Remorse ennobles the individual and his sense of responsibility LORENC LIGORI “By expressing our remorse, we ask Albania for forgiveness,” President Sali Berisha said in his speech at the Church of Saint Anthony, appealing to citizens from that very holy place: Albania awaits an apology. Berisha is known as the man who initiated two important political slogans which not only increased the Democratic Party’s victory in the 22 March elections, but also lowered tensions and discredited the Marizian strategy of civil war: “Partners in guilt and partners in suffering.” “Opponents, but brothers” were the slogans that laid the foundations for Albania’s civility after 22 March. “Even if it is 99% against the Front, we are all partners in guilt” is the characteristic expression of the opposition leader and one of the first fighters against the dictatorship, Berisha, who condensed that centuries-long national tragedy into a single sentence. In doing so, he set an example for those who had done wrong and called on others to follow it. And it is precisely today that President Berisha, from God’s holy temple, appeals for an apology. And truly, Albania awaits an apology. Coexistence needs remorse from those who disrupted it. Berisha has given everyone the chance to assess themselves; he has offered the opportunity for remorse and great public forgiveness. Berisha has spoken in his capacity as President. During the 50 years of dictatorship, the degree to which individuals were implicated in and collaborated with it varied. There were those who devised and carried out crimes and genocide consciously. Through remorse, this category can cleanse only its soul; its account with society can be settled only through a confession before justice. Others collaborated in particular circumstances, often tragic ones, in order to survive. Their remorse must be profound, their confession complete, and forgiveness must be sought publicly. There were others who remained silent, closed their eyes, and in some cases even applauded. This is a broad category, people of the “collective guilt” category. Repentance and remembrance for the madness of a system that is now behind us. There are... There are crowds who resisted, were imprisoned, killed and persecuted. They await an apology. Their spirits are so noble that they know how to value remorse. Those who have passed through the ordeal of torture know that the deepest pain is spiritual, and so they know how to apologize, how to forgive. That is why Berisha offers a chance. Berisha, in the name of the future, expresses a demand made by today’s society. Who has repented so far, who has asked for forgiveness, who sought an apology—and to whom did Albania, on behalf of the downtrodden, refuse it? Among those belonging to the “collective guilt” and “physical conformism” categories, there are surely thousands whose actions do not merely correct matters of conscience, but also show support for and protection of this era and its side. Among the few letters, here and there, there are those who do so for the sake of appearances. [?] To Albania’s great detriment, they have not only failed to express remorse, but still “cross swords” with it today. And when such individuals condemn “spectacular” slogans, the first people they ask for are their relatives... [?] The victims deserve an apology. Albania awaits an apology. The conscience of the crowd demands remorse. This is the time for the great opportunity.

Yesterday in the People’s Assembly Interior Minister Agron Musaraj, speaking yesterday in Parliament about the abduction of minors and girls, stated that the truth about this phenomenon is as follows: In 1995, four cases were reported: one in Tirana, one in Durres, one in Shkoder and one in Skrapar. In all these cases, the police immediately took measures to clarify the circumstances and pursue the matter. Tracking and investigations have shown that: The Tirana case of 31/05/1995 was a fabrication by children to avoid punishment by their parents. This is confirmed by the parents, the children, the children’s father, and the facts held by the police. The story that they were abducted by men and kept in a hut with 20 other children is an invention by both the children and the household. As for the alleged abduction of three children from the same family in the city of Shkoder, this is a case of deception and deliberate misinformation. It turns out that the 17-year-old had taken three shirts, one pair of trousers, one Albanian jacket for personal use, etc., because he was going to the beach. When the three children were questioned in the presence of their parents, they gave contradictory accounts concerning the alleged abduction: the number of people who abducted them, the place where they were confined, the ages of the children they found there, the way they escaped, and so on. The three children gave differing accounts of the circumstances of this incident. It has also been established through operational means that the parents had prevented the continuation of fortification work according to this plan. Likewise, the production of fire-engines and prefabricated artillery components should be temporarily halted. 2. As for the changes and their correction, I have the responsible people in mind, but they must be identified through concrete studies. 3. I firmly believe that a considerable number of these defects can be corrected, making our fortifications as strong and cost-effective as possible. Peter, who is responsible for this commitment and for some task in this army, the one who understands “much more deeply,” writes a letter to the Minister of Defence Prokop Murra, in which, among other things, he says: “I read patiently the letter ... [of the] great theorist” of our fortifications and the mistaken responsibility, “they have been made according to a template, both in the fields and in the mountains; they have been built far apart in very small spaces.” So this fellow who is writing me this letter and telling me that [I am] a theorist ... (Continued on page 8)

