The Chairman of the Court of Cassation votes against lifting the deputy’s immunity YESTERDAY IN PARLIAMENT THE DP’S POLITICAL ORDER FAILS IN THE FACE OF THE DEPUTIES’ FREE VOTE - At midnight last night, Parliament voted against lifting the immunity of the chairman of the Court of Cassation - Yesterday’s working day for the Albanian Parliament began amid great tension, setting the tone for the hours that followed in the plenary session. It seemed that every subsequent moment had already been predetermined to unfold that way. Announced the previous day on all the main news broadcasts, the Chairman of the Court of Cassation appeared yesterday at Parliament’s central headquarters, where the deputies were to consider—at the request of the Prosecutor General—the lifting of his immunity. At around 10:00 yesterday morning, the chief judge was stopped at the central checkpoint by Parliament’s guards. Despite the guards’ insistence, Zef Brozi immediately entered Parliament’s outer grounds, visibly agitated. Speaking into our microphone, he said: “I see what is going to happen; it seems they have ordered that the Chairman of the Court of Cassation be stopped from entering Parliament.” But although he got past the first checkpoint, Brozi was unable to get through the building’s entrance. The head of security, who was there, explained that the Chairman of the Court of Cassation could not enter the building without permission. For several minutes Brozi explained that he had always been allowed in, but he could not convince the head of security, who had already been persuaded by the order. On the central façade of Parliament’s headquarters, the German and Swiss ambassadors followed every moment of the incident. Mr. Fëlers addressed Brozi in Albanian: “How are you, Mr. Chairman?” Brozi replied in French: “Fine. They won’t let the President of the Court of Cassation enter Parliament. Berisha won’t let me in.” While Mr. Fëlers went inside, Brozi was forced to remain outside, listen to Shaban Memia’s retort, and ask for permission to enter. Nevertheless, he managed to distribute to deputies from various groups the latest materials concerning the matter. For many minutes, the Chairman of the Court of Cassation remained outside, protesting and seeking help from deputies of all groups. Strangely, the person who routinely hands out entry passes had disappeared. After more than 30 minutes of trying, Brozi—saying, “Now I understand the scenario; I’m leaving, since it’s a fine day and I have faith in the deputies”—left Parliament. Meanwhile, at around 11:00, Brozi appeared again on Parliament’s grounds, only to be left outside once more. Inside the chamber, opposition deputies and others vehemently demanded that Brozi be allowed to speak before Parliament, also protesting that he had been stopped. Arbnori, who had been caught out and had to make a complete about-face after saying that under the rules only deputies and ministers could enter the chamber, while others needed permission (even the President had to obtain permission), was subjected to taunts from several deputies, who reminded him that he had slept in the gallery, when he received a letter from Zef Brozi informing him that Brozi had been left outside. While it became clear that the order to prevent the Chairman of the Court of Cassation from entering had come from him, after 1 hour and 17 minutes Arbnori made it possible for Brozi to enter the “sacred” building of Parliament.

High tension in the parliamentary chamber as well . It emerged as soon as Mr. Pjetër Arbnori raised the request to consider the agenda, which was to begin with examining the annulment of the People’s Assembly decision appointing Judge Tefta Zaka to the Court of Cassation (a few days earlier). Opposition from the parliamentary groups was immediate. According to AD deputy Mr. Teta, [text cut off/unclear] while bypassing the fundamental issues—[text cut off/unclear] “As always, you impose your arrogance. Arbnori, you pretend to forget them and bring them here to consider— (Continued on page 2)

The Secretary General of the Party of European Socialists, Aksel Anish, receives the SPA delegation Secretary General of the Party of European Socialists Aksel Anish receives the SPA delegation Yesterday morning, at the headquarters of the Party of European Socialists in the European Parliament, its Secretary General, Mr. Aksel Anish, received a delegation of the SPA led by its deputy chairman, Dr. Servet Pëllumbi. Those attending the meeting included Ilir Meta, deputy chairman of the SPA; MPs and members of the SP Presidium Ethem Ruka and Arta Dabulla; and MP Anastas Angjeli. The members of the SP delegation briefed Mr. Anish on the economic and political situation in Albania, as well as on the party’s proposed way of overcoming the constitutional, political and economic crisis. An important part of the discussions concerned the SPA’s relations with European socialist parties and the continuation of dialogue and further contacts in the future.

