Inside The echo of the red spirit in the abysses of the Albanian Helsinki Committee The chairman of the “professional journalists” censors his journalists for political reasons PAGE 2

On the occasion of bringing Faik Konica’s remains to Albania Faik Konica (A look at two letters from Faik Konica addressed to Shtjefen Gjëçovi) PAGE 5

Accused of financial fraud PAGE 8

Yesterday in the People’s Assembly NDREKE GJINI Discussion of the draft state budget for 1995 continued at yesterday’s plenary session of the People’s Assembly. After the discussions in principle by MPs M.Lakrori, S.Jaku, Sh.Çani, K.Xhepa and U.Butka, who expressed their assessments of specific aspects of the draft budget submitted for approval, MPs Gjer[?] Rakaj of the PSD, Anastas Angjeli of the PS and Jemin Gjana of the PD took the floor to speak on behalf of the parliamentary groups they represent. Mr Arbnori then informed the MPs about the implementation of the People’s Assembly’s budget for 1994 and the draft budget for 1995. The People’s Assembly’s total operating expenses for 1994, Mr Arbnori said, amounted to 110212635 lekë, against 110900 mjleke approved, saving 687365 lekë. Mr Arbnori emphasized that all investment expenditures had been made in accordance with decisions of the Council of Ministers, with tenders organized to find the best offer. The excess investment expenditure was covered by funds from other budget lines, especially the salaries line, which was not fully spent. Before the vote in principle (Continued on page 3)

Report by the Minister of Finance on the 1995 state budget, delivered to the People’s Assembly Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members of Parliament, The 1995 draft state budget reflects the most positive changes achieved over these three years in stabilizing the financial situation as a whole and the budgetary situation in particular. The experience gained over three years in forecasting and using fiscal and budgetary instruments is valued not only by our finance experts, but also by institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, etc. In this integrated process of work, learning and experience, the figures contained in this 1995 budget have also gained greater persuasive force; technically, it is presented better than any other year. Following the Prime Minister’s general presentation, I would like to focus on some more specific elements of the budget presented. First of all, I would point to the trend of securing more funds for development through domestic resources, with the aim of gradually addressing the acute problems of employment. These funds will be around 45% higher than the 1994 outturn. Priority will be given to infrastructure projects such as (Continued on page 4)

Yesterday morning, the Defence College opened at the Academy of Land Forces in Tirana. The decision to establish it was signed by the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, in his capacity as chairman of the Defence Council. Those attending the ceremony organized for the occasion included President Berisha, Minister of Defence Safet Zhulali, Chief of the General Staff Sheme Kosova, NATO Assistant Secretary General Antony Cragg, MPs, ambassadors and military attachés accredited in Tirana, the Defence College, etc. “In this course,” said Mr Zhulali in his opening remarks, “which is being inaugurated on 4 April not by chance, the 46th anniversary of the alliance’s creation, lecturers and scholars, military personnel from the USA, Germany, Tuqia, Italy and Britain will give lectures.” The mission of this college is to prepare civilian and military leaders to learn about and study international experience at the regional, European and global levels on security issues; to discuss and determine rational solutions to problems concerning the security and defence of our country in the domestic, Balkan and wider context; to prepare civilian defence leaders who will play their role in strengthening independent civilian and military oversight; and to consolidate and improve curricula, teaching methods and materials, and civil-military institutional ties within the country and abroad. “The inauguration of the college (Continued on page 2)

“Le Monde” on the Eurobarometer

Yesterday at midday, President Berisha received NATO Assistant Secretary General Mr. Antoni Krag . President Berisha and Mr. Krag spoke highly of the level of cooperation between Albania and NATO within NATO’s overall framework. Vili Klaes [was extended] an invitation to visit Albania. Yesterday at midday as well, the President