DURING THE MORNING SESSION As part of economic cooperation with Italy, two further financial agreements between the Government of the Republic of Albania and Mediocredito Centrale, Italy, were signed and ratified yesterday by the People’s Assembly. The first agreement concerns financing of 13 billion lire for the first phase of the project to modernize and expand Tirana’s drinking-water network. The second agreement, ratified yesterday by Parliament between the Government of the Republic of Albania and Mediocentrale, Italy, provides financing in the form of a loan amounting to 13,272,361,561 lire for the integrated telecommunications project. Yesterday, plenary-session deputies also considered and approved the draft law “On Certain Amendments to the Law ‘On the State Audit Service’,” submitted by a group of 30 Democratic Party deputies. At first, several deputies asked questions about particular articles of the draft law. The relevant specialists and the chairman of the State Audit Service, deputy Blerim Cela, answered them. After discussion, the draft law was approved with the relevant amendments to specific articles submitted by the Parliamentary Committee on Finance and Legislation. Adoption of this law establishes expanded powers for the State Audit Service over temporary structures such as the National Privatization Agency, the Property Restitution Commissions, etc. Unlike the provisions of the existing law, the service of (Continued on page 8)

Published for the first time EDMOND ATLARI On 25 October 1982, retired serviceman L.Z. wrote Enver Hoxha a letter in which he expressed his objections to and rejection of the fortifications being built in Albania. 1.2. He was a trained specialist with long experience in engineering and fortifications. He had been sentenced in 1976, as part of the purges Enver Hoxha carried out in the army, to six years in prison. He was released early in May 1980 and retired. In his letter, after setting out his ideas and objections to the fortifications from both a theoretical and practical standpoint, and giving examples from international practice, this retired serviceman wrote: “... These matters are understood much more broadly, much better and much more deeply than I understand them, but I have presented my thoughts as I see them, on this very great problem and this colossal undertaking.... so that, if accepted by you, they may help correct and halt this system and make the work as bad as possible. [?] 1. First, I propose, if you consider...” In the continuation, the article discusses the correction and review of the fortifications and Enver Hoxha’s responsibility. (Continued on page 2)

Mr. Chairman! The abduction of children is a serious crime, and criminal law provides a severe penalty for this offence. To the extent that this crime is prevalent today, it is a major concern for everyone. But this concern becomes even greater, reaching the proportions of psychological terror, when Albanian authorities sometimes act with malicious intent and engage in speculation, spreading disinformation to create panic and a sense of insecurity and to leave people believing that Albania has no state governed by the rule of law, that crime, bloody terror and violence reign here. It is the duty of the relevant authorities. It is the duty of the political and judicial authorities to take every measure so that in Albania no one can exploit even a single case of a serious or alleged criminal act. On the other hand, it is the duty of the judicial authorities to hold accountable those persons or agents who exploit this type of crime. (Continued on page 8)

The spokesperson of the General Prosecutor’s Office issued the following clarification to the mass media: The newspaper “Koha Jone,” dated 15 August 1995, published an article stating that the dismissal of eight Tirana prosecutors had been proposed to the High Council of Justice. This report does not reflect reality and is disinformative in nature. We clarify that the General Prosecutor’s Office conducted an inspection at the Tirana District Prosecutor’s Office, where the inspection team set out the relevant inspection report on the results of the work, as well as the shortcomings and weaknesses found. On 14.06.1995, a meeting was held at the General Prosecutor’s Office with the prosecutors and investigators of the Tirana District Prosecutor’s Office to discuss the inspection report. After the report was read, it was decided that discussion of it would take place the following week, so that the employees of the Tirana District Prosecutor’s Office could familiarize themselves with its contents. We emphasize that no disciplinary measures against prosecutors were discussed at this meeting, contrary to what the author of the article in “Koha Jone” claims. It is entirely illogical to speak of dismissals and other disciplinary measures when the inspection report has not yet been discussed. We hereby call on the press and media to avoid disinformation and sensationalist articles, since these do not serve the proper conduct of work or the consolidation of democracy, but merely create confusion and disorientation in public opinion. Spokesperson of the General Prosecutor’s Office

Yesterday, representatives of the villagers whose lands will be flooded by the large Boville reservoir met with senior state officials. The meetings discussed finding the best ways to resettle these residents in a new settlement. The outcome of the talks was that the villagers vacated the dam, which they had “occupied” for several days—a sign of the mutual understanding reached. Work on the Boville reservoir dam will therefore resume soon. RD Correspondent

