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Letter from Kurbnesh They called Enver’s sons to their aid PAGE 2 Letter from Kurbnesh Mr. Gjinushi came to Kurbnesh, spoke, left, and left behind nothing but the dust of deception They called Enver’s sons to their aid PAGE 2

. Mr. Summers, the US representative at the EBRD Summit in London on 10 April, says: Five and a half years ago, the collapse of the Berlin Wall sparked a rush to freedom in Central Europe. Poland, the Czech Republic, the Baltic states and Albania have backed reform with vigor. They brought order to their macroeconomic policies. They quickly moved forward with small-scale privatisation and price and trade liberalization. Now, they are experiencing rapid private sector-led growth. Others in Central Europe which have not adopted market reforms as quickly are lagging behind. Lawrens H. Summers, Undersecretary for International Affairs at the US Department of the Treasury, told the annual meeting of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development: Five and a half years after the fall of the Berlin Wall gave momentum Baltic countries and Albania have strongly supported reforms. They quickly moved toward the privatisation of small enterprises and the liberalisation of trade prices. There is now rapid growth there, led by the private sector. Other Central European countries that did not adopt market reforms so quickly are now falling behind.

Interview with Bashkim Kopliku, MP and member of the leadership of the PDSH Question: What do privatisation vouchers represent in the PD programme? Answer: As has been mentioned in the PD programme, the Democratic Government is issuing privatisation vouchers, or privatisation money. This follows an earlier issue of privatisation vouchers for political persecut[?]. These privatisation vouchers are now for the entire adult population, exactly as stated in the programme: for all adults who have not received property free of charge. The peasants were given land free of charge, or for use, while the townspeople were given nothing. That is why they are being given privatisation vouchers, with which they can buy shares in joint-stock or limited companies, or acquire property through this privatisation. In other words, they are being given purchasing power. The vouchers represent a share of national wealth. That becomes something concrete when it is converted—when a share of an enterprise is bought with it—or when it is converted on the free market. Someone who does not intend to go into business can also convert them into lekë, cash, as they say. Or someone who cannot engage in a business can put their privatisation vouchers into investment funds, which will soon be established, either spontaneously or through privatisation by a large group of people. With these vouchers, they buy shares in several different enterprises; for example, shares in PTT, the electricity company, water companies and mines. In this way, I, who had a privatisation voucher and handed it over to the investment fund, become an owner in all of these at the same time. This is what is called diversification of investments. So, if profits at the electric company go badly for me, the others will do well, and an average return is achieved. Question: What is the real value of these vouchers, since there are rumors that their value will fall to 30–40%? Answer: We have heard these rumors before, too, about the privatisation vouchers or privatisation money given to former political persecut[?]. In fact, there have been cases when they were sold on the market for as little as 40%, just as there have been cases when they were sold for 100%. But there have also been cases where, using these privatisation vouchers—this kind of privatisation—speculative purchases were made. Today, something was bought for 1 million lekë and, just three days later, sold for 10 million lekë. Then you would say that in the latter case the value of the privatisation voucher increased tenfold, while in the first case it fell by half. The market economy is not so simple. It is complicated; we have to engage with the market economy. But, without going on too long, I can say with Question: For how long will you have the persecuted people’s privatisation vouchers? Answer: They will be in all the enterprises bought with privatisation money. Look at Durrës: who are the owners of the ships? The politically persecuted. Those ships were bought with privatisation vouchers. Do these vouchers have value? Certainly. But demand and supply will show how much they are worth. The state’s efforts will be directed at maintaining the value of these vouchers at one. There will be times when their value is bought up; there will be times when it rises. That is the free market. Question: The PS leadership has opposed privatisation vouchers. What is your comment on this? Answer: My first comment would be that the PS leadership opposes everything. It has become normal for people to see the PS leadership as destructive. Its opposition to privatisation vouchers shows [its opposition to] the interests and will of the Albanians—it is part of the anti-reform strategy. We can say that this was the same leadership that opposed the law on human rights, so I am not surprised. There is no point in getting lost in endless sophistry. [The source repeats a portion of the interview verbatim:] Through privatisation by a large group of people, they buy shares in several different enterprises with these vouchers; without going on too long, I can say with

