The 4th anniversary of the founding of the Socialist Party is celebrated — Reception at the Palace of Congresses — Yesterday afternoon, a reception was held at the Palace of Congresses to mark the 4th anniversary of the founding of the Socialist Party. The 4th anniversary of the founding of the Socialist Party is celebrated With a message of cooperation, peace and friendship — Reception at the Palace of Congresses — Yesterday afternoon, a reception was held at the Palace of Congresses to mark Guests included party members and supporters, distinguished figures from science and culture, and representatives of the diplomatic corps and various press organizations. The reception was opened with a brief speech by Socialist Party Deputy Chairman Servet Pëllumbi, who stressed that these four years in the party’s life had been four years of work and effort to transform it into a modern party with clear social-democratic views and programs. The Socialist Party, he emphasized, is a party that has continually conveyed the message of cooperation, peace and friendship; a party that has aspired, and continues to aspire, to social and political progress and emancipation. In his brief remarks, Servet Pëllumbi also spoke of the essential cooperation among Albania’s political forces for the good of the country and the well-being of Albanians. After Deputy Chairman Pëllumbi’s speech, the reception moved beyond its formal setting, and the guests, according to their preferences, spent two pleasant hours in one another’s company. Correspondent of “Zëri i popullit”

Luan Hajdaraga: We want the activities of those in power to be guided not by political passions, but by the logic of the law. In the districts of Fier and Skrapar, joint meetings of the Party presidium and the groups of councillors on the district councils were held on 8 and 9 June. The meetings were attended by the Deputy Chairman of the General Executive Committee, Luan Hajdaraga, MPs Ylli Bufi and Bashkim Caka, and presidium member Elmaz Sherifi. As has recently been reported in the mass media, President Sali Berisha issued decrees dismissing Robert Gjini and Venetika Zajmi from their posts as chairmen of the Fier and Skrapar district councils, respectively, on the grounds of “serious legal violations.” It should be said that this issue was the subject of these extraordinary meetings, where the President’s decree was compared with the requirements of the law on the organization and functioning of local government. After the arguments had been presented, the participants concluded that the decree contravenes the law and does not respect it at all. Everyone was of the opinion that the Government is afraid to face the councils of these districts. This fear stems from the fact that it has no legal arguments capable of justifying the dismissal of the chairmen, a power that belongs solely to the District Council. The President’s decree, they said, blindly catered to Blerim Çela’s wish to carry out his preconceived political aims. The arguments are convincing. Mr Berisha has no facts or information whatsoever to justify his decree and its stated grounds of “serious violations of the law.” The inspection reports of the State Control Service, which have not been analyzed at all, do not even propose disciplinary measures against the chairmen of the respective district councils. Moreover, the observations made are technical in nature, yet, strangely, the President has decreed the dismissal of district council chairmen who bear only indirect responsibility. At this meeting, it was rightly decided to ask the Constitutional Court whether the President’s decree is consistent Functioning of Local Government. Luan Hajdaraga, Deputy Chairman of the General Executive Committee, stressed that we Socialists will respond to the illegal actions of those in power only with legal actions. We consider unlawful acts, he said, such as this presidential decree, unjust. the law. The Constitutional Court must rule, within its jurisdiction, on whether this decree is legal or illegal. Finally, the groups of councillors decided to hold extraordinary meetings. Correspondent of “Zëri i popullit”

Statement by the Albanian Helsinki Committee Albania is approaching a deadline of historic importance, namely its admission to the Council of Europe. This is an event that the entire Albanian people await as a natural continuation of democratic developments. Joining the Council of Europe would make a long-nurtured dream a reality and make our country an equal member of the European family. The Council of Europe is based on two principal instruments—the 1949 Statute and the 1950 Rome Convention—which establish it as a community of the continent’s states with one principal objective: the application of the fundamental principles of the rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms as fundamental values of the organization of modern society. At the stage we have reached in building and consolidating the new pluralist order, the basic conditions have now been created for a positive decision on Albania’s candidacy, particularly through the enshrinement and implementation of the most advanced standards of human rights and fundamental freedoms. The Albanian Helsinki Committee, taking into account the importance of this moment, expresses its conviction that the various political forces will show restraint and a strong sense of responsibility in anticipation of this historic achievement, and will refrain (Continued on page 3)

