GERMANY — Munich, 4 December 1994 Albania’s Eurosocialist Youth becomes the first among the socialist and social-democratic youth of Central and Eastern Europe to be admitted to ECOSY. On 4 December 1994, the 2nd Congress of the Socialist Youth Organization of the member countries of the European Community (ECOSY) concluded its proceedings in Munich, Germany. At the proposal of the ECOSY Bureau, the 270 delegates present from all the member countries of the European Community unanimously voted to admit the Forum of Eurosocialist Youth of Albania (FRESSH) as member countries of the European Community (ECOSY). to ECOSY. Under the ECOSY Statute, only the respective youth organizations of countries that are members of the European Community are full members. countries of the European Community was an expression of ECOSY’s consolidation and strengthening since its founding congress in The Hague, Holland, in 1992. Messages of greeting were sent to the Congress by Karl Herrch, Henri Emanueli, D’Alena, Zhak Dolor, Edith Kreson, etc. The Congress was attended and greeted by Members of the European Parliament and German, Spanish, French, English, Greek and other ambassadors. FRESSH and PSSH Deputy Chairman Ilir Meta also took part in this Congress. During his stay in Germany, he also held a special meeting with the Deputy Secretary General of the European Socialist Party, MEP Zhan Villain. FRESSH spokesperson.

The parliamentary conference in Albania (5–7 December 1994), sponsored by the US House of Representatives and the special group tasked with developing parliamentary institutions in Eastern Europe, as well as by the People’s Assembly of the Republic of Albania, began its proceedings. At this conference, views will be exchanged and debate will be held on the work and activities of parliaments, especially on matters relating to the responsibilities and authority of the legislative body; relations between parliament and voters; parliamentary oversight; the review, adoption and implementation of laws; budget control; as well as issues concerning the situation in the Balkans. Correspondent of «Zëri i Popullit».

Yesterday’s meeting of representatives of the political parties, who discussed the adoption of Albania’s new constitution, ended without any concrete conclusion. Skënder Gjinushi and Paskal Milo from the Social Democratic Party, Arben Imami and Perikli Teta from the Democratic Alliance Party, Sërvet Pëllumbi and Namik Dokle from the Socialist Party, Vasil Melo and Kosta Makarja-dhi from the Union for Human Rights Party, Ali Spahia from the DP and Sabri Godo from the PR spent two hours yesterday discussing the prompt and lawful adoption of Albania’s new Constitution. Mikro, while the Republicans were considered somewhat wavering, Ali Spahia apparently seemed determined to defend the course once taken in the referendum of 6 November. Sërvet Pëllumbi and Namik Dokle once again emphasized the Socialist Party’s firm position in defense of the constitutionality of procedures and of the role and dignity of Parliament, which is the country’s sole legislative body and, accordingly, the supreme body that must discuss and decide on the adoption of Albania’s Constitution by a two-thirds vote. The representatives of the PSD, PAD and PBDNJ also took the same position on this issue; their constructive and open stance expresses their genuine commitment to defending democracy in Albania and respecting the laws and legal institutions of the democratic state. Everything would go very well if the Democratic Party’s consensus were also secured. Its representative, Ali Spahia, after giving a theoretical lecture on the democratic merits of a referendum, left the meeting when Mr. Arben Imami cited the referendum of Russian president Boris Jelcin and the shelling of his country’s parliament as an example. Albania is waiting for a Constitution. Most political parties are ready to cooperate. This is also demonstrated by the round table currently being held, which will meet again on Wednesday at 10 o’clock. Correspondent of «Zëri i Popullit».

THREE QUESTIONS ADDRESSED TO THE LEADERS OF THE POLITICAL PARTIES 1. What is your opinion of the recent changes in government? 2. What is your opinion of the governing coalition? 3. Do you think the recent changes will resolve the problems, and what are your suggestions? SOCIALIST PARTY Prof. Dr. SERVET PELLUMBI SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY SKENDER GJINUSHI

Latest information from Kukës The hunger strike, begun on Saturday by members of families who were supposed to be relocated to other districts of the country because their lands were flooded as a result of the construction of the Fierzë hydroelectric power plant, is continuing for the third consecutive day, according to the latest information we have from Kukës. So far, 113 people have joined the strike. Other citizens from Kruma and Topoja have also expressed solidarity with the hunger strikers, declaring that they want to go to Kukës to join them in confinement and strike. At every hour of the day, many citizens gather in front of the Palace of Culture, where the hunger strikers have confined themselves, as a show of support for resolving the hunger strikers’ demands through proper channels. The strikers are determined to continue their strike, despite various forms of pressure from law-enforcement authorities to end it. The strikers have declared that they will not leave the strike until their demands are met. They no longer trust the government officials’ promises; the officials forced them to resort once again to this last means of protest, the hunger strike, showing that they oppose the half-measures they had been promised. All of them have been in contact with the strikers: the chairman of the district council, UKë Todaj, and the mayor, Qemal Përllaku, who assured the strikers that the local authorities had acted as intermediaries with all levels of government to resolve their problem. But the strikers said: “We have problems with the Government, and it must meet our demands, in accordance with the agreement we made with it.” Correspondent of «Zëri i Popullit»

