Under the slogan “Albania Like All Europe,” the Youth Forum of the Democratic Party is organizing this evening a celebration of Albania’s admission to the Council of Europe, in the form of a grand concert featuring the best-known names in Albanian light music. The concert starts at 21:00 at the Palkoshnikun of the Summer Bar at the International Center of Culture. Spokesperson of the Albanian Democratic Party

Yesterday, a DPSh delegation headed by Secretary-General Mr. Tritan Shehu left for Bucharest to take part in the next session of the EUCD. At this session, Mr. Rexhep Uka will also give a presentation at the seminar on agricultural issues.

Optimism about the Association Agreement with the EU The issue of the Association Agreement was the main topic discussed by President of the Republic Sali Berisha with Mr. Pablo Benavides, Director of the Directorate for Relations with the European Commission. President Berisha emphasized the European vocation of the Albanians, Albania’s pro-European policy, the very strong orientation of Albanian trade toward the European Union, as well as the dynamism of the Albanian economy. He confirmed the Albanian state’s willingness to have an association agreement with the European Union. President Berisha expressed his gratitude for the substantial support that the European Union has given to democracy and economic reform in Albania. Mr. Benavides said that the issue of the association agreement was being examined in a positive spirit by the Commission and that it would very soon be submitted for approval to the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the European Union. Mr. Benavides said he believed that a positive decision on this issue could be made soon.

Europe Votes Unanimously for Albanian Democracy The DPSh program is being fulfilled: “WE WANT ALBANIA TO BE LIKE ALL EUROPE”

Yesterday, on 29 June 1995 The Parliamentary Assembly of the CoE admitted Albania to the Council of Europe LORENC LIGORI From Strasbourg Europe’s for the democratic forces that have governed Albania since 22 March. Official history records the dates 4–6

President Berisha on Albania’s Membership in the CoE Albania’s unanimous admission to the CoE is a very important event for the consolidation and fundamental directions of Albania’s policy, and for the natural connection of this direction with Albania’s European aspiration, making the country’s membership in the CoE possible. But I want to emphasize that if today’s unanimous vote by the CoE parliamentarians is an expression of appreciation and confidence in Albania, I would say that this is also a

Arbnori’s speech delivered in Strasbourg on the occasion of the vote on Albania’s admission to the Council of Europe Generally: we lost our freedom but did not sever our ties with Europe. The Second World War was a

LORENC LIGORI From Strasbourg Yesterday, on June 29, we Albanian journalists experienced unprecedented emotions. It was the day the December ’90 slogan “We want Albania to be like all of Europe” came true. It was the day Europe recognized Albania and its achievements in the field of respect for human rights, the market economy, the rule of law, and a policy of peace in the Balkans. It was Europe’s recognition of the democratic forces that have governed Albania since March 22. The official record gives the dates May 4–6, ’92, when President Berisha deposited Albania’s application for accession to the CoE. Three years later—a period which, according to the dignitaries who spoke at the CoE, has changed Albania beyond recognition from the Albania of ’91—the Parliamentary Assembly of the CoE voted in favor of Albania. Yesterday at the CoE was Albania’s day. After a day of (Continued on page 2)

admission to the CoE is a very important event in consolidating the fundamental directions of Albania’s policy and the natural course of these directions, the European prospect of the country’s integration into Europe. On this occasion, I wish to emphasize that this achievement is very important for Albania and all Albanians; it is the fruit of close and intensive cooperation between Albania and the member countries of the EU, the other CoE countries, and other Western countries. I sincerely thank everyone—the taxpayers, ordinary citizens, parliamentarians, government officials and institutions, as well as the EU and the CoE—for their assistance in the reform process, which today made it possible for our country to become a dignified member of the Council of Europe by unanimous vote. I congratulate Albanian youth, who were the first to take to the streets with the call “We want Albania to be like all of Europe” and turned it into a true leitmotif for overthrowing the dictatorship, because with the ardor of the young people and all Albanian citizens, they showed that European values of democracy and civilization were incompatible with the dictatorship. At the same time, I wish to thank all Albanian citizens, officials, party members and non-party members who, through their efforts and knowledge, supported the reform and made the country’s membership in the CoE possible. But I wish to emphasize that if today’s unanimous vote of the CoE Parliamentary Assembly is an expression of recognition and confidence in Albania, I would add that it is also a great obligation for Albania and the Albanians. It is an obligation that I assure you we will honor. The obligation is this: we must further consolidate democratic values and democratic institutions. This is the surest path to consolidating and deepening our country’s integration into Europe. With this membership in the CoE, Albania secures an even more open dialogue and broader, all-round cooperation on the path of reform and on the path of consolidating institutions. As a full member, it will have its voice in these institutions to express its views on developments in the region and developments in general.

