Demirel in Parliament: Yesterday, at the conclusion of his visit to our country, the President of Turkey, Sulejman Demirel, accompanied by the President of the Republic of Albania, Sali Berisha, also visited the Albanian Parliament, where he was received by the chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Mr. Arbnori, to attend a plenary session. In his welcoming remarks, Mr. Arbnori welcomed the guest and thanked the great friend from Turkey for his visit and for his and his country’s contribution and the assistance they have given and continue to give to the Albanian people. This friendship, Mr. Arbnori said, has its roots in our old historical and traditional ties. “These sincere feelings of friendship between us,” said the President of Turkey, Mr. Demirel, in his address, “have guided Turkey to always stand by Albania, to share its joys and successes, and to help it overcome the difficulties it has encountered. So that the process of transition to democracy and a free-market economy may succeed in this friendly country, the Turkish people have, within the limits of their means, attached great importance and priority to providing the greatest possible assistance and support. We appreciate Albania’s successful progress, achieved without fear. (Continued on page 4)

The raising of the flag, the final act in a landmark event such as Albania’s admission to the Council of Europe, began at 10:30 on Thursday in the entrance hall of the Council of Europe. Albania and Moldova, in a joint ceremony, once again became protagonists at the Council of Europe. Against a backdrop of three flags—the Albanian, Moldovan and European flags—stood the most important figures of the Council of Europe, including Miguel Martinez, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe; Mr. Tarchis, Secretary General of the Council of Europe; Mr. Zilinic, President of the Committee of Ministers; as well as representatives of the countries concerned, such as Mr. Serregi, Albania’s Foreign Minister, and Andrej Zagili, Prime Minister of Moldova. The ceremony for Albania’s admission to the Council of Europe was opened by Mr. Daniel Tarcis, who invited the Albanian and Moldovan foreign ministers to sign the record of the document of accession to the Statute of the Council of Europe. The foreign ministers of both countries also signed the European Convention on Human Rights and the restructuring of the convention’s monitoring mechanism. After the greetings read by the foreign ministers of Albania and Moldova, Mr. Migel Martinez also addressed the gathering. He began his speech by saying: “The wind of freedom that swept through the East five years ago did not spare Albania either. This day is an achievement for you, made possible through great courage and determination on the part of the Albanians. It is precisely the courage and determination of the Albanians that the Assembly recognized and wished to reward unanimously. The debate held before admission brought to light several shortcomings: the inadequacies and deficiencies of Albanian institutions that must be corrected in the coming months. Parliament, the government and the president have made a solemn commitment to this end. The Council of Europe has worked hard to create the opportunity for Albania to embark on the path of reforms, and from today onward attention to this country must under no circumstances be reduced. By becoming a member of the Council of Europe, Albania will need our support and cooperation even more. Europe has an interest in stability in Albania, in the reforms that will be achieved to consolidate the rule of law, and in development. Therefore, everything I am saying entails a great responsibility, shared between Albania and the European institutions. For its part, the Council of Europe will strive to ensure this. Starting today, the Albanian flag will undoubtedly fly for a long time among the 35 other flags. Dear Albanian friends, from this day onward your flag will take its place first. So we are pleased that Europe begins in Albania.” After Mr. Martinez’s speech, the ceremony continued with the Albanian and Moldovan national anthems and the raising of the flags in the square in front of the Palace of the Council of Europe. ALFRED DALIPI Strasbourg, 13 July 1995

From the joint press conference BERISHA-DEMIREL From the joint press conference BERISHA-DEMIREL Promising results for the future Yesterday morning, the two presidents, Berisha and Demirel, faced journalists at a press conference to take stock of the visit and the highest-level bilateral Albanian-Turkish talks. Judging from the press conference, two issues seem to have dominated the talks: bilateral relations, with the aim and goodwill to develop them in all currently possible areas, and the political situation in the region. For President Berisha, according to his presentation of the bilateral talks, it seems that bilateral relations were foremost—36 million dollars for the construction of a block of apartments in a neighborhood of Tirana. Sending Muslim volunteers if the peacekeepers withdraw from Bosnia is something that should never even be considered, Demirel stressed. appears to have placed bilateral relations first. Albanian-Turkish relations, Berisha said, can be described as excellent; a legal basis has been established for expanding them into all fields. Economic relations were one of the main objectives of the visit, the Albanian head of state stressed, saying that they had laid the first cornerstone of a housing complex in a neighborhood of— (Continued on page 4)

