The day before yesterday at 18:30, the President of the Republic of Albania, Sali Berisha, received at the Presidential Office the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mr. Karl Dieter Spranger. ... President Berisha thanked the German Federal Minister for the assistance provided in support of our Government’s requests. Mr. Berisha asked him for help with the education of young Albanian managers, the guaranteeing of German investments by the state agency «Hermes», and the improvement of transport. President Berisha also stressed the need to expand economic cooperation in milk and bread processing, etc. After congratulating Mr. Berisha on his election as President of the Republic of Albania, Mr. Spranger said that he was a very popular personality in Germany. My visit, following Genscher’s visit, Mr. Spranger stressed, demonstrates the continuity of German policy to help Albania. We are interested in Albania being a factor of stability in the region. The German minister also assured the Albanian President of Germany’s full support within the Group of 24 for aid to Albania. In connection with the regional crisis, views were exchanged on the situation of Albanians in the former Yugoslavia. Mr. Spranger expressed support for the Albanian President’s views and condemned Milosheviç’s policy. Press and Information Office of the President of the Republic

ALBANIA – EUROPEAN COMMUNITY – TALKS WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS MR. ALEKSANDËR MEKSI On Wednesday evening, the government delegation led by the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Mr. Aleksandër Meksi, returned to the Homeland. He had made a working visit to Brussels, where he held a series of meetings with senior figures from the European Community and Belgium, and the economic and trade cooperation agreement between Albania and the European Community was signed. ALBANIA – EUROPEAN COMMUNITY Agreement, concrete steps – TALKS WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS, MR. ALEKSANDËR MEKSI • Albania, as a special case, moving toward treatment as a most-favoured nation • After 35 million, a further 45 million ECU, and 20 million in food aid On Wednesday evening, the government delegation led by returned to the Homeland. He had made a working visit to Brussels, where he held a series of meetings with senior figures from the European Community and Belgium, and the economic and trade cooperation agreement between Albania and the European Community was signed. Our delegation also included the Minister of Finance and the Economy, Mr. Genc Ruli. Mr. Meksi, before we talk about your other business in Brussels, I want to congratulate you on recovering from the accident that happened when the plane was landing at Rinas. Thank you. We really were close to danger. The specialists said that if the plane had tilted during that skid along the runway, it could even have caught fire. Let us hope the situation there will return to normal; so let us talk about the meetings we had in the European Community. It would be interesting to hear how you presented our country’s economic situation there. We went to Brussels to take part in the meeting of the Council of the European Community, where we would sign the agreement between the Republic of Albania and the European Community. At this meeting we delivered a speech informing the Community’s members about the political changes that have taken place in Albania. The main emphasis was placed on the extremely difficult economic situation inherited from the totalitarian system. At the same time, we presented our economic reform programme, which we have begun implementing in Albania, in a favourable light. We explained that implementing this programme requires food aid and raw materials so that the difficult transition period can be overcome. We also argued that Albania is a special case, different from the other countries of the East, and does not require large quantities of aid to overcome this situation. How do you regard the result you achieved there? As successful. We have a long road ahead of us to achieve the closest possible cooperation with the European Community. This will proceed through three stages: the agreement on economic and trade cooperation between the two sides, the association agreement, and finally membership of the European Community. By signing the agreement on economic and trade cooperation between Albania and the European Economic Community, we pass the first stage, which will open the way to the other two. This agreement also opens the way to economic and trade cooperation in all fields and provides for Albania to receive most-favoured-nation treatment and assistance from the European Community in acceding to international bodies and conventions. What is important is that the Common Market and the Group of 24 are fully committed, as are the international conventions. In addition to the first aid package of 35 million ECU, they have now allocated a second food-aid package of 45 million ECU. Do you think that, alongside food aid, we will also receive help to revive the economy? Certainly. Immediately after this meeting, on the recommendation of the Community’s Council of Ministers, the ambassadors’ meeting allocated 20 million ECU in raw materials for industry and agriculture. Interview by: GENC TIRANA agriculture. My friend spoke at length about the suffering he had endured under the monist regime, about how we often did not let him have lunch or dinner at his own home, with his family, but forced him to eat in villas and at delegations of Marxist-Leninist parties. “Do you know,” my friend raised his voice, “that my child, when he first opened his eyes, did not see Albanian soil but Austrian soil. Do you understand how hard it is for me that my wife gave birth in Vienna?” The new Government must not forget the suffering we endured, we who were persecuted in the past, to the point that we are forced to recall it ourselves in interviews. We demand justice and the restoration of the dignity that was trampled underfoot... — With the removal of the communist star, and this excessive good health had caused his high blood pressure and heart disease, which led me to ... he seeks justice from the new system in power. But a friend from our faculty had fared even worse: Enver Hoxha’s despicable regime had banished him thousands of kilometres away, as an ambassador in an American country, so that he could communicate with his family and children only by telephone. Tell me, what prison in Albania separated you while you were alive from the people dearest to you? was trampled underfoot... FILIP ÇAKULI

