From 1 to 5 February, the proceedings of the 44th session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe are taking place in Strasbourg, attended also by the permanent delegation of the People’s Assembly of the Republic of Albania. The delegation also includes Namik Dokle, chairman of the Socialist Party parliamentary group. On the first day of the proceedings, he attended as a special guest the meeting of the Socialist Group of the Parliamentary Assembly, where general positions were set out on the issues the Assembly would discuss. On 3 February 1993, a discussion was held on the report “Massive and flagrant violation of human rights in the territory of the former Yugoslavia,” presented by the Socialist Group’s representative, Mrs Haller. Many requests to speak were made on this topic, and 41 speakers were registered. Although the debate lasted an hour and a half, only some of the contributions were delivered, while the others were included in the main debate documents. Among other things, deputy Namik Dokle’s remarks emphasized: While the bearded ghost of King Hamlet appears in Europe’s quiet theatres, in the theatre of war unfolding in former Yugoslavia appears the ghost of fascism, of massive and flagrant violence against human rights. It no longer has Hitler’s face, but that of another just as savage figure, Sllobodan Millosheviç. It seems to me that his name in Serbian means “free.” Free to do anything? Free to violate the freedom of others? Free to kill children, women, the elderly? Free to burn and destroy villages, cities, monuments of millennia-old culture? This is the greatest monstrosity of our century’s end. In the territories of former Yugoslavia, it is not only the human being as an individual who is being challenged, but humanity as a social whole; democratic Europe and its many institutions are being challenged; the Helsinki Final Act, the Charter of Paris, everything that symbolizes the new Europe is being trampled underfoot. This makes us think that there are such policies, which at certain times and in certain climates emerge with inhuman savagery and brutality. But I believe Europe has enough reason, strength and intelligence not to allow communism to be replaced by cadre-phobic fascism. Listening four months ago to lord[in] Owen and the discussions about his report before the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, we all hoped that the issue would enter a path toward resolution. And in recent months, several effective steps have been taken. (Continued on page 3)

Awaiting the three-month courses STOP THE PSYCHOLOGICAL TERROR AGAINST EDUCATION UNIONISTS For some time now, rumours have been circulating about lists prepared by district education directorates (on orders from above) to transfer teachers who are unionists in the education federation to the most remote villages or put them on assistance. Teachers are being pressured to register with the official union because, supposedly, it has the “right” to sign the collective agreement. These rumours are intended to intimidate, silence them and spread a climate of fear among teachers in the face of all-powerful officials. Their purpose is to attack teachers’ dignity and turn them into obedient servants, thereby causing great harm to the work of national education. A direct expression of this psychological terror is the mid-school-year transfer in Durrës of six unionists, including the chairman of the district union section and the chairwoman of the union at the “Gjergj Kastrioti” general secondary school. In Vlorë, too, the chairman of the district union section is being transferred. Open pressure is also being exerted in other districts. Is this how our democratic state protects the right to organize in trade unions? This purge campaign, being carried out in violation of the law on trade unions, is a clear expression of PD-style party purges. Well done, gentlemen—you want to destroy the schools morally as well. BLEDAR HYSENI teacher and unionist

Telegram messages sent to the wrong place expose the Democratic Party’s “personnel work” Many people in Tepelenë have been making a great fuss these days, as if they had managed to get hold of a secret document. Instead of going to the DP headquarters, a telegram took the wrong route and went to the SP. It is addressed to the DP chairman of the district and says: “Send as many candidates as possible for the judiciary, in accordance with the request sent on 30.12.’92.” The recipient is at the presidency headquarters. A few days ago, a similar telegram also went astray in Sarandë: instead of going to the DP leadership, it went to the district council leadership. Mistakes like these raise questions about the post offices, certainly, but also about… someone else. DULLE BAHANJA No. 2

- At the seminar for journalists organized by the Soros Foundation - - Yesterday, before the day’s session of the international seminar on deforestation, which has been underway for several days and was organized by the Soros Foundation, the agenda called for a discussion of the draft law on deforestation prepared by the Council of Ministers. This draft law has been under discussion for about two years, so the journalists present received the discussion with great interest. At the beginning of the discussion, the Deputy Minister of Justice, Mr Kristaq Traja, gave an overview of the commission’s work in preparing this draft law. He said that his personal view was that a law on deforestation was not needed, but his personal conviction—

policies which, at certain times and in certain cli-

The Albanian Helsinki Committee, having analyzed the article entitled “Who kills six-month-old babies in their mother’s womb, Mr President,” published in the newspaper “Zëri i Popullit” on 20 January 1993, met with the former prisoner, Mrs Fatbardha Dega. A delegation of this Committee also went to Tropojë, where it met with Mr Ramë Muja, district prosecutor; Mr Hysni Demiri, the investigator in the case; Mr Bajram Alia, director of the detention cells; and Drs Shake Rexha and Zylfije Haxhia, gynaecologists. Following these meetings, the Albanian Helsinki Committee makes the following objective assessment: Mrs Fatbardha Dega, arrested on 9.9.1992 on the charge of “abuse of office,” requested medical assistance after 32 days, on 11.10.1992, suspecting that she was pregnant. The medical examination by a specialist doctor took place in the ninth month, on 12.10.1992. After examining her, the doctor recommended that she be admitted to hospital because of the risk of miscarriage, as stated in the medical report she issued. But only four days later, on 15.10.1992, was she allowed to be admitted to hospital, on the grounds that the prosecutor in the case was also outside the district. The Albanian Helsinki Committee considers the failure to provide prompt medical assistance to a mother and her unborn child a serious violation of a fundamental human right. It protests the indifference and slowness of the judicial authorities, which must act with a sense of responsibility and humanity in such cases, especially when human life is at stake. ALBANIAN HELSINKI COMMITTEE

