DR. SALI BERISHA IN BRUSSELS... On the evening of 7 May, the vice-chairman of the Socialist Party of Belgium, Mr. Claude Erze, hosted a dinner for us. Among those present were the chairman of the Christian Democratic Party, Mr. Theo Kelck? ketar, the chairman of the Liberal Party, Mr. Guy Verhofstadt, the deputy chairman of the Socialist Party, Mr. Filip Busquin, Stra- szburg? In the reception hall we were accompanied by journalists from radio stations, television networks and various newspapers. I met the correspondent of “Figaro” and we talked about the situation in Albania, the work of the new government and the elections. On Friday evening, Dr. Berisha met the Belgian Foreign Minister, Mr. Van den Brande? and the Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr. Vili Klas. These meetings discussed bilateral relations and the possibilities for expanding them. Mr. Klas expressed to the President of the Republic of Albania his satisfaction with the invitation to visit Albania. On 8 May in the morning, meetings continued with figures from Belgian political life. President of the Republic Dr. Sali Berisha was received by former Prime Minister and chairman of the Social Christian Party, Mr. Wilfrid Martens, Vice-President of the European Parliament, who expressed the interest of that forum in democratic developments in Albania and its readiness to help it. At the meeting with the Belgian Prime Minister, Mr. Jean-Luc Dehaene? and the Foreign Minister, Mr. Van den Bruk? the political and economic problems of Albania were discussed, as well as relations with Belgium. President Berisha gave a broad presentation of the situation in the country and the results of the 22 March elections.

FROM ROME TO ROVENA — Two appointments in one day: — After lunch I am at my place and speaking on the phone with HESHAM ALI, consultant to the Albanian government. He comes from Trieste, where a week ago he arrived at the head of a group of Italian businessmen. He tells me some troubling things: in Italy, there is a blockade and things are moving slowly. Before the conversation with him is even over, I receive from Italy, from the refugee reception center in Brindisi, a second phone call from HESHAM ALI. He informs me that this morning the Austrian chancellor left Bari to return to Vienna. His arrival in Albania has been canceled. I ask for explanations, but get few. “A serious event has shaken Italy,” I hear, “and the chancellor’s trip was deemed impossible.” Later, through a friend, I get more precise news by phone from Bari: “The Mafia has been badly shaken by the arrest in Palermo of its former boss, the so-called gentleman nicknamed PIPI KALABRIA. He apparently had two rifles with telescopic sights and with them he killed Judge FALKONE. This was enough for all the Italian state structures to throw up their hands completely and for the world to rise to its feet.” Dawn has broken! The floor beneath one’s feet is a streambed. Sooner or later the collapse will begin, the ominous explosion. There is no denying it is frightening. The Italian people are seeing the impending horror with their own eyes. It is coming to light that the “state” is at such a level of corruption that it no longer exists. It has taken root there, without anyone even noticing. This terrible truth in itself is circulating like a black cloud. Perhaps Italy now needs a second “Marshall,” but the Americans are up to their necks with Bosnia. Unfortunately, it does not have Italy’s fate. As for itself, it is not exactly something to complain about. But its great fortune is that it has always had near it the historical chief cause of its troubles, called “Albania.” But what can you do! After a successful country, its neighbor’s failed country has been the same. Only not on that scale! Albania, which has sent thousands of refugees across the sea, has now turned out worse than its own other self. It is enough to ask who its new prime minister is. “It is Aleksandër Meksi,” they tell you. “He was arrested yesterday at Rinas airport, but they released him last night.” Continued on page 4

On Thursday morning, the delegation of the Democratic Party, composed of Mr. Sali Berisha, Mr. Eduard Selami, Secretary General of the PD, Mr. Tritan Shehu, Secretary of the Democratic Party, Mr. Gramoz Pashko, Deputy Prime Minister of the government, Mr. Prek Gjeti, Secretary General of the Council of Ministers, and the Ambassador of Albania in Rome, Mr. Kastriot Islami[?], arrived in Rome. At Rome airport they were received by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. B. Ando, and by other Italian authorities. On this day, the delegation of the Democratic Party of Albania held meetings at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at the City Hall of Rome, in the office of Mr. Andreotti, as well as with representatives of Italian business. During the talks, issues of bilateral relations, economic cooperation and concrete possibilities for investment in Albania were discussed. In the evening, the President of the Republic of Albania, Dr. Sali Berisha, was honored with a working dinner in Sala dei[?] Congressi, attended by representatives of Italian political, economic and cultural life. Continued on page 4

