The first session of the 12th Legislature of the People’s Assembly resumed its proceedings yesterday afternoon at 17:00. Deputies of the Labour Party, the Democratic Party, the OMONIA Organization and the National Committee of War Veterans were in attendance. Members of the Presidential Council and the Government, leaders of political parties and institutions, journalists and foreign ... voting in these areas did not affect the outcome of the elections. After much debate, a consensus was reached that the mandates of the deputies from these areas would be voted on separately. After the mandates of the deputies of the People’s Assembly were approved as a whole, the mandates of the deputies from the above-mentioned areas were also approved by a majority vote. The discussion then moved on to consideration of the provisional rules of procedure ... ... and the prosperity of the homeland, for the fulfilment of the legitimate aspirations and inalienable rights of the Albanian nation. I swear.” In connection with the election of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Labour Party deputy Leontiev Çuçi asked to speak. On behalf of a group of 10 deputies, he proposed ... as Chair of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly. I also express my sincere wish and goodwill that this assembly become a true setting for productive legislative work, where, on the basis of democratic rules and through constructive debate, facts and decisions will be established, along with ways to restore the health of the economy and the platforms and legal means for Albania’s integration with Europe, with the aim of raising the material and cultural standard of our people and further developing pluralist democracy. But in the current situation, the noble duty of every deputy also carries a very heavy burden. With a keen sense of responsibility, I also assure you that I will be maximally demanding and completely impartial in enforcing all the rules and requirements of parliamentary work. Every ordinary Albanian, and all the more so every deputy, has the sound judgement and moderation to contribute with honesty, tolerance and political prudence to resolving the great tasks entrusted to us by the electorate. I urge you to show our people that we will resolve their needs and problems as they themselves require, and to assure them that the best way forward for our secure progress is debate in the Assembly to determine clear legal solutions—not ultimatums in the streets or dealing with problems outside Parliament. We must all strive to achieve this and foster the conviction that any other alternative would weigh heavily on the people and the country’s destiny, and history will never forgive us. Therefore, through constructive parliamentary debate, moderation and wisdom, a spirit of cooperation, democratic discussion and fraternity, with ... were present ... [part cut off and illegible at the upper edge]. ... and foreign [representatives], as well as heads of diplomatic missions accredited in Tirana, etc. The presiding officer, deputy Adil Çarçani, gave the floor to deputy Ferik Abdiu, who presented the completed composition of the Mandates and Immunity Verification Commission, expanded by two other members, Democratic Party deputies Ilir Manushi and Sadedin Balla. This composition was unanimously approved by the deputies. After the Mandates and Immunity Verification Commission had worked for an hour, its chairman, deputy Sefik Sokoli, presented the report on behalf of the Commission. Regarding this report, as well as the election procedures in several districts, Democratic Party deputies raised objections and requested, among other things, that the validity of the mandates of deputies elected in districts 85, 66 and 67 of the Fier district, 108 of the Korçë district and 134 of the Librazhd district be reviewed. Labour Party deputies regarded these objections as secondary, stressing that any shortcomings observed before and during ... (Photo: ATSH) ... the provisional rules of procedure of the People’s Assembly. Comments, suggestions and amendments were made concerning specific articles, which the Legal Commission would examine later. After debate, the Assembly approved in principle and in full the provisional rules of procedure of the People’s Assembly, pending their drafting and final approval. Next, the deputies stood and took the oath. Its text, with several additions proposed by Democratic Party deputy Abdi Baleta and unanimously approved, was as follows: “I swear on my honour and the honour of my people that I will conscientiously perform my duty as a people’s deputy in the People’s Assembly; that I will represent the people with dignity; that I will resolutely defend their power, the constitutional order and the rule of law, the freedom and independence of the country, and the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual; and that I will devote all my strength to development ... ... Labour Party deputy for the Fier district, Kastriot Islami, and the others, Lush Përpali, Labour Party deputy for the Tropojë district, and Aleksandër Meksi, Democratic Party deputy for the Tirana district. There was discussion and debate over the election of the chairman of the Presidium. By majority vote, the Assembly elected deputy Kastriot Islami as Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, and Lush Përpali and Aleksandër Meksi as vice-chairmen. Deputy Adil Çarçani, who, as representative of a group of senior deputies, had chaired the proceedings up to that point, invited the newly elected Presidium to preside over the work of the People’s Assembly. The Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Kastriot Islami, said in his speech: “First of all, allow me to thank you for the vote of confidence you have given me and to assure you that I will devote all my energy to conducting, in accordance with the law, this first pluralist assembly in our country. I assure you ... ... [illegible fragment]. ... in gratitude, it is our duty to strive together to never forgive us. Therefore, with democratic discussion and appreciation, with Albanian feeling and love for this small country, let us take on the great and difficult tasks that lie ahead. Once again, thank you for your vote of confidence! Long live the Albanian people! May you succeed in your noble duty! The Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly then informed the deputies that the parliamentary group of the Labour Party and the parliamentary group of the Democratic Party would put forward a proposal. Labour Party deputy Bilbil Jaupi and Democratic Party deputy Neritan Ceka proposed the establishment of a Parliamentary Commission to inform the Assembly about the events of 2 April in the city of Shkodër. The deputies approved the establishment of a Parliamentary Commission. Democratic Party deputies Sali Berisha, Ali Spahija and Azem Hajdari then spoke. The proceedings of yesterday’s sitting were then adjourned. The next sitting will open this morning at 9:00. (According to ATSH) (Photo: AFESI)

