Continuation of an article - The agriculture bill without the approval of the Minister of Agriculture - Arbnori “argues” that unless the law is approved, the budget will not be filled, and therefore the deputies’ salaries will be cut Continuation of an article THE DP GOVERNMENT TRAMPLES ON PARLIAMENT - The agriculture bill without the approval of the Minister of Agriculture - Arbnori “argues” that unless the law is approved, the budget will not be filled, and therefore the deputies’ salaries will be cut As we informed you last week, Parliament did not reach a conclusion on deciding the turnover tax on “tractors and other agricultural machinery imported from abroad.” Although the discussion was thorough and the Socialist deputies gave irrefutable arguments, it was decided that the agriculture committee should postpone this issue once again. On Monday afternoon, Parliament met again to discuss this matter. On behalf of the agriculture committee, its chairman, Mr. Kakalula, rejected the draft law submitted by the Government. His arguments were essentially the same as those he gave last week. …the opinion of the Minister of Agriculture and of the specialist from the Directorate of Agricultural Mechanics was heard. The Minister, who in committee had opposed imposing the tax, said that as a member of the Government he would have to defend the tax, and that it would therefore be better to hear the specialist. With arguments and concrete facts, the specialist explained why this tax should not be imposed. Deputy Gjergj Rakaj expressed indignation that Parliament was being trampled on in this way by being sent such bills. The explanatory memorandum sent by the Government for this law contradicts what the Minister said here. The Government is arguing that these taxes will fill the budget, that with these taxes they will fill it with—who knows what. What I know for certain, because I saw it with my own eyes, is that while the PD deputies were discussing, the Minister of Agriculture and the specialist got into a car and went off about their business. When the session began an hour and a half later, Ali Spahia, who had requested a half-hour break, gave no explanation. It was Pjetër Arbnori who said that the bill would be sent back to the Government. Is this not trampling on Parliament? In the television report on Parliament’s proceedings, the fate of the tax was not mentioned at all. [text cut off at the bottom edge of the image] We are very sorry when the highest organ of our state is trampled on. Theoretically, it can be trampled on in three cases: First: Undeserved trampling by forces outside Parliament. In this case, the tramplers are to blame. Second: When Parliament has made itself deserving of being trampled on, and others put the cap on it as befits its head. In this case, those trampled on are to blame. Third: and outside forces cannot help trampling on it. Personally, I am inclined to believe that the trampling on our Parliament in practice can be explained theoretically by the third case we mentioned. BEQIR SKRELI the agriculture committee this issue. On behalf of the agriculture committee, its chair, His arguments were essentially the same as those put forward by the Socialist group last week. Specifically: - Introducing this tax would lower the level of mechanization in agriculture. - We currently have a major shortage of agricultural machinery. The tax would deepen this shortage further. - By affecting the price of tractors, the tax would significantly increase the cost of agricultural work, etc. Deputy Gjana, who had been very active the previous time in defending the draft law, once again, although he did not give up his position at all, sounded a more conciliatory note as he rang the bell again for moving from the snow emergency to the need to fill the budget. Pjetër Arbnori made the «strongest» argument in defense of the draft law. If the draft law was not passed, he said, the budget would be cut, and so would your salaries as deputies. Although this argument made a deep impression on many deputies, to reach a conclusion it was requested that...

More than a week after the European Parliament adopted a special resolution on relations between the European Union and Albania, the Albanian state media continue to remain silent. They are not bothered, even though in recent days they trumpeted in several news broadcasts that the European Football Federation had decided to help the Eastern countries. Heaven forbid that the old policy of limiting contacts with Europe in the field of sporting activities should be revived in our government circles! The silence being maintained regarding a public statement about Albania by one of the most important European institutions must have its reasons. One would very much hope that it is a sign of reflection. It is not difficult to see in the Resolution an entire European platform for relations with our country, with many offers and commitments from Europe toward Albania, but also with quite a few suggestions to Albanian official policy. These are what call for a measured and serious position; these are what invite you to be realistic. Let us hope that the Albanian government officials will know how, and be able, to respond to the European overture with the same value it embodies. Let us believe that the Albanian government officials will show their European colleagues that they are at their level in judging problems with calmness, responsibility, objectivity and perspective.

The Albanian government officials should have adopted such an attitude in particular toward what has now also been internationalized as the “Nano affair.” As if they wished to react to Berisha’s statement that no foreign figures or institutions had shown any interest to him regarding Nano’s arrest, 268 members of the European Parliament voted in favor of amendments to a resolution calling for his release. It is unbelievable that there could be normal people who claim that these MEPs did not know what they were voting for. Members of the European Parliament are not dolls or puppets of this or that political headquarters, nor are they a block of green cardboard. They represent a sense of respect for the rights and freedoms of the individual, the spirit of tolerance in pluralist life, the spirit of civic courage, and enlightened European thought. With these attributes, by committing themselves to the demand for Nano’s release, they affirmed the treatment of this issue as a political problem. This is a reality conveyed by the Resolution, however unwelcome it may be to the Albanian government officials. Indeed, as if to reinforce the political nature that the MEPs assign to Nano’s arrest, they demand nothing more and nothing less than his immediate release. With the accusations that imprisoned Nano, the democratic leaders— (Continued on page 3)