The campaign to pass laws by “concentrated strike” continues The submission to Parliament for approval of a package of laws concerning the restructuring and privatization of the country’s electricity network initially sparked debate and controversy, since committees such as the Industry and Mines Committee had not been informed about or consulted on it. The purpose of the haste was to ensure orderly and complete privatization later. He pointed out that the country’s electricity network system, in its entirety, constitutes a great national asset, which remains effective even under present conditions. The privatization that

Unfortunately, the mindset of those in power is not changing after Albania’s entry into the Council of Europe. In truth, things cannot change within a few days. But at least some signs that change would come could have been given. In fact, the opposite is happening. What we have seen those in power demonstrate from 29 June until now is their uneuropean spirit in the way they understand and interpret this historic event. A provincial, unenlightened spirit that does not come close to European principles. The events that followed 29 June, and especially the latest activity of the PD, confirm this conclusion most clearly. It should be said from the outset that such victories deserve to be celebrated. They should be celebrated with dignity, as befits the occasion, not with staged scenes in the streets, nor with panegyrical and one-sided speeches. The main thread running through the speech of the President of the Republic at the PD gathering was his strenuous effort to monopolize this victory of the Albanians and archive it as a political victory belonging only to the PD. This is the most blatant distortion that can be made of Albania’s admission to the Council of Europe. For 50 years we remained outside Europe’s doors precisely because we had only one party over our heads. The conditions for joining the Council of Europe arose only when we embraced political pluralism. Forgetting this, today’s leadership of the Albanian state seeks to revive the one-party specter of the past. Their personalization and monopolization of the victory thus creates an impression of—. When the country’s president “forgets” to mention even once the Albanian opposition and its role in building democracy, which also made the country’s admission to the Council of Europe possible, this is a sign that the spirit of provincial, anti-European politics is deeply rooted and will dominate official Albanian politics for a long time. The European “card” is thus intended to be used as a “political promissory note” to cover up the shortcomings and distortions still evident in Albanian democracy. This further shows that official Albanian politics lacks the desire and readiness to fulfill the obligations arising from Albania’s entry into the Council of Europe. Most pronounced in this spirit was

The submission to Parliament for approval of a package of laws concerning the restructuring and privatization of the country’s electricity network initially sparked debate and controversy, since committees such as the Industry and Mines Committee had not been informed about or consulted on it. to pass its privatization as well, under the guise of restructuring the electricity network. Thus, while the bill had not yet been presented in Parliament, they had perhaps already prepared the lists of those who would enter the “battle for legal privatization”... Speaking on behalf of the Socialist Party’s parliamentary group, MP Paloka said that Socialist MPs agreed in principle with the approval of such proposals, but that in this particular case they agreed in principle only to the approval of the first two bills concerning the restructuring of this network, he stressed. Only such restructuring would open the way for privatization the government is submitting to us for approval by law, he continued, through breaking up system components and dividing them into elements or small private companies, runs counter not only to the laws of the market economy but also to the normal functioning of the energy system, which can operate effectively only as a unified system under centralized direction and management. In the vote on the first two bills, the PS parliamentary group voted in favor, while it voted against the law concerning privatization of the network. Although only 29 PD MPs were in the chamber, the number of votes in favor reached 54, for (Continued on page 2)