The elections for deputies to the People’s Assembly were successfully concluded in all districts. These were the first pluralist, free and democratic elections. The Mandates and Immunity Commission, pursuant to Article 3 of the Constitution and Article 3 of the Rules of Procedure of the People’s Assembly, met on 16 and 17 March 1991. After responsibly studying and examining all the documents relating to the elections of deputies to the 12th Legislature of the People’s Assembly, and after hearing and assessing several of them, it decided as follows: According to the election records, 1,984,933 voters were registered. In the vote for deputies to the 12th Legislature of the People’s Assembly, 1,963,568 voters took part, equal to 98.92 per cent of them. The votes were cast as follows: 56.17 per cent for the candidates of the Labour Party; 38.71 per cent for the candidates of the Democratic Party; 0.73 per cent for the candidates of the “Omonia” organization; 0.28 per cent for the candidates of the Veterans’ Committee; 1.77 per cent for the candidates of the Republican Party; 0.07 per cent for the candidates of the Agrarian Party; Of the 250 seats for deputies in the People’s Assembly, the results were: 169 seats, or 67.6 per cent, won by the Labour Party; 75 seats, or 30 per cent, won by the Democratic Party; 5 seats, or 2 per cent, won by the “Omonia” organization; 1 seat, or 0.4 per cent, won by the Veterans’ Committee. We note that the pluralist People’s Assembly resulting from these elections is substantially different: 226 of its deputies, or 90.4 per cent, have been elected for the first time. The educational and cultural level of the People’s Assembly has risen significantly. In the 12th Legislature of the People’s Assembly, 245 deputies, or 98 per cent, have higher education; 126 of them, or 50.4 per cent, know at least one foreign language; and 31 deputies, or 12.4 per cent, hold scientific titles and degrees. Nearly 100 per cent of the deputies are socially classified as office employees. The deputies’ age distribution is as follows: 8 deputies, or 3.2 per cent, are aged 18–30; 96 deputies, or 38.4 per cent, are aged 31–40; 142 deputies, or 56.8 per cent, are aged 41–60; 4 deputies, or 1.6 per cent, are over 60. There are 9 women among the deputies. 205 deputies, or 82 per cent of all deputies, live in cities. The deputies come from various professions. 57 are engineers; 62 are agricultural specialists, veterinarians and zootechnicians; 37 are teachers and lecturers; 38 are economists; 20 are doctors; 14 are lawyers and journalists; the others are physicists, mathematicians, workers in the arts and culture, and students. Honourable deputies! The Mandates and Immunity Commission, having carefully examined the deputies’ mandates and being in full conformity with the Constitution and the law “On Elections to the People’s Assembly,” proposes that the People’s Assembly validate the mandates of all deputies elected on 31 March 1991, as proclaimed by the Central Election Commission on 2, 8 and 14 April 1991. MANDATES AND IMMUNITY COMMISSION 17.4.1991

- KUKËS - Xhavit Lashi, director of the repair and services enterprise in Kukës, tells us: “You have to pursue supplies at a run in order to meet the people’s needs.” The result: the period’s plan for gross industrial production was fulfilled at 120 per cent, the financial obligation to the state was exceeded by 3 per cent, and investment exceeded its target by a very considerable amount. If you pause to consider these figures and talk with the citizens of Kukës, you can sense how committed the employees of this enterprise are to doing their duty and, as a result, increasing each worker’s income. We have mentioned the director as an example of an enterprising person. But we should also mention Ramazan Hasa, head of the economic department (finance, planning, supply), Nazmi Bi-administrator in the city, Lutfi Shllaku, and others. Then there are the heads of workshops and service units, whose work is recognised and forms part of fulfilling the task. They have faced the difficulties that this period of the year brought. Nevertheless, here is an example of a satisfactory achievement. HALIL BUÇPAPAJ ... me. Enver Tome, a specialist in the agriculture section, complains that although vegetables were available last year, the trade sector hesitated to take them, and the cold-storage facility did not reach capacity. A considerable quantity was collected by it and dried, but for fear it might spoil, it was given to other districts. The main responsibility for supplying the city with vegetables lies with the agricultural enterprise, as well as supplying it with milk and eggs. The director of the agri- ... ... is considered to have been surpassed when the city’s needs for dairy products are not being met? The trade-sector comrades are right to a certain extent when they say that they secured 70 percent of the vegetables for the market from outside the district. But why didn’t they fill the cold-storage facility to capacity? The people want vegetables, not excuses. And this must change as soon as possible. XHEVDET ALMETA

The Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, comrade Ramiz Alia, sent the following congratulatory telegram to the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Robert Gabriel Mugabe: “On the occasion of the national holiday of the Republic of Zimbabwe, on behalf of the Albanian people and in my own name, I send to you, and through you to the friendly Zimbabwean people, sincere greetings and best wishes for their well-being and for the continued progress of the country. I am convinced that the relations of friendship and cooperation between our two countries will develop and grow stronger further, to the benefit of both our peoples and of international cooperation.” (ATSH)

The Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, comrade Ramiz Alia, sent the following telegram of condolence to the President of the Italian Republic, Francesco Kosiga: the following telegram of condolence to the President of the Italian Republic, Francesco Kosiga: “We were deeply saddened to learn of the serious accident in the Livorno area and the loss of life, which caused profound grief throughout the Italian people. On behalf of myself and the Albanian people, I express to you and to the friendly Italian people our deep sympathy for this national tragedy, and convey our most sincere condolences to the families of the victims.” (ATSH)

(Photo: ATSH)