Albania, 1993

I deem it a special pleasure

and honour to extend my cordial congratulations to the

President on his election to preside over the General

Assembly at its forty-eighth session. I also wish to express

my high esteem for the excellent way in which the former

President, Mr. Ganev, presided over the proceedings of the

forty-seventh session of the General Assembly.

May I hail the Secretary-General of the United Nations,

Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, and in particular for his dynamic

role and valuable personal contribution.

The Albanian delegation takes this opportunity to greet

the six newest Member States. In particular, we welcome

the presence here of our neighbour, the Former Yugoslav

Republic of Macedonia, whose stability, territorial integrity

and international recognition are of great importance for

stability in the Balkans.

Since the last session of the General Assembly we have

seen many important events. We have witnessed the

endeavours of peoples for progress, prosperity, harmony and

understanding, peace and cooperation, as well as for

survival. The end of the cold war paved the way for the

attainment of the peoples’ denied aspirations to

self-determination and national identity, democracy and

equality. It brought their national and spiritual assets closer

to each other and enhanced their endeavours to occupy their

rightful place in the list of civilized nations of the world.

But these endeavours were also accompanied by crises

and conflicts, which have grown and are now among our

most serious challenges. We hail with the greatest pleasure

today the impressive progress made by Israel and the PLO,

as manifested in the historic agreement to put an end to

years and years of hostility. This remarkable achievement

is the best proof that if willingness is shown by all parties,

a suitable and acceptable solution can always be found. This

is the right moment to recall the worthy contribution made

by the major actors in world diplomacy to this end and

express our conviction that with such a commitment they

will continue to deal with other similar crucial questions.

At last year’s session of the General Assembly the

Albanian delegation had the pleasure to declare in this Hall

44 General Assembly - Forty-eighth session

the victory of the democratic forces and their commitment

to Albania’s reintegration into the community of democratic

and civilized nations. Today, from the same rostrum, I have

the honour and the obligation to state that my country’s

democratic transformation has been successful, embracing all

fields and spheres of human activity. This transformation

has once and for all determined the direction in which

Albanian society will go, and it is forging ahead fast. After

more than a year of such government, Albania has taken big

steps in the setting up of qualitatively new political and

social structures and institutions, as well as in the

observation and legal guarantee of the rights and freedoms

of individuals.

We can truly speak now of an overall democratic

restructuring of Albanian society. Our goal is to consolidate

the constitutional democratic political order by setting up

democratic institutions with a view to taking action on

various political subjects and non-governmental organizations

with a view to guaranteeing participation by all citizens in

the running of the country. Albania is being led by people

possessed of new aspirations, ideologies and ideas. The

Government and its programme enjoy general approval,

which ensures political stability at home.

Making headway in Albania along with general

democratic reform is economic reform, aimed at a total

restructuring of a closed and inefficient economy on the path

to a free and open market economy. This restructuring is

difficult and truly painful, given the conditions of a country

that had known no reform or any kind of cooperation. The

economic recession the world is experiencing today has a

considerable bearing on the outcome of reform in Albania.

Furthermore, the strict implementation of United Nations

sanctions, and the considerable economic losses consequent

upon it, have influenced the rhythm of Albania’s economic

recovery. To be successful, Albanian economic policy also

counts on assistance and cooperation through programmes of

such important world economic institutions as the

International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the

European Community, and on specific programmes of aid

and cooperation with member countries of that Community

and a number of other States. Albania has surpassed the

stage of emergency aid and is working intensively to carry

out capital-producing projects, in which an important role is

also played by United Nations agencies such as the United

Nations Development Programme and the United Nations

Children’s Fund. In spite of the fact that the Government

has been in power for only a short time, positive results are

evident.

Application of a strict monetary policy has reduced

inflation from a monthly rate of 15 per cent in 1992 to 0.9

per cent in March 1993. Since August of last year, the

Albanian currency has shown a fairly fixed exchange rate in

relation to hard currencies, and the budgetary deficit has

been reduced significantly. As result of the massive

privatization of agricultural land, production has increased by

25 per cent.

It is only natural that at this time Albania has to cope

not only with the difficulties of transition and world

economic recession, but with those caused by the long war

in Bosnia and Herzegovina and other complex political

developments in the region, which negatively affect our

efforts to restore our ruined economy and hinder the

promotion of the democratic process not only in Albania but

in the entire Balkan region. We consider the creation of a

democratic space and a climate of peace, security and

stability in the former Yugoslavia and all over the Balkans

to be factors of decisive importance for the future of this

region, which has been overburdened with so many conflicts.

We are resolved to contribute constructively to the

establishment of such a democratic space of peace,

understanding and cooperation among the Balkan countries.

