WHO ARE HAJDIN SEJDI’S FRIENDS? GEZIM KALAJA SEEKS A JOINT BANK WITH HAJDIN SEJDINE Yesterday we published the letter of thanks from the strikers of Valias addressed to Hajdin Sejdi for the support and assistance he gave them during that strike. The letter ends with the words: “We assure you that throughout all your economic activity for the good of our nation, you will always have our moral support.” Today we are publishing two documents showing how the leadership of the independent miners’ union, headed by Gezım Kalaja and Sami Karriqi, provides its “assistance” to Hajdin Sejdi in his economic activity “for the good of our nation.” The first document is a letter, typed on a computer (apparently in one of Ajdin Sejdi’s offices), addressed to Prime Minister Vilson Ahmeti and Minister Abdy! Xhaja. It requests a response regarding the “opening of a Joint Bank between Iliria Holding SA – Tirana and the ‘Demokracia’ Mine of Valias.” Note the threat made in the letter, which says: “Otherwise, we will use all democratic means, up to and including a general strike.” What motives led Gezım Kalaja and Sami Karriqi to make such threats in Hajdin Sejdi’s name? The second letter, also signed by these two people, is addressed to former President Ramiz Alia. Among other things, it says: “we, as a mine, have made a contract between the ‘Iliria Holding’ company and our mine.” What is this contract, and why are the two union leaders speaking on behalf of the mine? This letter, too, warns that “we will fight by all democratic means.” The letter to the former president was typed on an ordinary typewriter, on ordinary paper. It has no date. The question arises: Why this insistence on approving a joint bank between the Valias mine and Hajdin Sejdi, when the joint bank between Hajdin Sejdi and the Albanian State Bank has been dissolved, for reasons that are known? In the next issue you will read: The Mexhksi Government, at its first meeting in April 1992, approves in principle the creation of a joint bank between the Valias mine and the “Iliria Holding” company. What position did Blerim Cela take at this government meeting regarding this bank? UNITED INDEPENDENT MINING-GEOLOGY-ORE-DRESSING UNION OF ALBANIA No. 98 prot. Tirana, 11.02.1992 THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS MR VILSON AHMETI THE MINISTER OF ENERGY MR ABDYL XHAJA The leadership of the Union of Miners, Geologists and Ore-Dressing Workers of Albania considers a meeting with you and the relevant ministry, as well as with representatives of the company ILIRIA HOLDING S.A. Tirana, to be very necessary and urgent, so that responsibility may be assigned to the company for the Italian Joint Bank ILIRIA HOLDING S.A. Tirana and the “DABRAÇI” Mine of Valias. We await a response about the meeting during the course of today, 13.02.1992. including a general strike. With our special respect for this request, we trust that we will receive a response and will be pleased to meet people in the future for the democratization of Albania. SECRETARY Mr Sami KAPIDANI CHAIRMAN Gezim KALAJA

NATIONAL LIBRARY TIRANA Meeting between Fatos Nano and European parliamentarians Albania’s admission to the Council of Europe is being hindered because the judicial system is still not seen as independent A member of the delegation states Yesterday afternoon, the chairman of the Socialist Party of Albania, Fatos Nano, received at the party headquarters the European parliamentary delegation headed by Ms Pack. Taking the floor at the meeting, Fatos Nano said that it was a pleasure for us to meet representatives such as you. We have felt your presence for two years now, so that Albania can overcome the post-communist period and become part of European civilization and the European family. We have been, are, and remain open to meeting anyone, not only socialist representatives, through European forums and organizations. This has been and remains in the service of stability, democracy and reforms in Albania. The situation in Albania today is tense, complex and delicate. The Socialist Party has been and remains committed, as a constructive opposition, to resolving the many problems through dialogue and mutual tolerance among Albanians. Today, more than ever, Albania needs understanding. Without this internal understanding, international partnership cannot be properly achieved either. But unfortunately, certain forces and certain lobbies are operating in the country and are fueling, (Continued on page 2)

Democratic logic prevails over antidemocracy - Victory for the democratic position of the PS parliamentary group: The law on strikes has been returned by the president for the same reasons raised by Socialist MPs during its review. - Those responsible are: Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Dashamir Shehi, and the irresponsible parliamentary majority group, who strongly opposed the MPs’ sound proposals solely because they came from the left. - The law on strikes was returned to parliament because it violated human rights and freedoms. - MP Vrioni, speaking on behalf of the PD parliamentary group, called on trade unions to be “careful” with their demands, because the transition period requires this. - No government of any kind can deny trade unions the right to make demands in order to protect workers’ vital interests. - How long will the majority group continue to act irresponsibly by violating human rights and freedoms? At the forefront of irresponsibility and as the chief accused of violating human rights and freedoms in Albania are Eduart Selami and Ali Spahia, who lead the PD.