- The SPA delegation was received by the international secretary of the Belgian SP, Mr. ETJEN GODEN. - Continuing its meetings in Brussels, the SPA delegation was also received yesterday at the headquarters of the Socialist Party of Belgium by Mr. Etjen Goden. The meeting discussed relations between the two parties at the present stage and ways to intensify them in the future. Mr. Goden, who is also a member of the bureau of the European SP, expressed the Belgian SP’s willingness to establish closer contacts with the Socialist Party of Albania and to learn at first hand about the problems it faces. Regarding the Nano issue, Mr. Goden expressed the support of the Belgian SP and its hope for a speedy resolution.

The meeting held by the SPA delegation with Mr. Bo Toresson, Secretary General of the European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity, was also of great interest. The meeting held by the SPA delegation with Mr. Bo Toresson, was also of great interest. At this meeting, the contacts established so far were assessed and concrete cooperation in the future was discussed. In particular, Mr. Bo Toresson expressed the European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity’s readiness to assist the SPA in further developing its program for economic and social reforms.

PHILIP CORDERY, Secretary General of the European Community Young Socialists (ECOSY), received the SPA delegation at the ECOSY headquarters in the European Parliament. PHILIP CORDERY, Secretary General of the European Community Young Socialists (ECOSY), received the SPA delegation, led by its deputy chairman, Dr. Servet Pëllumbi, at the ECOSY headquarters in the European Parliament. At this meeting, the SPA representatives praised ECOSY’s contribution to making the values of Albanian socialism known and also noted the acceptance of the Albanian Young Eurosocialists as associate members of ECOSY. For his part, Mr. Cordery confirmed both ECOSY’s and his own personal commitment to increasing support for FRESSH and the Socialist Party.

The chair of the Socialist Group in the EU, Ms. PAULINE GREEN, takes part. An important meeting was also held with the Presidium of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament, the largest group in the EU. The delegation from consisted of Ms. Pauline Green, chair of the group; Mr. Luixhi Kolajani and Mr. Jani Kubatis, vice-chairs; Ms. Nadia Van Hamme, head of the international relations department; and Mr. Rob Van De Water, secretary for relations with the countries of Eastern Europe. The meeting, which was of great interest, involved discussion and an exchange of views on the political, economic and social situation in Albania and on the role of the SPA as one of the principal forces in the democratic processes of this period. Special attention was also given to the state of, and prospects for, further cooperation between the SPA and its Parliamentary Group and the EU Socialist Group, to the contribution they have made in helping Albania, and to solidarity in resolving the Nano issue. The SPA delegation invited a delegation from the Socialist Group of the European Parliament to visit Albania. The chair of the Socialist Group in the EU welcomed the invitation and authorized her two vice-chairs to arrange the visit.

