The chairman of the Socialist Party parliamentary group, Namik Dokle, left for Paris yesterday. He will take part in a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Among many other matters, the agenda for the plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly, to be held on 27–30 June 1995, will also be approved. In all likelihood, the Assembly’s agenda will also include a discussion of Albania’s admission to the Council of Europe. Press Spokesperson of the S. P.

Note: ZEF BROZI warns: - Will we remain outside the doors of Strasbourg? - Public opinion was shaken by yesterday’s statement by the Chairman of the Court of Cassation, Mr. Zef Brozi, who, having been in conflict for many months with his ruling party and with sections of the state seeking to dominate the judiciary in Albania, is making repeated appeals in defense of the values of Albanian democracy. Among other things, his warning that the «attacks» being made on the judicial system (by other branches of power) could negatively affect Albania’s admission to the European Council is particularly noteworthy. This statement, made only a few days after his meeting in Strasbourg, where he met with the highest figures in European politics, expresses not only a personal concern but also an assessment he has made of Europe’s attitude toward Albania and its democratic processes. It is clear to anyone that a civilized and democratic Europe will not admit Albania into its organizations out of compassion, out of force of habit, or to experiment with the values of democracy. Europe has its own developed standards for measuring the level democracy has reached in Albania as well. One such measure is the full independence the judiciary must enjoy. The politicians leading present-day Albania do not understand this. They think that with crude maneuvers, relying on borrowed references or childish obstinacy, they can fool Europe, pla- (Continued on page 2)

- Statement by the ERESSh Steering Committee At a time when the people as a whole are becoming aware of the path Albania must follow, and when progressive forces, fearlessly, consistently, scientifically and clearly, are setting the tone of political and social life in Albania. Today’s rulers, with their primitive, antidemocratic attitudes, are using violence to try to block the new wind that is blowing. They are rising against the vanguard of this wind: the journalists. On the eve of the new century, threatening us with prison, violence and handcuffs for free thought is an expression of a chieftainism trying to stay in power, but unable to do so. In Albania today, it is plain to see that the round table, which is essential for the future of our nation, is being replaced by machinations and backstage dealings that threaten the fate of democracy in the country. The unprecedented attack the judiciary has launched against the opposition press clearly shows that the psychology of the past is still present. The imprisonment of Fatos Nano, the denigrating attacks on PS Parliamentary Group Chairman Namik Dokle, and the assault on and imprisonment of opposition journalists clearly show that someone is interested in choosing… [Beginning of this section is missing] their transience is also highlighting the danger to the progress of the democratic process, at a time when new ideas for an Albania like all the countries of Europe have now entered everywhere. People now seek a political system in which problems are resolved democratically; where political forces debate, put forward their views, respect one another, and accept the final decision made by the free vote. They seek a free and honest market economy in which the just lives of every free citizen can prove themselves. People seek a social system in education, health care and employment. People seek a balanced and progressive foreign policy. Everyone wants an end to the political, social and economic corruption that has engulfed today’s rulers, who stole the people’s vote through demagoguery and used it for narrow personal interests. The General Committee of FRESSH denounces the recent attacks the current authorities have launched against the opposition. At this difficult time for free speech and democracy in Albania, we Albanian Eurosocialists will remain steadfast in our positions in defense of true democracy. Meanwhile, we reiterate that the time has come and it is ne…

- An explanation for those prosecutors who do not know how to read the decisions of the Meksi government - It is strange, but we see it every day. «RD» journalists have become prosecutors, while state prosecutors have become journalists. An absurdity arising from political machinations. Following his boss’s example, prosecutor Dervishi also gave a journalistic interview yesterday. And look what he tells us... «Nevertheless, for now I think the 400 thousand dollars are state property and they have been misappropriated outside their designated purpose? [passage continues, cut off]» We are giving him another opportunity to read the clause in this decision. Do you see, Mr. Dervishi? That money was not state property. That is why the state issued a decision to transfer it into its budget. And it transferred the actual balance of the bank account into the budget, certainly not including the 400 thousand dollars belonging to «Zëri i Popullit». We do not know how lawful the action to seize 1 million and 850516 dollars was either; that is a matter for someone else. And they were misappropriated outside the purpose specifically stipulated in the decision of the former Secretariat of the Central Committee of the PPSH, for the purchase of the printing house. Likewise, after the first installment of 150 was disbursed… But it is as clear as daylight that the 400 thousand dollars remained with «Zëri i Popullit» and are its property.

