Yesterday at midday, they set off for Strasbourg to take part in the meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, where ... of the PDSH and chairman of the permanent Albanian parliamentary delegation to the CoE, Mr. Eduard Selami, and a member of this delegation, chairman ... of the PDSH parliamentary group, Mr. Ali Spahija.

Today, at 11:00, at the International Cultural Centre, in the press conference hall, PDSH leaders—the Secretary General, Prof. Dr. Tritan Shehu, and the deputy chairs, Dosti and Hysenbegasi—will hold a press conference on the topic: On the developments in the proceedings of the PDSH National Council. Journalists from the press, RTVSH, ATSH, and cultural attachés of the diplomatic corps accredited in Tirana are invited to attend.

1995—the year of the reform’s momentum; the National Council’s decisions are decisive for the success of the reform and the 1996 elections The National Council categorically and unanimously rejects Mr. Selami’s resignation The National Council expressed its full confidence in the Meksi government

Yesterday, in one of the halls of the National Historical Museum in Tirana, the expanded meeting of the PDSH National Council was held, with the participation of its members, the PDSH parliamentary group, and individual members belonging to the PD. The meeting was opened by the PDSH chairman, Mr. Eduard Selami. After informing those present of the agenda, which consisted of reorganizing and forming the party’s structures and its executive body, Mr. Selami addressed the relationship between the PD and the Government, and the extent of their coordination and harmonization. By comparing the demands and objectives of the PD branches with their fulfillment by the central government, and citing figures showing the presence of PD members in the central state administration, Mr. Selami expressed his conviction that there is ... a separation between the executive power and the PD’s structures, as the party in power. To overcome this separation, which undoubtedly affects the practical implementation of party decisions, the PDSH chairman, Mr. Eduard Selami, presented as an alternative and institutional solution the combining of the post of Party chairman with that of Prime Minister, as a model proven effective in Western democracies. To pave the way for institutionalizing this solution and avoid any personal misunderstanding, Mr. Eduard Selami also requested his resignation from the post of party chairman, so that the Prime Minister could take the position. The members of the National Council then took the floor. In his speech, President Sali Berisha discussed political, economic, legislative, and other developments in the country, the response to them, and the emphasis on political and economic stability; he highlighted indicators of the successful development of the reforms and called for accelerating and deepening the privatization process and the distribution of securities, (Continued on page 3)

Speech by the Chairman of the PDSH, Mr. Eduard Selami The agenda includes issues that are decisive for the Democratic Party and its future. Our experience from several campaigns has shown that without having stable structures and without delivering what we promised in our 1992 election program, which brought us to power, it is difficult to achieve success. I believe this year will be decisive in both these areas—that is, in structuring the PD and implementing the PD program ... time, another congress has not yet taken place, but I believe that what remains are issues that must be stated: this objective will be difficult to achieve, acknowledging, as I said, that the number of PD members has increased. Likewise, despite all the shortcomings and weaknesses still evident and in need of correction, it must be said that the work of the PD branch presidiums has improved noticeably since the decision we took at the national congress that MPs, chairpersons ... should be part of them. What needs improvement in these branches is a greater focus on each PD branch’s priorities, on the priorities linked to our program, and, at the same time, persistence in implementing the decisions taken by PD branch presidiums. It must be said that relations between the branches and local government have improved, without denying the discrepancies that remain. Despite the problems, the fact that our local-government representatives are now members of the presidiums has brought a significant improvement in ensuring that the voice of the PD branches is heard at the local-government level. But there is a separation between the branches and central government and the structuring of the PD. Of course what we promised in our electoral program during the 1992 campaign that brought us to power; achieving success is difficult. implementing the PD program—I believe this year will be decisive. The campaign in five communes, as well as the analysis we carried out of them, convinces me that the mass electoral campaign we conducted mainly in 1992 must absolutely be accompanied by a door-to-door, person-to-person campaign, addressing the concrete problems in every locality in order to achieve success. And it is clear that this cannot be accomplished without strong structures, without sections, and without members who are committed and at the same time have the authority needed to represent the PD. It should be said that since the Second National Congress, now that a year has passed since it concluded, the number of PD members and sections has increased, although not to the expected level and not to the level we set, because we set the doubling of membership as our main objective. Naturally, there is still

Speech by President Sali Berisha delivered at the PD National Council Ladies and gentlemen, This is the fourth year of reform and political stability in Albania. It has been achieved ... consolidating Albania’s economic development according to the rapid-development model. It is a year of contributing to many infrastructure projects, such as telecommunications, water supply, and roads; of carrying out important investments in oil and gas; but above all, this is the year of mass privatization through securities, compensation for former political persecuted persons and former owners, and consolidation of the reforms ... Albania, the irreversibility of the achievements made, and the consolidation of persecuted persons and former owners, and consolidation of ... boundless, which was transformed not by civil war, nor by desert or drought, but by the totalitarian regime into the Somalia of Europe. For the first time, the continent experienced poor people; communist rule cast the suffering people into the seas. Today, for every Albanian who calls the truth the truth, Albania is completely different: it is a country of order and calm, of the fastest economic means, of macroeconomic stability. So, if Albania in 1991 was described as a country of organized crime and Albanian misery ... restructuring of the PD. Naturally (Continued on page 2) This is also a decisive year for building the market economy, with many projects in infrastructure such as telecommunications, water supply and roads; for compensation for former political detainees and former owners, and the further consolidation of state institutions and democracy. This year, given the major objectives it sets out and is expected to achieve, will be decisive for the result of the 1996 elections and for the future of the country. This calls for a very strong commitment and dedication from the Democratic Party, state institutions, PD members and supporters, and everyone who supports the reforms. It calls for this year to be considered the year of implementing our program and, on that basis, defining the objectives of the next program. It calls for us all to keep the PD program in mind, to work for the consolidation of what we have achieved and for the implementation of what has not been carried out, particularly with regard to improving infrastructure and the supply of water and electricity. In three years of governing, the PD succeeded, through its program, in saving Albania from hunger, misery, exoduses, chaos, inflation, the spread of organized crime, alms-seeking, and queues of