CONTINUATION OF A STRIKE Interview with the miners of Bulqiza On the phone from Bulqiza: For several days, the miners’ hunger strike has continued deep down at the eighth level of the Bulqiza mine. They are determined to secure fulfillment of all the economic demands they have submitted. Sakaj, it is learned that on the evening of January 31, police detained several leaders of the miners’ union strike, while the following day, February 1, four of the hunger strikers were forced to leave the strike because of their serious health condition. We interviewed one of them, Ymer Xhediku, who told «Zëri i Popullit» at the Bulqiza hospital, where he is admitted, that the condition of those barricaded underground, including himself, continues to deteriorate. They are living on nothing but cheese. They lack everything, including medical care. It is reported that the leaders of the district committee of the Socialist Party and those of the Social Democratic Party have also issued statements in support of the strikers’ just demands. We will inform you in greater detail in tomorrow’s issue. Bulqizë, February 1, 1995 8:00 p.m. Bulqiza is experiencing a dramatic moment. Around two hundred miners have barricaded themselves deep down at the eighth level and are fighting hunger and death. What has driven the miners of Bulqiza to leave their homes and put their lives at risk deep underground, where even the air is thin? Unable to go down because the underground entrances have been blocked, we interviewed several mine workers who had gathered at the 41st square in solidarity with those barricaded underground and in protest against the state’s indifference to their hardships. First, you meet a group of women workers in sorting and transport, who had left work in protest and were returning home. A woman with the surname Krusa (her first name was not captured on the tape) told us: “We have gone on strike for our rights. They are not giving us the ten-percent wage supplement. The gallery workers have gone on strike. I don’t know how many there are. They say there are 70; they say there are 200.” Rajmonda Mazari, a young worker in the mine’s sorting and transport department: “We demand not to have to work the third shift; we demand the ten-percent wage supplement they have not given us. We demand a pay rise. We get 1,000 lekë a day, the same as health-care workers—actually less than they do.” Bajram Poleshi, a miner from Zall-Dardha: “We demand answers to some of our requests, which are: that the corruption be uncovered, that the thief who stole 75 million lekë be found. We must be given the ten-percent wage supplement the state has granted to everyone. The reform in the enterprise must be carried out according to the law. Our comrades are on hunger strike; they have been barricaded there for 42 hours. Nobody is giving them any thought. Those in the local government are all against them. The police have turned against the workers and went there to force them out of the strike. We are here and we will not back down.” Zabit Shira: “I have been a rock-fall miner for 22 years. I have given my blood for this place. I left my 31-year-old brother here. This mine has been crushing people for generations. More than 1,500 miners have been killed or left disabled in this mine. This mine has clothed hundreds of mothers, wives, and sisters in black. Therefore, I send my greetings and appeal to the President, the Prime Minister, and all the parties to come and take part in this strike. This is not a political strike; it is an economic strike. Our demands are: give us the ten-percent supplement, pursue the corruption to the end, give us miner status. Today, there are no miners accompanying me. Look at these people (three… [text unclear] (Continued on page 2)

The SPP delegation, headed by SPP deputy chairman Dr. Servet Pëllumbi, also held an interesting meeting with the chairman and deputy chairman of the Left Group in the European Parliament, Messrs. Alon Puerta and Aleko Allavanos. During the meetings between the two delegations, views were exchanged on improving mutual understanding and cooperation. The SPP delegation expressed its thanks for the group’s solidarity in helping Albania and in resolving the Nano issue as quickly as possible.

At this meeting, the political, economic, and social situation in Albania was discussed, and it was requested that her commitment continue, as it has until now. At this meeting, the political, economic, and social situation in Albania was discussed, and it was requested that her commitment continue, as it has until now, so that the European Union would continue helping Albania along the path of democratic processes. Ms. Lalumier expressed her full willingness and wished that Albania would find the most democratic solutions to its economic and political situations. The meetings were also attended by SPP deputy chairman Ilir Meta, members of the Party Presidium Professor Dr. Ethem Ruka and Arta Dulla, and Associate Professor Dr. Anastas Angjeli, members of parliament for the Socialist Party. SPP Press and Information Office.

Yesterday morning, the U.S. Ambassador to Albania, Mr. Joseph E. Lake, received the editors of the country’s leading newspapers at his residence. Yesterday morning, the U.S. Ambassador to Albania, Mr. Joseph E. Lake, received the editors of the country’s leading newspapers at his residence: Thoma Gëllçi, editor-in-chief of the newspaper «Zëri i popullit»; Lorenc K- [text cut off] of the newspaper «Rilindjes demokratike»; Aleksandër Frangaj of the newspaper «Koha Jonë»; Lutfj Dervishi of the newspaper «Republika»; and Blendi Fevziu of the newspaper «Aleanca». During the meeting, they discussed the diverse range of the press in Albania and other matters of mutual interest. «Zëri i popullit» correspondent

You will find out further details in the next issue.