- GERMANY EXTENDS A HELPING HAND FOR THE THIRD TIME...! Gensher’s visit represents an important event for our country. He is known as a friend of Albania who has also come to help us in difficult times, extending the hand of a great and powerful nation. The situation in our country today is such that it calls for assistance from the European Community through loans, aid and investment. It is known that the DP, in its programme as well, has expressed support for Germany’s leading role, alongside other countries, in Albania’s recovery. The visit by German Foreign Minister Gensher—the first foreign state dignitary to come to Albania after the formation of the democratic government—is of particular importance for relations between our two countries and for Albania’s future.

- Interview with the President of the Republic, prof. dr. SALI BERISHA, given to the secretary of the editorial board, Mr Skënder Shkupi Mr President. You are the most popular person not only in Albania but also, at the same time, currently the most popular Albanian abroad. Do you think that this special position creates a certain risk for you if solutions to the pressing problems facing the nation are delayed? - To tell you honestly, I would not connect anything to my person, but there is no doubt that delays would be unforgivable, first and foremost for me, as well as for the government and parliament. In the 22 March vote, the new power that emerged from these elections received not only a strong and weighty mandate, but also great credibility at home and in the world. It is essential that this credibility be used wisely and without wasting a single minute to build a state governed by the rule of law and revive the ruined economy, resolve people’s problems and concerns fairly, and fight corruption. - The new government of Mr Meksi has been harshly criticised by the PS, especially the heads of the Ministry of Defence. Is it essential, for example, that Mr Zhulali be necessarily ... Overall, it has been very well received by the people. It is, of course, not an ideal cabinet, but I think it is Albania’s first democratic cabinet in the last 70 years. It is made up of distinguished intellectuals in the fields in which they have worked, who speak foreign languages and are committed democrats. The fundamental criteria were not personal sympathies or family connections, but ability and competence, honesty and correctness, and their commitment to democracy. For the first time, people have entered government who, as opponents of the regime, have won people’s sympathy, trust and popularity. In forming Meksi’s government, geographical criteria were also taken into account wherever possible. Its members come not from just three or four regions, but from all over Albania, and people have been pleased about this. When I stressed that this is the first truly democratic cabinet, I had in mind the fact that it was formed entirely in accordance with the Helsinki criteria. These criteria require that the Ministry of Public Order and the Ministry of Defence be headed by civilians. Therefore, in ... ... primarily because of a failure to recognise this factor. In all democratic countries, the ministers of Defence and Public Order have been and are civilians. Indeed, civilian leadership extends to other levels as well. The minister guarantees the implementation of state policy in the army or police, while technical and professional responsibility and leadership are ensured by the general staff, in our case the General Staff. Albania has entered a new era, the era of democracy. It will faithfully fulfil all the obligations arising from the Helsinki Act. Thus, I am convinced that Mr Zhulali, who is a committed democrat and a capable intellectual, will competently lead the department entrusted to him. - Our foreign policy has traditionally been good and extremely sluggish. With the DP’s victory, what opportunities have arisen for its greater activation, not only to promote economic renewal but also to defend our national rights in the European political arena? Our foreign policy will ... ... in Europe, and at the same time the defence and fair resolution of the Albanian question. It must help and facilitate Albania’s economic renewal and Albania’s accession to international bodies and organisations. - In an interview given in recent days to the popular daily «La gazetta del Mezzogiorno», you stressed that «a total undertaking will take at least 15 or 20 years». This phrase was highlighted by «Zëri i Popullit» on 16 April 1992. What is the situation regarding projects for our economic revival? I have told not only this newspaper but other newspapers as well that it will take two years before the economic recovery begins to be felt, while I think that developing Albania’s economy to the levels we would like, and in every area, will take at least 15 or 20 years. Perhaps others expect this moment to come sooner, or later, but to think that you can move from one of the poorest years in the world to becoming a developed country within 15-

