Yesterday afternoon, the new People’s Assembly of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania convened. Its deputies had emerged from the first pluralist elections of 31 March and the second round held on 7 April. (Photo: ATSH) Yesterday afternoon, the new People’s Assembly of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania convened. Its members had emerged from the first pluralist elections of 31 March and the second round held on 7 April. Members of the Presidential Council and the Government, leaders of political parties and institutions, Albanian and foreign journalists, as well as heads of diplomatic missions accredited in Tirana, etc., also took part. The deputies present and the guests applauded the arrival of Comrade Ramiz Alia, Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, who delivered the opening speech. He spoke about the great importance of the new People’s Assembly under conditions of political pluralism and democracy, as well as its important duties and the undesirable events such as what happened in Shkodër? The elections of 31 March for deputies to the People’s Assembly in our country were held for the first time under conditions of political pluralism and were successfully completed. They showed that our cultured, wise and level-headed people, as foreign observers also confirmed, love and respect democracy. Now it is our duty, the duty of the new People’s Assembly, to advance and further deepen the processes of democratization in Albania. The first important step that... necessary for safeguarding the freedom and independence of the Homeland, for strengthening national unity; that we will work tirelessly for the all-round development and progress of the country, for the formation of the economy, education, culture and science, for the continuous improvement of the people’s welfare, and for Albania’s full integration into European and global democratic processes. The voters have given us their votes so that all deputies may express their interests, and so that here in the Assembly we may resolve those vital problems for which it is... At the opening of the proceedings of the first session of the People’s Assembly, the chairman of the Democratic Party Parliamentary Group, Neritan Ceka, asked to speak and expressed the Democratic Party’s familiar demand that the proceedings of this Assembly be postponed until those responsible for the killing of 4 people and the wounding of around 50 others in the city of Shkodër had been identified. Lush Perpali, deputy for the district of Tropojë, sought further clarification about the Democratic Party deputies’ failure to attend this first pluralist Assembly, stressing that this did not help clarify the current situation and uni- Ali Alushani, deputy for Skrapar, speaking on behalf of a group of deputies, expressed regret that the Democratic Party deputies were not taking part in this Assembly, stressing that this was a political veto incompatible with democratic dialogue. Then deputy Fehmi Abdiu spoke, also calling on the Democratic Party deputies to take part in the proceedings of this Assembly, which was capable of taking responsibility for all the people’s issues and of taking measures to address the concern they had put forward as the reason for not attending. This appeal was supported by all the deputies. The first day’s proceedings then came to a close. Deputy Adil Çarçani, who chaired the session, announced that the Assembly would resume its work on Wednesday at 17:00. (ATSH) Members of the Presidential Council, the Government, leaders of political parties and institutions, our own accredited in Tirana, etc. The deputies present and the guests applauded the arrival here of the Chairman The deputies of the Democratic Party were not present at this session of the first pluralist assembly. On behalf of the 10 oldest deputies, Adil Çarçani, a deputy of the Party of Labour from the district of Gjirokastra, declared the proceedings of the Assembly open. Comrades, fellow deputies, Entrusted by the oldest deputies, I declare open, and wish success and fruitful work to, Assembly. It is a great honour for me, from this high podium, with the conviction that I also express your wish, to thank with all my heart our wonderful people for the great trust they placed in us by electing us to the highest body of state power and, on this occasion, to assure them that all together we will remain their faithful sons, fighters for the ven- … for all the deputies to express the vital interests and, here in the Assembly, resolve those fundamental problems for which the people have committed themselves. Therefore, we must all be characterized by a strong sense of responsibility. He expresses regret that the group of Democratic Party deputies is not taking part in the first session of this important legislature of the People’s Assembly, in protest at the failure to complete the investigation into the tragic and painful incident on the road in Shkodër, where 4 people died. Their absence not only creates a void that runs counter to the wishes of the voters who voted on 31 March, but it is also not right to place party interests above national interests, because, as stated in the programmes of almost all parties, national interests stand above all other interests; moreover, where better than in the People’s Assembly, in a pluralist Parliament, can solutions be raised and sought, and explanations demanded, even about events of … our elected representatives have given us their votes so that all the deputies can sought, and explanations demanded, even about events of … synthesis, for the creation of independence and the people’s well-being, and for Albania’s full integration into European and world that all the deputies can sought, and explanations demanded, even about events of … showed that our cultured, wise and sensible It is now The important first step we took with free and democratic elections fills us with joy and increases our optimism about undertaking greater tasks in this direction. Conscious of the great responsibility entrusted to us, let us assure the people once again that with great devotion and dedication we will fight for their lofty and sacred ideals, for Albania’s unceasing progress. Once again, I declare open the proceedings of the first session of the new People’s Assembly. Long live the heroic Albanian people! The deputies and everyone present in the hall stood and sang the National Anthem. Fehmi Abdiu, a deputy of the Party of Labour, proposed on behalf of a group of deputies the composition of the Commission for the Verification of Mandates and Immunity, which was approved by a majority vote. He pointed out that two members of this group, deputies of the DP, had not appeared. Meanwhile, deputy Adil Çarçani declared the proceedings closed—