In Shkodër, we heard that on February 2, the district court reviewed its annual work. Besides a delegate from the Ministry of Justice, the chairman of the district council, Mr. Ali Kaza-Kazazi, also apparently took part in this review. In fact, the latter says that he even tried to set the direction for the court. What can you do? Ali himself and the qadi himself. Astonishing! So, without further ado, we put these questions to him: On what legal basis is his participation in the court’s review permitted? Is this an attempt to exert pressure on the justice authorities or not? Does this resemble the former practices of PP secretaries? And finally, is this action unconstitutional? We invite Mr. Ali to comment on all these matters in the pages of our newspaper. The Observer

The mayor, zoli Golemi, finally admits it .

PAMPHLET The Albanian free market Prof. Bedri Dedja, Academician For those who had been told about them for the first time only recently—especially the dazzling displays in food shops and fruit-and-vegetable stores, with their variety and seemingly unimaginable abundance—the Albanian free market of today appears to be an unusual reality, with particularly enchanting tones. Yet, in the interest of truth, it must be said that this is often a market without culture or aesthetics, repulsive and unhygienic, disorganized in its aspirations, mercilessly inhuman in appearance, and in many cases unruly, without a sense of proportion. The strategy of a free market is economically sound to a certain extent, and from the social point of view it is a proper objective and a good prospect. Only people without any senses (if such a kind of person existed) could fail to understand and appreciate this. Albanian free market! We are not joking at all. It is a subject that would initially need twenty doctoral theses. A golden opportunity for economists and sociologists. The former were criticized during communism for mental backwardness when they expressed such views about the leadership. Now economists, as well as other researchers, have their hands free. There is a pressing need for people—economists, sociologists, lawyers—to examine the whims, mechanisms and spontaneity of the Albanian free market, and, together with them and inseparable from them, the democratic government. This market grows even more interesting when you have had the good fortune to know a little about the European and world free markets. Compared with those, is our market entirely spontaneous, or is it developing on the basis of certain economic and social laws? Is it anarchy, or a disciplined framework? For the most part, the Albanian free market has not yet put on its wedding suit. The big celebration is still a long way off. Preparations have only just begun, and that is why careful attention is necessary. Let us begin with the goods imported into the Albanian free market. Are they reasonably in line with real needs? Is anyone dealing with identifying the goods that are most necessary to import? Economists and sociologists should offer scientific opinions on these matters, though traders may also decide through their own free will and instincts. It seems that at present the latter are the ones deciding. No one has seriously called the former to take up their duty. So what happens? Import whatever you can, and whichever goods bring you the greatest advantage and profit! Many foreign firms are happy with this arrangement, because they clear their warehouses of stock, or produce for Albania goods of the lowest quality at low prices. Why is there no curb on spontaneous commercial imports? It is not enough for the eye to be filled by seeing a market full of goods. What matters is what it is filled with. Instead of abundant food, we see abundant carpets, although the latter are also produced in Albania. When someone sees the free market spread over a large area and filled with carpets, they may think that, after covering our homes with them, we will start covering the boulevards and then the muddy roads as a sign of progress. Many black-and-white televisions have also been imported from Russia because they seem relatively cheap, but they are of poor quality. The plentiful import of household appliances is a good thing. But it should not overwhelm our lives. Even if they appear at astronomical prices, they should not lead to electricity prices being raised sky-high over a sheet of paper, or to people being left without lights because of high demand. Under such conditions, ado- pter. quality. (Continued on page 3)

New facts about the theft at the Durrës Municipality Although thefts have taken place at the Durrës Municipality for several weeks, and although this fact has been reported in the press, until yesterday “there had been no comment from the Durrës Municipality’s leaders or from the law-enforcement authorities, as if nothing had happened. Indeed, this silence created the impression that the news reported by the press was inaccurate. Although thefts have taken place at the Durrës Municipality for several weeks, and although this fact has been reported in the press, until yesterday there had been no comment from the Durrës Municipality’s leaders or from the law-enforcement authorities, as if nothing had happened. Indeed, this silence created the impression that the news reported by the press was inaccurate. Only yesterday did the mayor of Durrës, Tomor Golemi, reluctantly and under pressure answer a question from a member of the Municipality at its latest meeting, acknowledging something that could no longer be kept secret. The admission was this: “It is true that the city municipality has been robbed.” “An official report has been made to the law-enforcement authorities about this. The authorities are pursuing the investigation to identify the perpetrators of the thefts.” Well, Mr. Mayor, at last you’ve woken up. On this occasion, we suggest that, in order to reassure—

The Opera and Ballet Theatre will stage Xh. Verdi’s opera “Traviata” tonight at 18:00. Tenor Kastriot Tusha will perform the role of Alfredo for the first time; soprano Marjana Leka will perform Violetta, and baritone Agim Durra will perform Germont. Conductor: Ermir Kranja.

The police in action - People with excess living space are being turned out of their homes - For several days in Shkodër, following decisions by the local government directorates, families considered to have excess living space have been turned out of their homes. This action intensified further, with the police also being deployed. Thus, at around 9 o’clock, a “flame” of policemen, preceded by a minibus, stopped in front of the apartment building above the pharmacy in the “Parrucë” neighbourhood. They entered the apartment where Lav- lives,