h general elections held on June 29, 1997, described by international observers as acceptable if far from perfect, the Socialist Party and allies gained majority. On July 24, the new parliament lifted a five-month curfew in the country and elected Socialist Party secretary-general Rexhep Mejdani as successor to President Berisha who had resigned to take up a seat as an opposition deputy for his Democratic Party. Mejdani installed Socialist Party chairman Fatos Nano as Prime Minister, following the resignation of Bashkim Fino who had led an interim 10-party government charged with conducting the June elections. Prime Minister Nano pledged to move quickly to restore order, to compensate Albanians who lost their savings in the pyramid investment schemes, and to set up a new constitution that guaranteed human rights, the independence of the judiciary and respect for democratic legislation. Albania has been governed by a package of constitutional laws since 1993 after it got rid of its communist constitution of 1974. A draft constitution presented by the Democrats in a referendum in 1994 was rejected by the Albanians because it was seen as giving Berisha unlimited powers. Nano has promised a second referendum on a new constitution in 2000. (Political Handbook, 10) The international community pledged to help Albania rebuild itself, but warned the Socialist-led coalition government must restore public order, improve human rights and adopt sound economic policies. On August 14, 1996 the UN Security Council registered the end of a peacekeeping mission it authorized for Albania on March 28, 1997. The 10-nation force of 7,000, led by Italy and authorized but not organized by the United Nations, was sent to Albania in April after near-anarchy swept the nation. Other problems face this nation such as the protection of the rights of ethnic Albanians outside of the borders; the Albanian majority in Kosovo seeks independence from Serbia, and Albanians ...