Prof. Dr. SERVET PELLUMBI Not merely a change of ministers, but a change in the way of governing 1. After the result of the 6 November referendum, it became clear to everyone that the Albanian electorate had voted not simply and solely against the draft constitution, but also in protest against the bad actions of the Democratic Party. Therefore, from the very first days, we expected profound changes in governance, as well as the resignations of prominent figures who bore responsibility for violations of constitutional law during the one-sided campaign and for the involvement of ministers, the prime minister and the President in the referendum campaign, for the conduct of RTV, arbitrary abuses, and so on. This did not happen, and instead led to the replacement of some individuals in the Meksi government. We believe that what is fundamental is not the replacement of some ministers, but a change in the way the country is governed. What the electorate is asking for today is more capable and competent governance, determined to fight corruption within its own ranks and corruption in government and the administration, and to secure the adoption of the constitution soon with these changes already made[?] in order to bring about political changes rather than changes of personnel. The current changes in government show that the governing coalition has traditionally been a fictitious coalition: one party, the “servant”[?] of the government, in the PD, with two governments, one from the other parties. Thus, the PD demonstrates [?] that it is in a complete identity crisis, explained by the fact that it does not [?] party members who could join [?] with it to form a coalition government. 2. The governing coalition of the PD, PSD and PR has so far been formal, but with the changes made, this coalition no longer exists. This shows that the PD, through the policy it has pursued until now and the implementation of the concept of the party-state, has further narrowed the social support for governing the country. Today the Democratic Party is a political force isolated from the other forces. This is another reason why we consider the changes made to be merely a patch[?] and why we are more skeptical about their effectiveness. 3. Any change, however profound and well-judged, does not in itself solve problems. At the same time, it must be said that solving problems is the touchstone of good governance. But the changes made in government cannot eliminate re- (Continued on page 2)

SKËNDER GJINUSHI You cannot be optimistic about the new government. The PD and Berisha prefer a demagogic coalition? instead of a real coalition. The structure of a government does not determine how effectively a country is governed. But it does matter. Formally speaking, restructuring some ministries might be considered positive, in the sense that our government had too many ministries. In practice, however, a crisis is also evident in this respect, because ministries have been opened and closed within a very short period, and there is no explanation for why some ministries are being created. Indeed, it seems that this is being done more to find portfolios for individuals than to improve the organization and management of affairs. So, in a sense, we have some makeshift ministries. In any case, reducing the number of ministries is positive. As for the new ministers, on the whole I think that no particular assessment can be made yet. (Continued on page 2)

NERITAN CEKA The changes in the government are efforts to strengthen President Berisha’s position. It is not possible to speak of a new government structure, because this is a new government for the prime minister. It is a government appointed directly by President Berisha, in which the prime minister is a figure with no weight in the sector before the public order portfolio. As for the new ministers, they are not new choices compared with those who have held career positions, with the exception of the foreign minister, who comes from outside. Berisha, that is, is trying to give the government the impression that it will be his government, but also to bring into power some of those who voted for the PD, making it re- (Continued on page 2)

SABRI GODO: The three-party political coalition has ceased to exist 1. On Sunday, I declared on behalf of the Republican Party that the prime minister did not meet the conditions created for the government reshuffle and, since many of our demands regarding the functioning of the governing coalition have not been taken into account, we do not consider further participation in the coalition possible. Thus, to put it simply, we are out of the government, and we will provide constructive opposition to the government, supporting it whenever it does the right things to help the country emerge from the difficult situation in which it finds itself. There have been some discussions, but the issue is not so much one of the seats and the per- (Continued on page 2)

VASIL MELO The PD is once again isolated, as before 1. The government reshuffle, with changes to ministries and ministers, clearly shows that the PD and the government have still not conducted a full and in-depth analysis of the situations that arose after November 6. All the opinions expressed during this period by representatives of parties and political figures in the country, and through the media, focused on the idea of a referendum against the arbitrary manner in which the adoption of the Constitution and its completion were imposed on the country; they also expressed rejection of the government’s threatening policy of de- ritalizme[?] influenced by the government. In this government reshuffle, people had hoped for an opening (Continued on page 2)

- BBC commentary - Albanian President Sali Berisha dismissed eight cabinet ministers—more than half of them—just one month after his draft constitution suffered an unexpected defeat in a referendum. Mr. Berisha then blamed the government’s incompetence and corruption for this. But will this change the situation? BBC specialist Gabriel Partosh analyzes the Albanian president’s latest moves. During his campaign, President Berisha had described the November 6 referendum as the greatest day in Albania’s history. But, as is known, the vote signaled a defeat for both him and the ruling Democratic Party, since 54 percent of referendum participants voted against the proposed draft of the country’s new constitution. The vote is seen not only as opposition to some articles in the draft- (Continued on page 4)

An eyewitness recounts: As Saturday was dawning, at 5 a.m., special forces from Tirana, equipped with everything, bulletproof protective gear and ammunition, two machine guns mounted, eight police vehicles, radios and other equipment, entered the village of Lazarat. They split into three groups according to the positions of the houses that had been targeted and made arrests involving the brothers Bra- hmi and a first cousin of (Continued on page 4)