on behalf of the PD parliamentary group Honorable deputies We have followed with due attention the criticisms of this budget as well, distinguishing them from the baseless attacks that have not been lacking either here or outside this Parliament’s chamber. To their misfortune, some politicians and some newspaper writers have directed their attacks without having read or learned about the budget, while others know only its name. This atmosphere of tension, sown by the large, black letters in the leading articles of many newspapers, does not serve the country’s stability. Terrifying Albanians with the billions in the budget deficit, whose fundamental roots reach deep into the five decades of the socialist economy; falsely claiming that the PD promised a balanced budget within this term, when they do not even have a state here that is hundreds of times economically healthier than Albania; refusing to explain and argue the reality that gives rise not only to budgets of this kind today but for several more years; is nothing other than a vulgarization of the fever for power. The results of economic reform under democratic governance over these three years have been positively assessed by all serious and specialized European and international organizations. Fortunately, Albanians have borne the difficulties of transition with dignity. Few in Albania are unaware of the fact that Albanians have acted this way first and foremost because they are predisposed to strongly support the program of the political force that, with courage and determination, took responsibility for an Albania which, on March 23, 1992, was more devastated than ever, poorer than ever, more abandoned than ever, and more bereft of hope than ever. Despite the achievements, we recognize and accept the shortcomings and weaknesses in implementation as well. We are no longer slaves to the political dogma that “the party does not make mistakes.” But let none of you deceive others or be deceived into thinking that there was some other political force that, in three years of governing, would have done more than the democratic majority and its government have done. We believe it is not only a falsehood but, even more, a criminal act against Albania to stir up people’s dreams and tensions about overturning the entire legal framework approved to date; reversing the whole privatization process; balancing the image of wages and pensions with inflation indexation; immediately putting Albanian industry to work using the technology of the 1910s; and even hoping for some “other blank cheque,” which this time might come from Russia. Being open to all constructive criticism of the course of these three years, we reject as untrue the claims

these three years, we reject as untrue the claims about the course of the others, (Continued on page 3)

On April 3, 1995, the largest French newspaper and one of the best-known in the world wrote: Of all the peoples of the former communist bloc in Eastern Europe, Albanians are, without any doubt, those who have suffered most under an extremely harsh and outdated dogmatic totalitarian system. Five years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, it is hardly surprising that Albanians are precisely the ones who have the greatest confidence in the future (59 percent), even though their economic situation remains the most difficult in the East. This is also made clear by the “Eurobarometer” conducted in 1994 by the European Commission in 18 former communist countries. This report, which could also have been called “The State of Mind in the Countries of the East,” was presented in Paris on March 31 by the GFK Marketing Institute, considered a leading authority in this field. It shows that Albanian optimism contrasts with the general trend, which is becoming increasingly gloomy. Although negative responses are declining compared with earlier surveys conducted since 1990, 30 percent of the inhabitants of Eastern countries foresee a deterioration in their situation in 1995. This “improvement” is partly explained by the fact that Eastern European countries recorded some economic growth for the first time, beginning in 1994. Bulgaria is more or less in this category, where the percentage of dissatisfied people (91 percent) was the highest before the December elections. A great deal of stress Among the former socialist countries of Eastern Europe, the study distinguishes two groups: on the one hand, Albania and Romania were the poorest and most hard-pressed countries, where 54 percent and 40 percent of the population, respectively, believed their financial situation would improve during 1995, and where declared supporters of a market economy were more numerous and more committed (71 percent among Albanians and 67 percent among Romanians). The situation is different in the other group: in Poland and Hungary, considered the first two pioneers of reforms in Eastern Europe, 15 percent of inhabitants expect their incomes to improve during 1995, and fewer than a quarter believe that the situation in their country is moving toward improvement. This is due to the fact that their economies were far more developed than those of their neighbors (Polish agriculture has always resisted total collectivization, and the first measures to liberalize trade in Hungary date back to the 1960s). “Consequently, expectations were also for better results in these countries,” notes Rudolf Breshnejder, Austrian director of GFK. In Russia, by contrast, all indicators are worse. More than two-thirds of Russians judge the evolution of the country, the market economy, democratization, the human rights situation, and the financial situation negatively. In general, Breshnejder observes, “these societies as a whole are stressed at every level, because everything has changed in such a short time.”