Yesterday morning, the Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, Comrade Ramiz Alia, received the delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe at the headquarters of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly. Yesterday morning, the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, of the Council of Europe at the headquarters of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly. Comrade Ramiz Alia held a warm and friendly conversation with the members of the delegation. After expressing his appreciation for their visit to Albania, he noted, among other things, that despite differing political views, the peoples and countries of Europe—and not only Europe—are becoming friendlier and drawing closer to one another. This is a good thing, Comrade Ramiz said, and in this regard we will make every effort along the path of democratic development in our country. In this context, he praised the role of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and expressed Albania’s readiness to engage fully with it. Comrade Ramiz Alia briefed the members of the delegation on the democratic processes deepening in our country, the difficulties encountered on the path toward all-round development, the political and economic situation, and other aspects of life in Albania. The members of Europe thanked Comrade Ramiz Alia for the reception and for the presentation he gave them about Albania. We understand the difficulties your country is going through, they noted, and hope that you will overcome them so that Albania may become a full member of the Council of Europe. Our mission is to follow democratic developments in Albania closely, and for this purpose we will submit a special report to the Council of Europe. During the meeting, views were also exchanged on several aspects of the international situation. Foreign Minister Muhamet Kapllani attended the reception. (ATSH) …ntary of … at the mee…sentative … Central … La… (ATSH)

Our interview With doc. THEODHORI BEJ, an employee in the apparatus of the Council of Ministers, and our journalist SARDI RRAHMANI. Question: Restructuring the economy toward a market economy is now a clear and defined alternative. What measures have been taken, and how is this profound and complex process being prepared for? Answer: As is well known, on 12.3.1991 the Presidium of the People’s Assembly issued Decree No. 7476, “On the authorization and protection of private property and activity,” and the Council of Ministers issued Decision No. 138, dated 3.4.1991, “On the development of private activity.” For the time being, these two decrees, “On the protection of foreign investments,” “On the economic activity of enterprises with foreign capital participation” (July 1990), and “On the establishment of banks with foreign capital participation and the opening of branches or representative offices of foreign banks in Albania” (January 1991), are basic documents of our new legislation for transforming the current ownership system into a pluralist system with a variety of forms of ownership: state, cooperative, private, joint enterprises with foreign capital, and mixed ownership. The aim is to create an appropriate and balanced structure for the economy, in which market laws and mechanisms have scope... (Continued on page 2)

