IN PARLIAMENT: THE “NEW” MEKSI GOVERNMENT—3 IN INTENSIVE CARE - The removal of some ministers and the appointment of others is approved needle-like by the cadre’s deputies - Nothing has changed. Meksi continues to blow the flute held for him by someone else, while Albania is without electricity, without water, and back in the bread lines. - Ali Spahia fears a secret ballot. The robots’ votes cannot postpone the PD’s winter Once again Aleksandër Meksi—the Prime Minister of Albania—climbed yesterday to the ornate rostrum of Parliament. This time to seek a vote of confidence for the “puppets” who will accompany him in warming the government chairs and on tourist trips abroad, but not in solving the people’s problems... In any case, though he is disliked by more than 70 percent of the people, who did not vote for the basic law drafted by him, Mr. Meksi was once again “pleasing” yesterday to those who, according to a caricature in the newspaper “Aleança,” put a flute in his mouth so that he can blow it. Appointed the previous day as head of the government task force to cope with the extraordinary energy situation, he had taken steps to ensure that the building (Continued on page 2) A prime minister who has no respect for Parliament does not respect the people who elected that Parliament It is no coincidence that Prime Minister Meksi shows a lack of respect for the Albanian Parliament, just as he does not… does not respect even the people who elected this parliament It is no accident the Albanian Parliament, just as it is no accident that he evades the great concerns and hardships of the people. The people elected the members of parliament, Mr. Prime Minister. Therefore, even if you do not want to, or do not know how to respect them, you are obliged to do so. But Meksi is Meksi. The Wednesday session of the People’s Assembly essentially expresses the members of parliament’s concern about the governance of the country, which is becoming ever more catastrophic, and their commitment to finding ways out of the mire and deep crisis into which Berisha has plunged it with his Meksi government. But Mr. Meksi did not answer their questions, proving once again, convincingly, that he does not deserve the position in which he has been placed, just as this people does not deserve Berisha’s government. Without wishing to dwell on commentary, we are publishing all the questions that the members of parliament put to the prime minister, so that readers may draw their own conclusions and become better acquainted with the people who govern them. But there is one thing we say with conviction: a prime minister who has no respect for Parliament also disrespects the people who elected this parliament. And this happens only in Albania.

Memorandum from a group of deputies Addressed to the President of the Republic, Mr. Sali Berisha For the information of the Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Mr. Pjetër Arbnori A year and a half has passed since the arrest and imprisonment of the Socialist Party deputy, Fatos Nano. This matter has led to an exacerbation of Albanian political life and to a weakening of the international image of Albanian democracy. Various positions on this matter have been expressed by the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and the Council of the World Inter-Parliamentary Union. The latter, at the proposal of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians, which based its position on four detailed examinations of the “Nano case” (Geneva, Paris, Copenhagen, on September 17, 1994), approved a resolution in which the Council of the World Inter-Parliamentary Union states, in essence: - It cannot understand how Mr. Nano’s acts or omissions, referred to in the decision of the Tirana Court of First Instance, prove Mr. Nano’s guilt, and it expresses doubts about the logical basis and fairness of the aforementioned court decision; - It expresses its serious concern about the allegations concerning the court’s one-sided approach to the handling of evidence, in particular allegations that important documents were removed; that the court used irregular evidence; that incomplete or inappropriate documents and evidence were used; and that the decision gives a distorted version of the witnesses’ testimony; - It draws attention in this connection to the fact that Albania is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, and is therefore obliged, on this basis, to respect and guarantee the right to a fair trial. - It requests information about Mr. Nano’s ability to meet his colleagues and lawyers, as well as the prospects for his release. Motivated by our desire and obligation to ensure the normal development of democracy in Albania; Believing that resolving the “Nano case” will contribute significantly to creating a more suitable climate for understanding, social peace, and the expansion of the human dimension; Stating that the release of deputy Fatos Nano will contribute to improving Albania’s democratic image in the eyes of international public opinion; We ask you, honorable Mr. President, to exercise your constitutional powers to release Mr. Fatos Nano. Respectfully, the deputies of the People’s Assembly GRAMOZ PASHKO TEODOR KEKO. KOSTA MAKARAJDAHI THOMA MIÇO PERIKLI TETA. LUSHI PËRPALI. THEODHORI BEJ, SHAQIR VUKAJ. ERMELINDA MEKSI, MUSA ULQINI MEHMET LOCI. FEHMI ABDIU ANASTAS ANGJELI. DRITERÒ AGOLLI. YLLI BUFI NDRE LEGISI. SABIT BROKAJ. ALFRED PALOKA. ILIR META, BASHKIM ÇAKA. TEFIK JAZAJ. PANDELI MAJKO, VLADIMIR METANI, MIRI HOTI. BARDHYL AGASI, MOIKOM ZEQO. IBRAHIM BAÇI ADEM ZYBERI. BASHKIM KOCI. MAQO LAKRORI. SHKELOIM ÇANI. GRAMOZ RUÇI. SËRVET PËLLUMBI. ETHEM RUKA. NAMIK DOKLE. XHEVAT LLOSHI. BASHKIM ZENELI. LEONTIEV ÇUÇI. HALIL LALAJ. LUAN HAJDARAGA. MITRO ÇELA. RIDVAN PESHKEPIA. PASKAL MILO. GJERGJ RAKAJ. VASIL GJIKA, ARBEN IMAMI.

