IS ALBANIA IN CRISIS? - Seven doctors, many doctor-professors, few lawyers; three months without a meeting of the commission drafting the «Fundamental Law of the State» Since April 1991, Albania has based its entire system of organization on the provisions of the fundamental constitutional law. For three years since April 1991, Albanian parliamentarians have been asking for the draft constitution, but someone in the shadow of power, in a loud and determined voice, stands in their way: Keep asking, keep asking, it will come. Since March 1991 and thereafter, up to today, politicians and MPs, government officials and the president have sought to “escape” to Europe together with Albania, but the clone stands in their way; as soon as Albanians reach out their hands, it delivers the following message: The Constitution. And Albanians have been repeating this “ritual” for 3 years; for three years they have been unable to find the “entry code,” unable to make a constitution. And Europe waits!! And Albanians wait!! Precisely because Europe is waiting, because Albanians are waiting, a commission has been set up to prepare the draft constitution. And for two years it has been “dragging its feet” as it outlines a route, with several chapters that will institutionalize democracy in Albania. “So far,” says commission member Dr. Fehmi Abdiu, “the chapters concerning the powers and functioning of parliament, the institution of the President, state organization, the administration, the government, the organization of the judicial system, and the provisions on people’s fundamental freedoms and rights have been prepared.” And... And that is all, because after that there is a pause. The commission has gone 90 days without meeting. According to Abdiu, everything has come to a standstill over the powers of the constitutional court. “The debate over these powers turned into obstruction, quarrelling, shouting. Although I and ten others called for consensus on approving the relevant provisions, the quarrel continued, and as a result the commission has not met for three months,” Abdiu explains. And how long will Albanians wait? And how long will Europe wait? The Albanian leadership addresses Europe harshly because, according to them, it sets a standard of... “The fact that the commission’s work has been interrupted several times for long periods of time is the clearest proof of this,” Mr. Abdiu observes. Why does this happen? It is said that the chairman of the DP, Eduart Selami, said somewhere in Europe or in Albania that “we are not taking the constitution to parliament because we cannot get two-thirds of the votes.” Perhaps this is the explanation that justifies everything, the entire alibi of the draft-constitution commission. The Albanian leader is terrified of the two-thirds figure, which he now sees looming behind him. In the event the draft constitution is presented to parliament, that figure would bring the parliamentary crisis to the fore, which, according to the head of state, President Berisha, is a necessary condition for early elections. And the “early elections” barometer seems to forecast a storm. The prognosis is now clear. Not only the Albanian electorate, but also the Hungarian and Polish electorates are making it a reality. They have demonstrated the analogous losses suffered by the PD in those countries, and it is the loss of power that frightens the PD immensely. But in this case, the party in power is doing everything to survive in pursuit of its own narrow interests. As for Albania’s admission to the Council of Europe, which all Albanians desire, and the lifting of the condition—the constitution—it is Albania, it is the Albanian people, it is the Albanian electorate that will set the condition—the constitution—because Albania needs its new constitution more than Europe does. It will repeal all the repressive laws currently attached to the constitutional provisions, and repeal the Stalinist penal codes of ’76 that are being used so effectively today against political opponents. And fulfilling this condition set by the Albanian electorate is the responsibility of this existing parliament, which Article 40 of the constitutional provisions obliges to draft the constitution and set a deadline for... completing this draft. And if this parliament considers its mission over, let it not do this, but make way for early elections and another parliament, which will fulfill this obligation to the Albanians and to Europe. Otherwise, what the opposition leader, now a political prisoner, stressed at his trial will remain in force: “In Albania, there are forces that want to keep Albania outside Europe.” And it is these forces that seem to want to turn the clone erected between Albania and Europe into a “wall” and then into a “cold war” between the Albanian leadership and Europe. Everything has been left within the jurisdiction of the Constitutional Court — the debate over these powers turned into quarrels, arguments and shouting. Although we extended a green hand, calling for consensus on the adoption of the relevant provisions, the dispute wait? And how long will Europe wait? Albania’s leadership is addressing Europe harshly because, according to them, it applies a standard that is far too high for Albania. Nervous over the crisis that has paralyzed their work, Albania’s leaders are seeking a way out by asking Europe to lower the height of the “cliff.” But they are wrong. They are wrong because Europe did not put up the cliff; they did. “A draft constitution had been prepared almost a year earlier,” it was also discussed at the Venice Commission, “Democracy through Law,” and was considered to meet all European standards,” Abdiu explains. But this draft constitution disappeared, was lost. Albanians and Europe are waiting for the new commission to meet and draft a new Albanian constitution. But where!!! “Everyone says they want a constitution, but in practice there are forces openly obstructing its drafting.” And we reiterate that the fulfillment of of the current draft the constitution and set a deadline for completing the draft. And if this parliament believes that its mission is over, let it not do this, but instead make way for early elections and another parliament, one that will fulfill this obligation to a political prisoner, emphasized at his trial remains keep Albania outside Europe.” And it seems that these are the forces that want to turn the cliff raised a “cold war” between Albania’s leadership and Europe.

