Call by the Union for Democracy. Powerful protests until democracy is restored Citizens of Tirana, any one of you who calls yourself Albanian, any one of you who loves freedom and democracy and aspires to a secure future, well-being and prosperity, come out to the protest rally on Saturday, 31 October 1998, at 16:00 in “Skënderbej” Square. This protest rally has the noble purpose of forcing the state to pursue the organizers and perpetrators of the assassination of the legend of Albanianism, Azem Hajdari; to release the political prisoners; to reinstate the people dismissed from their jobs for taking part in Azem Hajdari’s funeral; and to bring about early elections, so that democracy and the security of the national cause may return to Albania. Everyone to “Skënderbej” Square on Saturday, 31 October 1998, at 16:00, against the government of the continuation of crime, smuggling and anti-Albanianism!

The content of many articles and chapters of this passport is anti-democratic and anti-national. Votes on 22 November will consolidate a power of corruption, organized crime and national treason Important decision by the National Council of the Democratic Party. Democrats and all Albanians should not vote for the constitution, Fatos Nano’s passport

Yesterday, the Democratic Party decided to ignore the 22 November vote on the Socialist Party’s passport. The decision by the country’s largest political force comes at an important political moment and expresses the concern of the majority of Albanians over the sweeping exclusion by the left-wing coalition government, which systematically excludes the government from every decision and from the right to decide on the country’s main problems. The Democratic Party’s decision to refuse participation in a referendum intended to provide a passport for the government of Fatos Nano’s party is expected to be followed in the coming days by other political reactions from opposition forces, which may range from rejecting the referendum to voting against the government’s draft. Under these circumstances, the referendum campaign itself inevitably becomes a political campaign among the country’s various political forces, precisely because of the political decisions they have made concerning their position on the government’s draft. It is understandable that political forces will defend their political decisions before the electorate and call on their supporters to follow the announced lines. Just as the government and its political forces have prepared their draft and are asking the electorate to vote in favor of it, it is clear that the opposition forces or other forces have the same right to call for their political decisions concerning the draft to be carried out. What is entirely evident during the referendum campaign, on voting day and afterwards, is the displacement of the government’s draft, resulting from the government’s exclusion of political forces from the constitutional process, as well as from other important matters. It is also entirely clear that, even after this referendum, the constitutional process in Albania will not only remain unfinished, but polarization in the country will deepen. This is another blow to democracy in the country and to long-term national reconciliation. Even if the government’s proposal manages to win citizens’ approval, according to calculations turned into social solutions, this consequence of government policy does not resolve the problem of the fundamental law of the Albanian state. Nevertheless, regardless of the result, what remains a problem after the government’s draft is put forward is the conduct of the vote and the protection of citizens’ free expression, as well as the campaigns and referendum through all social and financial media. Through several recent decisions, the government has given no indication that it is working toward a fair constitutional referendum; on the contrary, it is exercising a power of new demands for submission and inequality, ignoring the country’s other political forces. It must remember that this path leads nowhere; on the contrary, it deepens the crisis further. The government, which has politically decided to satisfy even only the minority in order to secure passage of the draft, must become aware that it should abandon political discrimination and forms of punishment of the masses. Consequently, if the effort fails, responsibility will be borne for violating the fundamental principles of democracy and citizens’ free expression of their vote. Any support for the drafts along this path will inevitably lead to undesirable situations. In such circumstances, with the active players in the country’s politics divided in their positions and polarized, and acting accordingly, another matter remains uncertain and open to debate: the most meaningful aim should be to demonstrate the right to make the country move in a particular direction. In this case, it would be unacceptable for political forces in the country, divided over the government’s draft, to become involved for or against it, because this would automatically become a position for or against a political force. Their conflict over Albania in this case will only become more difficult; it remains irresolvable as a government statement, and the draft that has divided the political forces will set them against one another and make an issue out of something that should remain neutral after the country’s parties have divided. If anyone might reasonably argue that the government should be neutral after the country’s parties have divided, it is difficult to imagine that in this case.

Last night, protesters in front of the Prime Minister’s Office. Photo: Albes FUSHA

Members of the PD National Council comment on the draft constitution Topalli: The draft is not in harmony with Western constitutions Xhaferi: The draft legitimizes corruption by placing it beyond state control Islami: The draft constitution is compromised even before being submitted to a referendum Metani: A parliament that violates constitutional laws cannot make a constitution ON PAGE 5

Today, 48 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 his successor in the violent crime against the entire Albanian world. The former-communist government, by easily leaving the criminals who took the life of the December Leader free and unpunished, shows Albanians that it was and remains a government of killers, who have names but are untouched by those in power. Democrats and all Albanians who loved and honored Azem Hajdari cannot tolerate this while the killer goes free. The government must either arrest the criminals and bring them to justice, or publicly declare that it itself carried out the murder of Azem Hajdari.

On the eve of the conference, former Labour Minister Angjeli acknowledges abuses involving public works funds Prime Minister Majko: “The remaining funds must be spent by 31 December, otherwise investors will no longer trust us” ON PAGE 5

The winning company “Granit” submitted forged documents concerning the amount of its capital and the value of its revenues; Apostoli was informed of this on 7 August 1998 Here is how former Minister Apostoli became implicated in the theft of tenders. Shocking facts were disclosed yesterday for the first time by Karamitro and Bode ON PAGE 5

BSPSH reacts against the decision of the Court of First Instance in Tirana ON PAGE 4

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The “Dhjetori 90” group continues its protest against the government The Commission of the “Dhjetori ’90” Group informs all print and electronic media journalists that on Friday, 30 October 1998, at 11:00, a procession/ritual will take place along the following route: Departure from the UT campus at 11:00 and a walk along “Dëshmorët e Kombit” Boulevard to the place where the December Leader, Azem Hajdari, fell, where a press release will be distributed and a short press conference will be held. Only former students of the December 1990 Movement will take part in the procession. We remind you that the procession will follow the protocol used for the previous procession.

“A lit candle, a life begun” The Democratic League of Women of Albania (LDGSH) calls on Albanian democratic mothers and sisters to gather today, 30.10.1998, at 16:30 near the PD headquarters to take part in a procession that LDGSH will organize in memory of the December Leader, Mr Azem Hajdari. The procession will be held with lit candles and in complete silence. LDGSH