December Leader The Prosecutor’s Office, alongside Azem’s killers The investigation begins with the questioning of Fatos Nano, Skënder Gjinushi, Fatos Klosi, etc. The Apostoli tenders overturn...

By Sami NEZA The parliamentary majority’s avoidance of a vote on adopting the constitution constitutes the greatest blow to the institution of voting in the country. It is no longer important whether there will be a vote on the constitution or not. For the first time in eight years, Albanians are returning to a situation in which the vote carries no weight, just as it carried no weight during the communist dictatorship. Now this is no longer because of a 99.99 percent vote in favor, but because of participation—even 0.01 percent—to approve the state’s most important document. The Socialists and the majority as a whole are attacking voting as an institution by declaring citizens’ participation in building the legal framework that will keep the state alive to be entirely unnecessary. In doing so, they are making their decisions conditional on keeping them away from the spectacle of this vote—which they mostly made a year ago—and likewise seek to eliminate the revolt this vote might have expressed, whether in a referendum on the constitution or in all the other referendums that may follow it. This is violence against the vote. A parliament with representatives currently in office, and political parties at loggerheads, takes it upon itself to keep people from participating in building the rule of law, making a mockery of its mandate and of the insistence of some voters that the constitution be a mirror and safeguard democracy and its values in the country. Discussions about the constitution no longer matter, nor does the insistence that it meet the highest and most acceptable standards. The constitution is a path that has been [unclear] with the amendment to the law on referendums. It has lost credibility and is no longer on a par even with a neighborhood council or a village headman, where a high level of voter interest is absolutely required. It seems to matter even less than the current MPs who took office after 29 June, or the worst Parliament in the country’s history. On this occasion, the parliamentary majority did the arithmetic and, as with the tenders, chose the constitution’s voters itself; it abandoned a contest of alternatives, thereby enshrining this and abandoning those who voted for it a year ago. For a year and a half, the parliamentary majority has produced nothing but violence, beginning with violence against various institutions, violence against the law, violence against the vote, and physical violence, right up to elimination. This practice, which has become a way of life and an extension of the neocommunist regime, runs counter to building the rule of law and strengthening institutions, while limiting and suppressing all hope that people can change for the better. The parliamentary majority has become the symbol of all legal violations and an adjunct to numerous schemes against the rule of law and the Albanian opposition. As with the many amendments to constitutional provisions, valuing them even through attacks on a considerable number of laws, changing and tailoring them to penalize other people, and with the unscrupulous political and parliamentary war against the opposition—which today is the Socialist Party—it has caused people to turn away from legislative institutions, from the racket of the mafia state, built on disorderly principles and serving a political clan and group. The laws in the country have now been stripped of accountability by removing that responsibility from the constitution as a democratic law. The Socialists, their left-wing allies, and their MPs, lacking culture and enlightenment, are responsible for the sidestepping of the rule of law in Albania.

The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Jozefina Topalli, considers a constitution adopted under the new law on referendums to be invalid ON PAGE 3

The Chairman of the Democratic Party, Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha, welcomed the decision taken on Monday evening by the North Atlantic Alliance to approve the activation order, describing it as an act of particular importance that could change the course and the catastrophic developments of events in Kosovo, and halt the further deepening of the greatest human catastrophe in Europe—the barbarities of Millosheviç in Kosovo. Berisha also welcomed Holbrooke’s statements and his commitment to a gradual resolution of Kosovo’s problems, while recognizing the right of two million Albanians to self-determination in their own territories.

Yesterday, the capital was inundated by rain Photo: Albes FUSHA Yesterday, the capital was inundated by rain. Photo: Albes FUSHA

The European Democratic Union reaffirms its support for the Democratic Party The European Democratic Union (EDU) condemns repression and state violence against the opposition in Albania and confirms its support for the Democratic Party. This was emphasized at yesterday’s meeting of the EDU Steering Committee, being held in Sofia, Bulgaria, with the participation of 34 member parties, one of which, with full rights, is the Albanian Democratic Party. The meeting, chaired by EDU President Ninstra, is addressing the acute problems of democracy in the Western Balkans. The Democratic Party is represented at the meeting by its organizational secretary, Mr. Fausto Beja, who addressed those present yesterday, giving a detailed and comprehensive overview of the crisis in Albania and the Democratic Party’s positions on how to resolve it. Mr. Beja informed those present about the ongoing state repression and violence by the neocommunists against the opposition, which has caused an extremely serious political situation in the country. Representatives of the European Democratic Union who spoke expressed deep indignation at what is happening in Albania, promising to raise the issue with their governments and all international institutions regarding government violence against the opposition in Albania. Meanwhile, the meeting decided that a large EDU delegation would visit Albania during November to support the Democratic Party in its efforts to save the country from the totalitarian practices of the former communists in power.

