Great reformers are never forgotten; they remain immortal. History remembers them for their work—for the courage, wisdom and foresight with which they anticipate the developments of their nation. Such are the young Albanian democrats, who gave the nation not only their heart and soul, the Albanian’s word of honor, but also endured hardship and put their knowledge and work at its service to build and consolidate the new Albanian democracy, the rule-of-law state and the market economy. But can this great, immortal work in the history of our Nation be imagined without democratic power, without the laws and principles of democracy, without democratic economic reforms—without the privatization and liberalization of the economy, institutional, structural, macro- and microeconomic transformations, without privatization in agriculture, without land privatization and its sale and purchase? In this respect, the law on the sale and purchase of land is of particular importance to the successful implementation of economic reforms and to the economic and social development of all currents, from the ancient Greeks and the classics right up to our own day. Private ownership of the means of production is meaningless without private ownership of land; otherwise it remains incomplete, as it has in many Eastern European countries that have embarked on half-hearted democratic reforms. The free buying and selling of the means of production also loses its meaning and value without the free buying and selling of land, which is the principal means of production. Otherwise, the private economy cannot be complete, while the market economy remains crippled, with limited opportunities for development. Therefore, a law that completes the reform. No one should abuse the complex nature of this law. It must not be forgotten that the interests of the overwhelming majority of our country’s population are tied to the implementation of this law. More than two-thirds of the population—about 2 million people—are directly connected to land in one way or another, and they can quickly enter the market economy as economic actors, as bearers of [unclear], with aid and foreign loans, investments of domestic and foreign capital, diaspora investment, and the necessary political stability; together, these constitute the key to the recovery and successful future economic development of our country. But this key turns differently and remains ineffective without real privatization in agriculture, without enterprise and business, without hard work and sweat, without the knowledge and productive creative abilities of hundreds of thousands of economically independent farmers. Even if the interests of some of the former lawful landowners may be affected, with fair compensation and its actual fiscal payment, the law on the sale and purchase of land opens a new era for agriculture and the entire Albanian economy. It is a law that paves the way for progress and development. All those who abuse this law, whether right-wing or left-wing extremists, intentionally or without realizing it themselves, not only demonstrate a lack of courage and wisdom, but are also short-sighted; they do not understand the economic reality of the Albanian countryside or its historical prospects.

—Deputy Prime Minister D.Vrioni and the Chairman of the Private Debt Negotiating Committee, Mr. Shtolcenver, at a press conference Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Mr. Dylber Vrioni and Mr. Shtolcenver, chairman of the Private Debt Negotiating Committee, held a press conference yesterday. Its subject was the settlement of Albania’s external debt of 500 million dollars. Until three years ago, ordinary Albanians had not heard anything at all about these debts. Later, as the issue entered the process of negotiation and settlement, Mr. Vrioni made a clear statement on the basis of the signed agreement: Albania now has only 20% of the total debt to repay. The journalists’ questions focused on the technicalities of Albania’s debt repayment. On this, Messrs. Vrioni, Shtolcenberg and Luniku explained that, under the agreement, it was decided that 20% of the external debt would be paid in cash, with payment to be completed by 31 August. The remaining part, that is, 60% of the debt, would be purchased by the creditor banks with US Treasury bonds, which are securities of varying values and will be repaid over a period of 30 years from their date of issue. This payment will continue for 30 consecutive years and, in no case, will touch the pocket of the Albanian state. The journalists then asked where the 100 million dollars would be found US Treasury bonds, which are stable-value securities 30 consecutive years and will in no case asked where the 100 million dollars would be found by 31 August. The World Bank; 35 million ECU from the European Community, which will change their allocation from the balance of payments to debt repayment; and grants promised by the Swedish, Dutch and other governments. Thus, this part of the debt too will be repaid for us through financing from international organizations. The World Bank’s representative in Tirana, Kutlai Eberi, described the settlement of Albania’s external debt as the most important development for the country in the post-communist period. This will enable Albania to integrate as fully as possible into the international financial community. Mr. Eberi then referred to the World Bank’s role in this process, presenting the doubling of the 25-million-dollar grant as motivated by Albania’s macroeconomic achievements and its development efforts. with payment. This is why they are remembered and respected. The declaration by witnesses, on the basis of the signed agreement, that Albania now has only 20% of its total debt of 100 million dollars was a welcome and much-desired truth. Yesterday the Albanian government signed an agreement to reduce the external debt with foreign commercial creditors, through which a solution was found for settling the unpaid external debt, together with the corresponding interest, amounting to 501 million dollars. This package will settle the obligations to foreign creditors. The claims of 40 Western European banks had been recorded in bank accounts since 1990–1991, when the Albanian communist government borrowed large sums for currency-exchange transactions and trade credits but was unable to meet its obligations. Mr. Vrioni described the long and difficult course of the negotiations and discussions, which culminated in April 1995, when the Albanian Government drew up an original package for reducing the external debt, which the commercial creditors agreed to. Under the terms of the agreement, Albania will pay 20 cents for every dollar borrowed. According to Mr. Vrioni, Mr. Shtolcenberg and others, this reduction is unprecedented in the external-debt practice of other countries. Mr. Vrioni himself said that reaching this agreement is a historic achievement for Albania. Until three years ago, Albania simply could not… The remaining 60% of the debt will which are stable securities from their date of issue. This payment will be made over 30 consecutive years and will in no case affect the pocket of the Albanian state. Journalists then asked where the 100 million dollars due by August 31 would come from. The remaining 60% of the debt will which are stable securities from. which will redirect it from balance-of-payments support and other governments. Thus, this part of the debt will also be repaid with Kutlai Eberi, described the resolution of Albania’s external debt as its most important development process, describing the doubling of the grant to 25 million dollars SHPETIM LUKU Photograph of the press conference: Mr. Dylber Vrioni and Mr. Shtolcenver with other participants.

