FOR the rule of law FOR the market economy Not even those who make them up believe the stories that the SP will change the laws to bring back communism. — Interview with Shagir Vukaj, Deputy Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly How do you assess the parliament’s work over these three years? During this period, parliament has worked intensively and approved many laws that create favorable conditions for building a democratic state, establishing a market economy, and so on. So far, around 400 laws have been approved, and we are working on others as well. It is clear that this parliament, following on from the first pluralist parliament elected after the elections of 31 March 1991, had the difficult task of changing the legislation we inherited—a task that would have fallen to whoever came to power. And this is clear because today all Albanian parties express support for democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights, a market economy, opening Albania to the world, and so on; consequently, entirely new legislation would have to be approved. I want to emphasize that the work of approving the laws has been quite dignified and that, despite the conflict and the often heated debates, in most cases this parliament has risen above the fierce fighting that not infrequently breaks out between the parties or, more specifically, their clans. Several times, the newspaper «Rilindja Demokratike» has written that «out of 307 laws approved in parliament, the Socialist Party voted against 296 of them». This has been repeated many times, including most recently. And that is not all. The figure is used as an «argument» to make the most unbelievable accusations: that when the Socialist Party comes to power, it will change the laws, that it will bring back communism, and other such fairy tales, which by now are believed neither by those who write them nor by those who say them. Can you tell us specifically how the Socialist Party parliamentary group has voted during this legislature? Parliament has a very good working practice. All plenary sessions are recorded on tape. They are then transcribed, printed and entered into the official record. So we have thousands of pages of tape recordings and thousands of pages of printed material on file. The information I will mention below has been taken precisely from these records. They show that from 7.4.1992, when this parliament began its legislative work, through 1.6.1995, 387 laws, decrees or ratifications of agreements were approved, and the Socialist Party parliamentary group voted against only 22 of them. This is the truth, and if anyone has doubts, they can come to the Presidium of Parliament and see it with their own eyes. It is said that you voted against the Economic Reform laws. Thus, «Rilindja Demokratike» wrote on 21.5.1995 that «It is a unique case for the opposition to vote against almost all the Reform laws», while the President, at the expanded meeting of the DP on 23 May 1995, said: «They (the SP group) voted against all the fundamental laws of economic Reform». What is the truth about these laws? I said earlier that a newspaper may publish a false figure. But when it is repeated, as happens in RD, then something is wrong. Why lie so blatantly? Who within the DP is interested in such things? Against whom can these be used? Many such questions can be asked, but I will speak with concrete facts and figures. Both we and the Democratic Party have declared our support for a market economy—in plain language, without mincing words, a capitalist economy. It was precisely in order to create the legal basis for the Reform, that is, to move to an economy — and the SP parliamentary group voted against only 22 of them. ...Almost 130 of the main reform laws were approved unanimously by all the groups ...The Socialists also voted to ratify all agreements and memorandums of conventions between the Republic of Albania and other countries. ...The Socialists voted in favor of almost all the laws establishing the rule of law, and in favor of the rights of former prisoners and political persecuted persons. The Socialists abstained on the law «On the Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of Man» not because they were against it, but so that this law would come before parliament as an integral part of the Constitution, which has been systematically sabotaged by the DP. ...The Socialists abstained on the law on privatization vouchers because they were calling, first of all, for a law and privatization strategy that would prevent the looting of the property of all Albanians, as is happening. Yes, the Socialists voted against the infamous Article 24/1, on the basis of which thousands of workers were thrown out onto the street. ...They voted against the «Press Law» in order to prevent the imprisonment of journalists, as happened

Hungary’s current president 2, Arpad Gonz, was re-elected by the Hungarian parliament as the country’s next president, for another five-year term. He won with 259 votes in favor, while his rival candidate from the right-wing parties received only 76 votes. He was elected president five years ago, when right-wing forces governed the country, and this time he was backed by the socialist and liberal-democratic coalition currently in power. He has been and remains one of the most po- (Continued on page 4)