Until yesterday, poor Reç at least had an irrigation canal network, a hospital, a school and a telephone; every family had someone employed by the state. Today it no longer has even these. Today it has... free initiatives for... pastoral purposes! By way of introduction. These days the unpaved Peshkopi–Reç road has been busy with numerous cars from Tirana and Peshkopi; ministers, MPs, party leaders, journalists, etc. have shifted their attention to Reç, as well as to the four other communes where local government elections will be held on 29 May. In Reç, a new commune chairman will be elected to replace the previous one, who has been assigned another duty. At least 6 candidates are seeking the chairman’s seat in the Commune of Reç, representing six parties, some known and some unknown. But the significance of the elections in Reç is not limited simply to a commune chairman. The parties have broader aims. They are trying to test the electorate, to measure their strength so as to determine their electoral standing on a national scale in the future. The Democratic Party needs a victory to show the people that it still has the people on its side. Therefore, a possible victory for it would mean that, for at least three months, all the DP’s propaganda would consist of saying, “the people are with us,” “you can stop asking for early elections,” etc. Meanwhile, the opposition parties want to show the party in power that the people are not its monopoly, that times have changed, etc. This is why the parties are so concerned about these elections. The “minefield” of the electoral battle. While everyone wants to win the elections, the electoral terrain in Reç is not easy. It is made more difficult by the harsh conditions in which the people of this commune find themselves during this period of transition. Nature has been ungenerous in this area. Land is scarce and unproductive. The opportunity for irrigation, especially now, is very limited. Communication with major population centers is very difficult, because the nearest town, Peshkopia, is about 50 km away. Although it is a mountainous area, opportunities for raising livestock are limited. These are Nature’s failings. But to these must be added people’s failings—or, better said, those of previous governments and the current one. The mistakes of previous governments can be summed up in the fact that they did not create opportunities for these people to move down to lowland areas, providing living conditions both for those who moved and for those who would remain there to make do with the opportunities the area offers. But the mistakes of the past have been compounded by today’s government. In the past, the people of Reç received 40 lekë for a day’s work in the cooperative; almost every family had someone working for the state, and this sustained the family. The people of Reç worked on all the major projects built in the northern region, such as the Drin hydroelectric power plants, the Bulqiza mines, geological enterprises, forestry enterprises, etc. Today these enterprises have either closed entirely or reduced their workforce to a minimum. In other words, families no longer have any income from state employment. In the past, the monist state built an extensive network of irrigation canals in this region, such as the Setë canal, which until yesterday irrigated hundreds and hundreds of hectares with lavj... baramina and dynamite, with the people of Reç also lending a hand. This made it possible to irrigate the small amount of land available. Today the Setë canal no longer operates, either in Reç or in Zall Dardhë, because the water is cut off at Çidhën and there is no government willing to step in and properly manage the water and the canal, a project built through everyone’s hard work. The farmers of Reç also raised this concern with the Minister of Labour and Social Support, Dashamir Shehi, who went there these days to campaign for the Democratic Party. But instead of saying that the canal would be put back into operation as before, the minister promises that electric pumps will be brought to raise water from the Drin for... (Continued on page 3)

May-June - new elections in the PS As part of the new elections within the Party, the Presidium and the Steering Committee of the PS in the capital have organized a series of activities intended to bring this campaign to a successful conclusion. These days an expanded meeting was also held, where they discussed the program to be followed during May-June by the forums, area councils and party organizations in the... [text cut off] ...party, for the correct implementation of the rules and norms of the Statute of the PSSH and the Instruction of the KPD of the PSSH, as well as the program of the KD of the PS in the capital. Everyone emphasized the importance of achieving several concrete objectives concerning the deepening of the Party’s renewal, expanding its ranks with new members, paying financial obligations before the dea... [text cut off] deadline, etc. Various speakers addressed the issue of opposing formalism, of trying to deal only with general topics while avoiding concrete ones. Those elected and delegates who participate in meetings of party organizations must play an important role in this process. Many proposals were made for holding mass activities of a political nature, such as meetings between members and supporters and members of the leadership and PS MPs, with intellectuals, councilors and our electorate, etc. It was noted that MPs residing in Tirana should be more active. Each commission should carefully address these issues within its own remit, while cooperating with the others. Concrete suggestions, proposals and criticisms were also made about strengthening ties with the trade unions, socialist women, the Eurosocialist youth, and various political and social organizations and associations. The chairman of the KD of the PS in the capital, L. Shalhori, in his speech, after assessing— These days, an expanded meeting was also held, where the program to be followed during May and June by the forums, area councils and party organizations at every level and stage, up to the Conference, was discussed. Both in the draft presented by the Presidium to the Presidium by P. Vladi, secretary of the KD, and by the speakers, the need was emphasized not to regard this period simply as a routine repeated every two years, but as an important moment for further revitalizing party life in its ideological-theoretical and political aspects, in organizational matters and in strengthening ties with various organizations and associations, in working with intellectuals, councilors, etc. This makes it necessary to activate all the relevant commissions attached to the Presidium, by drawing up and following specific work programs. It is worth noting that this meeting saw broader participation in discussions and concrete suggestions on issues of concern to the PS in the capital. S. Poçi, M. Lakrori, F. Hoxha, E. Reçi, M. Papadhopulli, F. Arapi, Sh. Koçia, H. Kola, L. Haxhiu, A. Qatipi, S. Dedja, A. Ukaj, and others took part in the discussion in this vein. Many of them focused on the attention that the Presidium, area councils and party organizations must give to ... (Continued on page 2)

