Inside The Canadian “adventure” continues The “Law on Value Added Tax,” from an economic point of view, facilitates integration into the European Community

Gjinushi and his friends have begun their mandated vacations

LOREN LIGOR Yesterday, the Political Committee of the Council of Europe unanimously approved, without any objections, the draft report on Albania’s accession as a full member of the Council of Europe, along with the recommendation to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe: -To invite Albania to accede to the Council of Europe -To allocate Albania 4 seats in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. This represents a great and undeniable achievement for the democratic forces in Albania and for the entire Albanian nation. It is a major realization of the program of the Albanian Democratic Party and of its serious commitment to the country’s integration into Europe. Three years ago, the ADP declared that Albania’s orientation toward Europe would be the fundamental direction of Albania’s foreign policy. The Political Committee’s unanimous vote approving Albania’s admission to the Council of Europe is the result of intensive and sincere cooperation between Albania and this institution. One of the first political acts of the government that emerged from the 22 March elections was the official application submitted on 4 May 1992 by the President of the Republic, Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha, in Strasbourg, for Albania’s membership in the Council of Europe. Since then, Albania has followed a course founded on law. The moderation of Albania’s foreign policy, noted in the draft report of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, recognizes Albania’s role and efforts to avert conflict and resolve other problems through dialogue and negotiations. This important event coincides with the visit to Albania of the European Commissioner for relations between the EU and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, Mr. Van Den Broek. As Broek himself put it, the visit marks a new impetus in cooperation between Albania and the EU. Yesterday’s decision also constitutes a well-deserved response to all those malicious elements who did not hesitate to declare openly and covertly, and to work against Albania’s membership in the Council of Europe. Yesterday’s decision demonstrates that the time has passed when adventurers and irresponsible elements could trample Albania’s future underfoot. It marks a turn toward national responsibility by those who opened the way to and considered isolation, and who have tried and continue to try to use their propaganda to present an image of democracy in Albania. Yesterday’s vote in the Political Committee is a major obligation for the democratic forces: to commit themselves ever more strongly to further developing and consolidating the values of democracy in Albania, a market economy that guarantees freedoms and human rights, as the most dignified and secure path to Europe.

- From Strasbourg for “RD”: Mr. Ali Spahia, member of the Albanian delegation to the CoE Mr. Spahia, news has reached Albania that the CoE Political Committee has expressed itself positively on Albania’s membership in the Council of Europe. What more can you tell us? Today the Political Committee of the Council of Europe sent Mr. Kelchtermans’s report on Albania and examined our application for full membership in the CoE. Mr. Kelchtermans’s report was very positive and was approved by all members of the Political Committee. The committee also unanimously approved Albania’s application and decided to forward it to the Parliamentary Assembly. -So, Mr. Spahia, can we say that we are members of the Council of Europe? The Political Committee’s decision is decisive; only a few formal procedures remain to be followed. Were any conditions mentioned for this admission? Were there any reservations, since the opposition press writes about such things? The Political Committee set no prior conditions for Albania, and no such conditions were mentioned. As I said above, all the committee members, including the Greek deputy, supported Albania’s application unanimously and in full.

President Berisha received Mr. Van Den Broek, European Commissioner for relations between the EU and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe BERISHA: I express my profound gratitude to you, the European Commission and the EU countries for the solidarity shown to Albania and the generous assistance they gave it VAN DEN BROEK: Albania fully deserves our recognition. The time has come to give a new impetus to cooperation between Albania and the EU Photo: A. BABANI

I am very pleased to welcome you today, and I take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude to you, the EU Commission and the EU countries, for the solidarity shown to Albania and the generous assistance they gave it—the greatest assistance Albanians have known in their history. All of this has played an important role in the turning point toward establishing democracy and building the rule of law and a market economy in Albania. In its program, the DP established Europe-oriented policy as the fundamental direction of Albanian policy, a course it has adhered to and will continue to adhere to. To achieve this objective, Albania embarked on a far-reaching course of political reforms, through which it sought to bring the country closer to cooperation with EU countries and other European countries, while economic reform aimed to transform the centralized economy into a market economy. Thus, President Berisha continued, I have committed myself to confirming that Albania produces 55% of its gross domestic product in the private sector, has achieved the practical convertibility of its currency and control of inflation, and conducts two-thirds of its trade with Western countries. Albania now has the highest growth rates in Eastern Europe. From a legislative standpoint, laws approved from the Charter of Human Rights to the most recent laws, such as the Law on Commercial Companies and the Value Added Tax Law, have been drafted on the basis of European models. From a political point of view, I have also made efforts with the aim of establishing a structured dialogue with the EU and securing your support, and that of the EU countries, for opening negotiations on an Association Agreement between Albania and the EU. This would be a positive and encouraging signal for our efforts to develop democracy and build the rule of law and a market economy, to avert conflict, and to preserve peace and stability in our region. We are aware that Albania’s economy is far behind that of the Eastern countries, but I believe Albania should not be judged by what it inherited, but by its efforts to bring about reforms, by the dynamism and zeal with which it has pursued and developed these reforms, and by the results achieved. For his part, Van Den Broek said that he was very pleased that his visit coincided precisely with the highest growth rates in Eastern Europe. From a legislative standpoint, laws approved from the Charter of Human Rights to the most recent laws, such as the Law on Commercial Companies and the Value Added Tax Law, have been drafted on the basis of European models. As for the Association Agreement, you will have my full political support for your request. This is because you are convinced that the time has come to give a new impetus to cooperation between Albania and the EU. This will serve not only as support for reforms in your country, but also for Albania’s role in the Balkan region. I think, Mr. Van Den Broek said, that the time has come for us to prepare the measures needed to make it possible to open negotiations on an Association Agreement between Albania and the EU.