—President Berisha received the delegation of the Committee of Creditor Banks, led by Mr. Shvarcenberg President Berisha expressed his pleasure at receiving the delegation of the Committee of Creditor Banks and said: “I want to thank you, on my own behalf and on behalf of the Albanian people, for your valuable contribution, understanding and generosity in reaching a favorable agreement for the repayment of the external debt, taking our particular circumstances into consideration. This agreement is very important not only for Albania’s present, but also for its future. I want to assure you that you will have our gratitude for this.” The external debt we inherited from the dictatorial regime—which regarded credit and debt on terms as treason—represented a heavy burden for the country. It had blocked Albania’s financial cooperation with around 40 of Europe’s most important banks and financial institutions. In this context, I also consider the signing of this agreement to be the beginning of cooperation with your institutions and your direct participation in the recovery of Albania’s economy, which for three years has been engaged in a far-reaching process of reforms to build the rule-of-law state and a market economy. The most notable achievements are the economy’s dynamic indicators, which are turning our country into an attractive destination for investors. We are determined to improve the procedures, laws and practices affecting investors. President Berisha also told them that, on this occasion, he wished to express his gratitude to the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund for their assistance. On behalf of the delegation, Mr. Shvarcenberg thanked the President of the Republic for the reception. He praised the Central Bank’s serious commitment to reaching the agreement and said that, despite some sacrifices on its part, it had recognized that Albania deserved assistance in view of its efforts and achievements. Mr. Shvarcenberg also described the conclusion of the negotiations as highly successful and praised the Albanian side not only for its understanding but also for the competence and speed with which it proceeded to reach the agreement. Shvarcenberg and other members of the delegation said that, from what they had seen, and given their commitment to projects for Albania, they were convinced that they had found [unclear] a suitable climate in which to invest.” “Your government’s efforts to implement reform and the operation of free enterprise in your country are admirable; without doubt, in the near future your country will be a success story,” one of them said. Press and Information Office of the President

The agenda of yesterday’s plenary session of the People’s Assembly included a package of laws on the sale and purchase of land and building plots, as well as several amendments and additions to the law on compensation for landowners and on the price of agricultural land for compensation purposes. At the beginning of yesterday’s session, the chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Mr. Pjeter Arbnori, who chaired the proceedings, informed the deputies that at the meeting of the Presidium with the chairmen of the parliamentary groups it had been agreed to add to the agenda, for consideration and approval, the issue of changes to the governing council of RTV. Mr. Arbnori added that the meeting had also discussed adding an amendment to the Criminal Code to the agenda, but since the Presidium had not reached agreement on this matter, in accordance with the rules of procedure we are submitting it to Parliament, which will decide by majority vote whether or not to add this amendment to the New Code to the agenda. After a vote, it was decided to add this amendment to the agenda. Yesterday morning’s proceedings then continued with consideration and Building Plots.” Deputies Bufi, Kopliku, Angjeli, Xhepa, Keko, Cepeli, Vasjari, Spahia, Gjinushi and others spoke about this law. In this law, among other things (Continued on page 2)

