- Ardian Fullani, head of foreign relations at the Bank of Albania, is also an expert at this bank - Whose interests are Albania’s highest-ranking finance officials supporting: those of the bank that pays their salaries, or those that give them bonuses in dollars? “Meanwhile, upon my appointment as Minister of Finance, I notified both of the main parties participating in this Bank of my departure from the position of chairman of the board of this bank.” This is a statement made several weeks ago by Albania’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Mr. Dylber Vrioni. For Albanians, this statement has already been exposed as a lie, since the very next day “Zëri” confirmed the opposite with the Italo-Albanian Bank. But today, “Zëri...” presents a facsimile of the “Minutes of the Meeting of the Assembly of Shareholders of the Italo-Albanian Bank,” held on December 21, 1994, at 11:30 a.m. at the Bank’s headquarters in Tirana. It is these minutes that once again expose the number 2 in the “Meksi 3” Government. Mr. Dylber Vrioni attended the meeting of December 21, 1994—16 days after becoming a Minister—in his capacity as President of the Italo-Albanian Bank and, after the participants had been verified, chaired the meeting as President of the Assembly. But the lie is not the important element or effect of this document. What is important is that Mr. Vrioni himself considered— in his reply to “ZP” on March 30, 1995—his holding these two positions unacceptable. More importantly, he gives evidence of this. Yet despite this, he has continued to hold these positions. On March 31, the Italo-Albanian Bank told “Zëri...” that “there is nothing official confirming that Mr. Vrioni has requested to leave his position.” But we were unable to learn—because Mr. Vrioni did not receive us—which of the reasons—incompatibility with constitutional law, or incompatibility with economic provisions—“forced” Mr. Vrioni to “notify” them of his “departure” from the position of Chairman of the Bank’s Board. In any case, his holding both positions—as the document shows—violated Albanian constitutional provisions, and this is a scandal. The scandal becomes spectacular when one learns that, in his capacity as President (Continued on page 2)

Socialist Prime Ministers GJULA HORN and ZHAN VIDENOV invited to speak before the Assembly of the C. E. Yesterday, the for Strasbourg to take part in the Spring Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The agenda for this session includes important political and socioeconomic issues, as well as the protection of fundamental human rights. Among the politicians invited to speak before the Assembly during this session are the socialist prime ministers, Hungary’s Gju la Horn and Bulgaria’s Zhan Videnov.

From the presidential elections in France “We will win”—this was the cry heard throughout the headquarters of the socialist candidate for president, Lionel Jospin, after news came that he had come first in the first round of the election, with 23.2 percent of the vote. This result had been predicted in all the polls conducted up to the eve of the election. In second place came the center-right candidate and Mayor of Paris, Jacques Chirac, with 20.6 percent of the vote. In third place was Balladur, the current Prime Minister, with 18.5 percent of the vote. In fourth place came the far-right candidate Le Pen, with 15.1 percent of the vote, etc. As is known, only the two leading candidates have the right to compete in the second round of the presidential election, namely Jospin and Chirac, who in practice began campaigning for the second round on Monday. In his first speech after news of his victory, Jospin called on all left-wing forces to unite behind him, to secure the left’s victory in the high office of President of the French Republic. “I want to tell everyone: let us prepare for the future. Let us prepare the future together. We can make it so that all our [unclear] win, that they become the property of the entire French people,” Lionel Jospin emphasized in his speech, addressing the left-wing electorate and the electorate in general. Many of the polls conducted in recent months did not predict Jospin’s victory in the first round. All European commentators and journalists describe his victory as a surprise result. Nevertheless, here and there, the reasons for Jospin’s “unexpected victory” are also being expressed. Above all, the slogan “for social justice” in Jospin’s election campaign is being credited. Those who know him consider him an honest politician. Meanwhile, experts on the French electorate describe voters as being in a difficult situation: without work, without prospects, anxious, and with a feeling of being excluded from society. With its vote, the French electorate showed that it believes in honest candidates, even if they are not very charismatic, as is the case (Continued on page 4)

According to preliminary results under the proportional system, the Democratic Party of the Left (PDS) secured 27.2 percent of the vote in elections held under a mixed system: majoritarian for the presidents of the councils and proportional for the members of those councils. Preliminary results