In general: with Europe. The Second World War was another tragedy: the Albanian people, aspiring to freedom and drawn into the great Anglo-Soviet-American anti-fascist coalition, left 28,000 martyrs on the battlefield, but as a reward fell under the most brutal Enverist-Communist dictatorship. Dictatorships use the same methods to bring a people to heel: they sever ties with the free and civilized world. A person stripped of fundamental freedoms—the right to speak, to move, to own property—and deprived of even the bread needed to live becomes a robot who only works, applauds, and obeys. Collective hypocrisy reaches its peak. The medieval psychoses characteristic of dictatorships create the impression of an attack from outside, an attack from within, and insecurity, in order to compel people to rely only on (Continued on page 2) Honorable Mr. Chairman. Honorable members of parliament, for 25 years in the 15th century Gjergj Kastrioti - Skenderbeu fought to defend Albania’s freedom from the Ottoman invaders. By defending ourselves, we also defend the West and its civilization. Evil became

CoE Postage stamp featuring President Berisha An official visit by President Berisha to Strasbourg on May 6, 1992, when he took part in the 44th session of the Parliamentary Assembly, has been commemorated in a philatelic issue released by the CoE. The postage stamp captures the moment when the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, enters the Assembly and deposits Albania’s application for full membership in the Council of Europe.

The President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, received the well-known public figure and beloved personality among Albanians, Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Welcoming Mother Teresa, President Berisha expressed his pleasure that she was with him in Albania and his gratitude for the activities of her institutions in our country. For her part, Mother Teresa said that she was happy to be visiting her homeland once again and thanked President Berisha for the continued support he gave her and her institution. Press and Information Office attached to the President

—Statement by PDSH Secretary-General Tritan Shehu Albania began its path toward Europe on March 22, 1992, with the free vote of the people, who voted for the PD and its program. It was precisely this vote that confirmed Albania’s path toward Europe. On the other hand, I want to say that with this vote Albania once and for all left isolation, left darkness, and drew closer to Europe—at least, it moved closer to Europe. Thus, today’s result is undoubtedly a continuation of what began on March 22: the people’s vote for the PD and its program, and the reforms we are carrying out. It is the result of Albania’s open policy and the main point of the PD’s program: Albania must be like Europe. Albania must be like Europe. In this way we draw closer to Europe, closer to what we feel today we are part of. This is a very, very notable event in Albania’s development and will undoubtedly have positive repercussions for Albania’s future development.

Albania’s admission as a member of the CoE by the unanimous vote of all Assembly members is a success for us and a confirmation by the CoE of the results achieved so far by economic reforms in Albania, of Albania’s democratic transformation at the level of Albanian laws and of the organization of the Albanian state under the rule of law. And I believe this is a source of satisfaction for all Albanian democracy. Albania and the Albanians have aspired to be an integral part of the CoE. This is an important stage on our path toward full integration into Europe and toward progress.

When the news arrived that Albania had been admitted by unanimous vote as a member of the Council of Europe, dozens and hundreds of people gathered at the DP headquarters, expressing their joy in every way. The DP offices [text cut off] for several hours were transformed into party venues. The DP Secretary General, Mr. Tritan Shehu, and the Deputy Chairman, Mr. Tomor Dosti, and (Continued on page 2)

YEAR VI OF PUBLICATION No. 994 FRIDAY 30 June 1995 Number of pages: 8 PRICE: 10 LEKE

Yesterday in Strasbourg, a press release from the Parliamentary Assembly stated: The Parliamentary Assembly gives its approval to Albania. The press release notes, among other things: Today, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, composed of 34 parliamentarians, gave its approval to Albania to join the organization. The Speaker of the Albanian Parliament, Mr. Arbnori, was also following the session. Albania must: -Sign and ratify Protocol No. 6 to the European Convention on Human Rights, on the abolition of the death penalty, within a period of three years. Albania will also halt executions, and the death penalty is to be formally abolished. -Change the role and functions of the Prosecutor’s Office, bringing it into line with the principles of the rule of law and the standards of the Council of Europe. -Guarantee judicial independence, protect judges from arbitrary transfers, and give the courts control over their budgets, which will be approved by Parliament. The Albanian authorities have also promised to report before 20 August 1995 on: 1. The findings of Amnesty International concerning ill-treatment and deaths caused by the police in prisons. 2. The Albanian press’s claims concerning pre-publication censorship. 3. The transfer and dismissal of local judges and court staff. The Committee of Ministers will hold a meeting at ambassadorial level on 10 July 1995 to decide whether to invite Albania to become the 30th member state of the Council of Europe.