From the discussions in the Italian Chamber of Deputies: Page 3

. The question of who has lost the most because of the fraudulent pyramid schemes and the all-encompassing crisis they provoked—a crisis for which they were responsible—has long been stirring debate in Albania and among our emigrant communities. Vlora, seemingly their capital and the place that gained the most at the beginning of their boom, may in reality also be the biggest loser as they come to their disastrous end. But if we look across the whole country and make a comprehensive analysis—of the economy and politics, the electorate and image, credibility and security—it is indisputable that the DP has been very badly damaged by the planned and forewarned earthquake of the pyramid schemes and the military coup staged in its wake. In reality, after more than six years of confrontation and severe political defeats, the left-wing opposition has dealt the strongest blow and achieved its greatest victory over the DP. But if the analysis is made more deeply and broadly, the conclusion is readily apparent: the price of this victory is terrifyingly high for all Albania, our people and our nation. It is not at all difficult to understand that, in truth, this victory has the scale and repercussions of a great national defeat. Its strategists anticipated and accepted this catastrophic price because they were convinced that the pyramid-scheme earthquake and the military coup were truly their last chance to retake power and exact great revenge on the DP and President Berisha. The damage inflicted on the DP by the upheaval of these past three months is multifaceted and has prolonged negative consequences for the party itself and for the country, as well as for the progress of the reforms launched on 23 March 1992. First, it is clear that the DP is the political force with the largest membership and electorate. Among the hundreds of thousands of victims of the pyramid schemes, bullets and the sea are many of its members, supporters and voters. They, too, have experienced and carry deep within them this sudden, undeserved tragedy—one that could have been avoided had the state and the citizens themselves heeded in time the first warning signs, which began sounding as early as 1991 with the Sëndia phenomenon. But, bound to the DP by their hearts and convictions, ideals and deeds, most have suppressed their grief and protest, understanding that it is far more the deliberate victim of a plot than the victim of its own actions; therefore they are excusing and forgiving its mistakes, faults and responsibilities. Their self-restraint has helped them understand the origin or parentage of the usury phenomenon, or pyramid scheme, and uncover its Albanian and non-Albanian sources, as well as the instigators, sponsors and actors behind the armed, bloody rebellion in the southern districts. They now fully understand that the DP and the Meksi Government—and they themselves—were also swept up in the euphoria of electoral victories and battles, high rates of economic growth, abundance in the markets, consumption and construction, and the widespread thirst for gold or quick enrichment by dubious means. This helped the architects of the pyramids build them without arousing suspicion or concern, with the aim of burying alive not Këpëse, but hundreds of thousands of Albanians—and, among them, the DP and its government, and President Berisha. Second, the catastrophe, or earthquake of the pyramid schemes, and the bloody unrest that followed have shattered the image, capacity and credibility of the DP government, both at home and abroad, at the worst possible time for it and the most favorable time for its opponents. The DP will need great energy, time and investment even to erase the stains and traces left by pseudo-democrats implicated in financial or political corruption, and to regain its former reputation and trust. Third, the consequences of the pyramid-scheme earthquake and the unrest that followed will be felt for a relatively long time in the continuity and pace of implementing the program and reforms launched on 23 March 1992. The current government and the one that takes office after the forthcoming elections will need time and support at home and abroad to get back on track, create opportunities and make great efforts at home and abroad to establish pathways, opportunities, reserves and financial resources, minimize citizens’ losses, and maintain acceptable rates of economic development, trade, inflation, etc. It is easy to understand who has been and remains defeated, interested and ready to spare no effort to cause such extensive damage, tarnish and sabotage the DP, blacken Albania’s image, and bring about our economic and national ruin. Naturally, their macabre joy will be very short-lived. The DP has lost only one battle. On the other hand, this great setback also serves as an unforgettable lesson. The DP has the potential, maturity and ability to examine and understand itself, draw the right lessons from this great setback, renew its structures, program, strategy and tactics, make corrections and improvements, and successfully face the great tests and challenges of today and tomorrow.