The residents of Velipojë in the district of Shkodër are very concerned. They say there are so many mosquitoes here at this time of year that this year resembles the period 40 years ago, when malaria was widespread in this area too. Indeed, the last people affected by malaria in the district were treated in 1954... As a result of those responsible for the drainage works, malaria has now reappeared... [text cut off] The swamp’s becoming waterlogged and the dirty, stagnant-water canals that do not drain have created suitable conditions for malaria mosquitoes to breed. Add to this the fact that for at least 2 years now insecticides have no longer been used in agriculture, and no other disinfection measures have been taken either. Now it is difficult to withstand their “attack”! Local residents are being forced to use certain nets, which they call hibili-k, covering all the walls of their rooms so they can rest peacefully without being bitten by mosquitoes. They say that in bygone times they used the shibillet for this purpose as well. Urgent measures must be taken to disinfect the marsh and to do so continually if we do not want malaria to return. Let us remember that the beach season begins here in just a few days. MUSA KURTULAJ

FROM THE WORLD BUDAPEST, 16 May (AFP-ATSH). - The Hungarian Socialist Party, which on 1 May won the first round of the legislative elections with 32.0 percent of the vote, wants to form a coalition government even if it manages to obtain an absolute majority in the second round on 29 May, party chairman Gyula Horn declared on Sunday. “We want to form a coalition government for the good of the country,” said Mr. Horn, who spoke publicly for the first time after a serious car accident on 5 May. Horn, a veteran and foreign minister in the last communist government, who contributed to German reunification by deciding in 1989 to open Hungary’s borders to thousands of East Germans stranded in the country, nevertheless pointed out that the Socialists would govern alone if no political force were willing to form a coalition. “We would rather govern alone than organize new elections, because the country could not withstand the tensions of another vote,” he said.

TIRANA, 16 MAY (ATSH) The 50th anniversary of the Allied troops’ landing in Normandy, France, will be celebrated on 6 June with exceptional grandeur. Comprehensive preparations are under way to organize this day, which will include elements of an official ceremony. Thousands of military veterans from the Allied countries will arrive in France to take part in the celebrations. On the same date, President Clinton will also arrive at Pointe du Hoc, the scene of some of the landing’s most heroic events. The landing in Normandy on 5 June 1944 was one of the most remarkable events of the Second World War. The battles fought on the beaches of northern France caused the deaths of 58,000 German soldiers, 19,000 British soldiers, 13,000 Americans and 5,000 Canadians. A further 15,000 civilians were also killed.

Government officials promised the Has district at the beginning of 1994 that construction would begin on the Vlahna Reservoir in the territory of Golaj Municipality. They promised the start of expanding irrigation and paving the Kukës–Krumë road. Qafë Prushi. To tell the truth, these promises by the democratic government revived the local authorities, political forces and the entire population of Has district. The reservoir was the farmers’ hope, since until the necessary water was available, the empty Kunga and the machines made the whole population… [unclear in source]. These promises by the government officials (some of them) resulted in radical-movement ... [?] passed from ... From the beginning of 1994 ... Time passed, and silence ...

The television repeaters installed on Mount Dajti, which boost RAI television channels for the capital’s residents, will soon be reconstructed to ensure their stability, which has deteriorated considerably recently. The Tirana Municipality has set aside a specific fund for this purpose, Shkëndër Muça, head of its energy sector, told ATSH, and it is also seeking technical assistance from Radio Televizioni Shqiptar to make successful use of these facilities. RAI’s Italian television stations are among the most watched in the central region of Albania, which receives the repeater signals transmitted from Mount Dajti. Five more television channels will also be added, for which receiving and retransmitting repeaters will be installed. A PATOZI, ATSH

A tragic event, unbelievable to many people, occurred last week in the Tirana family, in the village of Trush in the Nënshkodër area. The son kills his father!! It all began with a disagreement between the two Tirana brothers over the division of the land between them. The disagreement escalated into a conflict, especially when the two brothers and their father went to the field. Their father intervened to separate the two sons, hoping to calm them down, but he ended up dead, reportedly shot accidentally by one of the sons. This is what we have learned from the report that reached us from this village about the tragic event. Unimaginable, we would say! How could it come to this? A brother killing his brother, or a son killing his father over land!!