Discussions resumed between representatives of the European Community and the Albanian side on implementing the decision to grant Albania the sum of 35 million ECU, as part of assistance within the overall macroeconomic framework. The beginning of 1995 will constitute the first phase in implementing this decision. During a period of two to three months, the first portion of this fund, set at 15 million ECU, will be disbursed. The head of the European Community mission, Pierre, during his meeting with Prime Minister Meksi, stressed that “this sum will be allocated as assistance to the Bank of Albania, for the purpose of adjusting the balance of payments or increasing its bank reserves; that is, the bank will decide how this sum is to be used.” The previous meetings with Finance Minister Vrioni and the governor of the Bank of Albania, Luniku, served to review the measures taken by the government and the concrete steps undertaken to ensure the most effective use of the aforementioned assistance. ATSH Meanwhile, the head of the European Community mission, Pierre, said: “This is the EC’s contribution to the balance of payments, following other contributions that the EC has previously given to Albania. The uproar over the Greek side’s blocking of this contribution is also well known. Once the first portion of 15 million ECU has been unblocked, converted for its essential basic needs, it can be exchanged from Albanian lekë into foreign currency by the Albanian bank for purchases. This is the first possibility. What is more important is that these contributions will also be used to make it possible, according to the choice they will make ...”

Photo: A. Dhimitri

Speech by the Vice Chairman, Mr. Tomor Dosti, at the National Council of the PDSH I have regarded the PD as a party of hope and a party of the future; it is not only I, but all of us, who have given it this epithet. Therefore, if we regard the PD in this way, we must coordinate the actions of the Party and of the institution governing today—a government that has emerged from us. As such, at every time, in every moment and in every action, it must aspire to the program and aspirations of the PD, which are at the same time the aspirations of the Albanian people. In this context, I wanted to draw Mr. Meksi’s attention to a statement by a former Italian congressman in 1954, Pela, who resigned at that time over certain issues that had arisen and was replaced by Fani. In his final speech he said: “Throughout the time I served as secretary of the government, I spoke only about the government, but I was wrong, because I should have spoken in parallel about the party as well.” To me, this is significant because the government’s actions must always reflect the party—that is, the instrument that put it in office. We must always bear in mind that we have to shoulder the historic responsibilities dictated by our time, and we must take on these historic responsibilities with dignity and courage. …forever. And what can you expect from a political grouping or political orientation whose program, whether social or political, is based on Marxism, which cannot be understood without that famous idea whose realization was the dictatorship of the proletariat? So look at where we are and the opposition we are dealing with. This should mobilize us on a large scale, so that we can respond with victory to the battle they seek to wage against us. We are in a very decisive year, one that concerns the authority of the PD and our government. It also concerns the spirit and authority of the Albanian people. This is a year that will prepare the year of our second term. I say “ours” because we must mobilize to make it ours, as the PD’s second legislature. And this legislature can be won only with a spirit of mobilization, only with the same idea we had in ’90, when we joined hands. Let us always keep those hands joined and keep moving forward. Let us keep this in mind, gentlemen, because we are constantly being attacked from every side. How malicious and how contrived was today’s leading article in “ZP,” which says that the PD was killed by those who created it. No, the PD will never be killed as long as it has a National Council like this, as long as it has an electorate of over ... These promises were not fulfilled to the extent that we had promised. The party chairman himself, after me, went and affirmed all those promises that I had made. But they were not all carried out. Nevertheless, we must keep in mind the principle that mistakes should become lessons for us. With this spirit, I am sure that by preparing the program I would call an emergency program—a program that must be implemented within six months so that it can open the way for us and create room for the second six-month period—we will be able to enter the electoral campaign battle confidently in the first quarter of ’96. Let me put it this way: remind the government, because this concerns it. It must not forget to take into consideration the stratum that has supported us in all the elections. A message from the government could drive them away from us. This concerns fulfilling the commitments the government has undertaken regarding policy and former owners. These are two components that we must consider integral parts of the PD. Because by regarding them in this way and integrating them into our life, we have strengthened the party and, therefore, strengthened the electorate. One point raised here was the alliances that need to be strengthened, and the alliances that must be ...

