altush Dragoshi, to lift the immunity of People’s Assembly deputies Genc Ruli and Rexhep Uka. During discussion of this request, members of the committee expressed the need to examine other, more detailed materials that shed light on the case. Deputy Marash Ibraj said that before taking a position on whether or not to lift the immunity of these deputies, the Prosecutor General should come before the Committee (if this is provided for by law) and submit more detailed material on the case, and deputies Ruli and Uka should also be called to be heard. This proposal was supported by almost all members of the Committee, who, in addition to the Prosecutor General, requested access to the State Audit Service’s material on the walnut timber case, as well as other materials and the decisions of the various courts that examined and adjudicated the case. They also requested to see the Prosecutor’s Office decision to reopen the investigation into this case (if it had been closed more than two years ago). After discussing the matter, the Committee decided that, once the above requests had been met in order to shed light on the case, it would meet again and decide on the matter.

According to information obtained from the Prison Administration Directorate in Tirana, we learned that on Monday evening the third escapee from Tirana prison, named Kujtim Xhelal Mura, was captured in the district of Durres. He had been sentenced to 12 years in prison for robbery and escaping from the place of detention. The information also states that the number of service police officers arrested in connection with the extraordinary incident at Tirana prison has reached nine, including the guard officer. Personnel from unit 88 in Tirana have also been detained. Artur Surja Xhemali, sentenced to six years’ imprisonment for misappropriation of property, and Kujtim Xhelal Mura, sentenced to 12 years in prison. So far, three escapees have been captured: Gezine Ashim Kelmendi, sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment for terrorist murder in collaboration, M.SH.

– The return of former communist parties to power is not an inevitable process or a fatality – Neshat Tozaj, a viper’s tongue – Dini forms the new Italian government. Will it win the vote of confidence? (Page 2)

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