WHO SHARED IN THE ILLEGAL PROFIT OF 300,000 DOLLARS The «Italalba» company may export a shipload of walnut logs cut illegally and seized by the state. Uka and Ruli’s company, as «Visto», shared in an illegal profit of 300,000 dollars. The «Italalba» company managed to export a shipload of walnut logs cut illegally and seized by the state. Uka and Ruli’s company, as «Visto», shared in an illegal profit of 300,000 dollars. A state eaten away by corruption surrenders to profiteers. The financial loss is nothing compared with the colossal damage caused by cutting hundreds of thousands of walnut trees, mostly young ones. During the period of destruction and incursions into cities, that is, before March 22, more than 400 m3 of walnut logs were cut in violation of the law on behalf of the Italalba company, whose president was Dasment Xhuvani, and collected at the Shëngjin timber enterprise. The press also wrote about this act of destruction and illegal gain. Following the intervention of the State Audit, the General Directorate of Forests seized the goods. The private entity appealed this seizure in court and, strangely, the panel of judges, in violation of the legal provisions, ruled against the state, favoring the private party. At that time it was said that the ship «Saranda» tried to steal them— The Ministry of Defense stopped this robbery. The case went to the second-instance court, which convened after 3–4 months and overturned the first-instance decision, but the case was never tried. The issue came to the attention of the Council of Ministers, the President, the General Prosecutor’s Office and General Investigation Office, and the Supreme Court. All the state bodies, outraged by the felling of thousands of walnut trees and the destruction of young plantations, had taken steps to protect at least their timber. The logs were bought for 1,500–2,000 lekë per m3 and exported for around 800 dollars per m3. The company’s illegal profit was estimated at around 300,000 dollars. Up to this point, the matter may be considered known. Now we learn that the ship carrying walnut logs has left Shëngjin. They have departed aboard the «Saranda» as well, with the firms of Uka, Ruli and Hoxha. Thus corruption triumphed over the law and the state. Those who have dealt with the case wonder what Uka and Ruli have to do with it, since Minister Hoxha could claim that the matter falls under his trade sector. The reason for the change is known, but the share of the profit these gentlemen received as a reward for destroying the walnut plantations and selling off the national wealth for nothing is not known precisely. BRAHIO DUNAVATI BRAHO DUNAVATI

FATOS NANO: Every Albanian can now clearly see the political diktat of the party-state over the justice bodies. Yesterday, the chairman of the Socialist Party of Albania, Fatos Nano, received at the headquarters of the Party’s General Governing Committee the British chargé d’affaires in Albania, Mr. John Gimblett, on the occasion of his departure from Albania. Mr. Gimblett was accompanied by his successor in this post, Mr. Stephen Nash. At the beginning of the conversation, Fatos Nano praised Mr. Gimblett’s contribution during the period in which he served as the representative of Great Britain in Albania, and his efforts to strengthen relations and cooperation between Great Britain and Albania. “We have found a friendly language of understanding and have spoken openly and freely with you, Mr. Gimblett,” said Fatos Nano, “and we trust that we will find the same understanding with Mr. Nash, whom I sincerely wish success in his new post.” Albania is going through a difficult period of transition. We are convinced of the inevitable difficulties that accompany the transition from a totalitarian system to a democratic system. But we are concerned by, and have denounced and will continue to denounce, the governing course of the party in power, which is deliberately aggravating the situation and offering no way to resolve the country’s many problems. The policy of the party in power is setting Albanians against Albanians, encouraging revanchism and seriously shaking the fragile democratic processes. The communist mindset of the party-state is encountered in every aspect of Albanian life. I need only point to one fact: at every level of the privatization boards, both the head of Public Order and the head of SHIK, among others, have been appointed; investment has not begun, while demagoguery and propaganda have become tiresome. No effort is being made to get work started, to give every citizen the chance for free initiative, or to reactivate those parts and sectors of the economy that can be reactivated. Albania is being made to implement ready-made schemes imposed by international organizations, without viewing them through the lens of the country’s true circumstances and conditions. This is weighing heavily on the masses of the people, who have been almost entirely excluded from social protection. Individual freedoms are being trampled on, and today in Albania anyone who thinks differently is under threat. By those in power. The people did not fight for this kind of democracy. Political trials of opponents have become commonplace, and even ridiculous. the party-state over the justice bodies. As has been made known, the Socialist Party parliamentary group has not participated in parliament for more than a month because the Constitution has not been presented; its submission to parliament has been postponed two or three times. Meanwhile, Socialist MPs are working intensively and responsibly on the Constitution. They meet and discuss every day, offer their views and consult with specialists. We will not go to parliament until the government presents the relevant draft Constitution of Albania. We will not change this decision, whatever may happen. And we bear no responsibility for this. Fatos Nano answered the guests’ questions about the situation in the Balkans. He emphasized that the Socialist Party had long pointed out that Europe was late and had failed to speak with one common voice about the developments in this situation. The consequences of this stance are evident. Relations with neighboring Greece have become markedly more strained, especially after the statement by Greek Prime Minister Micotaqis. We rejected that statement, with its chauvinistic tone and medieval dictates. Problems between neighbors are resolved through talks and dialogue, as equal partners. Here we also see the inability and impulsiveness of our government’s actions in following up and resolving in time the problems and disagreements between the two countries. Peoples want good neighborly relations, cooperation and understanding; the governments of both countries must take responsibility for this. This would serve stability in the troubled region of the Balkans, and beyond. Messrs. Gimblett and Nash thanked Fatos Nano for the information and realistic explanations about the situation in the country and in the Balkans. Members of the Socialist Party Presidium, MPs Fatoshkim Zeneli and Xhevat Lloshi, also attended the meeting. Press and Information Office of the Socialist Party

