- Interview with the Deputy Chairman of the SP, Comrade NAMIK DOKLE, given to our journalist Ardian Myslimi - Questions: You have just returned from the Council of Europe, where the Political Committee examined and approved the report on Albania. What were the results of this meeting? Answer: The Political Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, in connection with the admission of non-member countries, is a committee that delivers the first decision, although that decision also takes into account the views of the two other committees: the Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee, and the Committee on Relations with Non-Member Countries. Albania’s path to admission and full rights in the Council of Europe was preceded by the report of the Political Committee, which was discussed this time. In the future, at meetings of the two aforementioned committees, the priorities and reports of the other two rapporteurs will naturally also be discussed. But it is important that the Political Committee’s decision was approved in a positive manner for Albania, and this is a victory for Albania and for all Albanian political forces, because Europe is accepting Albania, not individual parties; Europe is accepting Albania, not party leaders. Europe is accepting Albania, not the President of Albania. It is accepting Albania with all its political and human elements, and with the opposition it has. I would also like to mention in this connection the very important political remark made by the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, who said at a meeting with the Albanian delegation: When a state is admitted to the Council of Europe, the opposition is always more interested in it. And you know this, but above all we know the fact that Albania itself needs admission to the Council of Europe more than any party, whether in government or in opposition. The Socialist Party has always expressed this view openly, while not forgetting the issues that remain open to discussion. We have sought the assistance and advice of the Parliamentary Assembly and its committees, and we have found them fully willing to help at all the political meetings we have held. In this context, the report of the Political Committee is also a very important document for Albania; in practice, it opens the way for its admission to the Council of Europe. I believe that the discussion of this issue in the Parliamentary Assembly in June will not encounter any problem that could overturn this political forecast. Question: Can you tell us something about the range of issues addressed in the Political Committee’s report? Answer: It presents the motives of the rapporteur who prepared the report, Mr. Kelçerman, assesses some of Albania’s achievements, identifies some problems that are still being resolved, and at the same time expresses his wish and request that Albania keep certain matters in mind. The most important requirement of the Political Committee is that Albania sign the European Convention on Human Rights upon admission. This is one of the most important documents and, together with Protocols Nos. 1, 2, 4, 7 and 11, it establishes the full legal framework for protecting human rights and political rights in member countries. On the basis of the European Convention on Human Rights, a European Commission of Human Rights and a European Court of Human Rights have been established. In handling a case, this court initially pursues a conciliatory process; when that produces no result, the case is tried. Its decisions have immediate executive force in every member country. Other issues that form the full political and legal framework for a state’s integration into the Council of Europe have not escaped the committee’s attention either, such as ratification of Protocol No. 6 to the European Convention on Human Rights, concerning the abolition of the death penalty; ratification of the Convention for the protection against torture and inhuman and degrading treatment; signing the European Convention for the protection of minorities; and many other issues which we can address with understanding and positive political will, better than we have done so far. We must bear one thing in mind: we must enter Europe as Europeans, not as local chieftains. Question: You mentioned above that members of this committee also made some suggestions while the report was being examined. Can you tell us what they concerned? Answer: Suggestions were made, primarily by the committee’s own chairman, Mr. Keltçermans, regarding the Constitution. In fact, the report stated that there is no constitutional vacuum, because the main constitutional provisions were approved by the Albanian Parliament when the Democratic Party did not have a majority, and some additions were made to them later when the Democratic Party came (Continued on page 2)

On Wednesday afternoon, British Deputy Foreign Secretary Mr. Tom Richardson received SP Deputy Chairman Ilir Meta at the Foreign Office. During the meeting, SP Deputy Chairman Ilir Meta briefed Mr. Richardson and the diplomats accompanying him on the political and economic situation in the country. In particular, he focused on the SP’s positions regarding the further development of economic reforms, especially privatization; the question of the Constitution; the priority it gives to the country’s European integration; further cooperation with NATO; and the latest developments concerning the Nano issue. They also discussed the difficult situation in the region in recent days, as well as the Kosovo issue and that of the Albanians in FYROM. The meeting took place in a friendly atmosphere. ★ ★ ★ Yesterday, too, Socialist Party Deputy Chairman and Chairman of its Foreign Affairs Committee Ilir Meta received ...

Efforts to stop the flow of oil from Albania to Montenegro Oil smuggling from Albania to Montenegro, in breach of the UN Security Council embargo, is this time in the spotlight of the United Nations Security Council. The Argentine ambassador to the Security Council, who spoke on Wednesday evening, said that the illegal shipment of oil from Albania to Montenegro had attracted the attention of the Security Council Committee responsible for determining sanctions against Serbia and Montenegro. “We are beginning to take a great deal of interest in the flow of fuel from Albania to Montenegro,” Cardenas told reporters after a closed-door meeting of the Security Council Sanctions Committee, which had received information from international sanctions monitors. “I think there is now a monitor to ensure that this flow of fuel is stopped. And if it is not stopped, then we will consider what to do,” Cardenas added. The latter did not say how much fuel had passed through Montenegro into Bosnia since the sanctions were imposed, helping the Bosnian Serbs fight against the Sarajevo government. Cardenas emphasized that the oil “had been imported into Albania mainly from Greece and Italy and sent to Montenegro across the lake.” The Argentine ambassador stressed that the origin of this fuel, which is bought on the world market, was not known. “The point,” Cardenas noted, “is that the fuel is not staying in Albania, as it is supposed to. We believe that 100–150 per cent more is being imported than Albania needs”; [unclear], it flows north. This fuel is distributed and sent to the Serbs in other regions of the former Yugoslavia.

