The conference “Democracy and Economic Reform,” held in Tirana from May 19–21, 1995, and organized by the European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity in cooperation with the PSD of Albania, continued its proceedings on its second day in a plenary session. Mr. Ludomir Slahor, representative of the PSD of Slovenia, delivered a report on behalf of the European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity, highlighting the transition period in the countries of Eastern and Central Europe, the social problems and difficulties they have faced, as well as social-democratic alternatives for overcoming them. MP Gjergj Rakaj, a member of the leadership of PSDSh, delivered the report “Transition, Economic Reform and Prospects in Albania.” The proceedings then continued with discussions. The speakers included Mr. Mircea Kosean, Minister for Reform of the PSD of Romania; Mr. Franci Krizanic, mem- (Continued on page 2)

Deliberate actions intended to leave Albania outside Europe’s doors

Read on page 3. OPINIONS Among the jurists, Critime, Pato From the jurists: Kujtim Puto, Kosta Gazeli, Artan Gjylbegu, Dilaver Bregasi, Kleanthi Koçi, Përparim Sanxhaku, Ali Meta, Maks Haxhia, Mark Pëllumbi.

A badly fabricated case Preceded by the RD’s ample “arguments” and the hysterical calls of some PD leader, the case of the 400 thousand dollars entered the offices of the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office and is now emerging from them with imprisonment, detentions, arrests and psychological terror directed at the journalists of “Z.P” and the owners of “Progres.” But the more the investigation is “deepened,” the more the “foundations” of the accusation crumble and the political backdrop of the case fades away. 1. The state budget has not been touched. — By Decision No. 104 dated 10.12.1990, “On certain expenditures from the ‘Solidarity Fund,’” the former Secretariat of the Central Committee of the PPSH puts in As can be seen here, there is no mention of the 400-thousand-dollar fund, because it came from the Solidarity Fund. Furthermore, taking into account the change in political circumstances and seeking to be on the safe side, the former editor-in-chief of the newspaper “ZP,” P. Xhixha, on 10.6.1992 asked the Meksi Government for confirmation “whether we should continue negotiations to obtain the printing press or terminate the contract and recover the funds we have advanced.” But the Meksi Government has still not replied to this day. Why? The answer is clear: it was not its money, but “ZP”’s. psychological terror against the journalists of «ZP» and the employees of «Progres». But the more I «delve into» the investigation, political background of the case fades away. 1. The state budget was not Committee of the PPSH made 400 thousand USD available to the editorial office of the newspaper «Zëri i Popullit» for the purchase of a printing press. Since it was a special fund, a written request was sent to the Foreign Sector of the Central Committee of the PPSH. — A review of the state budget items for 1990, 1991, 1992, and through to today shows that this fund was not included in the budget, which indicates that it was a special fund, formed from special, external sources that are now known. Under the law on the plan and budget and the other laws of that time, final approval of the state budget’s revenues and expenditures was given by the highest bodies of the PPSH. By Decision No. 183, dated 14.5.1992, the Meksi Government (that is, only a few days after it had been formed) ordered the transfer to state budget revenues for 1992 of the balance in the foreign-currency account of the former Central Committee of the PPSH, amounting to 1,865,016 USD. To be sure, on 10.6.1992 the former editor-in-chief of the newspaper «ZP», P. Xhixha, negotiations to acquire the printing press or terminate the contract and return the funds we have sent». day. Why? The answer is clear: the money was not its own, but belonged to «ZP». Furthermore, on 7 July 1993, the State Audit Service, implementing point 3 of the aforementioned Meksi Government decision, carried out an inspection at the editorial office of «ZP», where, among other things, it wrote that «The remaining amount, around 250 thousand dollars, was used for various needs of the newspaper’s editorial office». Although that is not entirely the truth, let us accept it in part. This means that Mr. B. Çela knew this fact around two years earlier, but kept silent. Why? Because this money did not come from the state budget but belonged to «ZP». Because, under the law, he was permitted to inspect only the use of state funds. Otherwise, he would have asked the Meksi Government to issue a new decision to transfer this money into the budget and would not have allowed this issue to be raised on the eve of new parliamentary elections. The «certification» that Mr. Çela made on RTV by (Continued on page 2)