Today marks 32 days since the murder of the December Leader Every day that passes since the murder of Azem Hajdari, the symbol of democracy and pluralism, proves the involvement of Fatos Nano’s government and its successor in the crime that shook the entire Albanian world. The governments of the former communists, which leave the criminals who took the December Leader’s life free and undisturbed, show Albanians that they have been and remain on the side of the killers, who have names and identities but are untouched by those in power. Democrats and all Albanians who loved and honored Azem Hajdari cannot tolerate this under any circumstances. The government must either arrest the criminals and bring them to justice, or publicly declare that it itself committed the murder of Azem Hajdari. Photo

Berlusconi: The accusations against Berisha are baseless and political. Leaders of the Pole of Freedom will soon be in Tirana Pollo meets Berlusconi, Fini and Casini in Rome Yesterday at midday, at Mr. Silvio Berlusconi’s private residence in Palazzo Grazioli, Democratic Party Vice-Chairman Genc Pollo held a wide-ranging discussion with the leaders of the Italian opposition: the chairman of Forza Italia, Silvio Berlusconi; the chairman of Alleanza Nazionale, Gianfranco Fini; the chairman of the Christian Democratic Party, Pierdinando Casini; and other figures in Italian politics. Pollo explained the situation in Albania as well as the problems in Kosovo. He stressed the need for a dignified political dialogue, which is possible when the opposition and its leaders are granted their legitimate rights. The Democratic Party Vice-Chairman insisted that NATO strikes against Millosheviç’s army were necessary, since they would make a lasting solution and peace in Kosovo possible. The leaders of the Pole assured Pollo of their interest in Albania, their support for the Albanian Democratic Party, and the steps they would take in this regard. Following the end of the Italian government crisis, a delegation of Pole leaders will come to Tirana to see the situation firsthand. Berlusconi stressed that the accusations being made against Berisha are unfounded and political in nature, and that during the current political crisis he… Fini and Casini undertook to raise the issue of political prisoners and other problems in the Italian parliament and media, and to ensure that the new government would take a proper position.

Yesterday, not a single second for the opposition on teleMajko’s screen The state radio and television broadcaster remains closed to the opposition, despite assurances given by representatives of several international institutions in Tirana that they would monitor the rigorous implementation of the Arbnori Amendment. RTV executives have by now established the practices they use to censor and shut off the opposition’s access to information. Ardian Klosi, with Mazi apparently standing behind him as well, faithfully carry out the orders of their bosses, who want to reduce to the bare minimum the opposition’s ability to communicate with the public about the country’s pressing issues. Despite the many events that have filled the country’s political arena for more than a month, Klosi—even after mutilating the programs “E diela debat”—orders TV journalists to give the opposition’s voice or activities only 15–20 seconds in news programs. This terroristic practice has reached its peak: the opposition has not been given even a second in TVSH’s news bulletins. In this way, RTV continues to foster nothing but hatred among the majority of Albanians and maintains a tense political climate, joining the efforts of the criminal clique in power, which is determined at all costs to keep the country in a crisis that regularly degenerates into chaos, in line with the interests of well-known anti-national circles.

Democratic Party leaders Minarolli and Arbnori continue meetings with fellow countrymen in Switzerland Members of the Albanian Parliament and senior leaders of the Albanian Democratic Party, Mr. Peter Arbnori and Dr. Vili Minarolli, have been in Switzerland for several days to hold a series of informational meetings. ON PAGE 2

The new Finance Minister at a press conference yesterday: Here is what the IMF told me ON PAGE 5

The trial of the Vlora Gang continues ON PAGE 4

Investigation concluded into the terrorist organization 'Revenge for Justice' ON PAGE 4

The penalization of the Democratic Party is being sought in order to obscure the investigation into the murder of the December Leader