Dr. KLEPSH: «Albania must be part of this United Europe...» N. DOKLE: «We will come to listen to you in parliament, Mr. Klepsh, because we honor you as a friend of the Albanian people and are convinced that in your voice we will hear the voice of Europe and of …» …the political straits we are going through. Mr. Klepsh brought many messages to the meeting he attended, but one of the most important was the one he also emphasized in parliament: «Albania must be part of this United Europe...» At the meeting attended by the three chairmen of the parliamentary groups, Mr. Klepsh, I, among them, said to him: …Europe, because after the tragic experience of primitive communism we must not move toward a primitive democracy. For this, it is necessary to establish institutions that provide guarantees. The basis for this … is the Constitution. We still have no constitution, and there is a history of delays surrounding this. Therefore, as a group, together with the Social Democratic group, we have boycotted parlia- United...» N. DOKLE: «We will come to hear and of true democracy.» Dr. Egon Klepsh: Yesterday he addressed the People’s Assembly. To honor and respect Mr. Klepsh, Socialist MPs also went to parliament, after boycotting parliament for more than a month over the issue of the Constitution. We spoke to Namik Dokle, chairman of the PS parliamentary group, about this visit. He told us: It is a very important visit, which I consider to be taking place at a suitable moment for the situation. Klepsh brought many messages to the meeting he held, but among parliament: «Albania must be part of this Europe, which is united...» At the meeting the three parliamentary group chairmen held with Mr. Klepsh, among other things I said to him: «On behalf of the PS parliamentary group, which represents the opposition in our parliament, we welcome your arrival in Albania. Our parliamentary contacts have increased recently, and we would single out here the visit by Mr. Martinez, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and now your visit. We need to learn from Europe, just as you emphasized that Albania, as a European country, must integrate into Europe. We need to learn from Eu- to be part of this United Europe...» among united...» learn from Eu-rope ... ... from primitive communism does not seem to be a society moving toward We still do not have our first Constitution, which has a history of dragging on. Therefore, our group, together with the social-democratic group, boycotted parliament. Now, following the boycott, the Special Constitutional Commission is working well, and we hope that the next session of Parliament will begin with the Constitution. Although we have boycotted parliament, we will come to hear and of true democracy.»