As is known, an Albanian delegation headed by Minister of Defense Safet Zhulali took part in the meeting of the Defense Ministers of the North Atlantic Cooperation Council in Brussels. At the meeting, Minister Zhulali addressed security issues in the region, expressed his views on resolving the conflict in Bosnia, and discussed issues relating to activity planning and cooperation within the Partnership for Peace. He also familiarized himself with the Republic of Albania’s Security and Defense Policy Documents presented at the meeting. At a working session organized with the 14 countries involved in the Planning and Review Process, among the 26 partners, Safet Zhulali offered greetings and handed U.S. Secretary of Defense William Perri a copy of the Republic of Albania’s Security and Defense Policy Document. Mr. Perri described this as an act of transparency in the Partnership’s relations with NATO. Our Minister of Defense, Zhulali, held a separate meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense William Perri, during which they discussed issues of bilateral cooperation. During the meeting in Brussels, Mr. Zhulali held bilateral meetings and exchanged views with the defense ministers of Italy, Turkey, Greece, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Romania, etc., as well as with NATO Secretary General Willi Klaes; Vincent, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee; and General Xholuan, Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe. According to the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Defense

VLORE

A serious car accident occurred yesterday in the early afternoon, right at the Geziq Bridge. An «IFA» truck was coming down from Fani i Mirditës when it veered off the road. There were more than 40 passengers aboard, travelling to Laç. The vehicle, which had been hired, was taking the passengers to the Church of Shënandoni in Laç, since today, as is known, is June 13, the day of Shënandoni, when thousands upon thousands of believers go there. Almost all the passengers were seriously injured; one of them died, and around 30 others are in serious condition, having been rushed to the hospital in Rrëshen. Some of them were urgently transported by helicopter to hospitals in Tirana. This is a tragic incident that has shaken public opinion throughout Mirditë and beyond. B. ZENELI

As part of the attacks and pressure against members, supporters and local leaders of the Socialist Party, some time ago, around midnight, officers of the criminal police of the Vlorë district went to the home of Eduard Alushi, chairman of the PS in Vlorë, and asked him to accompany them to the law enforcement authorities, without any reason or written document. After an exchange of words and his insistence, he refused to go with them. Asked about the incident by a journalist from «Zëri i Popullit», he said: The reasons for this pressure are that a few days earlier I published an article in the newspaper «Zëri i Popullit» entitled «Effects of the DP’s reform: inferiority, politicization, nepotism, corruption in the public order agency in Vlorë». In this article I gave specific names and facts about the activities of this agency. Immediately after the article was published, changes were made at all the main levels of the law enforcement agencies in Vlorë, including the head of the police station, the head of the public order police, the head of the criminal police and the head of the border police. As can be seen, these newly appointed officials began their work by seeking to put pressure on the Socialist Party and its leaders. Despite these forms of pressure, the PS’s activity in Vlorë will continue, even more vigorously, and within the laws and democratic rules. EDI KOLA

SHKODER «The government has decided to deny us the right to become the legitimate owners of the «Rozafa» Tourist Hotel, but we oppose this and will fight by every democratic means to defend our right.» This is the firm position expressed by 100 employees of the «Rozafa» tourist enterprise in Shkodër. Their representatives told the press yesterday that the government has decided to hand this tourist enterprise over to 40 former political prisoners. We have nothing against former political prisoners. But we have worked here for years. We safeguarded this property during the transition, often putting our own lives at risk to save it. Today the government has no right to sell it to others. Yesterday, the «Rozafa» employees had announced that they would meet Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Dashamir Shehu in one of the premises of this tourist enterprise. But the meeting scheduled for 10 o’clock did not take place. At 1 p.m. they learned that Mr. Shehu had arrived, but, the tourist enterprise’s employees report, after having coffee with some of the local government leaders of Shkodër, he refused the meeting, saying from his car, “If you want, come to Tirana.” The hotel employees’ representatives had been in Tirana the day before, where the Ministry of Tourism had told them to wait for Mr. Shehu in Shkodër on Sunday, since he was coming especially for this purpose, to meet with them. Nevertheless, these same people set off for Tirana early yesterday morning. MUSA KURTULAJ

