CABINET OF FINO OR A CABINET OF HOPE

AIM Tirana, 25 March, 1997

One thing is certain and that is that it had never occurred to 35-year old Bashkim Fino that he would some day become the prime minister of Albania, especially not in its most dramatic situation since the Second World War. Fino was in his rebellious southern city of Gjinokaster when his name was mentioned in the Albanian capital, as the possible prime minister in the government of national reconciliation. The next day, armed rebels allowed a single helicopter to land at the outskirts of the city which is still controlled by them, and take the new prime minister of Albania to the capital.

Bashkim Fino was not a known figure on the Albanian political scene and it seems that this very fact was decisive for his appearance as a formula of compromise between the conflicting parties. The need to have a new person who would not immediately be opposed by the Albanians, but perhaps even more than that, the need to have a prime minister from the rebelllious south contributed to this choice. A graduated economist, in his career Fino had reached the level of a local government employee. In the first free elections for local authorities in 1992, as a candidate of the Socialist Party, Fino was elected mayor of Gjinokaster, a significant administrative and cultural centre in the south of Albania. The post of the mayor of Gjinokaster is considered to be highly delicate, since a large number of members of the Greek minority live together with the Albanians in this city. Gjinokaster is also the birthplace of the former Albanian dictator Enver Hoxha.

Fino has succeeded in becoming known as one of the successful local leaders in the country. He has become known for his flexibility and civic coexistence with political opponents in the country where this had seemed impossible. In a debate within the Socialist Party last year, Fino supported the arrested Socialist president Fatos Nano, acquiring a reputation of a moderate reformer.

Journalists remember as the most spectacular episode of his political career, a rally in his city during President Berisha's campaign for the referendum on the Constitution in autumn 1994. Contrary to other local Socialist leaders who had refused to be present at Berisha's rallies, Fino manifested respect for the president of the state wishing him welcome, but after Berisha's speech, he addressed his fellow citizens calling them to vote against the project presented by Berisha. Indeed, a few days later, at the referendum, Gjinokaster voted against Berisha's project with a large majority.

Although he has learnt a great deal of diplomacy while leading a city where the Albanians lived together with the Greeks, Fino is carrying a very heavy burden on his back now. He must resolve very difficult tasks making manoeuvres between Berisha and the parliament on a political scene burdened by uncertainties.

Fino's cabinet has the support of ten political parties, nine of which hold posts in the Government. The Party of Democratic Alliance signed a political agreement on creation of the government of national reconciliation, but refused to take a portfolio because it was against the Democratic Party being at the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs again.

Three main ministries, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defence, apart from ministers, have one state secretary each, in order to ensure mutual control between the 'position' and the opposition.

The new minister of foreign affairs is 42-year old Arjan Starova from a small party called the Social Democratic Union. Starova has been deputy foreign minister for five years and he is known as Berisha's favourite. Starova has graduated at the department of philosophy. His deputy at the post of the state secretary is Pavli Zeri from the rival Social Democratic Party, known for his special relations with the circles of Socialist Internationale.

The most controversial post in Albania, that of the foreign minister, was given to an almost completely unknown figure - Belul Celo. He comes from a branch of the Fieri Democratic Party and he is barely known in the capital. By profession, Celo is an engineer. His deputy, at the post of state secretary, is the former vice-chairman of the first Albanian pluralist parliament, a Socialist Lush Perpali. Perpali has reappeared on the political scene when it was almost believed that he had disappeared. Although he is by origin from the native town of President Berisha, Perpali was his sharp critic.

The Socialists are holding the important post of the minister of defence. And while former minister Xhulali had fled to Italy where he sought political asulym, his place was taken by a hard-core Socialist, Shaqir Vukaj, former vice-chairman of the previous parliament. Vukaj took over responsibility to reorganize the army which had almost completely gone to rack and ruin. He called formerly discharged officers from the so-called Xhulili's reform to return to army ranks. Vukaj was often seen on TV at meetings with western ambassadors, demanding logistic assistance for reorganization of the Albanian army.

The Socialists are also holding the portfolio of the Ministry of Finance which is very important at the present situation. The new minister of finance, Arben Malaj, was one of the authors of economic policy of the Socialist Party. He will have to overcome a very difficult financial situation with very negative balance sheet and foreign currency reserves at the very minimum.

A small number of minor parties have been charged with several other portfolios. The Party of Legality, the Royalists, have the minister of justice in the Government, Spartak Ngjela, very well-known lawyer who had spent 17 years in prisons of the communist regime. Ngjela used to be one of the main leaders of the Democratic Alliance, but later became estranged after a disagreement in the Party which was according to his opinion drifting towards the left. At the moment, Ngjela is enjoying support of the Democratic Party as well, which four years ago, after one of his visits to Belgrade, sharply accused him in its press. As a highly pragmatic politician, it is believed that Ngjela is highly influential in the cabinet. However, he will also be forced to face exceptional difficulties. The country has no prisons and the system of justice is almost completely paralyzed.

The Social Democrats also have the minister of agriculture in the Government, former rector of the Agricultural University, highly esteemed intellectual in the country. Aliko has a long experience in agriculture and he is busy trying to provide aid in food from the west. The Party for Human Rights which represents the Greek muinority, holds the portfolio of the ministry of transportation. The new minister, Foto Duka, is unknown to the media in Tirana. The minister of culture will be a journalist from TV, Engjell Ndocaj, a Catholic from Shkoder, who represents the Christian Democratic Party.

The new cabinet has been composed keeping in mind not only the political agreement between ten major political parties in the country, but also a certain religious balance between three main religions in Albania, as well as a balance between the north and the south. It is expected to be a cabinet of hope for the Albanians who find it very hard to have any hope at all.

Ana BOLINI AIM Tirana