— Their actual cost is 5 million lekë. Where did the other 16.5 million go? — Kurbin One of the many examples of rampant corruption in the district of Kurbin is the spectacular waste and embezzlement of funds allocated for repairing the road linking the villages in the Kurbin highlands with the town of Milot. The road was badly damaged by the floods that occurred in November 1992, when two of its bridges also collapsed. The local authorities requested funds. A sum of 16.5 million (new) lekë was allocated for this road. The railway construction enterprise in Lac, which undertook the work, merely pretended to work, sending a number of workers there for…? a picnic. Days and weeks passed, and the work was halted. “The funds have run out,” they said. A few minor stretches were completely insignificant compared with the allocated amount. Everything had been planned on the basis of a specific estimate. But as for this estimate, was there some budge-? with impressive works, nothing without a plan… No other work was carried out. Of the bridges that were started, the enterprise abandoned the work on this road. Where did the funds go? This was never seriously considered, nor was it taken into account by either the local authorities or the State Audit, despite repeated reports to them. Before asking where the funds had gone, and into whose pockets they had gone, it was «deemed appropriate» to request another allocation for the bridges. And the paperwork «administrators» secured another 5 million lek (new lek). In truth, this additional funding ended up in the hands of various people at Tirana’s «21 Dhjetori» construction enterprise, which completed the bridges, making effective use of the funds. But the question remains: where did the 16.5 million lek allocated at the beginning go? Why are the local authorities and the State Audit bodies silent when faced with a concrete case of embezzlement?

Peshkopi These are ten thousand dollars whose whereabouts are unknown—or, more precisely, 10,623 dollars, the fruit of the labor of pensioners Pjetër Tameurus and Klass Vermeli from Nonspe(di), Holland. Together with their fellow pensioners, they spent last year picking apples and sent their earnings to Albania, down to the very last cent, to build a water supply system for the hospital in the village of Arras. The money was sent back in September of last year, in advance of the work to build the hospital. Its absence was discovered when friends from Holland came to Arras and found no trace—not of the water supply system, but of the money either. A. ASHIKU

Italian Deputy Minister of the Interior Rossi meets with Meksi, Italian Deputy Minister of the Interior Luigi Rossi was in Tirana on Monday to talk with senior officials and find a joint solution to stop the illegal trafficking of clandestine migrants, from the Far East to Albanian migrants and traffickers. To this end, Rossi was first received by Prime Minister Aleksandër Meksi, in the presence of Interior Minister Musaraj as well. According to a statement from the prime minister’s press office, the guest from Rome was told of the Albanian government’s determination to prevent and block the movement of clandestine migrants from Albania to Italy. Meanwhile, it is reported that during the talks the Albanian side presented the Italian side with several proposals, such as easing the visa regime for Albanian citizens wishing to go to Italy. Another important request was the opening of new Italian consulates in Albania. (Vlora has several times suggested opening an Italian consulate in that city.) Another equally important request was the legalization of Albanian emigrants in Italy. Meksi’s fourth request to his Italian guest was the organization of seasonal emigration. Likewise, according to the statement, Meksi emphasized the need for greater cooperation between the two interior ministries, increased information-sharing, and the provision of technical assistance. «We consider relations with Italy very important and seek to have even greater cooperation in economic policy, trade, the economy, culture, science, and the development of relations between people.» The Italian Deputy Minister of the Interior appears to have been pleased with his meeting with Meksi, according to the official announcement from Meksi’s press office. He is said to have thanked Albania’s commitment to the fight against the trafficking of clandestine migrants, and especially its cooperation against crime, trafficking, and drugs, on behalf of the Italian government. He is quoted as having considered (Continued on page 4)

President Berisha on irrigation... “After that, everything focused on irrigation. — Drip irrigation costs less, increases production by 40–50 percent and reduces costs,” said President Berisha. From the conversation of the President of the Republic with Mr. Vassiliam Pentini, a specialist in greenhouses trained in Israel. RD, May 21, 1995.