By Arben Iliazi Today the President of the Czech Republic, Havel, arrives for a visit to Albania. At 9:30 he will meet the President of the Republic, Rexhep Meidani. He has not come to Albania for 3 years. It is almost impossible to remember any of his earlier visits, even in dreams, not only since he was elected president, but even earlier, because he was one of the most outspoken dissidents in Eastern Europe, the man who once and for all united democracy and freedom. Albanians remember that back in 1992, when he was elected president of the Czech Republic, he came to Tirana, while Rexhep Meidani, busy with his duties as chairman of the University Council, spoke about him in a teleconference with New York. For some time Havel has been known in the Albanian press as one of the most beloved figures among Albanians. There has been much debate about the reason for his visit. This crisis, seen by everyone from different viewpoints, has brought serious consequences for the countries and peoples of this part of the continent. Albanians draw a parallel between the situation of Albanians in Kosovo and that in the Czech lands some years ago. Ten years after the beginning of the democratic revolution, it has been observed that democracy is tired and often, as in many other post-communist countries, as an unprecedented genre, it has been left unprotected. Often democratic processes have taken on a symbolic form and have been turned into rituals. Albania has still not managed to interrupt this process, which is moving along a difficult road toward the institutions of a democratic state. Despite the steps that have been taken, it must be said that the West, especially the USA, has played a very important role, both in Albania and in Kosovo. Today all attention is focused on Kosovo. As Havel himself has said many times, the resistance of the Albanians and of Kosovo has been and is a decisive factor in their efforts for liberation and the achievement of peace in the Balkans. Havel will be known in Albania as a humanist and a free spirit who has always supported the rights of Albanians. He has long been considered by Albanians and remains forever a friend to them.