The Chairman of the DP, Prof. Dr. Tritan Shehu, speaks to “RD” “I do not see the future of democracy and the rule of law being achieved through the institutionalization of illegitimate committees or other archaic concepts that seek to destroy order.” “In reality, Mr. Nano has not answered me on the serious issue I had addressed in my letter.” The DP chairman, Prof. Dr. Tritan Shehu, described the PS’s latest decision to participate in parliament as a “step in the right direction that serves the general spirit of national reconciliation.” serious issue I had addressed in my letter.” As is known, on 1 April 1997, DP Chairman Tritan Shehu sent a letter to PS Chairman F. Nano, in which he expressed… …“want freedom, constitutional order and stability in the country.” On this occasion, the DP chairman stressed that he did law in seek to destroy order. In the letter, Mr. Shehu expressed the DP’s concern about the “Declaration signed in Vlora by the PS with the armed committees that engage in unconstitutional activity.” Describing it as an agreement that undermines “the agreement of 9 March,” Mr. Shehu asked in his letter that the PS publicly distance itself from the Vlora agreement, “as the only way to ensure the continuation of the political platform of 9 March 1997.” Mr. Shehu again insists that it is in the interests of the PS, and of democracy in Albania, for the party to distance itself from its armed wing. “By signing an agreement with armed groups, responsibility for terror and destruction means, among other things, implicating an entire party in criminal activity, something that even the Socialists who want freedom, constitutional order and stability in the country would not accept.” law in seek to destroy the country. Mr. Shehu stressed that this amounts to “non-recognition of local and central institutions,” and that the PS’s failure to distance itself from this connection “would inevitably deepen the crisis in the country, something no Albanian would want.” At the end, Mr. Shehu once again urged the PS to reconsider its position toward the armed committees in the South, and reaffirmed “the DP’s unwavering willingness to respect the agreement of 9 March, on condition that the other political forces also respect this agreement not just in words, but through deeds.” “A step in the right direction and one that serves the general spirit of national reconciliation” is how the chairman of the DP, Prof. Dr. Tritan Shehu, assessed the SP’s recent decision to take part in parliament. Commenting on the SP’s long-standing insistence on not sending its deputies to the proceedings of the People’s Assembly, Mr. Shehu said that this stance “has seriously harmed the SP itself,” but, he continued, “Better late than never.” Assessing the role of every party in overcoming the situation in the country, Mr. Shehu said: “The SP deputies, too, will contribute with seriousness and patriotism to establishing stability in the country and strengthening institutional dialogue, the best means of resolving all the problems that have arisen.” Asked about Mr. Nano’s (chairman of the SP) response to a letter sent by Mr. Tritan Shehu and published yesterday in “ZP,” the chairman of the Democratic Party replied:

The Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Mr. Pjetër Arbnori, yesterday received Mr. Namik Dokle and Mr. Ethem Ruka Mr. Arbnori said that the Socialist Party Parliamentary Group’s forthcoming participation in Parliament was welcome and would contribute to National Reconciliation. Mr. Arbnori then informed Messrs. Dokle and Ruka about the technical procedures and the seats allocated to the Socialist Party Parliamentary Group on the Parliamentary Committees. “We decided to participate in Parliament,” said Mr. Dokle and Mr. Ruka, “with two basic aims: to provide further support to the Government of National Reconciliation, and to contribute to the preparation of legislation and the conditions necessary for the proper conduct of free elections in the country.”

On Prime Minister Fino’s talks in Athens yesterday TIRANA, 3 April /ATA/ The spokesman for the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kostandin Bikas, said that “the meeting between Albania’s Prime Minister Bashkim Fino and his Greek counterpart, Kostas Simitis, the Foreign Minister, Teodoros Pangalos, and the Deputy Foreign Minister was very successful.” Among the issues discussed were cooperation between the two countries; the assistance Greece will provide to Albania to overcome the current crisis, amounting to approximately 75 million dollars in the form of a loan; further humanitarian assistance to be sent to Albania; and other matters related to the technical preparation of the forthcoming elections and the country’s infrastructure problems. Greece’s commitment to stability in the situation in Albania was reaffirmed. The special envoy of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, former Austrian Chancellor Franz Vranicki, and the Dutch Foreign Minister, Hans van Mierlo, also took part in yesterday’s meeting.

During the plenary session debate on the signing of the declaration by several parties with the military committees Azem Hajdari: Page 3 The armed wing, which seeks to violate these institutions, must receive the response it deserves. The State of Emergency law must be enforced, and I am convinced that criminals such as Shyti, Gjoleka, etc., are not resistant.

Vranicki: “We will work in three areas: economic or humanitarian aid, which will be provided by the EU; restoring the system of democratic life under the responsibility of the OSCE; and the Multinational Protection Force, under Italy’s full responsibility.” Page 4

From Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi’s address in the Italian Chamber of Deputies on April 2 Page 4 Italy must and wants to help Albania