- Albania is invited to accede to the Council of Europe -It will have four seats in the Parliamentary Assembly- At yesterday’s session, the Political Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe considered the draft report submitted by the rapporteurs for Albania. The Political Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe voted unanimously in favor of this report. The consensus reached today in Strasbourg enables Albania to join the Council of Europe. The draft report on Albania, prepared by the rapporteurs on the basis of Albania’s application for membership in the Council of Europe and put to a paragraph-by-paragraph vote, was approved as the principal report on Albania’s membership in the Council of Europe. The Albanian parliament’s permanent delegation briefed the Political Committee of the Council of Europe, assuring it of the continuation of the democratic process and reforms in Albania. Among other things, the report voted on today states that, since the democratic elections, Albania has functioned as a multiparty parliamentary democracy. The Political Committee describes Albanian legislation as being in line with the general principles of the Council of Europe and the European conventions on human rights. The constitutional laws of the Council of Europe and the reforms create a real foundation and establish, for the first time, a parliamentary republic providing for the separation of powers, freedom to govern, equality, and other principles. The judicial and penal system, the document approved today in Strasbourg says, is in the process of consolidation. In Albania, economic reforms have been pursued and [unclear], it is a united government and has been revitalized. This transformation shows that the choice of policies and legislative priorities has been sound and on the right track. A spirit of understanding along Albania’s southern border was accompanied by a profound legal renewal. The moderation of Albania’s foreign policy, noted in the report approved by the Political Committee of the Council of Europe, recognizes Albania’s efforts in political cooperation with the countries of the region, the Council of Europe, and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The constitutional laws of the Council of Europe and the reforms create a real foundation and establish, for the first time, a parliamentary republic providing for the separation of powers, the law on human rights, and other provisions. The judicial and penal system, the document approved today in Strasbourg says, is in the process of consolidation. In Albania, economic reforms have been pursued and [unclear], it is a government [unclear] and on a sound course. Press and Information Directorate, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

At the opening of yesterday’s plenary session of the People’s Assembly, the Speaker of the Assembly, Mr. Pjetër Arbnori, informed the deputies that the Political Committee of the Council of Europe, meeting in Strasbourg, had unanimously decided, with no votes against, to accept Albania’s application to join the CoE. The news was greeted with enthusiasm and applause by all the deputies present. During the recess, “RD” spoke to Mr. Arbnori: Mr. Arbnori, what is your comment on the unanimous vote by the Political Committee of the Council of Europe to place Albania’s application for admission to the Council of Europe on the agenda for consideration by the Council? -Arbnori: It is truly welcome news. In fact, Albania has spiritually been part of the Council of Europe and every European institution for a long time, because it has worked toward this. This work cannot be done in a day, a month, or a year. We have understood it as a continuous improvement of our state governed by the rule of law and of our democratic institutions, and as continuous progress in the field of human rights and freedoms. There is no end to improvement. That is my view, and I believe it is everyone’s view. The news we have received makes us very happy, because everyone, unanimously and without exception, voted to put Albania’s admission to the Council of Europe on the agenda. This shows that Albania truly deserves recognition for the progress it has made toward democracy and for the development it has achieved and continues to pursue within the Council of Europe. What is important is that today the Political Committee of the Council of Europe has set absolutely no conditions for Albania’s admission. This shows that Albania is a dignified democratic state, which is working on its own to strengthen the rule of law, and that Europe trusts we will take our rightful place there.

President Berisha’s speech Dear Mr. Van Den Broek, members of the delegation accompanying you, Your Excellencies, ambassadors, dear friends! I am greatly honored and pleased to greet you and your delegation tonight, as well as the European Commission that you represent and the EU member states. I also wish to express my profound gratitude and thanks for the exceptionally great assistance, solidarity and generosity of the European Union, its member states and European taxpayers, who gave and demonstrated them to the Albanian people and Albania during one of the most difficult periods in their history, but also one of the most important and hopeful. I want to assure you and affirm that this assistance was vital in achieving our objectives and crystallizing a European orientation for our policy.

Speech by Mr. Van Den Broek Mr. President! Mr. Prime Minister! Dear friends! On behalf of the delegation, I am pleased to greet you, thank you for the honor you have shown us by inviting us to this dinner, and express how pleased we are that this opportunity was made possible for us on behalf of the European Community. In the presence of the distinguished members, I wish to pay tribute to you, your government and the people of Albania for the impressive successes achieved through the revolution. What we must see in this country is a nation rising from millennia of history and from the ashes of half a century of isolation, building a new, free and democratic society, developing an entirely new economic system and a society that cares for its people. We feel very happy and privileged that (Continued on page 2)

At the opening of yesterday’s plenary session of the People’s Assembly, the Speaker of the Assembly, Mr. Pjetër Arbnori, informed the deputies that the Political Committee of the Council of Europe, meeting in Strasbourg, had unanimously decided, with no votes against, to accept Albania’s application to join the CoE. (Continued on page 2)