Yesterday, the Secretary General of the PDSH, Mr. Tritan Shehu, met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to Albania, Mr. Nikola Todorcevski. The meeting, which lasted more than 45 minutes, was characterized by a spirit of friendly discussion, aimed at improving bilateral relations. Press and Information Department of the PDSH

NATO Assistant Secretary General, Mr. Antoni Krag President Berisha and Mr. Krag highly praised the level of cooperation between Albania and NATO within the framework of “Partnership for Peace” and expressed confidence that their bilateral programme would be successfully implemented. Mr. Krag highly praised the level of cooperation between Albania and NATO within the framework of “Partnership for Peace” and expressed confidence that their bilateral programme would be successfully implemented. President Berisha praised NATO’s efforts to limit the spread of the conflict in our region. At the same time, he asked Mr. Krag to convey to NATO Secretary General Vili Klaes the invitation to visit Albania. Yesterday at noon, President Berisha also received Mr. Kuebat and the commander of the Hanov military academy, General Von Senden, at the headquarters of the “George Marshall” study centre. They had taken part in the inauguration of the defence college in Tirana.

I am pleased with the friendly development of relations between our two countries, and I wish to thank President Langhari and Prime Minister Butto for their generous and friendly assistance to Albania. I am convinced, President Berisha told Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, that your visit makes a special contribution to intensifying the friendly ties between our two countries. Foreign Minister Ahmed Ali told President Berisha that he brought his warmest greetings from President Langhari and Prime Minister Butto. He said that they greatly appreciate Albania’s governance along the path of reforms and that they wish to strengthen friendship and cooperation with our country. We are ready, he said, to extend our cooperation into many fields, including the economy, technology, management and business, and to offer you our experience in privatisation and rail transport, as well as scholarships for specialisation in diplomacy, the banking system, etc. Developments in our region were another subject of discussion. President Berisha and Pakistan’s Foreign Minister expressed concern over the extremely tense situation in the region. President Berisha expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s support regarding the Kosovo issue and said: “The demand that the Serbs make concessions in the north in compensation for the concessions that would be made to them in the south is not only no solution, but deepens the crisis in the region. It is essential that the Kosovo issue, as the most delicate issue, be brought to the negotiating table.” For his part, President Berisha praised Pakistan’s position on the Kashmir issue, regarding which the Pakistani minister said: Pakistan is insisting on a solution through dialogue and on the implementation of the UN resolutions concerning it. President Berisha asked Pakistan’s Foreign Minister to convey his warm greetings to President Langhari and Prime Minister Butto, as well as his invitation to visit Albania. For his part, the Pakistani minister conveyed to President Berisha an invitation to visit Pakistan as soon as possible. Press and Information Office of the President

On the draft law “On the State Budget for 1995,” on behalf of the PD parliamentary group Honorable deputies ...

behind empty words, while at the same time concealing his own guilt, thinking that others do not know about it. This cannot go on for long. One day Dokle must answer before justice, and that day he will have nowhere left to hide. That day we will see how the “honorable” anti-corruption crusader, who likes to play with words without offering anything, will twist and turn. It is easy to appear in newspapers and say “I am a victim of political warfare” when one has no other arguments. Dokle is not the first to do such a thing, but it is also a fact that such statements have not saved the corrupt from justice. Every day it is becoming clearer that the PS leadership has decided that Dokle’s 400 thousand dollars, like Nano’s 9 million, should be placed on the shoulders of all PS members. These facts and the constant speculation by PS leaders about corruption, so that it weighs on any PS representative at its various levels and branches, clearly show what can happen in a party led by them: a government “whatever happens” will be entirely PS, together with Dokle, no matter how hard they try to make it up. The hidden document … Words, documents and forged papers; 400 thousand dollars cannot simply vanish into thin air, and no one can make them disappear. SOLIDARITY FUND [cartoon with the words:] KAREN HAXHADINI EDI PALOKA (Cartoon 75) Cartoon bearing the inscriptions “KAREN HAXHADINI” and “SOLIDARITY FUND.”