Yesterday morning, President Berisha received the Minister of Defense of Turkey, Mr. Mehmet Golhan. President Berisha expressed his gratitude for the conversion of the military industry into a civilian industry, etc. For his part, the Minister of Defense of Turkey, Mr. Golhan, [text missing] the valuable assistance Turkey has given Albania during a difficult period. He said that he was pleased with the development of cooperation and friendship between our two countries and expressed his conviction that Mr. Golhan’s visit would open up further avenues for this cooperation. President Berisha also expressed his satisfaction with the successful cooperation in the field of defense, as well as with the signing of agreements between the respective ministries. He thanked Turkey for its assistance with education and training [text missing]. He conveyed to President Berisha the very warm greetings of President Demirel and Prime Minister Çiller, and said that Turkey would continue in the future to help and support Albania, not only in the military field but in all other fields as well. President Berisha asked Mr. Golhan to convey his greetings to President Demirel and Prime Minister Çiller, along with his invitation to visit Albania. Press Office and [text ends] PHOTO: A. BABANI

“No assessment of an alternative draft... Only a draft that passes through the official bodies provided for this matter, and whose examination is requested by those bodies, can be reviewed by the experts engaged by the Council of Europe.” This is the official reply from Mr. Sheman, Chief of Cabinet to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Daniel Tarchys. It definitively clarifies the issue of the zeal surrounding the so-called “alternative draft Constitution” being assessed by the Council of Europe. In an official letter, Mr. Submani answers our ambassador in Strasbourg, Mr. Gjon Kolqi, on this matter. The reply makes clear that “the alternative draft will not be assessed in any way, and no action will be taken on the opposition parties’ request for this draft to be examined.” Mr. Shuman’s reply also explains this position: the view within the Council of Europe is that same Council of Europe. Thus, the report published by the PS newspaper is nothing but its own ravings and a further attempt to mislead Albanian public opinion. “ZP” writes that “the draft is being studied at the Council of Europe,” which is absolutely untrue. This is not the first time that PS leadership has used replies received from the offices of international political figures as “arguments” for the “support” Europe gives them. The same thing has been done in this case. Taking a draft into one’s hands and studying it are entirely different things. But it seems that the opposition leaders have nothing left to do on their failed path except publish falsehoods on the front pages of their newspapers. Those who walked out of Parliament when the draft Constitution arrived, and launched an unrestrained campaign against that draft, which all international experts had assessed positively, now seek to present themselves as if they had always wanted Albania to have a Constitution. The more interesting fact is that, to create this illusion, they are seeking to invoke precisely the Council of Europe—the very people who, through Vdeko, rose up against Albania’s admission to this organization. The opposition is trying to wash away what it did in the November 6 referendum. Those who [unclear] a “NO” in the referendum on the draft Constitution would have closed Albania’s doors to the Council of Europe once and for all, but the comments of European political specialists and public figures, who described the referendum as a full expression of democracy in Albania and therefore ruled out the Constitution as a condition, turned the opposition’s fight against the Constitution into a boomerang. From that moment on, although on the surface the victory of “NO” appeared to be a victory for the opposition, in reality it proved to be a victory for democracy in Albania, and for this reason the Constitution became [unclear]. That is also why opposition leaders are rushing to show the opposite of what their actions have demonstrated so far: that they want Albania to have a Constitution. But, unfortunately for them, their deception is not producing the political success they expect.