20 thousand dollars for a car A second vehicle has been added to the mountain vehicles of the Dibër District Directorate of Labour and Emigration (Directorate of Work and Emigration): a super-mountain “Toyota.” Sources within this directorate confirm that the new vehicle arrived as an “inventory transfer” from Tirana, and that the amount in lekë shown on its accompanying document converts to 20,000 dollars. This vehicle is part of the series of cars that certain party-state factions continue to distribute to their loyalists, to be used as “heavy artillery” in the impending election campaign. After these actions, it is not difficult to discern the “black mountain’s summit,” the tip of an obvious corruption iceberg. A. ASHIKU

Yesterday morning, tributes were paid at the International Cultural Centre in Tirana before the coffin containing the remains of Faik Konica, one of the great Albanian patriots and one of the most powerful pens in Albanian literature. Important figures from the country’s political and artistic life, as well as members of the diaspora, took part in the ceremony in Konica’s honour. The distinguished patriot Antoni Athanas, the writer Ismail Kadare, and others had also come to Tirana for the occasion. After the tributes, the coffin containing Konica’s remains, placed on a gun carriage and covered with the national flag, set off towards the hills by Tirana’s artificial lake, near the memorial to the Frashëri brothers, where he will rest forever. Foli and also the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, took part in these ceremonies. Correspondent of “Zëri i popullit”

The qualitative strengthening of the Party guarantees victory The Socialist Party Committee of the Korçë district met and discussed this topic. Both in the report delivered by the SP chairman, N. Pandeli, and in the discussion, it was emphasized that the campaign of this committee and the party’s election organizations and councils [unclear] are being assessed more than [unclear] as appropriate, for evaluating [unclear] political [unclear] in electoral action. Various speakers, such as Fehmi Xhemo, Jani, Tefik Çau-Kostag Bejo, and others, emphasized that [unclear] are the appropriate political fields and career [unclear] of this campaign; they [unclear]. These [unclear] are good for this, and once again the people in the city [unclear] have made contact [unclear], and in the villages they give us their support [unclear], while we also implement [unclear] to promote our alternative. For this reason, party leaders at every level in the district must understand that the outcome of this campaign is closely linked to the success of the coming electoral battle. It will certainly be very fierce, especially in the Korçë district, where the PD controls power and its officials are mired in corruption and theft of national wealth. It was pointed out at the meeting that it is absolutely essential to lead the party organizations, always keeping its statute in mind. Victory in the next elections will be ours, because we will be able to mobilize the full potential of our activists, members and sympathizers, just as we did in the referendum of 8 November. M. MEKO

In the presence of ten veterans of the National Liberation War, the commemorative session “May 9 – 50th anniversary of the victory over fascism” was held, organized by the Vlora Veterans’ Committee. After the opening remarks by the chairman of the Veterans’ Committee, Ziqiri Mero, two very interesting papers, prepared with great care, were presented. Lefter Konesi read the paper “50 years since the victory over fascism,” in which he highly praised the role of the great war and the anti-fascist peoples, and particularly that of the Albanian people. The paper was accompanied by facts and demonstrated po- (Continued on page 3)

Tribute to the 7 victims of the lake tragedy Grief-stricken Shkodër headed for the Kiri neighborhood in the early hours of Sunday morning, to share the pain with the families of the seven relatives who lost their lives in the lake’s daligic? on the afternoon of May 1. Thus, the first seven victims, who had been found in the early hours of Sunday morning [?] [?], were to be laid to rest. In the afternoon, the President of the Republic, Mr. Sali Berisha, also came to the victims’ families to offer his condolences. Meanwhile, later that afternoon, the last two bodies from this tragedy were also found. MUSA KURTULAJ

On Tuesday, the sanctuary of the church of Shenandout in Laç was inaugurated. This holy place, 4 km above the town of Laç, is frequented by believers of different faiths from almost all over the country. Around 5,000 believers attended its inauguration, along with the highest representatives of the Albanian Catholic clergy, representatives of other faiths, and local government officials. The Mass for the occasion was celebrated by Bishop Rrok Mirdita.

The former Sukth Agricultural Enterprise, once among the strongest in the country in the production of agricultural and livestock products, supplying not only the main cities but also covering exports, has turned into a lifeless wasteland. The socioeconomic foundation of this former enterprise has been destroyed. The difficult situation in this municipality has meant that over 70 percent of families have to get their bread on credit. To this end, these families have sent a petition to the competent authorities, which continue to remain silent.

The number of homeless families in the city of Korçë, as confirmed by the city’s municipal authorities, has reached around 4,000, many of them from among those politically persecuted. Consequently, the number of construction projects completed last year by various construction entities is entirely negligible. Many homeless citizens have repeatedly raised the issue of housing construction, but their voices have received no positive response from the municipality.

Massimo D’Alema, National Secretary of the Italian Democratic Party of the Left, sent this message of thanks to Prof. Servet Pëllumbi on the occasion of his congratulating Mr. D’Alema on the success achieved in the national elections. Prof. Servet Pëllumbi Deputy Chairman of the Socialist Party of Albania Tirana Dear Pëllumbi, Thank you for your good wishes. The result of 23 April encourages us to move forward in building a strong centre-left coalition, with the aim of achieving the consensus of the majority of Italian citizens. We also greatly appreciate your solidarity. Thank you once again. With warmest regards, MASIMO Left