Address by the chairman of the PDSH parliamentary group, Mr. Alia Spahia The political representatives who claim to express the interests of former owners remind us today of the lecturers of the Labour Party committees in the forms of communist indoctrination. Some of them did not even stop at calls for destabilization and terrorist acts. The Democratic Party has clearly defined its agrarian policy in its program. The Democratic Party’s electoral program states: “We will work with urgency so that the reform already under way concerning the division of land takes on the scope and characteristics of a complete and secure agrarian reform, which will resolve the outstanding issues, including each of its political-social, economic, territorial, demographic, etc. aspects.” To achieve these objectives, the Democratic Party’s program defines the following as its main goals: - Division of land in accordance with the law; - Issuing title deeds to the villagers who receive land and creating small farmers, owners of their property and homes; - Compensation and compromise for former landowners; - Resolution of bread-related problems; - A law on the sale and purchase of land; - Mechanization of agriculture. We said that we would make the seven million Albanians whom communism proletarianized into owners. Today they have their own land in private ownership. This fundamental objective of the Democratic Party’s program is achieved and enshrined in this law that we are approving today. The open paths to capitalist development in Albania, and the doctrines one hears from the pseudo-rightists and extremists, were thrown into the trash long ago. I am convinced that Albanian villagers will welcome this law as an important step in capitalist development and in consolidating democracy. I invite the honorable members of parliament to approve this law. Thank you! institutional, structural, macro- and microeconomic transformations without the privatization of agriculture, without the privatization of land and its sale and purchase? In this regard, of particular importance for the successful implementation of economic and social reforms in Albania. Wherever land is privatized, there is necessarily also a law on its sale and purchase. This is an indisputable truth. There can be no private property and free initiative, no market and market economy without free acts of sale and purchase. This truth, known throughout human history since the emergence of private property, passed through philosophical and political thought. Those linking the implementation of this law to the interests of the overwhelming majority or of the left, whether knowingly or without even realizing it, not only show countryside, the historical prospects of democratic reforms in Albania, or the successful development of a market economy founded on the laws adopted by the Albanian Parliament, including the law on the privatization of land and its sale and purchase. Great reforms require great courage, but also wisdom and foresight. These are the qualities for which people are remembered and respected (Continued on page 2)

Address by Mr. Tonin Alimbulli, on behalf of the Agriculture and Food Committee The Law on the Sale and Purchase of Agricultural Land, with the added provision concerning meadows, is nothing other than an amendment The Law on the Sale and Purchase of Agricultural Land, with the addition concerning the designation and meadows, is nothing other than an important amendment protecting pastures to Law No. 7501, the law whose principles were voted for by members of parliament who today come out against it, and which develops those principles, namely: A. Article 2: “The land is granted in ownership.” B. Agricultural land is not sold to foreigners but is leased to them. C. It speeds up the official acts of land registration. D. It does not infringe former owners’ right to compensation from the state. Revising the law “on land” by adding the provision on its sale and purchase is the duty of this parliament. This is achieved through the right to sell and purchase, donate, and inherit it. There is no ownership without the rights listed above. Therefore, today, as a parliamentary group, we also support land reform, which is the most reasonable and feasible solution and, at the same time (Continued on page 2)

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Papulias gives written testimony regarding the MAVI affair Criminal prosecution against the newspaper “Stohos” We denounce the evil offspring Ramadan Ndreka

Following the People’s Assembly’s approval of the law “On the Sale and Purchase of Land,” we put this question to several MPs: Question: The People’s Assembly approved by a majority of votes the law “On the Sale and Purchase of Land.” What does the approval of this law signify politically, legislatively and economically? TRITAN SHEHU, Secretary-General of the DP: The Land” undoubtedly represents the fulfillment of one of the most important points in the DP’s program. It creates room for the market economy in the countryside, makes it possible to begin a market economy for the overwhelming majority of the population, expands and deepens the reform, and makes the processes that would restore communism in the countryside irreversible. This was one of the victories of the DP’s program in implementing reform and consolidating the market economy in Albania. It will help strengthen the economy, increase production and stimulate free enterprise during this period. HALIT SHAMATA: In my view, Land” is particularly important. Its approval brings back a land market, which is one of the pillars of the economy. PELLUMB MALAJ: Land” is a major step in implementing the program of the DP and the Democratic Government. This law gives peasants the full opportunity to enjoy their land. SADIK BEJKO: Approval of this law brings a series of advantages. First, it should be emphasized that this law’s approval definitively stabilizes what began with the passage of the land law, through which land reform in Albania also began. At one point, after all the land had been taken into ownership by the peasants, it seemed as though everything had been left hanging. The new owners lived in anxiety, thinking that the former owners might take their land away, while the former owners, understandably, lay “in wait,” exerting pressure. This law finally gives legal and entirely logical recognition to what has been done over the past three years in land reform; in a word, it completes it by removing every doubt. Second, it should be said that it has another advantage, because the land market is one of the most important markets. For example, it allows land to be sold without [unclear] and fuss, and does not prevent land from being sold, which is one of the most powerful businesses in the whole world. Prepared by: NDREKE GJINI