Speech by MP Namik Dokle on behalf of the Socialist parliamentary group President Berisha’s decision to return to Parliament for reconsideration the law “On Certain Amendments to the Law on the Right to Strike” is right, not merely because he considers something wrong that our parliamentary group has likewise considered wrong, but because it is an effort to introduce into our political and judicial life a law that runs counter to the democratic spirit of Europe. We cannot move towards Europe without democratic balance and without meeting its standards—not on paper, but in practice—in relation to trade-union rights. Now the law is being returned to parliament. There is nothing wrong with returning a law to parliament, because this is a constitutional right of the president, just as every MP has the right to propose certain amendments to a draft law, amendments that were not approved. They were not approved even when we emphasized that the law seriously violated human rights and freedoms. to Strike» is right, not merely because he considers wrong something it is an attempt to ensure that debate and dialogue are not cut off in the arenas of our political and economic life. Just as this law was approved by the force of the voting cards, despite our insistence against it, at any moment it gives the state the right to set the court in motion and declare everything illegal. Therefore, our parliamentary group… …proposed several amendments to the approved even when we stressed that it seriously violated human rights and freedoms. nothing wrong with returning a law to Parliament, because it member of parliament has the right to propose amendments to improve laws. But in what sense will he do this? What concerns have arisen? Here, debates took place between the two parliamentary groups, in which we stressed that, as formulated, the right to strike was being restricted in an antidemocratic way. Why, then, was a law approved… …that runs counter to Europe’s democratic spirit? We cannot move toward Europe without democratic balance, without achieving its standards—not on paper, but in practice—for trade-union rights. But even more troubling is that the package of five laws concerning relations between the state and the trade unions: 1. «The Law on Trade Unions»; 2. «The Law on the Right to Strike»; 3. «The Law on Collective Labor Agreements»; 4. «The Law on Wages»; 5. «The Law…» (Continued on page 4)

Workers of Albania considers your return, as President of the Republic, very urgent and necessary in order to meet the demands of the miners of the “Demokracia” mine of Valias, which have been expressed and submitted to the Government in repeated petitions. Out of respect for your high office, in the first petition sent to the Government on 30.12.1991, we informed you as well, but nothing was… (Continued on page 4)

- A reply to Mr. Eduard Selami; Are you lying or are they lying to you? - In the opening remarks at the press conference on May 20, PD chairman Eduard Selami said that the unemployment figures published by the opposition press were inaccurate, but greatly exaggerated. “I spoke on the phone last night with the Minister of Labor, Shehi,” he said, “and the minister told me that unemployment is 220,000, which amounts to 15–20 percent of the people able to work.” Asked whether he trusts the institutions established by his government, since the figures published in newspapers were taken from the Institute of Statistics, Mr. Selami replied ironically (as much as Mr. Selami is capable of irony), saying that you still refer to communist statistical structures. Although one cannot answer him at the press conference, I will answer him through the newspaper. Mr. Chairman! Albania today (Continued on page 4)

- The State Control Service, the General Prosecutor’s Office, and the judicial authorities must enforce the law. Otherwise, one day soon, everyone will be held accountable before the law and the people. A full two and a half months ago, an article was published on page 4 of the newspaper «Rilindja Demokratike», which stated, among other things: «…first of all, it is publicly known that the PD’s election campaign in the March 22 elections was sponsored by the American Administration with dollars, vehicles, and other means essential for the electoral Army». «That is as much as “RD” admits. But what is the truth? Before answering this question, which gives rise to a major issue, let us quote in full Article 23 of the law “On Political Parties,” No. 7502, dated 25.07.1991: “Financial and material assistance from foreign states and public or private entities is prohibited. Gifts and assistance are permitted when they come from international parties or associations, parties, up to an amount that does not exceed the financial assistance provided by the state.” After this, starting from what «RD» itself admits, it is not difficult for anyone… …to understand the flagrant violation of the law in question, for which the former head of the PD at the time, and especially today’s President Sali Berisha, are guilty and must be held responsible. Following what «RD» published on March 4, 1993, an article was published in «Zëri i popullit» LUAN M. RAJA (Continued on page 3)

At the meeting organized by the Federation of Albanian Youth and attended by representatives of political and association-based youth groups, with… YOUTH AGAINST CORRUPTION opposes it unanimously in a… The Albanian youth, which became a hearth… of national solidarity, is just as determined to build a democratic and lawful future, to fully institutionalize democracy in Albania, to integrate… …and the subsequent period of transition created fertile ground for corruption. In speaking out against this phenomenon, to resist for everything Albanian. We call on the government and the judiciary to act fully, in accordance with their independent status, to pursue corruption to the end, hold those responsible accountable and bring them to trial. With this resolution, we address Parliament and the political forces… …to make every effort to fight this gangrenous phenomenon in Albanian society. Participants: Federation of Albanian Youth Youth Forum of the Democratic Party Euro-Socialist Youth Forum Youth Forum of the Republican Party Student Union Youth League of the Persecuted Law Students’ Movement Association of University Sociologists, etc.

On Sunday, May 23, at 11:00, in «Nazmi Rushiti» Square in the city of Peshkopi, the PS District Council will hold a peaceful rally in support of protesting against the Meksi government. PS District Council, Dibër district