- After half a century suffering under the most brutal communist dictatorship, the people of Albania chose to take their destiny in their own hands and to take their first determined steps on the road to a new and democratic society.
It was a historic day, when on the 22nd March 1992 this proud people elected with a great majority, the Democratic Party of Albania to lead them on this long and difficult road. Young in age, but hardened in the struggle against communism, our party was the first political force which made possible the establishment of political pluralism in Albania.
Now that the old structures of totalitarian power have been irrevocably demolished, the task rests upon us to rebuild our country on the wreckage left by so many years of mis-management and destruction. We are all working together to build a new Albania that is democratic, free and prosperous, a new Albania for us and for our children to live in happiness and harmony. In the paragraphs that follow, I will explain what the Democratic Party has done so far in order to build up democracy, in a just and tolerant society, where people can live in peace, freedom and prosperity.
The DP has maintained the independence, the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country which has strengthened the national unity. It has established the rule of law, to defend the legitimate rights and interests of the individual, towards the state, and promotes well being. The private property is sacred and inviolable.
The DP has performed a thorough judicial, structural and institutional reform by involving in this area, people with new concepts and proceeding on the basis of modern democratic codes. Priority is given to the principle that the law is above all, and that the responsibility of the authorities elected by the people is to apply the law correctly at all times. The Constitutional Set of Laws approved by the parliament is based in the United Nations universal statement on human rights, the Helsinki agreement, documents of Copenhagen, the Paris Charters and the CSCE accords. The freedom and human rights are the most brilliant reality of modern day Albania. The three principal religions and many small communities are developed and co-exist in harmony and peace.
A fundamental reform has been established in the institutional field. The independent judiciary system set during these three years of DP government is of primordial importance for the development of democracy in Albania. The institutional reform not only offered the possibility to tens of thousands of intellectuals, who till yesterday were displaced and left in oblivion to give their contribution for the development of these institutions, but it also served as a powerful base of the universal promotion for the consolidation of the state of rights and the exploitation of the creative energies of the intellectuals in all fields, as well.
Three years ago the Albanian economy was in a state of a real comma. Our economic reform was based on the liberalisation of prices, the control of inflation, the privatisation of the economy and the attraction of foreign investors. Its beginning was very difficult, it certainly passed through great difficulties, but today, it is an undeniable success and the results are quite impressive.
Inflation is under control, our currency is convertible and is kept stable through a fluctuating exchange rate, prices are liberalised, privatisation and free initiative have undergone and are going through rapid development. The market economy is being transformed into a dominant force in Albania. The budget deficit from 44% of GDP three years ago, is going to be only 7% this year. More than 55% of the GDP comes from the private sector. Inflation has decreased 25 times as compared to 1991. From 400% yearly growth 3 years ago, last year it was 15.8% and hopefully this year it will be 10%.
For two successive years Albania has the greatest economic growth in Eastern Europe, 11% for 1993 and 8% for 1994. Customs income has increased from 1992 – 1994 by 3.8 times. Export and import comparing 1992 – 1994 increased 3.2 times and 2.7 times respectively. In 1994 foreign investment was three times higher than in 1993. We have completed land distribution. The Albanian farmers with their own toil have become true owners of the Albanian land. 65% of the national property is privatised. There is an increase of the industrial production in many sectors.
Our major attention has been put to the acceleration of the medium and large scale enterprises through a voucher system. The speedy privatisation and proprietorship of our people have given a true impetus to the country’s economic development. The democratic government has paid great attention to the former political prisoners and persecuted people, to the normalisation of their life, their employment compensation, education and accommodation.
Priority is given to the problem of employment and support to the sectors that create jobs. The government has studied separately all the sectors and has undertaken the activation of those which have guaranteed market and exports.
One of the worst things Albania inherited from the communist regime is the lack of infrastructure. It was proclaimed that Albania was able to cover all its needs with the existing electric network, “which was enough only for lighting”. This year the domestic consumption of electricity has increased 5-15 times larger than in 1991.
The most important moment for the current year is the massive privatisation through vouchers. Regarding the investments in 1994, they have been three times larger than in 1993. The 90’s found the Albanian people in the greatest historic loneliness they had ever known. After the victory of democracy, Albania managed to overcome loneliness and isolation and from a country without orientation in the period of dictatorship, it took its natural orientation from Western Europe. The greatest assistance and support to Albania has been from the European Union and its member countries.
The development of Albanian-German relations in the past three years have been historic. The Albanian-American relations have also improved during this same period, with the culmination of the visit by President Berisha to meet with President Bill Clinton in Washington in September 1995.
Albania has very good and friendly relations with Italy, one of our neighbours which helped us a lot in a difficult period and made a very great contribution to Albania in the form of material assistance and its distribution.
To be emphasised is the signing of the Treaty of Friendship with France, and the signing of co-operation agreements with the United Kingdom. Which has also provided a great deal of assistance through exchange visits with senior officials and the Know How Fund which has helped in numerous training programs. The Swiss aid has also been very considerable. Our relations with Greece now are improved and the visit of the Foreign Minister of Greece has proved very promising for the good perspective of our two countries. The recent visit of the DPA delegation to Greece invited by Mr Miltiadis Evert, Chairman of the Nea Democracy Party, opened a new page in the relations between our two countries. From the different political forces in Greece it was stressed that the contribution to the good mutual relations will not serve only our two countries but will also be a good example to the stability and security of the region.
All the success of the Democratic Party that have been achieved during these three years of its governing, would have never assumed these dimensions without the invaluable moral, technical, and material help of the EUCD/EPP and EDU, of the centre right parties and their leaders in Europe, as well as the special and all-round assistance of the two American institutions, the Republican and Democrat party’s, from the foundation of the Dp to its victory in 1992 and successively.
I would like to express my deepest gratitude for all the support and assistance we have received from all these democratic institutions and organisations. On the 1st July 1995, the Democratic Party was accepted as a full member to the EUCD/EPP at its meeting in Bucharest. We consider it a victory not only for the DP, but also for the Albanian people which are working hard for the consolidation of the new emerging democracy in our country.