FROM THE TELEX Would you like another demonstration of «cultured» behavior from the newly proclaimed «Honorary Citizen» of the city of Korçë? Immediately after receiving the high title, and after swearing before the plates at Hotel Meksi, in the «Iliria» Tourist Restaurant, that he would seek only the correct and civilized enforcement of the law, Mr. Pellumb found himself facing a municipal employee who apparently had opposed awarding him that title. At that point he let loose with everything and returned to his old ways, attacking him with the full arsenal of language fit only for him! — «Hooligan: scumbag, dog, get lost or I’ll smash your face in, disappear from here,» and many more such gems. Someone tried to calm the honorary citizen down, but it was no use. The municipal official left without uttering half a word! His name is Maksim Ceci, a member of the DP Presidium and director of the District Social Assistance and Support Office. ASTRIT HASANI

PUBLIC COMPLAINT ADDRESSED TO THE ALBANIAN RADIO AND TELEVISION THE NEWSPAPER «RILINDJA DEMOKRATIKE» «ZËRI I POPULLIT» «ALEANCA DEMOKRATIKE» «ALTERNATIVA SD» «REPUBLIKA» «E DJATHTA» «KOHA JONË» «GAZETA SHQIPTARE» «KOMBI» «DITA INFORMACION» «POPULLI PO» «INTERVISTA» «TRIBUNA DEMOKRATIKE» The staff of the Tourist Enterprise «Drini» has patiently awaited the political forces and the privatization of the enterprise, hoping that its requests for privatization by the employees would be taken into consideration. These requests have been submitted since 1992 to all the relevant institutions. Throughout this period, different positions have been taken on the form of privatization, until on 5.06.1995, by Council of Ministers Decision No. 275, the enterprise’s fragmented privatization was decided upon, exclusively, with no benefit whatsoever to the four employees of the Ministry of Public Order: 1. Shik Stermassi. (Head of the Public Order Branch, Elbasan) 2. Çezar Toro (Chief of Police Station No. 4, Tirana). 3. Ferit Traja (Head of the Republic’s Secret Service) 4. Lulëzim Shala (Inspector of SH. I. K) This decision conflicts with Decision No. 203 of 3.05.1995 of the Council of Ministers, which excludes from the auction only the owners of the land. The violation of the privatization procedure also lies in the fact that no documentation exists for the valuation of the asset to be privatized, either at the Municipal Privatization Board or at (Continued on page 2) 2. Cezar Traja (Head of the Republic’s Secret Service)

Berisha’s latest thunderbolts have also rained down on Blerim Çela, Head of the State Audit Service. This time, the cause was his statement in Parliament that the State Audit Service is independent, for as long as its head is a member of the governing party’s presidium. What happened next was that, first of all, the DP would focus on Çela’s statement for a party analysis, followed just two minutes later by Spahia, speaking in Parliament itself, who called the statement absurd and said that such a thing had no place in a state! To us, Çela’s statement was what needed to be said, and it was not at all premature for the current government. What was it about those words that had displeased them? Thus, the SHKSH has always and on every occasion been used as an instrument in the hands of the DP and Berisha to strike at opponents, whether from the opposition or from within their own ranks. This practice has at times made it possible for the issue of convicting Fatos Nano, the chairman of the Socialist Party, to be fabricated and kept alive precisely by this institution. Because it is supposedly independent, yet dependent on the party, Çela’s institution has been used to target only Socialist officials in local government, while covering up and erasing scandals within its own ranks, among state officials, and keeping the needle in the haystack? To use it as a weapon for striking blows. The fact that the SHKSH is an independent institution has been a known truth to everyone ... its composition by the DP, threats against Çela, coming from a team? a servant of it, to change its central letters? (the continuation is partly illegible in the image) Tangible, and at times painful. The SHKSH institution’s instrument, in every instance, has been used by the PD—SHKSH—in every case; it has PD or from within their own ranks. Such a practice has at times made it possible for this very institution to fabricate and keep alive the case for the sentencing of Socialist Party chairman Fatos Nano. Precisely the institution of Çela has been used to target only Socialist leaders in local government, and to shut away and erase scandals within its own ranks, among state officials, while keeping the needle in the [field?]. They exploit it as an instrument for striking at people. The existence of SHKSH as an allegedly independent institution has been something known to everyone, with its composition drawn from the PD, Çela used for threats, with [a team?] coming from a squad of servants to change it?; the central letters? (Continued on page 2)

