Spahia stressed that the DP group would remain committed to preserving and strengthening ties with the countries and organizations of Western Europe, as well as with Albania’s neighbors and traditional friends TIRANA — Yesterday, the Albanian Parliament unanimously welcomed the Socialists’ return to its proceedings, as an act that would directly contribute to the spirit of national reconciliation to which the political forces in Albania are committed. The Socialist deputies took their seats in Parliament, thereby fulfilling one of the points of the 9 March agreement, as well as the constant demands of political and diplomatic opinion and of international organizations that they take part in parliamentary life. Deputy Namik Dokle, in his capacity as chairman of the Socialist parliamentary group, after welcoming the decision of the Democratic deputies, who in their absence had given a vote of confidence to the government of Socialist Prime Minister Fino, publicly declared that the main aims of their return to Parliament would first be to support the program of the Government of National Reconciliation for restoring order and calm and preparing for free elections in June. The chairman of the Democratic Party’s parliamentary group, Ali Spahia, welcoming the group of Socialist deputies to the proceedings of the People’s Assembly, offered the sincere understanding and cooperation of the DP on the major political issues troubling the country, and specifically on overcoming the severe crisis. Spahia recalled that, despite the Socialists’ entry into Parliament, the Democratic Party would continue to pursue its well-known policies for Albania’s uninterrupted development along the path of democracy and a market economy, and for achieving the major objectives of Albania’s rapid integration into Euro-Atlantic structures. Spahia confirmed that the Democratic group would remain committed to preserving and strengthening ties with the countries and organizations of Western Europe, as well as with Albania’s neighbors and traditional friends. Responding to the invitation of the Speaker of the People’s Assembly, Pjetër Arbnori, the Socialist leader in Parliament presented the names of his deputies who would fill the vacant seats on the standing parliamentary committees and in the delegations of the People’s Assembly to relevant international political organizations. Meanwhile, following a secret ballot, Socialist deputy Et’hem Ruka failed to secure the position of deputy chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly; the position was won by a majority of votes by Hamit Gjoni, the Socialist deputy from Tepelenë. After much discussion, the Albanian Parliament decided to lift censorship of newspapers and other publications during the state of emergency, as proposed by the Parliamentary Commission for Mass Media. A majority of votes rejected the other proposals, which also called for lifting restrictions preventing newspapers from publishing unconstitutional, warmongering appeals and appeals against the spirit of national reconciliation. Deputy Krasniqi, arguing against the commission’s proposal, said these restrictions were taken from the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, and should not be prejudged by any representative of Parliament. According to him, the commission’s wording is sufficient to ease restrictions on the press, which has been kept out of circulation more by its economic difficulties than by the restrictions imposed by the state-of-emergency law. ARTUR KOPANI

The spirit of compromise must be used to approve this major act Consultation between President Berisha and 10 political parties on the Constitution Yesterday, the President of the Republic called 10 political parties to a meeting, in accordance with the 9 March agreement on National Reconciliation, to discuss the issue of the Constitution. The party representatives generally maintained the positions they had expressed earlier, affirming the necessity of adopting a Constitution, while calling for it to be suitably guaranteed by law to protect human rights and freedoms. According to the idea put forward by the President, the Constitution could be drafted by a broadly representative commission and, after approval by Parliament, given its final form through a referendum, the timing of which would be determined by agreement among the political parties. President Berisha went on to explain the importance of this moment, when they govern together in the Government of National Reconciliation. “The spirit of compromise must be used,” Mr. Berisha said, “to approve this major act.” He called for divisions to be overcome and for a decision to be made which, he said, would be the outcome of a second agreement. Then the representatives of the political parties at the meeting, in their statements… The by Fino, publicly announced that the main aims of their arrival in Parliament would be, first, to support the Government’s program, as well as Albania’s traditional neighbors and friends. President of the Republic Sali Berisha set out his initiative to discuss the problem of the Constitution. As he explained, he stressed the need for an understanding on a Constitution that would respond to Albania’s present and future, thereby also addressing shortcomings in the legal system and improving the relations among the branches of power, so as to have a strong executive and an independent judicial system. He also called a meeting with 10 political parties, signatories to the March agreement on National Reconciliation, to discuss the problem they had previously expressed, supporting the need to make a decision on the Constitution, but judging the timing of raising this issue to be unsuitable. a meeting with 10 political parties, signatories to problem this issue to be unsuitable. Later, the representatives of the political parties at the meeting generally stood by the views they had previously expressed in the media. They acknowledged that the country needs a Constitution, but some of these political groups said that the timing of raising the issue of the Constitution was unsuitable. The debate also discussed the possibility of holding a referendum on the form of government, an idea supported not only by PLL but also by representatives of other parties.

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Van den Linden, Vice-President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the CoE: Mr. Van den Linden, political rapporteur for Albania and Vice-President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the CoE, following his visit at the head of a CoE parliamentary delegation and an interview Page 3

The newspaper “THE WALL STREET JOURNAL”, 4–5 April ’97 Written by JOHN LAUGHLAND The drowning of 80 Albanian refugees in the Adriatic last Friday should focus our thoughts on a fact that Albanian President Sali Berisha has been emphasizing for weeks. The rebel leaders who have occupied the southern part of the country seem to have little claim to represent “the people,” given that the people are fleeing them in terror. These days, the President’s office has provided its descriptions of the rebel leaders in the five main cities. Four of them are said to have been senior officers in the Army or the Sigurimi who served under the communist dictator Enver Hoxha; another was described as an escaped prisoner who is expected to stand trial for an attempted attack on a police officer. Two others are even said to have worked in one of the failed pyramid schemes against which “the people” are supposedly “protesting.” The Socialist Party publicly formalized its connection (which it had previously denied) with these rebels last Friday, when it and other opposition parties drew up and published an official agreement between themselves and the rebel gangs. It echoed the rebels’ main demands for the President’s resignation and the dissolution of the elected Parliament. Page 3

Statement by the U.S. State Department spokesperson, Nikola Bërns Berisha is not an obstacle to peace and stability in Albania Albania described the statements as irresponsible. Italy says that Fasino’s comments do not reflect official policy. Berns said that Albania. “The obstacles to peace and stability,” Mr. Berns said, “are the armed insurgents, who seem to think they are above the laws in Albania… The Albanian people should view the insurgents as an obstacle to stability.” Page 2

On Sunday, 13 April 1997, at 11:00, a meeting of the National Council of the DPA will be held in the meeting hall of the Palace of Congresses to analyze the situation in the country and the measures that need to be taken.

PRODI: “I declare now that, if the opposition expressed by the ‘Communist Refoundation’ group continues, I will go immediately to the Head of State to inform him officially about the situation, and I will await his assessment.” Page 4