The PS deputy publishes an important notice in the district newspaper about “The Value of Money.” The person in question tries to explain to readers what the price of currency is and what role it plays in the economy. The notice is important, not only as propaganda for the old monetary policy of yesterday’s government, but also as an expression of the new mentality that seeks to present itself in the garb of “realism.” He claims that “without real prices there is no market economy” and that “the price of money should be left free.” There would be nothing wrong with this general formulation, were it not used to justify a destructive policy toward the population’s savings. The author seems to forget that currency is not merely a commodity, but also trust. When that trust is destroyed by inflation, speculation and the lack of state control, then the proclaimed “realism” turns into deception. For the old masters of administration, the devaluation of the lek seems like a convenient instrument for hiding failures in production and supply. But the consequences are paid by the poor, pensioners, workers, and families with fixed incomes. Instead of protecting labor and national production, people are asked to get used to the loss of purchasing power. Every time the PPSH and its offspring have found it hard to face reality, they have sought refuge in the hazy vocabulary of “economic necessity.” But people know that money does not shine from words, but from work, production, and public trust. Without these, every banknote remains only paper. Note: The title may have been read incorrectly because of the poor print quality.

humor Which dossiers do we think should be opened?! Instead of an exclamation, our envoy tells us that Mr. Xhavit Doda[?] is successfully carrying out the mission assigned by us. He is “walking” the market with 500 difficulties and is trying to secure the goods we urgently need. He asks from shop owners, small merchants and the comrades of the former government everything that has to do with the old apparatus. “Dossiers,” “files,” “decisions,” “orders,” “correspondence,” “telegrams,” “minutes,” “entry slips” and “exit slips” — anything can serve for the first sessions of parliament. Some merchants say the goods are rare. Others guarantee that they can find everything, but ask a high price. There are also those who have hidden the goods in basements and warehouses and will not bring them out without “an order from above.” At the end of the day, our envoy returns with almost empty hands, but not without hope. “In this country,” he says, “the old goods are not easily lost. They only change hands.” Continued on page 4

Dr. Arben Puto[?] expresses satisfaction with the publication in Albanian of several works by Ismail Kadare, noting that Albanian literature is regaining its natural place in the cultural life of the country. He emphasizes that the great writer had been unjustly kept away from readers for years and that his return is an important event for national culture. The article mentions the author’s well-known titles and readers’ interest in them. It emphasizes that, in the face of material poverty, the return of Kadare’s work is also a moral victory. Continued on page 4

THE INDEPENDENTS DEMONAKATIKË[?] On 8 May every year, this day is dedicated worldwide to the Red Cross and Red Crescent. One hundred and twenty-four years ago, on 8 May 1828, Henri Dunant, the founder of the Red Cross, was born. In 1948, on the centenary of his birth, this day was declared an international day for humanitarian activity. The birth of the Red Cross is linked to the Battle of Solferino, where hundreds of thousands of wounded were left without help. From there came the idea of creating voluntary aid associations and establishing international rules for the protection of war victims. In Albania, the Red Cross Association is trying to revive its tradition, which was interrupted for many years. It needs everyone’s help, trust, volunteers and material support. MOTTO: Humanism, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntarism, unity and universality. Continued on page 4

On 9 May, half a century ago… IDOVIEM[?]… In the side vertical text, damaged fragments and passages difficult to read are visible. Only parts such as: “...united”, “...war”, “...occupiers”, “...Albania”, “...national liberation”, “...fascist”, “...Nazi” and “...Continued on page 4” can be distinguished. The full text is not legible in this image.