The priority of Albanian foreign policy is the creation

of favourable conditions for the democratic transformation

and total revival of the country. We see the solution of all

our problems precisely in the creation of this democratic

space in the Balkans and the full incorporation of this region

in the European process of integration. In this context,

Albania’s permanent political goal remains step-by-step and

overall integration in Europe by encouraging parallel

cooperation with the European collective economic, political

and security forums and structures. Reliable guarantees of

accelerated integration are advanced democratic legislation

worked out in compliance with European standards and the

institutional restructuring of State administration and local

government, along with total privatization of the economy

and the general encouragement of local and foreign private

initiative and activity in Albania. Reference should also be

made at this point to direct assistance from an important

forum of European democracy, the Council of Europe.

Albania regards the North Atlantic Treaty Organization

as an institution of effective vitality, which is indispensable

to organized concrete inter-State cooperation towards a real

collective security system in Europe and the entire

Euro-Atlantic area. Our relations with this important

political and military organization for security in Europe are

intended to constantly enhance cooperation towards full

integration in its structures. In close cooperation with other

Forty-eighth session - 27 September l993 45

Euro-Atlantic institutions, the Conference on Security and

Co-operation in Europe and the North Atlantic Cooperation

Council also have a very important role to play in

safeguarding peace, not only through confidence-building

measures and increased understanding among the

participating states, but also in the prevention of conflicts

and the peaceful settlement of disputes. We are confident

that only a common security policy is conducive to a climate

of mutual confidence, capable of coping with new

challenges. Through the position we have expressed at these

forums, Albania has proved that it consistently abides by this

assessment.

The protection and observance of human rights, one of

the fundamental issues of the new world democratic order

today, are closely linked with stable development,

democratic transformation, political stability and international

security, especially of the underdeveloped and turbulent

regions of the world. Human rights are indissolubly

interwoven with the aspirations of mankind to well-being

and socio-economic and political progress, freedom and

democracy. It is imperative for all members of the

international community at present to commit themselves,

according to their respective domestic conditions, to joint

efforts to translate these aspirations into reality for the sake

of a civilized and advanced world. The Albanian people,

who will never forget the high price paid during half a

century of brutal dictatorship, attaches a high value to human

rights and political and civil freedoms. In compliance with

this assessment, our Government considers support for

democracy and human rights to be the guide of its political

orientation. It is determined to build a modern State and a

civilized society, based on respect for the human rights of all

strata of the population without exception or discrimination.

Albania has adhered to two basic United Nations pacts on

human rights and is making preparations to adhere to a

series of other conventions. Not long ago, for the first time

in the history of the country, the Albanian Parliament

endorsed the Constitutional Law on Fundamental Rights and

Freedoms, thereby testifying to our determination to put

human rights at the forefront of the stable foundations of the

new Albanian democratic society we are building.

We consider respect for minority rights to be an

important and indivisible aspect of human rights. Albania’s

policy in this field rests on the principles of full equality and

non-discrimination, the creation of a broad democratic space

so that persons belonging to national minorities can assert

their own national identity, and the creation of a climate of

exemplary trust and coexistence. Minorities are an integral

part of the political, social and economic life of Albania; as

protagonists of the democratic development and

transformation of the country, they have access to real

representation in all socio-political structures, at State and

local levels of administration. Their situation in economic

and social domains will improve hand in hand with that of

the rest of the population.

The end of the cold war freed mankind from the fear of

global confrontation, even though peace and security are still

seriously threatened by a number of regional conflicts. In

some regions of the world, the actions and practices of some

States where totalitarian and ultranationalist regimes are in

power run counter to the aspirations and endeavours of the

peace-loving international community. More than 30 armed

conflicts, accompanied by savage crimes and great suffering

for the civilian population, are currently ablaze in various

regions of the world. These conflicts, which are a flagrant

violation of human rights and which are attended by all the

inevitable consequences, have seriously shocked mankind.

The conflict in the former Yugoslavia, especially in

Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is the bloodiest and most

dangerous conflict known in Europe since the Second World

War, has not yet found a stable solution. The monstrous

massacres carried out against the innocent civilian

population, "ethnic cleansing" - that barbaric form of

genocide - and all the other inhuman acts associated with

this conflict have once more testified to the fact that it is

impossible to reform totalitarian and ultra-nationalist

societies. This conflict is a challenge to civilized Europe, to

the conscience and humanitarian sentiments and passions of

the whole of peace-loving mankind. That is why a firm

collective answer from mankind is required. We have seen

that the imposition of sanctions, despite the effect on the

Serbian economy, was not the only or the most effective

means to put an end to the war and restore peace. This is

because the practical commitment of some countries did not

match their verbal statements in support of the sanctions.

That is why sanctions failed to paralyse and seriously

damage the Serbian war machine. Time has proved that the

sanctions needed to be accompanied by other, simultaneous,

measures of pressure.

We think that a convincing example should be set for

everybody, demonstrating that the reaction and the stand of

the United Nations will always be the same in cases of

aggression. It is the Organization’s duty to use all means at

its disposal to implement the principles of the Charter, to

make peace, and to fulfil the hopes of mankind.

But we understand that the United Nations sanctions, as

the only means based on the world community’s consensus,

will continue to be applied, putting the necessary pressure on

46 General Assembly - Forty-eighth session

the Belgrade authorities until a final solution of the whole

Yugoslav crisis is found, including an overall improvement

of the situation in Kosovo.