STATEMENT concerning the report by the special correspondent of «ZP» The Albanian social-communists, through their «veteran» newspaper, which in a moral sense bears the name of the people, shook Albanian political opinion yesterday with the sensational news that 100 million dollars in aid to Albania had been cancelled. Printed in large black letters by a dark hand, this news rightly outrages every Albanian. First, because of the speculative and deceitful way it was presented: this is not a cancellation of the aid, but its later consideration according to the criteria of these international organisations; and second, because of the cynicism and anti-national tone in which it was commented on. To rejoice and barely contain your enthusiasm that your country, reduced to begging for bread today by these communist gentlemen, has been unable to secure aid in its most difficult days to keep people alive; to seek political gain, even by fabricating facts that imply the continuation of hardship for our people and children, who, as it is, are homeless, unclothed and unfed. To rejoice at the fact that Albania, which you reduced to the state it is in today, will not receive help: this is not only cynical and immoral, but also anti-national. Political parties that seek to profit at the people’s expense are more dangerous than the plague, it was said 2,000 years ago. And today we want to remind you that you sowed the communist plague in our country, destroying everything. Reformed communist comrades! With your blindness and hysteria after losing your seats, you are outdoing even your predecessors, who, despite having committed the crimes, did not dare come out openly and rejoice in black letters as you do. After conducting fascist propaganda against the DP from the moment it was founded, insulting and abusing everyone; after repeatedly fanning the flames of civil war during the democratic revolution, supporting and issuing, in your pages, the call to arms for the «Volunteers of Enver»; after ending up at the doors of the courts and losing your cases for defamation, now you are mocking poverty and rejoicing in it. How long must we put up with you? The DP is convinced that the European Community and the other international organisations, as they have done until now during this difficult period, will continue to help Albania. We are convinced that, following democracy’s victory on 22 March and the formation of the first democratic, anti-communist government, this aid will increase so that our people can leave behind the communist hell. FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY [?]rën uar, the solution with justice of each other’s problems and hardships, the fight against corruption. - The new government of Mr. Meksi has been sharply criticized by the SP, especially the head that Mr. Zhulali must be a military officer? Mr. Meksi’s new government in - When I said that this is the first democratic state cabinet, I had in mind the fact that it is formed entirely according to civilians. That is why we appointed Messrs. Zhulali and Kopliku to lead them. Regarding the discussion of this issue, I stress that this arose as a result of— What opportunities were created within the DP for its greater activation in the service not only of economic renewal, but also of defending policy will be a policy of open doors. It should aim to create every opportunity for in- [?]lar clearly demonstrated its inability to ensure a high standard of living for the people. On the other hand, systems based on a market economy have brought dynamic, prosperous and free societies everywhere in the world. To establish private ownership and the opportunities it offers, the government will pursue the following policies: The DP is convinced that the European Community and other international organizations, will continue to help Albania in the future. We are convinced that this assistance, following the victory of democracy on March 22 and the fall of the regime, and of the first democratic, anti-communist government, will continue to increase so that our people may leave the communist hell behind. Tirana, 19 April 1992 FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY Chairman EDUARD SELAMI

