The Council of Europe’s Legal Affairs Committee approved the report on Albania The Legal Affairs Committee of the Council of Europe approved at yesterday’s meeting the report on Albania, submitted by Swiss MP Columberg. The draft resolution was not changed, with the exception of one paragraph that was added and that calls on the political parties to cooperate with the country’s institutions so that the reform can continue successfully. The participants, among them the Deputy President of the Italian Senate, Contestabile, praised Albania’s progress. The report of the Legal Affairs Committee calls for the Constitution to be drafted by a parliamentary commission. At yesterday’s meeting, MP Genc Pollo took part on behalf of the Albanian delegation.

Socialists provoke those harmed by pyramid schemes Socialist ostriches Socialists provoke those harmed by pyramid schemes The red-paint rally fails Socialist ostriches Yesterday, at the Socialist Party’s press conference, its Secretary General denied that his party had initiated Sunday’s protests in Tirana. It was a statement that astonished those present, but also the speaker himself, who had claimed for himself the right to be the leading opposition to the government and the state. The socialist leader’s anti-conformism is much too late. None of the people who intended to protest over the pyramid-scheme issue made a statement that they would protest on Sunday at 12 noon near Skënderbej Square. At least, nothing of the sort was published in any of the press outlets or broadcast by any domestic or foreign radio station or other media. This was declared only by socialist leaders in their newspapers. Likewise, no person who had put money into pyramid schemes, nor any group of people involved in this issue, requested permission from the competent authorities to hold a protest in any of Tirana’s squares. This was done only by the leadership of the Socialist Party, jointly with the left-wing parties. On Friday, it drew up a request to hold a rally and submitted it to the competent authorities and to those not competent to grant such permission. The Socialists published it in their press and promoted it. The Socialists also chose the slogans. With yesterday’s statement, Mejdani cannot conceal the absence from their rally of people who had suffered losses from pyramid schemes, nor can he justify the mockery and irony that pervaded the protest. The enthusiasm of Gjinushi, Mejdani, Majko and the other socialist leaders, expressed in the words, “Berisha will see when blood is spilled in Skënderbeji Square,” which had been previewed in the morning newspapers, turned into a tragic falsification. Their people were forced to wash their hands and faces, reddened by the paint poured over them, with fizzy water. Page 3 a request for a rally which he submitted to the competent and incompetent authorities in order to obtain this permit. cannot conceal the absence of people who suffered losses from the pyramid schemes at their rally, nor can he justify the mockery and irony that permeated the day-before-yesterday’s protest over the misfortune suffered by subscribers to several lending companies. Mejdani is quite alone in his shamelessness in [??] joining other people’s misfortune to the Socialists’ desire for power, destabilization, and obstruction of economic reform in Albania. Putting his own party in a position where it avoids responsibility is a sign of weakness and lack of seriousness on the part of the party he leads. This means that some people can take to the square if the PS leadership tells them to, only to be cast aside and forgotten by it the next day. Mejdani’s claim that “we only supported the protesters” is a familiar way for the Socialists to retreat from the front line. Supporters do not take the podium and give speeches. Even when they do, they are not the first to do so. In fact, [??] tore up the loudspeakers on Sunday. Gjinushi did so too, along with some other ostrich. Sunday’s protest, although unsuccessful, was unlawful from the outset. It was being held in a place where there was no permit for a rally, and as much as it did take place, it was organized contrary to what was stated in the Socialists’ application for the rally. Only once was it said that people wanted their money. The other chants were for the release of Fatos Nano or something equated with him. Mejdani was not close enough to the chants, since at that time he was listening to articles from “Koha Jonë” at the sound center of the PS headquarters, or was coloring his own hand or those of other red-faced people red.

The SP at a press conference on pyramid schemes Page 3 - Socialist leaders answer none of the journalists’ questions - Knowing that it is theft (according to their own statement), the SP leaders not only failed to speak out against pyramid schemes but, on the contrary

Minister Shehu received LDK Deputy Chairman Hydajet Hyseni We remain committed to respecting the right of the people of Kosovo to self-determination, while also respecting the principle that borders must not be changed by force. The Kosovo issue is resolved, first and foremost, through active and peaceful participation in this process, to secure the human and national rights of the Albanians of Kosovo themselves,” Shehu said. Page 4

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Sunday’s rally was illegal Several SP leaders have been declared wanted, together with Saliko Saliu, the former head of State Security.

The main theses of the Democratic Government’s program in the field of higher education and scientific research for 1996–2000 correspond very precisely to the fundamental problems that require solutions during the new term of office Page 3

“Let us wait for the results of the Parliamentary Transparency Commission” Page 2

Democratic Party deputies support Krasniqi’s initiative

Mr. Riedl emphasized the positive prospects for relations between Albania and Germany. “That is precisely why,” he stressed, “I have brought with me a team of businesspeople from various economic sectors, so that there will be more German investment in Albania in the future.” A German delegation led by Mr. Erich Riedl (Ridl), Chairman of the Economic Committee in the German Parliament, arrived in Albania yesterday for a two-day visit. Together with a group of German businesspeople, he held a meeting yesterday afternoon with deputies who are members of the Albania–Germany Parliamentary Friendship Group. The Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Mr. Pjetër Arbnori, was present at the meeting. Welcoming the German guests, Chairman Arbnori described relations between Albania and Germany as excellent, and said that in the future these relations would undoubtedly continue to expand, not only diplomatically but also in the economic sphere. Excellent relations have existed between the German Bundestag and the Albanian Parliament, and in this context the Albanian Parliament is grateful for the ongoing assistance in the legal field, as well as for tangible material assistance. Albania in the future.” The conditions for investing in Albania are not bad, but the favorable conditions that exist in this country need to be publicized more widely. The meeting also once again discussed the priority that our country should have in future German investment plans.