The Yugoslav crisis is multidimensional and

complicated because of many interlacing factors and

interests. It is evident that its most tragic and bloodiest

manifestation is the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina,

which for more than a year has been the centre of the

attention and the efforts of public opinion and of the

diplomacy of the major Powers of the world. I would like

to stress that my country has condemned the Serbian

aggression, and has hailed and unreservedly supported all the

endeavours of the international community to establish peace

in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Republic of Albania will

support any solution to the Bosnian conflict which is based

on a free and fair agreement. Solutions which legalize

territorial annexation and "ethnic cleansing" at the expense

of other peoples such as the Muslim population in Bosnia

can hardly be heralds of peace.

Moreover, we would like to remind this important

international forum that the other aspects of the Yugoslav

crisis should not be neglected either, for these could have

consequences of tragic proportions not only within the

former Yugoslavia but also in the Balkans and beyond.

In that light, I would like to point out that the Albanian

factor in the former Yugoslavia, especially the Kosovo issue,

is of a crucial importance to finding an equitable and lasting

solution to the crisis. Therefore, we insist that this problem

has to be properly addressed. If, in assessing this factor,

there is insistence on the rigid position that Kosovo is an

integral part of Serbia, that it is annexed to Serbia and that

the Albanian people in the former Yugoslavia are a minority,

then nothing will be achieved, but the idea of creating a

"Greater Serbia" will be reconfirmed and legalized at the

expense of other peoples.

We think that the breakup of the former Yugoslavia -

which was also the cause of what is now called the

Yugoslav crisis - puts the issue of succession in the former

Yugoslav federation in an entirely new light: it brings up

the question of considering the peoples’ right of

self-determination, and the expression of their free will as to

their political status. If this means war, as some people

think, then it is up to the United Nations and the Security

Council to intervene and guarantee respect for the principles

of the Charter. We firmly maintain that no forcible change

of borders or territorial gains through aggression and "ethnic

cleansing" will be recognized.

The choice is clear: if we want people to believe in the

new world order, we must create all the legitimate

international conditions needed to realize and defend their

aspirations, by setting up an entirely new type of system of

United Nations protection for defenceless countries and

peoples.

As to the national question of the Albanians, we see its

solution in the creation in the former Yugoslavia and all

over the Balkans of a broad democratic space that would

allow freedom of communication and freedom of movement

among the more than 7 million Albanians who live, in

territorial continuity, in that space. We are against territorial

fragmentation and division, and the hermetic sealing of a

single people within the borders of neighbouring countries.

I believe that I am also expressing the opinion of many

countries represented here when I say that the outbreak of a

conflict in Kosovo would be the start of a great tragedy.

Albania expresses its profound gratitude to the international

community for all the efforts it has made to prevent a

spillover of the conflict to Kosovo and to support the denied

rights of the Albanian people there. I also express my

gratitude to the United Nations, which has clearly warned

that any warlike act by Serbia in Kosovo will pose a threat

to international peace and security. We highly appreciate

this support and call for a serious commitment by the

international community to take all the necessary urgent

measures to prevent the Bosnian tragedy from recurring in

Kosovo.

Albania has long made it clear that placing Kosovo

under the control and protection of the United Nations is the

only guaranteed way of preventing conflict and discouraging

the silent "ethnic cleansing" that Serbia is practising there.

It would also create a favourable climate for dialogue

between the legitimate Albanian representatives of Kosovo

and the Serbian authorities on the political status of the

province and on any other issue linked with the question of

succession to the former Yugoslavia.

Therefore, we reiterate our stand that only the United

Nations, and primarily the Security Council, should

expeditiously take the necessary measures to prevent conflict

in that region.

At a time when the concept of using peace-keeping

forces prior to a conflict has been consolidated in theory and

has been put into practice, preventive deployment is fully

justified in the case of Kosovo, because of the threat that the

outbreak of an intra-Balkan armed conflict would pose to

international peace and security.

Forty-eighth session - 27 September l993 47

We are profoundly concerned about the issue of

Kosovo and the grave situation created there since the

elimination of its autonomy in 1989 and its complete

annexation and subjection to Serbian military and police

authority, and we call for proper attention to the fact that a

peaceful settlement of the Yugoslav crisis should cover the

entire space of the former Yugoslavia and all its aspects and

problems. Any partial settlement without the necessary

international safeguards would be unstable and would not do

away with the germs of new conflicts.

To sum up, I would like to reiterate that the Republic

of Albania sees in the United Nations an organization

capable of implementing the principles of its Charter and

coping with all the challenges that result from the dynamic

developments of our time, especially serious problems in the

fields of security, disarmament, sustainable socio-economic

development, environment and so on.

We see the United Nations also as the primary

institution responsible for the collective safeguarding of

peace and security in the new era. Albania will render

unreserved support to all initiatives aimed at enhancing the

efficiency of this universal Organization.