- The opposition wants Albania’s dignified membership - «Ah..., you keep saying that Albania is not in a position to join the Council of Europe.» Ali Spahia addressed these words to an opposition deputy who said something Spahia did not like at the 19 May round-table discussion on TV. This is a familiar tactic of Spahia and other PD stalwarts. Instead of making a realistic contribution to meeting the preconditions for Albania to join the CoE, they engage in low accusations against the opposition and in verbal games. Spahia’s tactic, and that of other Spahias, is to exploit the political importance of admission to the CoE in order to silence the opposition and portray it in the eyes of the people as anti-national, as they have done until now. If we are to speak about this subject, then we must say that it is patriotic to enter Europe with dignity, striving to rise to European democratic standards. This is what the opposition has done, is doing, and will do. What about the opposition? The government says there are no preconditions whatsoever for Albania’s admission to the CoE. They pretend to forget the necessity of a constitution. Now it turns out they have said that «the PD (Continued on page 3)

by Tritan Shehu Sources from the very heart of the Democratic Party’s Central Headquarters inform us of the awkward position in which the two leading editors of the newspaper «Rilindja Demokratike», Miss Ligori and Paloka, have found themselves—a position that many in the party offices regard as laughable and that was quickly resolved. The source in question stresses that everything is connected to the 10-hour-long meeting to remove both of them from their posts because the Democratic Party had rejected the values of the previous March, those of Mr. Selami, on March 5. That day, partly because of events in political life and partly because their consciences were not troubled, Ligori and Paloka replaced the heavy editorial line and, even in the case of S. B., took Eduart Selami’s side. But things turned out differently. How were they to adapt to circumstances when Tritan Shehu was taking charge at the PD Central Headquarters? Sources from this Headquarters say that Messrs. Ligori and Paloka shed tears in Tritan Shehu’s office. Wondering whether this might be exaggerated into a melodrama, we learn that they cried in front of Mr. Shehu, who, with a threat, called one of their positions at the head of RD into question. Thus, says the source in question, he is also concerned about the newspaper’s editorial tone over the past two months and the prominence given to Mr. Tritan’s visits and speeches wherever he goes. The following incident also speaks to the position of the two editors of the RD newspaper; it too is reported by an internal PD source: One day Tritan Shehu, his wife, and two trusted friends head to one of Tirana’s luxury restaurants. Mrs. Shehu had not forgotten to bring her beloved dog. During dinner, the dog kept wandering off, causing panic among the new «leaders» of the party. One of Mr. Tritan’s companions said at dinner: «It would be good if Lorenci and Edi were with us to guard the dog». This was taken as a joke, but, as RD has reported, it caused distress. Here is what came out today: In another place, the rest is milk, paper, etc. In May 1992, the government issued a decision transferring the PPSH solidarity fund to the state budget, and the movement of these funds was to be carried out with the authorization of the Minister of Finance. Damn it! We do not know whether Leka Çuko has been released or not, or whether someone else from the PPSH is still there, since he knows the decisions of the Secretariat of the former Central Committee so well. But, strangely, he does not know how to read the decisions of the Mehsi government.

- This is demonstrated by the political authorities’ savage assault on the independence of the judiciary and on the independent and opposition press - behind-the-scenes maneuvers unprecedented attack that the judiciary has launched against the opposition press clearly showed that the mentality Nano, the defamatory attacks on the Chairman of the PS Parliamentary Group, journalists clearly show that someone is interested in the coming elections taking place in Albania amid dangerous conflicts. It is clear that the politicians whom political tension brought to the surface cannot survive away from it. They, besides

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Council of Ministers — DECISION No. 183, dated 14.5.1992 — ON THE TRANSFER TO THE REVENUES OF THE FOREIGN-CURRENCY BALANCE AND THE STATE BUDGET FOR 1992 OF THE BALANCE IN THE FOREIGN-CURRENCY ACCOUNT OF THE FORMER CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE PARTY OF LABOUR Council of Ministers DECISION No. 183, dated 14.5.1992 ON THE TRANSFER TO THE REVENUES OF THE FOREIGN-CURRENCY BALANCE AND THE STATE BUDGET FOR 1992 OF THE BALANCE IN THE FOREIGN-CURRENCY ACCOUNT OF THE FORMER CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE PARTY OF LABOUR Upon the proposal of the Ministry of Finance and Economy, the Council of Ministers DECIDED: 1. Committee of the Party as of 31.12.1991, amounting to 1,865,016.80 USA dollars, together with the corresponding equivalent in lek, shall be transferred budget for 1992. 2. The use of the funds in foreign currency and lek, as specified in point 1 of this decision, shall be subject to authorization by the Ministry of Finance and Economy. 3. The economic and financial documentation reflecting the creation and use of the foreign-currency fund from 1964 to 1991 shall be subject to a financial audit by the State Audit Commission. This decision shall enter into force immediately. CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS ALEKSANDËR MEKSI Let the government take those funds too, to renovate government officials’ villas or buy luxury cars for ministers’ wives! Fine, but let it issue a government decision, as in the case of 1 million and 865013. Of course, provided it is filled with … to present Blerim’s case (see point 3) (Continued on page 2)