[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 90 (Tuesday, June 24, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1306]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   ALBANIA--DEMOCRACY AT A CROSSROADS

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. JAMES A. TRAFICANT, JR.

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 24, 1997

  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, in March 1991, Albania held free 
elections for the first time in 45 years. Since then, Albania has 
adopted a democratic form of government, launched economic reforms, and 
tried to reintegrate itself into Europe. Today, however, Albanian 
democracy is at a crossroads.
  During the cold war, the Communist Albanian Party of Labor, lead by 
Enver Hoxha, exercised total political control over the Albanian people 
and virtually cut off relations with the rest of the world. Large 
student demonstrations in late 1990 challenged the Communist Party's 
exclusive hold on power and forced the government to accept multiparty 
elections. Although the elections' fairness was questioned by outside 
observers, the Albanian Party of Labor, later renamed the Albanian 
Socialist Party, won two-thirds of the vote. Large-scale strikes and 
demonstrations ensued, forcing the Socialist Party to cede power in 
June 1991 to a coalition government. The coalition government comprises 
members of all political parties, including the Socialist Party and the 
Democratic Party.
  The March 1992 general elections resulted in a resounding victory for 
the Democratic Party, which gained 62 percent of the vote. The Albanian 
Parliament, known as the People's Assembly, elected Sali Berisha to the 
presidency. The Democratic Party under President Berisha has led a 
strong and stable government and enacted numerous economic and human 
rights reforms. While Albania still remains the poorest country in 
Europe, its economy has grown significantly since 1989. Large, 
inefficient industries were abandoned and collectivized farms were 
swiftly dismantled. As a result, Albania's economic growth rates 
surpassed expectations. In 1993, Albania experienced 10-percent growth 
in gross domestic product [GDP], and agriculture output of 14 percent. 
The economy continued to grow at 8 percent in 1994, and 6 percent in 
1995. Furthermore, in 1995, the Albanian parliament passed a law ``on 
genocide and crimes against humanity'' that facilitated the prosecution 
of crimes from the Communist period.
  Albania's political and economic successes, however, are in jeopardy. 
Parliamentary elections were again held in May 1996. Amidst allegations 
of voter fraud, almost all opposition parties pulled out before the 
polls closed. The Organization for Security and Cooperation [OSCE], as 
well as other U.S. and international election observer organizations, 
noted ``serious irregularities'' during the vote, including voter 
fraud, ballot surfing, intimidation, and coercion. The European 
Parliament and the OSCE called for new elections and President Berisha 
agreed to a partial rerun of the election in 17 districts. The 
opposition demanded a full election and boycotted the partial rerun. 
The Democratic Party was re-elected with more than a two-thirds 
majority. In addition to Albania's elections problems, in later 1996, 
Albania's high-risk investment plans, known as pyramid schemes, 
collapsed. The pyramid schemes, which promised exorbitant returns on 
investments, attracted over $1 billion in private investment. The 
collapse of these schemes affected 800,000 Albanians, many of whom had 
invested their entire life savings. Following mass riots in January 
1997, the Government seized the accounts of two investment groups, 
banned further pyramid schemes, and approved partial compensation for 
the investors.
  Earlier this month, I had the honor to meet with the Speaker of the 
Albanian Assembly, Pjeter Arbnori, to discuss the upcoming election and 
the situations in Albania. Arbnori spent almost three decades in prison 
for his resistance to Albanian Communist dictator Enver Hoxha. Speaker 
Arbnori conveyed to me the urgency of the situation in Albania and the 
crisis facing Albanian democracy. He reassured me that the Democratic 
Party in Albania will honor the results of the June 29 elections. I was 
impressed by Speaker Arbnori's dedication to democracy and his strong 
commitment to the Albanian people. I believe that the United States 
should do all it can to ensure a democratic Albania.
  As a result, I have introduced a resolution expressing congressional 
support for democracy in Albania. My resolution expresses the sense of 
the Congress that: First, the June 29 elections in Albania should be 
free and open and second, all political parties of Albania should honor 
the results of such elections. Through this resolution, the United 
States can show solidarity with the Albanian people during the June 29, 
1997 elections.
  A stable and democratic Albania is vital to the security of Europe 
and the United States. Should democracy falter in Albania, the world 
could be confronted with another Bosnia. The Albanian people need to 
know that America stands firmly behind their struggle to maintain and 
entrench democracy after years of Communist, totalitarian rule. Now, 
more than ever, the Congress of the United States needs to make clear 
its strong Commitment to a free and democratic Albania.

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