The Presidium of the Albanian Journalists’ Association, taking into consideration the immediate increase in the price of paper on the world market, discussed the consequences with which the Albanian press has been forced to contend. The Albanian Journalists’ Association has repeatedly asked the Ministry of Finance to cooperate in finding ways to help the Albanian press with regard to taxes and duties. Unfortunately, however, it has not received the Ministry’s support. Particularly in the new situation that has arisen, the Albanian Journalists’ Association insists on beginning a dialogue with the Government to reduce taxes and duties. We believe there is room for the state to ease the press’s financial burden by reconsidering reductions in taxes and duties. At the same time, the Albanian Journalists’ Association regrets the politicization and misuse by journalists and their managers who claim to be private initiatives while also seeking financial protection. In the great game of the market economy, the free press and all its initiatives cannot be protected and safeguarded from bankruptcy. The Albanian Journalists’ Association opposes the instrumentalization and abuse of such a delicate issue as the press. The Presidium of the Albanian Journalists’ Association decided to request meetings with the Government to discuss urgently the easing of taxes and duties. THE CHAIRMAN Ylli Rakipi

Mr. Qazim Gjioni appointed President of the Tirana District Court Yesterday, the High Council of Justice met and considered and accepted the resignation of the President of the Tirana District Court and the two deputy presidents of that court, the Ministry of Justice spokesperson, Agim Neza, announced. The High Council of Justice accepted the proposal of the Minister of Justice and appointed Mr. Qazim Gjioni as President of the Tirana District Court, relieving him of his position as President of the Military Court of Appeal. The High Council of Justice also made several new appointments and transfers in the district courts and prosecutor’s offices.

Two loan agreements between the Albanian Government and IDA, worth 12 million dollars, ratified; amendments to the law “On the restitution and compensation of property to former owners” also approved After several days of work in parliamentary committees, the People’s Assembly held a plenary session yesterday, chaired by the Deputy Chairman of the Presidium, Mr. Tomor Malasi. At the morning session, two loan agreements between the Government of the Republic of Albania and [text ends] were considered and ratified

Following the three-day official visit to Albania by the Minister of National Defense of Turkey and bilateral talks on military cooperation between the two countries, the Memorandum of Understanding on military affairs between Albania and Turkey was signed yesterday morning at the Ministry of Defense by the respective ministers, Safet Shala and Mehmet Golhan. The Chief of the General Staff of the Army, General Sheme Kosova, was also present at the ceremony organized for the occasion. (Continued on page 2)

The night before last, following official meetings and the agreements that had been signed, Russian Prime Minister Chernomerdin hosted a dinner in honor of Albanian Prime Minister Meksi. In his speech on the occasion, the Russian prime minister stressed that we could now rightly say that we were witnessing the beginning of a new phase in Russian-Albanian relations, expressing the hope that the signed documents would be implemented and the agreements reached translated into concrete action. Prime Minister Meksi, for his part, noted that the resumption of the normal and fully operational functioning of the bilateral commission for economic, trade, technical and scientific cooperation, as the main coordinator of areas of cooperation, would provide strong support for the development of economic and trade relations. Taking into account Russia’s important role in international politics, Mr. Meksi stressed, a broad discussion of other issues of European security, relations with NATO, the situation in the Balkans and the resolution of the Kosovo problem, as well as cooperation within the Black Sea initiative, is highly important and of great interest to both sides. Yesterday, on the second day of his visit to Moscow, Mr. Meksi was received by Arkoti Bolski, Chairman of the Russian Union of Entrepreneurs and Industrialists, and by the Mayor of Moscow, Jurij Ruskov. At the end of his visits and meetings in Moscow, Prime Minister Meksi held a press conference for Russian journalists. Their interest focused on the place occupied by the Balkan crisis in the talks and on areas of bilateral economic cooperation. The press conference concluded Prime Minister Aleksander Meksi’s program of visits in Moscow.

During his two-day official visit to Croatia, Foreign Minister Mr. Serreqi met with Prime Minister Nikica Valentic and Foreign Minister Mate Granic. The talks highlighted the two countries’ identical positions on political issues and stressed the need to improve existing economic cooperation. Serreqi and Granic signed a protocol on cooperation between the two ministries. Serreqi visited Karlovac and spoke with officials of the municipality of Karlovac. He also visited the “Gara” refugee camp and residential areas damaged during the fighting in Korana.

On the occasion of the celebration of the 120th anniversary of Faik Konica’s birth “...We are all nothing but disciples of Faik Konica” Fan S.Noli PAGE 5