How RD criticizes Berisha In an article published yesterday on the second page of the newspaper «RD», titled «The role of the ambivalent one», it took up an interview with PS deputy chairman Servet Pëllumbi. There is nothing worth noting in the «analysis» made on this occasion. But our attention is drawn to the latest criticism directed at S. Pëllumbi for his «megalomania in wanting to debate the president». On this occasion, let us recall that our friend Berisha first became known in politics through a debate provoked by the then head of state, R. Alia, at a meeting with intellectuals. There Sali Berisha spoke out against political pluralism. Through S. Pëllumbi, RD is «shooting wide»—or lying about Berisha’s megalomania, which he displayed early on, five years ago, when he was eager to debate the president. Well? The editors and journalists of RD don’t know what they’re doing! M. B.

It is entirely fitting that Prof. Ndreçi Plasari, a Member of the Central Committee of the Party of Labour of Albania and one of the chief editors of the red book on the History of the PPSH, should also be one of the initiators of those calling for the condemnation of communist genocide. This adds to his glory... Because he is a communist. And as such, he cannot be understood otherwise; he cannot do without trials, he cannot live without enemies. Just like the other communist, Berisha. So we should not be surprised. Indeed, not only that, but we should not be surprised that his beloved and favourite text, the History of the PPSH, contains dozens and dozens of manipulative falsifications of historical truths, for which he can in no way be held responsible. On the contrary, it would be good for him to initiate another petition calling for the condemnation of all those who collaborated in distorting and falsifying history, with the exception of himself, since he was a chief editor. Meanwhile, there is no reason to be surprised if we recall the period when the waves of the Great Chinese Revolution reached Albania. Following its example, Ndreçi Plasari, even before noon, right in front of the Prime Minister’s Office, while the dawn light was still pale, would do his morning exercises. And so, journalist and friend Robert Papa has become an initiator—or standard-bearer—with this man. Why?.. Robert Papa bears no resemblance at all to the Ndreçi type. LUAN M. RAMA

It is a monist mentality, a product of the dictatorship’s apparatus of power, when the Personnel Directorate of the Central Committee of the Party of Labour decided who would lead the party movement, at the head of the transmission belt that linked it to the masses. Such mentalities are absurd when they emerge within the Democratic Party and are revived as opinions about who should lead a political party and who can. It is enough to say how zealously the Democratic Party defended the candidacies for the leadership of the Social Democratic Party, where a split became evident a few months ago, to conclude that the mentalities of the party there and of its daughter parties, of the party— (Continued on page 3) respect for human rights, a market economy, the opening of Albania to the world, etc.; consequently, entirely new legislation would be approved. I would like to emphasize that the work of approving and the often heated discussions, this parliament has in most cases risen above the fierce and not infrequently sterile struggle waged by the parties or their particular clans. Recently, the activity of parliament has drawn the attention of the state and Democratic Party leaders, who accuse the Socialist Party of having voted against the laws approved by this parliament. What is the situation? For anyone following political life in Albania, it is clear that the election campaign has now begun... It is understood that the party in power has aimed all its arrows at the Socialist Party. And this is clear to anyone who has been here. Nevertheless, I will respond precisely on this matter, because the position taken by the Socialist Party, through its group, on the approval of laws does it credit and creates opportunities and suitable conditions for its work in the coming elections as well. In any case, I am surprised that certain clans within the Democratic Party have chosen parliament’s work as a pretext to attack us, inventing all sorts of figures and accusations. I am not surprised that «Rilindja Demokratike» publishes an entirely false figure for the approval of laws. That may happen in political struggle. But when a lie is republished many times, when it is repeated by politicians and state officials and, moreover, presented as a platform for the Democratic Party’s work, then many doubts arise. I will say more