Having been dragged in, by hook or by crook, to comment on the statement by the president of the republic’s spokesperson concerning the 2 billion dollars invested in Albania, the ZP spokesperson finally decided to make a statement. We heard the statement you are referring to on all RTV programs and, besides the aesthetic pleasure I derived from it, I became fully convinced that Dad had ZP and how modest his statement is [?]. From a simple calculation I made, and judging by what has been coming out of my mouth over these 3 years, investments have not amounted to 2 billion dollars, but at least 10 times more. I said that the president’s spokesperson’s statement does not include: 1. Investments in the construction of 203 [?] beds, on which 415 linear meters of hornbeam fencing, 13,427 linear meters of willow fencing, 713,738 linear meters of mixed fencing (thorn, hornbeam, trap) and 5,393 linear meters of barbed-wire fencing have been built. 2. Investments in the construction of the new leadership block, where the houses of the current regime have been left intact. Investments made to buy pumps from citizens, to buy a high-rise [unclear] and to install electricity when they [unclear]. 3. Investments made to create bidonvilles on the outskirts of towns and throughout the country’s western lowland, as well as those for joining wastewater with a pollen [unclear]. This does not include investments made in the pockets of officials by citizens who want permits to build houses, have water installed, or get electricity. 4. Investments in buying every kind of razor blade and renovating public baths in towns—investments that have achieved a high level of effectiveness. During these past 3 years, money has been invested in buying [unclear] for setting and waving hair, at a value 1.7 times greater than the amount used for this purpose from the proclamation of the Tanzimat up to March 22. The value of investments made by the firm “Gabic” is not included here; the firm has established itself in all the country’s towns and demonstrates substantial [unclear] maintenance. 5. Investments made by citizens to buy bars, locks, bolts, chains, guard dogs, and other items to protect their homes. According to a rough calculation, the value of these investments exceeds by 2.43 times the value of metal-cutting machines bought over 47 years. 6. Investments in buying more than 100 thousand [unclear] eared [unclear], which account for around 39.3 percent of the day’s farm work carried out by the happy Albanian farmers. Also to be added are investments in the helicopters used by the ruling party for phone tapping, for attendance, volunteers at rallies, for occupying, demolishing, and pouring decorations— (Continued on page 2)

According to preliminary results under the proportional system, the Democratic Party of the Left (PDS) secured 27.2 percent of the vote in the local elections and, under the majoritarian system, six seats for presidents of regional councils; the right has won five seats, with four seats still to be determined. PDS, (PDS) secured 27.2 percent of the vote in the local elections and, under the majoritarian system, six seats for presidents of regional councils; the right has won five seats, with four seats still to be determined. As has also been reported, the first round of elections for 15 of Italy’s 20 regional councils was held in Italy yesterday. They were held under a mixed system: majoritarian for the council presidents and proportional for the members of these councils. Preliminary results published by RAI show that, for the first time in Italy’s history, the Democratic Party of the Left came in first, outperforming the other parties both nationally and regionally, as well as under the majoritarian system. According to RAI’s incomplete reports, the results are as follows: National level PDS 25.9 percent FI (Berlus). 22.2 percent AN (Fini) 13.8 percent Rif. Kom. 8.7 percent. LN 6.1 percent PP (Popular Party) 5.5 percent CCD (Christian Democratic Centre) 3.3 percent. Regional level. SOUTH NORTH CENTER PDS 20.5 26.3 34 FI 19.4 23.7 18.9 AN 18.1 10.5 17.2 Rif. Kom 9.1 7.7 1.4 PP 8.6 0.6 1.1 CCD 7.8 2.8 3.1 LN — 11.3 —

These days, the leadership of the Socialist Party in the Kurbin district approved the establishment of a new PS organization in the village of Shkopet. The organization was formed with 10 members, most of them young. Many young people in this district have submitted applications to join the Socialist Party.

Peshkopia, a small city in the northeast, described years ago as a city of linden trees and roses, is gradually turning into a car graveyard. On the roads, in the areas beside apartment blocks, and in the lanes, you see dozens of cars of all kinds, stripped and abandoned like ownerless goods. In some apartment buildings, the entrances are almost blocked by these cars. In the face of this situation, the territorial planning council, along with the other legal authorities, remain silent.

While they were waiting for the Mamurras route bus, five women became victims of a K. Gjakoka «Opel» passenger car, which sped toward the bus stop and struck them. It was a miracle that none of them was seriously injured. They are currently in Tirana hospital.

MINUTES OF THE EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF THE SHAREHOLDERS OF THE ITALO-ALBANIAN BANK

OF THE EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF THE SHAREHOLDERS OF THE ITALO-ALBANIAN BANK ITALO-ALBANIAN BANK Today, December 21, 1994, at 11:30 a.m., in Tirana, at the address Skenderbej Square No. 1, before me, Notary Anana MALLKUÇI, registered as such on August 7, 1994, No. 37, the shareholders, directors, and members of the Council of Experts of the Italo-Albanian Bank (B-I-A)—a joint-stock company established and operating in accordance with the laws in force in Albania—are present, namely: -Mr. Dylber VRIONI, President of B-I-A, -Mr. Carlo GILARDI, Vice President of B-I-A, -Mr. Nicola STOCK, General Director of B-I-A, -Mr. Agim AMOLLI, Member of the Administrative Council of B-I-A, -Mr. Kristaq LUNIKU, President of the Council of Experts of B-I-A, -Mr. Ardian FULLANI, Member of the Council of Experts of B-I-A. -The shareholder Banca di Roma, represented by Mr. Nicola STOCK, -The shareholder Albanian National Commercial Bank, represented by Mr. Agim AMOLLI -Mr. Dylber VRIONI is appointed Chairman of the Assembly. The Notary is appointed Secretary of the Assembly.