– The law on investment companies is being shunted around the corridors because the current authorities cannot find their own «knights» to grant licenses to. – Investment funds: their advantages and risks, and how to avoid them. Under the laws in force, anyone who has privatization vouchers can use them in three main ways: - to buy shares or a portion of the assets of a state-owned enterprise that is to be privatized; - to buy shares in a private investment company expected to be established in the country; - to sell the vouchers in exchange for lek. The Albanian reality regarding privatization vouchers is complex. Distribution of the vouchers has begun slowly, initially among pensioners. In January, the list of enterprises to be privatized was published, as was the list of enterprises to be privatized using vouchers, so that citizens could see what they could exchange the vouchers they hold for. The law on investment companies is being shunted through offices and corridors in search of «knights», so that the announcement of the law coincides with the list of those licensed. The authorities, entirely unprepared, have no way to face the public and educate citizens about mass privatization. Under these circumstances, what was expected and what we warned about is happening. Citizens, having received money and being powerless and confused, are confronting the daily hardships and difficulties; disoriented and lured by the repeated appeals of swindlers, as well as traders and other local and foreign entities, they are selling their privatization vouchers for 15–20 percent of their value. This situation gravely undermines «justice», transparency, equal opportunity and the same chance for all Albanians. I consider this complicated situation unacceptable, and the indifference of the responsible bodies unjustifiable. Because of unjustified delays, investment companies will apparently not emerge until sometime in the autumn. In our circumstances, I believe and consider it most reasonable to make every effort immediately to direct the use of privatization vouchers away from the sales market and toward investment companies. That is, we should (Continued on page 2)

It is nearly a month since the Korçë electricity company has been without a director, after its previous director was retired. The personnel office of this party has appointed another person, but the office keys have still not been handed over to him. Various rumors say this is merely a game, because someone else is the one who will warm this seat: “Sleep on, rabbits,” say well-informed sources, because a letter sent from Tirana mentions a candidate, a guarantor for the privatization of the company—in a word, someone who also pleases those standing behind the scenes. M. M.

Against 350 births in the municipality, with 2,400 families and 10,000 inhabitants in Kastratiot, 47 deaths during the January–March period) constitute a genuine human tragedy. The lack of healthcare personnel and health posts, the scant resources in the villages, the destruction of health centers and livelihoods, mass unemployment, etc., are cited as the main factors behind the high infant mortality rate. The authors remain hidden; these factors are so deeply rooted and stark that they could be described in just one way: A. ASHIKU

SARANDE A cocktail gathering was organized at the premises of the Socialist Party in the Sarandë district to mark the fourth anniversary of the founding of the Albanian Socialist Party. Attending were chairpersons of party organizations, councillors, former delegates to the founding congress, party activists, members of the women’s forum and the Eurosocialist youth, as well as representatives of several political parties and associations in the district. The meeting was addressed by the chair of the district SP steering committee, Astrit Llanaj, who highlighted the work to consolidate and strengthen the party’s structures over these four years, as well as the growth of its ranks by more than 700 new members and the establishment of around 20 new party organizations. Delegates who had taken part in the founding congress of the ASP also spoke at the meeting. Similar events were also organized in Konispol, Shalës, etc. PANAJOT ZOTO PESHKOPI They are the Eurosocialists, young men and women from the city of Peshkopi and almost all areas of Dibër, who celebrated the fourth anniversary of the founding of the Socialist Party on Sunday with a cheerful cocktail gathering. They sang, danced, talked about their growth, and shared good-natured jokes. The toasts, accompanied by applause, carried good wishes for the Socialist Party, the Albanian Eurosocialist youth, and Fatos Nano. The young people were greeted by Xhelil Cibaku, chair of the district Socialist Party steering committee. A. ASHIKU MAT On the occasion of the 4th anniversary of the founding of the ASP, the leadership of the SP in the Mat district organized a cocktail gathering at its headquarters. Socialists and Eurosocialists attended, along with members of the Socialist Women’s Forum and representatives of local government from the district, the municipality and the communes led by Socialists. Those present were greeted by the chair of the SP for Mat, Rexhep Kërçiku. On behalf of local government, the deputy chair of the district council, Mr. Ilir Gurabardhi, offered greetings. Natasha Ballbani, a member of the presidium of the district Socialist Women’s Forum, spoke on behalf of the forum.