I am writing these lines after watching, through the 20:00 television magazine programme, the opening of the first session of the 12th legislature of the People’s Assembly, which everyone had awaited as an eagerly desired victory for democracy, a victory for pluralism. Perhaps this Assembly saddened many people; many people were saddened. And, naturally, they were right. But they were right only in part. In truth, the Assembly began as a pluralist one, but not as pluralism itself, which, however desirable, is not all that aesthetically pleasing. It is precisely rough. It is natural, that is to say, unrefined. It is a superficial harmony aimed at achieving a vital balance, like a seesaw that is overly thought-out and too light, yet always secure... Thus, the absence from the hall of the Democratic Party’s group of deputies does not mean that the first parliamentary opposition stance was absent too. For the first time, after several uniform decades, we saw an Albanian Assembly where hands were not raised mechanically and in unison, where unity—even as a national necessity—was not achieved as a uniform, undifferentiated unity, but as individuality. It was a real ocean to read. But perhaps, alongside the sadness, it could also be read as an affirmation (sui generis) of democracy. I wanted the Democratic Party group to participate, although I had foreseen its absence. I wanted that participation, I wanted it symbolically, but also as an exercise of a right, as a new form of confrontation. Parliament has no gymnasium; nowhere are dialogue and political contest more at home than there. I thought that if I had... …in this situation, I would deserve it even as a deputy of the Party of Labour. I say with conviction that, as one of its deputies, I too would not have allowed myself to be constrained by the collective discipline of silence. Silence about the bloodshed in Shkodër. One of the Party of Labour deputies should have stood up in the hall; among them are many individuals with the respect, intelligence and necessary intellectual courage. One of them should have risen and called on opposition colleagues to participate, should have voiced not only the appeal (and continued it) regarding the events in Shkodër, but also made a counter-criticism. I waited, but after the events of 2 April, Shkodër was left entirely shrouded in silence. …about the progress of justice… The pluralist Assembly has, nevertheless, opened its doors... What remains is the most important and perhaps most difficult thing: to keep those doors open.

We cannot give any other name to a statement in the declaration by the group of Democratic Party deputies published in RD on 13 April, which announced their non-participation in the proceedings of the first session of the People’s Assembly, the first pluralist Assembly in our country. We cannot give any other name to a statement in the declaration by the group of Democratic Party deputies published in RD on 13 April, which announced their non-participation in the first pluralist Assembly in our country. At the end of the declaration, the statement that we are making the subject of this article reads: “Conscious of the decision we have taken, we once again call on the Presidential Council and the Council of Ministers, in the interests of the nation, stability and democracy, to immediately announce the results of the investigation and the punishment of those responsible.” Neritan Ceka’s statement in the Assembly was also made on this basis. Let us pause for a moment over the phrase underlined above. As is known, this declaration was published only two days before the meeting of the People’s Assembly. In other words, the relevant bodies charged with investigating the tragic events of 2 April in Shkodër, according to what was said, had 48 hours to fulfil this demand; otherwise, the Democratic Party deputies would not attend the Assembly meeting, as indeed they did not. We think that partisan passion clouded the logic of the authors of this declaration when they demanded that, within those same 48 hours, not only the results of the investigation be announced, but those responsible also be punished. You do not need in-depth legal knowledge to understand that a full investigation into an event constituting a crime takes some time; the judicial process also takes time, if not more (the full presentation of evidence, continuous questioning, witness testimony, lawyers’ defence, etc.)—these are familiar procedures in judicial life. Let us then reason coolly: How is it possible that within 48 hours—even if those responsible for the tragic events in Shkodër were known—they could also be punished, and that only on this basis would the group of Democratic Party deputies agree to go to the Assembly? The Democratic Party and its press have recently written many falsehoods about violations of legality, while expressing confidence that, with the new elections and the completion of our legislation, Albania will have a fully functioning rule-of-law state in accordance with all civilized standards. That is why we emphasize that the ultimatum demanding the immediate announcement of the investigation results and the punishment of those responsible, formulated in the heat of the moment, does not demonstrate naturalness or civic responsibility, much less the responsibility that should characterize a deputy of the people in the highest organ of our state power. It is neither civic-mindedness nor respect for the rule of law, but partisan motives that lead to such positions, which in no way express the will of the voters. SPIRO P. GJONI

On the result of the 14 April 1991 elections for deputies to the People’s Assembly At its meeting of 15.4.1991, the Central Election Commission for deputies to the People’s Assembly, having carefully examined the documents of the Election Commission for zone No. 142 of the Lushnjë district and having found them accurate and complete in accordance with the election law, announces that 7,956 voters were registered at 22 polling stations for the elections of 14 April. A total of 7,676 voters took part in the voting, equal to 96.5 per cent of them. An examination of the election documents shows that, in the new elections, Comrade Rrapi Myzeqari, representative of the PPSH, was elected deputy to the People’s Assembly by free vote and by the will of the people, with 3,869 valid votes, equal to 52.60 per cent of the total number of voters who voted in this zone. CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION