Interview with the chairman of the PSSH parliamentary group, NAMIK DOKLE, given to our journalist Erion Braçe You were the only opposition representative from Albania in the hall where its fate was determined in Strasbourg. Was Albania’s admission to the CoE a stroke of good fortune for the Albanians, or a necessity? What was the weight of the Albanian opposition in that hall and in the decision that Albania be accepted as a full member of the CoE? I think that Albania’s admission to the Council of Europe was a necessity, not a matter of luck or chance. Albania has long striven to become a member of the CoE. Politicians and parties have made efforts; representatives of the people in parliament—in other words, the MPs representing Albania—have made efforts. But above all, the Albanian people themselves played the leading role in securing admission to the CoE. A politically emancipated people, a people that has long felt it should become a member of the CoE, a people that has contributed more to democracy—all the Albanian political parties, whether in the 31 March elections, the 22 March elections, the 26 July elections and, especially, in the 6 November referendum on the Constitution, when they told Albanian and European politicians that they are a people who know what democracy is and how to vote for democracy. I think this was accurately and fairly recognised by the rapporteurs on Albania’s presence in the CoE, because the Albanian people want to join those policies that lead Albania towards medieval deserts, or those policies that lead Albania towards Balkan destruction. It is a people that wants to live as Europeans in Europe; a people that wants to integrate into the European community, not merely economically but in every political, economic and social respect, and above all by respecting standards of freedom and human rights. From this point of view, I can say it is a victory for the Albanian people. Naturally, the results of the policies of Albania’s politicians can be credited to whoever they may be, those in power or the opposition. In fact, I would say that with Albania’s admission to the CoE, the opposition is the more privileged. The same is true of every other country admitted to the CoE, because the CoE’s mission is to protect freedoms and human rights. And it is known that in every state, human rights and freedoms are violated by the state, not by the individual. Thus, the CoE protects the individual, not the state that violates human rights and freedoms. You speak of a victory for the Albanian people, but here in Tirana, since Thursday, it seems that the political party is claiming that victory as its own. President Berisha appears alone on the TV screen, while the entire Albanian political spectrum is absent and has to watch him on screen, or are you asking them to join those policies that lead Albania towards medieval destruction, or those policies that lead Albania towards Balkan destruction. So the people that want to live as Europeans in Europe are a people that want to watch him on screen, or are you ... ... mourning because you do not want Albania to be admitted to the CoE? Well put; we are going to hear absurdities like that. I think there is no need for me to comment on the absurdities written by the state newspapers. Absurdity is absurdity and needs no comment. But I am astonished that, for this great victory for Albania, only President Berisha or Prime Minister Meksi appeared on television, and that the other political forces—whose contribution to Albania’s admission to the CoE was by no means insignificant—were not invited onto this sole Albanian visual-media outlet. So then, what did the opposition give the Albanian people on this occasion of admission to the CoE? With Albania’s admission to the CoE, the opposition has given Albania a great deal. Because there can be no democracy without the opposition. Specifically, the opposition’s political struggle in the CoE prompted a demand for the state to make a concrete commitment to protecting freedoms and human rights by signing the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. It also sought to protect the rights and freedoms of citizens, and everyone’s right to express themselves freely, independently and as members of the opposition; and, in this case, the rights of Albanian journalists, the right to demand independence for the judicial bodies, which has been systematically violated several times, especially in the «Nano Case». The opposition gave the Albanian people the right to demand comprehensive reform of the Prosecutor’s Office, so that it would be organised and linked to European standards, because, as is known, until now the Prosecutor’s Office has been a whip in the hands of the state against its political opponents. I am not saying this applies in every case, because there have also been trials and investigations of criminals, who are investigated and tried in every country in the world. These are precisely the things the CoE demands: reform of the Prosecutor’s Office; a better and faster judicial process and the Constitution; protection of the independence of the judicial bodies; protection of the Court of Cassation; protection of the local courts, their freedom and their budgets. The prob- ... ... sells short the victory of the people and of the Albanian state itself, which, by being subject to this rigorous scrutiny, has the opportunity to improve and truly demonstrate this. To say that this is a victory only for those in power ... ... the «NANO Case» will be closed only when the prison in Bënça is finally opened and he comes to lead the SP, where he belongs. referendum on the Constitution on November 6, when Albanian politicians and European politicians were told that we to vote for democracy. I think this was also accurately and fairly observed by the reporters on Albania’s presence in the EC, because the Albanian people are a people with a democratic spirit, but also a European spirit. A people that in Tirana, since Thursday, it seems that the victory is being claimed as the property of the political parties. him on the screen—or worse still, the state newspaper fiercely attacks the opposition on the most absurd point: You person. For freedom and human rights. To defend the freedoms and rights of citizens, and the right of all citizens to express themselves freely in the independent and opposition press, and to ensure there are no more cases of violations of the rights of journalists and citizens who express their opinions. The opposition gave the people human rights through [?] the U.S. Department of Defense and the air force, amounting to USD 1.5 million, for the repair of the military hospital in Tirana. It is an operation undertaken through mediation, aimed at equipping the hospital, raising hygiene standards and the entire in-[?]

Five years ago, on 2 July 1990, the members of the Kosovo Assembly at the time adopted the Constitutional Declaration for Kosovo. This was an act of great historical importance for Kosovo and for the national cause in general. At that time, the republics had begun to take shape, and the former Yugoslav republics’ demands for secession and the creation of their own independent states were being firmly advanced. (Continued on page 4)

MONDAY AT 12: On Monday, 3 July, at 12 noon, at the headquarters of the Socialist Party, Namik Dokle, chairman of the PSSH Parliamentary Group, will hold a press conference concerning Albania’s admission to the Council of Europe.

On Friday and Saturday, the (hunger) strike by the Korçë branch of the Association of Orphans took the form of a silent protest, moving from in front of the district council building to the municipal building, constantly under the surveillance of secret police agents. Meanwhile, the secretary-general of the National Association of Orphans of Albania, Mr. Maksim Lico, «arrived» in Korçë. The strike committee’s attempts to meet with local government leaders fell on deaf ears. The prefect, Mr. Pjerrin Kiri, avoided them on the pretext that everything between them had been dealt with at a meeting two weeks earlier. The district council chairman is on a work tour in Russia, while the mayor, Mr. Gjinko, has refused to meet with them. The secretary of the nationwide association, Mr. Maksim Lico, told «Zëri i popullit»: a protest has been sent from Tirana to the president, the prime minister and the minister of the interior, demanding condemnation of the police violence against the strike participants. «Cursed be whoever lays a hand on orphans,» he says angrily. They were among the first to support the country’s democratization processes and do not deserve such police punishment. On Saturday, the strike leadership also met with the leaders of the Korçë district. Mr. Lico is optimistic when he says that the example set by the orphans of Korçë is resonating in many other Albanian cities as well. «We are leaving Korçë,» he said, «with the impression that a police state operates here,» citing as an example his two-day stay in the city, where police agents watched him at every turn, as well as the insults and vile abuse directed at the striking girls. Yesterday, the strike committee submitted an official request to the Korçë police station, asking for permission to hold a peaceful protest in front of the town square.

Justice, pure PD-style —The Military Police’s Military Branch, 4 July 1995?! OUT! What will be decided at the court hearing on 4 July 1995?! After his Genc Ruli-style resignation, the former chairman of the district council, Mr. Gjon Gjoni, now seems to have time to bring his own affairs to a conclusion and manage them—affairs to which he had devoted no small amount of time and energy, ingenuity and so on. Apparently, the visible [word unclear] did not prevent the stroll and «did» the remedy; instead, it did whatever it did to spur and accelerate the completion of those matters that had remained pending. He is now supposedly taking care of the «roof», that is, his new house. Having fulfilled all the «conditions», the «private» privatization board in Lezhë, by decision No. 2, dated 11.7.1994, handed over with both hands, for a mere pittance, to the former council chairman, Mr. Gergj Gjoni, the property called «Territorial Forces», which has a built area of 789.9 m2, or 32 rooms in total (including the basements). I do not know how my 560 fellow residents and citizens of Lezhë will regard this fiery «decoration» awarded to a man who had the nerve to «resign» (!). They are living in extremely difficult housing conditions and have for years been waiting to receive housing or an extension, while all they have gained is the [word unclear] of being kept waiting. At least 10 families could have been housed there, including Mr. Gjoni himself. The former chairman has signed a sale contract with the privatization agency

Privatization of the former agricultural enterprises in the district of Has began in February 1993. How did the liquidators and the «head of the Agricultural Enterprise Restructuring and Privatization Office» begin this privatization without legally closing the financial activities of the former Krumë and Fajzë agricultural enterprises? Thus, privatization of the former Agricultural Enterprises began without anyone knowing either the beginning or the end of that great wealth. The former managers and financial officers of these enterprises left their jobs and were employed by the district council in new, more desirable positions. It is astonishing how the former Agricultural Enterprise staff and local government officials handled the economic and financial records of these former enterprises. Apparently, those records remained in the hands of people predisposed to destroy them. Why? In several sectors of the former Krumë Agricultural Enterprise, the records have had their «turn at the fire». There can be no question of genuine, lawful privatization, judging by the way state property was dealt with: buildings, livestock, field crops, fruit trees and the machinery of this enterprise. On the contrary, there was a cycle of appropriation and destruction of property built through everyone’s hard work and sweat. Something strange! The marathon of payments to liquidators, financial officers, accountants, cashiers, numerous guards and coml-

Reliable sources have confirmed that Defense Minister Safet Zhulali will travel to Washington during the first half of October and meet with U.S. Secretary of Defense William Perry and other senior officials. He will also visit the U.S. Military Academy at West Point as well as this country’s Coast Guard Academy. Correspondent of «Zëri i popullit»

Albania’s Minister of the Interior, Agron Musaraj, concluded talks in Athens. According to the BBC, the talks covered the full range of issues concerning the two ministries they head. They had emphasized cooperation on clandestine migration, crime (Continued on page 4)

The new rector will be appointed after the PD conference (?) How can we assess the state of the university bearing the illustrious name «Eqerem Çabej»? It is at a low and dubious standard, in a state of decline that, under a system of competition, could leave the city without a higher-education institution. This interlude in university life is also having a negative effect on the city’s intellectual life. Some more specific things. It has been a «free-for-all», citizens say: anyone who can teaches, without meeting any standards. Sometimes exams are passed by paying cash; even department heads engage in private activities far removed from university work. The school has turned into a kind of cooperative paid by the day. Why is this the situation, forcing one to describe it in such a harsh tone and language? — according to them. Starting from the idea of treating it as a powerful station of its own, the PD has politicized the University to the point of bringing it to this state, making the fate of this major educational and scientific center depend on a political party. Scientific criteria, in every respect, have been trampled by the brutality of political criteria, to the point that lecturers are forced to take the sorat [?]; its independence is unstable, and matters have reached the point where the new rector is to be appointed after the PD conference. TH. DINO

- USD 130 million in aid that the USA has given Albania during the transition years, not including military aid. - USD 30 million in 1995 alone. - In contrast to the transparency of American diplomatic sources, the silence and information blackout of the Albanian authorities confirm their ignorance. WE EMPHASIZE «No concern for public life or civil aviation from the surveillance aircraft that will be installed at the military airport in Gjadër, in the district of Lezhë»—this is the latest confirmation from specialized American sources. Meanwhile, it is reported that the cost of this operation, in which pilotless aircraft will be used, reaches fantastic figures. The installation of these aircraft is part of a joint project by the US Department of Defense and the Albanian air force in support of NATO operations in Bosnia. The project is planned to last 60 days, but the same source cited acknowledges that this period may be extended further. Meanwhile, we clarify that this is not the only concrete manifestation of good relations between the USA and Albania. According to well-informed sources, from 1 July to 15 September a joint operation codenamed «CRYSTAL WATER» will take place, involving 150 American military personnel and specialists. This operation concerns a project worth USD 1.5 million to repair the military hospital in Tirana. It is an engineering and inter-service operation whose objective is to equip the hospital, raise hygiene standards and the entire in- ... LUAN M. RAMA (Continued on page 3)

— On 3.7.1995, Monday, at 11:00, the FRESSH Steering Committee will meet. The General Presidency of FRESSH.