Address delivered on behalf of the leadership by the Secretary General of the PDSH, Prof. Dr Tritan Shehu Several months have passed without the expected results, while work has continued at a vigorous pace, in a responsible and comprehensive manner, coordinated and being prepared through our cooperation with the elections. The PD approves all of this, and the burdens that have weighed on this country weigh on them too. It is no wonder that perhaps they accuse us of Enver, even of the murders committed by Enver Hoxha. The PD and its people are accused of having abandoned Albania; they are accused of moving in the right direction, of destroying the economy as it was, forgetting what Albania was like in 1991 and what it is like today. The PD is accused of corruption, abuses, dubious affiliations and theft, and of self-exoneration that generates particular forms of corruption, including the 50-year corruption of the democracy, which is also a majority. At a time when our country's Government is taking measures in these services, its representatives benefit from corruption. Our people are up against the giant red machine of our comrades and their propaganda. The monstrous cases of corruption from 1990–1991 are being buried in oblivion and darkness. Some remain entrenched in their positions and do not respond with the strength and energy required. At present, we still cannot manage to concentrate our forces, and we consume our time and energy on vital problems—not only for the PD, but also for the fate of democracy in Albania. This cooperation seems to be faltering, without having demonstrated, in the links between the different structures of the PD, the possibility of uniting the structures of the PDSH and those of the state, particularly at the local level. In many branches, the PD leaderships make critical decisions concerning local government bodies without [??]—I mean, with reforms—forgetting that they themselves are also at the head of local government. The heads of local government must understand the same thing. Undoubtedly, this is an extremely negative phenomenon that may have incalculable consequences in the future if we do not manage to correct it as soon as possible and get started on the ground. By now, we must all understand that we are gradually entering the electoral period for the 1996 elections. The year ahead of us is very short, and everything must be directed towards the elections. It seems we should first establish priorities in the planning of state affairs. The remaining part of this year can be a year of building and putting in place what is possible, of achieving some of our main objectives, and of restructuring the PD; in other words, a year that everything must be directed towards the elections. It seems that we have a greater need to correct things, we say, and [??] to reap within the limits of the beginning [??] of the harvest. Deepening privatization, applying securities for the distribution to the entire population of the first proceeds, speeding up the pace of property restitution and improving compensation for former owners, launching the land market, laws on foreign concessions and free zones, a more modern banking policy, and wage increases, and (Continued on page 3)

Prime Minister Meksi’s address to the National Council At the meeting of the National Council at the end of December, it was decided that a number of important tasks should be undertaken concerning the restructuring of the Government and the executive, local government, and the PD. It is understandable that taking the first measures and changing the Cabinet does not mean that the restructuring of the Government at the executive level has been completed. Further measures will be taken to reorganize directorates and other structures. I think there is room for changes in this plan, including in the branches that we consider appropriate, whenever they put forward an opinion on cooperation in the elections. Nevertheless, I think it is possible to institutionalize relations between the Government and the Party at the central and local levels, with the leaderships of the PD branches. For this purpose, a day will be set aside for the Government to commit itself to receiving Party representatives at all levels, [unclear] and deputies. Although I have the impression that this opportunity was not lacking before. I would only add that if the Government were to make a real commitment to the matters raised in the meetings I have held with deputies or PD representatives, the budget would not be enough until the year 2000. By February, we will draw up a concrete plan for all

A high-level American delegation headed by Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Dr. Zhozef Nei arrived in Tirana yesterday. Those who came to Rinas to welcome the delegation included Defense Minister Safet Zhulali, Chief of the General Staff of the Army General Sheme Kosova, Deputy Foreign Minister Arjan Sarova, Undersecretary for Foreign Policy Alfred Moisiu, Albanian military representatives in America and NATO, and the American attaché in (Continued on page 2)

-The PD, as a powerful promoter of reforms in Albania, is to establish alliances and regroup with all non-extremist forces to prevent the Marxists from coming to power. -The Government is to begin distributing securities within February. -The distribution of land ownership certificates is to be completed by May. -The social assistance law is to be withdrawn in order to prevent abuses of it. -Compensation for landowners is to be determined, and a law on the land and property market is to be drafted. -The PD Presidium is to institutionalize and define the arrangements for mutual communication among all party forums and state bodies. -Intensive efforts are to be made, within the Government’s financial means and through privatization, to solve problems such as electricity, water, etc. -Stricter measures are to be taken to enforce the law and monitor its enforcement. -Ownership of land is to be recognized for farmers on former state farms. -25% of those elected to the PD’s governing forums are to be women and girls. -Cooperation with the FRPD structures is to be increased. -The PD Congress is to convene six months before the 1996 elections, and the PD Presidium is tasked with drafting the relevant amendments to the statute to harmonize the functions of the party leader and the executive. -1995 is to be the decisive year for implementing reform, privatization, and the PDSH program.

On Friday, 3 February 1995, at 11:00, the National Council of the Albanian Democratic Women's League will hold its session at the PDSH headquarters in Tirana. THE LEADERSHIP