. Yesterday, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany to Albania, His Excellency Mr. Klaus Vollers, arranged a meeting with Ms. Flutura Hasko, President of the Albanian Women’s Democratic Forum. During the meeting, Ms. Hasko emphasized the profound gratitude felt within the Democratic Party, among women, and by the entire Albanian people for what Germany has done for the Albanian people. In particular, she thanked the German mothers and families who, around five years ago, welcomed the sons of Albanian mothers who had fled the communist monster. Mr. Vollers thanked Ms. Hasko for the meeting, welcomed it, and touched on Albanian-German relations, which are excellent and will improve in the future both bilaterally and, especially, in support of Albania’s new democracy. Ms. Hasko then gave an overview of the fruitful work plan for women, the political platform, and its social-profile work of political outreach and education. Mr. Vollers and Ms. Hasko described this first meeting as more than an introductory one: warm and marked by mutual sincerity. PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT OF THE DPA

The Prosecutor General’s request to lift the immunity of the President of the Court of Cassation is not approved At the opening of yesterday’s plenary session, the People’s Assembly discussed and considered the agenda item concerning the review of the annulment of the decision appointing Ms. Teta Zako as a judge of the Court of Cassation, a decision that had been made in violation of the law. After extensive discussion by various deputies, the matter was put to a vote, and by a majority the parliament decided to include it on the agenda for consideration. The session then continued with consideration of President of the Court of Cassation, Zef Brozi. Since the matter concerned his immunity, the Constitutional Court had stated that the People’s Assembly had the right to decide on it. Speaking on behalf of the Committee on Mandates, Immunity and Rules, deputy Fehmi Abdiu said that opinions on the matter within the committee had differed, but, Mr. Abdiu said, it was Parliament that would decide whether or not to lift the immunity. After much debate and discussion, Parliament decided to hear the explanation of the President of the Court of Cassation, Zef Brozi. After Brozi’s explanation, discussion began on whether or not to lift his immunity. At the afternoon plenary session, more than 30 deputies from various political parties took the floor to discuss the matter and presented their arguments for or against lifting Zef Brozi. At the end of the discussion, the deputies decided by majority vote that the vote would be secret. After the secret ballot, the result was that 53 deputies opposed lifting his immunity, 49 supported it, and 5 deputies abstained. Thus, by majority vote, Parliament rejected President of the Court of Cassation, Zef Brozi. With that, yesterday’s proceedings came to a close. The next session opens today at 10:00. NDREKE GJINI

As reported in Zagreb, following lengthy preparations, the “Adriani” project was signed. It provides for the installation of an optical-fiber cable from Dubrovnik to Durres and Corfu. The installation of this optical-fiber cable will be particularly important not only for Albania and Croatia, but also for other countries, because once it is installed, there will be many telephone and telecommunications connections between the countries of southern and western Europe. Croatia’s Minister of Communications, Ilica Mudraniç, stated that other companies wishing to participate in the project have also come forward. The Dubrovnik-Durres-Corfu telecommunications line will be the main hub in the Mediterranean communications system. From Durres, the line will also connect to Macedonia, Bulgaria, Turkey, and Cyprus. This hub will also serve as a transit link using the international telecommunications network. In addition to Albania and Croatia, Greece’s PTs and Deutsche Telekom are also participating in the joint investment in this project. The Director General of Croatia’s Post and Telecommunications, Marko Perak, stated that the project plan is ready and that an international tender for technical equipment has been announced. Completion of the project, valued at 12 million German marks, is expected in the middle of next year.