– Presented by the Prime Minister, Mr Aleksandër Meksi – This is a moment of pride in the history of our country. Communism in Albania has come to an end. Today we appear before you as Albania’s first democratic government. As a democratic government, we will present the country’s problems and explain how we will support our national progress, which is fundamentally and radically different from communist methods of governance. In the new democratic regime, we will be guided by these basic principles: 1. The human being, not the state, government or political party, is the supreme subject. This means that all people enjoy freedoms they did not have before: the freedom to think for themselves, the freedom to express their ideas and opinions, and the freedom to pursue the economic, social and other choices that produce results. The government’s role is now to protect these freedoms, not restrict them. 2. We will live under the rule of law. This applies to all citizens and to the government. No person, party or government institution is privileged before the law. 3. In democratic Albania, people will be valued according to their merits. One’s position in society will be determined by one’s abilities and the duties one performs, not by party privileges or government posts. 4. The government’s role is to create conditions in which our people can test their opportunities and abilities and use them to the fullest for their own benefit. The government has neither the purpose nor the capacity to operate the economy and distribute resources among the population. Our prosperity depends on how much we allow the market economy to flourish. The communist regime everywhere in the world has demonstrated beyond any doubt that an economy directed and controlled by the state cannot work. In Albania, we know this better than anywhere else. 5. At this transitional stage, as we move from the socialist economy to the market economy, we are aware that great difficulties have arisen and will arise in people’s lives. A profound and general crisis has engulfed the Albanian economy. Chronic unemployment, high prices, low wages, shortages of widely used goods, and disruptions in the supply of drinking water, electricity and heating cannot be eliminated in a few days. These wounds cannot be healed by command either. There is only one way: implementing radical economic reforms, as the experience of the former Eastern bloc countries also shows. Our mission as a government is to begin this reform courageously, without which there can be no economic assistance from abroad and our country’s wealth cannot be put to use. On the other hand, systems based on the market economy have brought dynamic societies everywhere in the world— 1. Privatization of agricultural land The government will propose to the People’s Assembly that the land law be improved and supplemented in accordance with contemporary legal criteria and presented at the appropriate time to address already familiar issues, such as the creation of a land market, leasing and so on. Within this framework, the issue of compensation for former landowners who were displaced without explanation will also be resolved, at the level of the middle-income farmer and in accordance with international standards. This requires the establishment of a special commission to study in depth all related matters. We are convinced that, just as the farming community willingly supported the privatization of land, it will likewise properly understand the implementation of comprehensive agricultural reform. For the time being, land distribution has reached around 68 per cent. Among the factors that have impeded its completion have been the poor work of the Ministry of Agriculture, the central land commission and the districts, as well as the views of various political forces, which have encouraged a degree of expectation among farmers that the law might change. We declare before public opinion as a whole that we will recognise and implement without hesitation the existing law and the title deeds that will be issued as soon as possible under it. Land distribution cannot be carried out sentimentally or subjectively; the law is an obligation that must be implemented without wavering. For this purpose, we believe a deadline should be set for completing the land distribution, and it should be as soon as possible. 2. Privatization of enterprises The foremost issue in economic reform is the privatization of enterprises, which began a year ago; the government must now advance this privatization, with all the risks arising from mistakes, misinterpretations, interference and corruption. One thing is clear: privatization of enterprises will continue, and indeed at an accelerated pace in trade, services, transport, fishing and so on. The second stage concerns light-industry and food-industry enterprises. Here there are greater difficulties, stemming from tendencies inherited from the socialist system. Just as the privatization of a shop appears easy, the privatization of combines, such as food-processing plants and textile factories, and clothing enterprises employing hundreds and thousands of workers appears difficult and complex. The difficulty is compounded because, during the past year and subsequently, many enterprises have been detached and transformed into various forms of private ownership and participation. One of the ways of privatizing industry in the future will be to distribute securities free of charge to the adult population, which will have the right to exchange them freely, as they wish, for shares in enterprises to be privatized during this period. Alongside this approach, a variety of other methods will also be used, including private sales, auctions, joint ventures and management contracts with foreign partners. (Continued on page 2)

The economic system that guarantees stability and ... The economic system that guarantees a nation’s stability and well-being is the market economy, whose driving force is individual private property. The market economy is not a mere change of signboard from the socialist economy. It requires the expansion of the market economy within a system of the rule of law and free competition, and the elimination of state bureaucracy from the economy. It also requires integrating our economy into the world economy, to allow foreign investment, modernize technology and increase the skills of our people. We will focus on several main areas of reform:

In a market economy, as the term itself indicates, where there is a market and private property, an individual or family will be able to take control of private property, work and earn from it. Individuals and families are responsible for managing their own property. At the same time, individuals are allowed to benefit in proportion to what they create through their own effort and initiative. Gradually, the state will weaken its commanding role in the economy, because the experience of 45 years has—