In an interview given to the newspaper “Dita Informacion,” Selami declared: “In terms of platform, principles and culture, Nano belongs among the moderates.” This statement is unprecedented in the Albanian legislature, more direct than anything said before, and unheard-of. This statement by Mr. Selami and his “daily speeches” resemble what has been said about the other crimes in Albania, a claim that has circulated among younger people since 1991 and through the end of the Albanian communist government. In Mr. Selami’s statements there is a moderation which, at the very least, can be seen in his use of the word massacre, because for the PD and the PDSH, “collective guilt” and “massacre” are weighty terms. During his rule, dozens and hundreds of innocent democrats were killed. What could be moderate about Nano? In the name of moderation, Enver’s leader carried out the February and 2 April massacres. Who is Nano holding up as an example of moderation—the conscience of the Institute of Marxism-Leninism, which never denounced Enver’s doctrine, but in 1993 commemorated him as a ghostly figure in the world, calling him “father.” In making such a statement, you, Mr. Selami, are trying to bestow this description on Nano, but he himself does not accept it. DUKAGJIN HATA

From the visit of Mr. Dylber Vrioni, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, to London, 11–14 June 1995 At the invitation of the Know-How Fund, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Dylber Vrioni made an official visit to London. According to the programme, important meetings were held to consolidate political ties with the British government and with representatives of important financial and banking institutions in London. At his meeting with Minister Hogg, Mr. Vrioni gave an overview of the political, economic and social situation in Albania and of relations with its neighbours, emphasizing the good climate of cooperation with Greece. He expressed concern about the situation of the Albanian population in Kosovo and reiterated the Albanian state’s well-known position on a final solution. Regarding bilateral relations between Albania and Great Britain, Mr. Vrioni handed the British Government its Memorandum on the country’s favourable political and economic development, emphasizing the efforts of the government, Know-How and other commitments. “Albania seeks cooperation and the swiftest possible integration into Western Europe,” Vrioni stressed. The policy of the Albanian state aims for stability in the region and is directed against the spread of conflict in the southern Balkans, since the vital interests of Albanians are directly affected. The meeting was also attended by Minister Hogg’s private secretary and the Albania desk officer at the Adriatic Office, Mr. Slinn. During his visit to London, Mr. Vrioni met Sir Geoffrey Pattie, Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party; Mr. Tony Fain, Assistant Chancellor of the Exchequer for the Know-How Fund; and others. Representatives of London banking institutions were invited to a lunch hosted in honour of Mr. Vrioni by Mr. Anthony Smith, Assistant Head of the London Adriatic Office at the Foreign Office. Also present were the Balkan representative at the Department of Trade and Industry and the president of the British Consultants’ Office for Albania, Mr. Andre Axford. Mr. Vrioni’s programme included numerous meetings with directors of the Bank of England, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Chartered Bank, representatives of L.I.F.E., the Adam Smith Institute and British Invisibles, as well as executives of the well-known Financial Times newspaper.

With the PD Deputy Chairman and chairman of its parliamentary group, Mr. Ali Spahia No conditions for membership in the CoE For the PD and its parliamentary group, constitutional laws have always been sacred Mr. Spahia, your request to the Presidium of the People’s Assembly to remove from the agenda the amendment to the decision appointing three Court of Cassation judges has been interpreted by the press as the fulfilment of a condition for Albania’s membership in the CoE. Has any condition been imposed on Albania’s membership in the CoE? The Council of Europe has never imposed any condition on Albania, just as it has not imposed one on any member country. If anyone asks whether any conditions exist for membership of the Council of Europe, the correct answer would be this: First, the sincere desire and request to join. Second, the political, economic and social developments in the country must be compatible with the principles embodied in the articles of the Statute of the Council of Europe, such as the fundamental human rights and freedoms of all citizens within the state’s jurisdiction, the rule of law, political pluralism, and a market economy and free market. The Council of Europe’s rapporteurs, who are well acquainted with all developments in Albania in recent years, have expressed the view that Albania should join the CoE. The committees of the CoE have reached the same conclusion. For the PD and its parliamentary group, the most important issue has always been the creation of a legal framework that would ensure Albania’s transition from a country under the harshest communist dictatorship to a country of freedom and fundamental human rights; a country of political pluralism and a market economy, where the rule of law prevails. For the PD and its parliamentary group, constitutional laws have always been sacred, and compliance with these laws has always been regarded as the most important duty in the service of democracy. That is also what my request to the Presidium of the People’s Assembly serves. Prepared by: NDREKE GJINI

Mr. Luka gets tangled up in his own feet SAMI MILLOSHI The Mountain Girl consoles Petro Dhimitri, who is asking for a name We were the first in Eastern Europe to overthrow communism We will eradicate it from Poland once and for all Why do you have to be immoral, and nothing else?! Viktor Margilaj Rickets in an editorial

The Arsidi case Xhyheri’s explanations begin

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