The hunger strikers in Velipojë are continuing their hunger strike. They have been visited by the chairman of the district branch of the Democratic Party, Ledovik Bega, the chairman of the district trade-union confederation, Fatmir Smajli, and the chairman of the Velipojë commune council, Lazër Gjini. The secretary of the strike committee, Lazër Hila, told us yesterday that they had supported our strike. The representative of the commune acknowledged that we had discussed putting the problem on a path toward resolution at the commune, but we are seeing nothing concrete. Our demands are: to be allowed to work the land in the Pentar marsh, which was allocated to us under the law but was blocked by the so-called former owners, even though they had taken the land from the agricultural cooperative. We demand compensation for the quantity of wheat we lost because we did not sow the land as we had planned in the autumn. We demand ongoing financial assistance until we can support ourselves with our agricultural produce, since in December we did not receive the financial assistance planned by the commune. Our demands are lawful. We have been exposed to threats from Shkodra to Tirana for months now and have had no solution. The deadline given to us by the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Hasan Halili, was that the land would be allocated to us by 25 January, but this was not implemented. So now we have been forced to use the hunger strike as a last resort, Lazri concludes. The hunger strikers are determined to pursue their demands to the end. Conditions in the place where they have barricaded themselves are not good at all; the cold has made their stay difficult, but their determination is great. They say: “We know no other way; better to be on hunger strike than to fall prey to conflicts that lead to fratricide. The state must protect us too, as we demand that the law be enforced; it must be on our side. Our children, too, want to live like other children.” Meanwhile, we learned that several villages in Reci, in this area, are also preparing to begin another hunger strike. They too are demanding enforcement of the land law. MUSA KURTULAJ

Regarding the notice published on Tuesday, 15.2.1994, in the newspaper “Zëri i Popullit,” we clarify: 1. Mr. Agim Dema was not the head of the State Control Service branch for Durrës, but an inspector in that branch. 2. His arrest is not connected with the work he did at the State Control Service, but with the period when he worked as an inspector for the Financial Police in the Durrës branch. Spokesperson for the State Control Service.

- 30 new members in one day - The increased activity of the Socialist Party of the Elbasan district in the wake of the Second Conference is being followed by a revitalization of all Party structures, in the city as well as in the countryside, from the first days after the conference. Meetings organized to present the alternatives put forward by the Second Conference of the PPSH are accompanied by an increase in Party membership, mainly among young people. Thus, after 50 new members joined during January, including 8 university students and young school students from the ranks of FRESH, 30 new members joined at a meeting organized these days after the Conference in the central village of the Gostimë area alone. What is most important about these new members is the prominence of young people, who are increasing the ranks of the Socialist Party every day, in almost all areas of this district. The alternative of European democratic socialism is thus finding ever wider reach, turning the PPSH into a real political force that is constantly growing, with sound alternatives, as its Second Conference also confirmed. Correspondent, “Zëri i Popullit”

Albania continues to make progress toward establishing a multiparty democracy through the legal guarantee of human rights. After 47 years of communist rule, in 1992 it installed its first non-communist government through free and fair elections. That same year, Parliament elected Sali Berisha President for a five-year term and Aleksandër Meksi head of a coalition government dominated by members of the Democratic Party. In April 1993, the Council of Ministers approved a law [ilegible] on the Main Constitutional Provisions. The Government has made significant progress in moving from a centralized economy to a market-oriented system. 97 percent of the collection has been privatized; agricultural production increased by over 20 percent; inflation in 1993 fell to 40 percent, from 200 percent the previous year; although 100,000 new jobs have been created, unemployment still fluctuates at around 35 percent; industrial production, which had been declining at the beginning of the year, began to rise toward the end of the year. In March, Parliament passed the Law on Human Rights, which summarizes the main provisions of nine conventions in the Draft Document; it establishes freedom of speech, the press, assembly, association, and religion. In particular, protection for being elected [unclear] important human rights issues; there have been incidents of police violence, involving the use of force (including killings and beatings) against demonstrators and detainees without cause. It appears that the Government has not prosecuted those personally responsible in all cases. It has restricted freedom of speech and the press by suing Albanian journalists for insulting public officials, and has caused concern among foreign journalists by claiming that they criticize the Albanian authorities. Freedom of assembly and association has been visibly restricted. Tens... the privatization of trade and services; a liberal law to encourage foreign investment has been passed;

SECTION I: RESPECT FOR THE INTEGRITY OF THE PERSON, INCLUDING FREEDOM A. Political or other extrajudicial killings During 1993 there were no reports of organized political killings, but in May the village was subjected to abuse through the use of force, resulting in people’s deaths. On May 15, police in Korçë killed Romeo Gace as he tried to evade arrest as a theft suspect. The police officer responsible for the killing was arrested on a charge of intentional homicide, was found guilty, and was sentenced to 8 years in prison. On June 21, police in Fier beat a defendant to death as he tried to evade arrest. Local and national police authorities have not provided details and rep... (Continued on page 2) With arguments and concrete facts, the specialist argued that indignation that Parliament was being treated with such contempt by having laws of this kind sent to it. contradicts what the agricultural specialist said here. This practice has occurred before, he said. Bills are submitted with the presumption that Parliament will approve them after making only some minor corrections. We have often passed laws without considering them, he said. While Rakaj spoke with concrete logic, Arbnori dismissed his idea with a bombastic statement. Parliament has not been, and will not be, treated with contempt! If Parliament has been and is being treated with contempt, Hasan Shamata is the one doing the treating—not with arguments, but by saying that there is no one who can send someone to represent Parliament in parliamentary relations. Although the tax could not be justified by any argument, even if one adapted what Pjetër had said—that if it was not passed, deputies’ salaries would be cut—the PD group still would not back down and asked for a half-hour break. The half-hour turned into an hour and a half. What the salaried lawyers discussed, thereby causing the deaths of four people. responsible in all cases. It has fostered of assembly and association has been visibly restricted. Tens...

A. INVITATION TO REALISM