My visit here is an expression of this desire • Speech by the President of the European Parliament, Dr. Egon Klepsh, delivered in the Albanian Parliament - Most honored Mr. Speaker Arbëri, most honored members of this People’s Assembly, ladies and gentlemen, it is a great honor and pleasure for me to have the opportunity to be your guest and speak in this parliament, and to have the opportunity to talk with you. I thank you wholeheartedly for your hospitality. My official visit, following an invitation from the Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Albania, is taking place at a very important historical moment both for the European Community and for your country. At the beginning of the nineties, your country faced a completely new beginning. You are now setting out on a new path and preparing to join the other peoples of the European Community, through the example of the old political and economic structures of your country. After a forty-year period of communism and a centrally planned economy, you are now undertaking a radical transformation of all your foundations, of the principles of democracy and of the market economy. But the structures of a normal market system in a state cannot change greatly from one day to the next. You, all Albanians, will … day by day; the countries and peoples of Central and Eastern Europe have experienced this bitter reality. But these are weaknesses in the construction and development of this country. The Albanian people have decided to … on an open democratic path. In the European Community, and before it, six European Parliaments stand as guarantors of all democratic conditions and of the development of a free of the European Community. Furthermore, the political and economic structures of your country ... The European Community, and especially the European Parliament, are ready to integrate the Republic of Albania into the economic community of nations. I clearly emphasized this view at my first meeting with President Sali Berisha in Brussels, immediately after his election, and during the visit to Strasbourg in May of last year by the Albanian parliamentary delegation headed by Mr. Pjetër Arbnori. From the outset, and emphatically, the European Parliament has supported Albania’s new development. We want to help you in very concrete ways to overcome the very great economic and social difficulties and problems. Our declared aim is to lay the foundations for the development of a market economy with a social dimension and to assist democratic processes based on law, freedom and the rule of law. It is clear to us that you will also have many difficulties to overcome in dealing with the heavy legacy of the communist dictatorship. Albania’s new relations with the European Community began with the implementation of the cooperation agreement and other agreements. The European Parliament approved this agreement in September of last year. The agreement emphasizes the expansion of further trade relations and technical support in the fields of the economy and trade policy. It contains a clear human-rights clause. This must ... In the future, this should create an association agreement between Albania and the European Community ... (Continued on page 4)

On Monday and yesterday, the Socialist parliamentary group held discussions with representatives of the working groups set up to undertake in-depth preparation on the Constitution’s most fundamental issues. The MPs Servet Pellumbi, Namik Dokle, Kastriot Islami, Eth’em Ruka, Maqo Lakrori, Ylli Bufi and Vladimir Metani reported in turn, as chairmen of the working groups on: Fundamental Principles, Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms; Parliament; the President of the Republic; the Council of Ministers; self-government and local administration; and the judicial system. On behalf of their respective groups, they presented their suggestions and conclusions. The MPs then began discussing the materials prepared by the Socialist parliamentary group, as set out in the group’s remit; the work had been completed. This was made possible by the considerable effort of all Socialist MPs over the past few months. (Continued on page 2)

An interesting fact: He, the sly sage, the taciturn little butak who, after sending a letter to Enver Hoxha, earned the right to attend higher education, where he was trained to serve the people and the Party; this man, today’s aggressive Balli Kombëtar MP in the ranks of the Democratic Party, a man of pathos who is often in an emotional state—in short, URAN SAFET BUTKA has for some time been working at the central state archives. In what capacity? On what mission? The Party knows!... The 50th anniversary of the Mukje events is approaching, and Urani is staying on to learn the truth about that event of the Second World War. Very good. But will he have the courage to tell things as they happened? Will he have the courage to publish the many documents held in the archives about that event, just as they are?! Let us wait. The belated historian, although he does not know what history is or even where it begins, is working under the guidance of his party’s falsifying and denying methodology. So far, that methodology has not left him empty-handed, and so he is being pushed further, because, as they have recently said, he has also openly shown ambitions to become Minister of Defense. Meanwhile, the historians of my country, old or young, regardless of the parties to which they may belong, remain silent and tolerate the descendants of the Balli, disgraced and branded with shame, as they rape history. What a spectacle!... The future will not forgive them. For it demands that history be reassessed according to the principle of truth, on the basis of documents and truth, and not according to the principle of smearing... The future demands that history be stripped of politicization and of the methods of certain low political strata of the present; the course they follow cannot be different from the one laid down for them. Therefore, historians, wherever you may be, do not leave the history of the country in the hands of Uran Butkas... KANAN TAFILI