It is ea clear that the field of attacks and divers-?ion against the Albanian Eurosocialist Forum, organized by certain segments of the state, has also been exposed. The state’s entry into the political life of the country, the entry of FRESSH into the political life of the country, on its part at a key moment in the situation, its strong support for the Socialist Party and the defense of the social-democratic ideal, mean that these segments see FRESSH not as a competitor but as a manipulator for their plans, but as one of the main components of their daily and long-term objectives. In this sense, these segments, among which the state has a place, as does the ED power, devised and implemented a strategy of slander, diversion and divi-?sion, supposedly to split the socialist spectrum and thus weaken the Socialist Party. Even though they do not abandon this idea in this strategy, amplifying it through other strategies as well, after the latest congress of the Eurosocialists, which ended successfully a few days ago, every attack is within the logic and inten-?tions of their objectives and is considered normal. It is clear that the creation of FRESSH in the country’s political life, by remaining within the left and embracing a social-democratic vision, is one of the most decisive moments in the situation of that time, which laid the foun-?dation for a secure future with alternatives. We are speaking of a secure future with alternatives. Thanks to the arrival of young people, cooperation, mutual assistance and the party forums, the Eurosocialists very often managed to demonstrate a stable, complete structure, spread throughout the country and at every level. With a modern program and statute, it soon came to life in all democratic youth forums at home and abroad, considering its prospects and contribution to the path of consolidation. With clear political thinking, the voice of the Eurosocialists began to be heard in the country’s political life, playing worthy roles in all ... (Continued on page 4)

Durrës Criminal proceedings opened, but the suspect has disappeared — For the major thefts at the customs office — The Durrës District Prosecutor’s Office, on the basis of reports received from the Durrës Customs Directorate, has opened criminal proceedings against Shpëtim Domi, president of the company «Mat Impeks Epidam», and several other people, accused of theft and falsification of documents involving a large amount, under Articles 134 and 184 of the Criminal Code. A search has been issued for the defendant Shpëtim Domi. For the purposes of the investigation in this case, the Durrës court authorized a search of this citizen’s home. The Durrës law-enforcement authorities have arrested the company president’s brother. We learn from these authorities that this case, involving the theft of colossal sums and considered a crime of great social danger, is being investigated with each person examined separately, as a large number of people are suspected of being implicated. It is thought that a considerable number of customs employees may also have been implicated. MIRELA NDINI

MAT PS steering committee calls for a face-to-face meeting... There have been several repeated cases of police violence against citizens in the Mat district, and such violence has caused widespread concern among public opinion in the district. Repeated incidents have occurred particularly in the town of Burrel, in Klos, Burgajet, etc. The police have brutally beaten several citizens in public, creating a grave psychological situation among the people. The most recent cases involved unlawful actions against the citizens Ardin Basha Hall, Deda, Fiqiri Ukra and Etem Hefa. The aforementioned individuals were beaten and mistreated by law-enforcement forces. Viewing this ugly phenomenon of violence against citizens with concern and considering it an extremely serious problem, the district steering committee of the Socialist Party has requested that, in view of the unlawful actions by law-enforcement forces, which violate the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms, a meeting be held at the district council with the police forces, so that they can confront the representatives of law and order, identify the causes and take measures to prevent such incidents. Will the public-order officials in Mat respond to this legitimate request? BEKTASH ZENELI

Korçë Violence against prisoners We learn from two well-infor-?med and highly reliable sources that on Wednesday afternoon police violence was used against prisoners in the cells of Korçë prison. The reason for this violence is unknown, but according to the sources, no reason could justify its being inflicted on such a scale. The exact number of those mistreated is unknown, but it is quite considerable. According to the information available, the order to use physical violence against the prisoners came from the chief law-enforcement official, Mr. Pellumb Korfuz, recently proclaimed an honorary citizen of Korçë. Correspondent of «Zëri i popullit»

On 23.06.1995, the Durrës Customs Branch, following a declaration that the shipment contained mineral water and was consigned to the company «LILA», inspected the trailer with license plate DR 6583 A, in which contraband goods were found. The inspection revealed that the shipment was not mineral water, as declared to customs, but household electrical goods and consumer electronics: 101 «Samsung» televisions, 24 «Saba» televisions, 20 «Ariston» refrigerators, 30 «De Longhi» gas stoves, «Samsung» radio-cassette players, etc. Pursuant to Article 63 of the Customs Code, the customs authorities seized the vehicle and the contraband goods and referred the case to the Durrës prosecutor’s office as a case of smuggling. General Directorate of Customs