16 ACADEMICIANS ADDRESS MR. SHABAN DEMIRAJ

Fehmi Abdiu 1. What are the criteria on which relations with the government have been established? 2. Do you stand as a “guarantor” before Parliament and the people that your government is not corrupt? 3. Do you regard these changes as personal changes or as restructuring, as changes in the way the government is run? 4. What connection do you see between the new government and the situation in Tirana, which is without bread, energy, and water? 5. What are your thoughts? Why has the President of the Republic explained or justified none of the changes? 6. Are these structures legally recognized? 7. What do you think: is your government monocolo or multiparty? 8. For each minister who has been removed: Will they swear before Parliament that they leave these posts with a clean record? Namik Dokle 1. Are you sure that the list of names of the new ministers does not include any former spy for the former State Security? 2. Are there corruption files concerning those who are leaving? (Continued on page 4)

Albania is in an electricity crisis. The country is in a state of emergency. Forces from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Defense have announced No. ... Kyqet ... ... Citizens rightly demand a normal electricity supply. They are not interested in either the commission or the decrees. The President because we ... This is no joke; it is a complete lack of responsibility. The excuse that there has been no rainfall is not so convincing, since every village knows that there has been no rain in recent months. But the whole country is nevertheless in despair ... The energy crisis shows that the Meksi-Berisha government is not capable of governing the country, does not know how to make a makzahin, no matter how often they change their wigs. BLEDA DRINI

16 ACADEMY OF JUSTICE 2000 SHKABAN... [text of the line above partially cut off] The Academy of Sciences of Albania must not be allowed to be ruined and dismantled Zofi Shaban Demiraj I am addressing you as the person entrusted with the affairs of the Academy of Sciences of Albania and their management. As is known, several months ago the Statute of the Academy of Sciences of Albania was submitted to the Government and approved. In this way, the Statute, although not examined and approved by the Academy’s Assembly, has entered into force and become binding. Once the Statute was approved, as would have been natural and proper, we expected the Academy’s Assembly to convene so that together we could consider the measures that need to be taken to implement it. Unfortunately, you did not do this. We are therefore compelled to take this step and, in accordance with the provisions of the Statute, request that the Assembly be convened to discuss the problems before it and thus begin working normally. In the past, our Academy has suffered from partisan interference and prejudice. Today, in conditions of freedom of thought and pluralism, this must not be allowed to happen again; to be ruined and dismantled, for it has been and remains the result of the efforts, hard work, dreams and aspirations of an entire army of researchers and scientists. It is in the interest of all society and democracy to support Albanian science and scientists and not to let the Academy of Sciences of Albania sink into the tragic state of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Kosovo. An attack on the Academy of Sciences of Albania, as the most important center of our national science and culture, can only harm our nation. It is not for us to give them this objective. The names of the members and corresponding members of the Academy of Sciences who signed the request: Alfred Uçi Bedri Dedja Besim Daja Dhimtër Shuterqi Hajredin Kumbara Hamit Beqja Hekuran Mara Luan Omari Mentor Përmeti Petraq Pilika Petrit Gace Selaudin Bekteshi Skënder Gjlnushi Tekë Biçoku Ylli Popa Zija Xholi

A further 4 bodies have yet to be found The number of victims of the tragedy on Lake Shkodër, reported earlier, reached 8; they drowned in the waves of this lake on the morning of December 15 while sailing across to Montenegro. Yesterday, Xhelal and Fatime Leka, spouses from the village of Shtoj i Vjetër and parents of three children, were buried. Enver Borsani, 28, from the village of Golem, was also buried. Four more bodies are expected to be found. M. R.

The hunger strike by 113 representatives of families whose land was flooded by the construction of major power projects on the Drin River has entered its 20th day. Meanwhile, according to the calendar, winter began today. These people, representatives of hundreds of families whose land has been flooded, chose the path of a hunger strike knowing they would have to face an extraordinary situation, involving not only refusing food but also low temperatures. Nevertheless, the strikers are standing up to this paradoxical situation, in which the weakening of their health is compounded by the unrelenting indifference of government officials. Anyone applying the simplest logic would ask in this situation: what will happen next? The strike cannot continue indefinitely. The government officials—and they alone—are obliged to find a solution to the problem, a solution that will be in keeping with the interests of the strikers and the families whose land has been flooded, but also with the state’s current and future ability to meet these demands. By reporting on the strike’s situation in the newspaper for 19 days, we have not supported any unreasonable demand. But the indifference that is being maintained, and the half-measures being proposed, are unacceptable. It is precisely this uncertain situation that has raised social tension in Kukës. The strikers and all the citizens of Kukës feel abandoned by the central government; there is no full interest in ... their local problems. Information is being blocked; to put it plainly, eyes are being shut, with ... (Continued on page 2)

To discuss this decree, Mr. Meksi had just returned from visits abroad. As soon as he arrived, he did not answer the deputies’ questions. So it is pointless to talk about this government and this prime minister, who does not know how to answer deputies’ questions, without the slightest concern. Why did he not stay in Kavajë? As my explanation of the vote, I would read only the end of my speech, which shows Meksi abroad as well as at home (Continued on page 2)

does not respect even the people who elected this parliament