Observations and suggestions Since every individual’s life is filled with a series of problems, there is no doubt that their chain must be endless for an entire society and an entire era. In a given period of time these problems are numerous, in another they are few, but ultimately there is no life without problems. This is by now a familiar axiom. It is understood that with the establishment of Democracy, only the dark aspects of life are eliminated, while other problems appear in a new guise, stripped of all the [?] of power. In this period, a person emerges as a free individual, with new ideas about work and life. There is an opinion that people today are more individualistic than they should be, but this conclusion is reached only by judging them with the mindsets of the past. The fact that people are more active than at any other time makes them not only more contemporary than ever, but also enables them to live with as few problems as possible. I do not know how many problems every person faces in this broad human era; I only know that, as in every other case, they begin with the first one. Finally, narrowing the focus this time to 3–4 problems, which are in any case of different kinds, I would suggest not only solving them, but also further developing this column, which I would like to see include other authors as well. 1. An official gazette, but also a pocketbook of laws Among other things, in order to cope with and adapt as well as possible to life today, Albanians need to know and comply with the laws of Democracy with a high degree of accuracy. Under the dictatorship, people worked and lived according to the laws of the Party, which were the laws of [?], of mass poverty, the laws of isolation and collective humiliation, the laws of imprisonment and execution for a mere word, a game (Continued on page 2)

GJERGJ SOKOLI, Chairman of the PD in Pukë Page 2

BASHKIM KOPLIKU Page 3

BLEDI KASMI Page 8

We wish All Albanian Muslim believers, wherever they may be, our heartfelt wishes: —Happy holy month of Ramadan, and may it come around for many years! —May your fast be easy and accepted! The RD Editorial Office

As every year, Europe will also help Albania in 1995 to overcome the financial difficulties caused by the reforms it has undertaken. Politically and economically, we will continue our assistance to Albania. The contribution of 35 million ECU will be released in two phases. The first portion, 15 million ECU, will be released, and the remainder later for the balance of payments. A. STAFA, ATSH The Commission has also made 10 million ECU available for the balance of payments, in addition to the other contributions the EC has previously given Albania. There has also been discussion of the fuss made about the blocking of this contribution by the Greek side. The first portion of 15 million ECU will be unblocked and, upon the signing of the agreement between Albania and the European Community, will be made available to the Bank of Albania at the beginning of March; the remainder will follow after a report on the fulfillment of the general conditions. Their use is for the balance of payments, which means that, if Albania needs them to the EC has previously given Albania. that these contributions will also be used, in accordance with the solution the banks provide, to enable repayment of the commercial debt Albania has inherited. This sum of approximately 42 million dollars will become available when, as on previous occasions, the agreement between the Albanian side and the European Community is signed, which is expected to happen in Brussels at the end of February. [?] that we must assume the historic responsibilities dictated to us by the times, and courage. There is no reason to retreat; on the contrary, we must move forward, because we have a people who look to us and still look to us for their future. Unfortunately, an ill wind is blowing. It is the same wind that seeks to disguise itself with new terms—not as advanced socialists, not as neo-communists, and so on. But look at what lies at their core: Marxism. A political or economic theory that has failed, now and forever, should be reflected upon by the Party—so, gentlemen, because we are always at the forefront and attacked from every side. How unfortunate says that the DP killed the one it betrayed. No, the DP will never be killed as long as it has such a National Council, as long as it has an electorate of over 1 million, and as long as it has a parliamentary group that is the pride of the DP, the pride of the government. I wanted to point out here how much work it took, in one year, for us to win six of the seven communes. But unfortunately, in this referendum we barely won two of them. Why does this happen? Here, we cannot absolve the government of responsibility either. We went out to these seven communes, wrote to them seven by seven, and [?] owners. There are two [?] that we should consider integral parts of the DP. By considering them as such and including them in our life, we have strengthened the Party—that is, we have strengthened the electorate. At the same time, alliances were discussed, and these should be welcomed. Let us find those forces that are closest to us; let us find those forces that support us, and let us not proceed with the prejudices of historiography rooted in Enverism. So once again, I urge you to try to overcome the difficulties with patience, determination, and tolerance, because we are sure that this is how we will win. Thank you!

STATEMENT We, as representatives of the General Association of Trade Unions of Albania, after meeting all the branches of the Trade Unions of Albania and the centrist political forces to discuss the main points and problems negatively affecting companies and the owners of premises, found strong support from all the political forces for the problems we raised. It is worth thanking the chairman of the Democratic Party, Mr. Eduard Selami, for his high level of culture and for the consideration he showed for our problems as a trade union. Chairman of the General Association of Trade Unions of Albania BAJRAM SALIU