On Tuesday at 17:00, at the cinema in the city of Sarandë, the Chairman of the Democratic Party, Mr. Eduart Selami, met with members, supporters and activists of the DP in the district. The meeting was also attended by the DP secretary, Mr. Tomor Dosti, and the chairman of the DP branch for Sarandë, Mr. Lutfi Bajrami. The meeting discussed the most pressing current political and social problems of the country, and particularly those of the Sarandë district during this transition period. The meeting focused primarily on the current political situation and on the potential contribution of every DP member and supporter to addressing the present situation. DP Information Office

Is it possible for the SP to be built by communists? The last election campaign was shocking. We received a very serious warning from the SP: “If Sali Berisha wins and the DP comes to power, he will bring fascism upon us!” The fear became reality! We are awaiting the imposition of fascism. Yet suddenly, from the mouth of an SP leader, Mr. Fatmir Zanaj, we received a surprising new announcement: “I fear that the so-called democratic processes said to be continuing in Albania, with a communist president like Sali Berisha at the helm, are taking place within the vicious circle of the communist mentality” (“ZP,” May 14, 1992, p. 3, column 2, lines 1–7 from the top). The surprise lies in the fact that we had understood the left’s position to be that its presidency was left-wing. Meanwhile, a miracle occurred. He became an “extreme leftist.” It is an unbelievable leap from the farthest part of the political spectrum into deep red...! The problem before us is more or less this. A claim has been put forward that requires proof: “Sali Berisha is a communist.” The author of the article offers the following argument: “A quarter-century of Sali Berisha’s membership in the PPSH was not for nothing” (ibid.). Let us assume that this statement is sufficient to prove the claim. Then, for a moment, we too will agree with Mr. Zanaj and accept that “our President is a communist.” Yet as we read on, we find ourselves at a logical crossroads: “Only in this way can the decision to remove the remains of 12 former National Liberation War fighters from the National Martyrs’ Cemetery in Tirana, on the eve of May 5, 1992, also be explained” (ibid.). The reasoning runs as follows: “to exhume communists,” one must necessarily be... a communist! Next, the reader may ask: “What is Mr. Zanaj?” The logical answer, “an anti-communist,” immediately springs to mind, supported by two clear arguments. 1. The fact that he is an SP leader, which, as is well known, has nothing in common with the PPSH and the hated former leaders who once ran that party. 2. The very way the interview is presented, in which Sali Berisha is accused of being a communist—a charge that implies a person with major shortcomings in his political, ideological, and social formation. Yet as we continue reading, we arrive at another logical crossroads. Mr. Zanaj says: “In substance, I said that whether these new politicians, who are in a hurry to build their own cults, like it or not, the 45-year era has passed, with its good and bad sides, its achievements and shortcomings; by the very nature of the system, it will be called the era of the PPSH, the era of Enver Hoxha, of Hysni Kapo, of decent people who waged the war and did the great work for the good of Albania” (ibid., column 3). If the preceding passage were fed into a computer for analysis to determine the author’s mentality, the answer would be unequivocal: “(A. Zanaj) turns out to be a committed communist.” communists? This is alarming. A few years earlier, at the beginning of 1942, on a cold morning, in response to a friendly question from a patriot: “What are you doing, Qer— (Continued on page 4-4)

After approving the statute of the deputy, Parliament spent this week discussing and approving its rules of procedure. It was announced that the draft law on copyright, as well as the one on the reorganization of the justice system, would also be examined. Apart from these latter issues, the other problems are ancillary. But surely our Parliament itself develops laws on such important issues as foreign investment, and the many issues of reform, without forgetting the right to property of everyone whose property the communist dictatorship unjustly nationalized? During one session, it became clear that Parliament was dealing with these matters because the government was delaying those draft laws that everyone is waiting for. Indeed, it was said that, one way or another, this should be made known, so that the people would understand that the delays are not the deputies’ fault. PETRO DHIMITRI

— Interview with the Minister of Defense, Mr. Safet Zhulali — “RD”: What would be your first step among the many problems facing the army? — A serious institution cannot function by taking isolated measures. The problems will be solved gradually, but comprehensively. Work is now under way to define the ministry’s structure and, on that basis, to restructure its administration. “RD”: There is public concern today about the relatively high salaries of military personnel. What do you think about this issue? — Personally, I think military personnel should be given priority in their pay. I think the established rates are high compared with the salaries of many professions, the people’s standard of living, and the state’s economic means. The fairest solution would be to establish a salary scale, setting minimum and maximum salaries and, on that basis, improving the pay system. Of course, I believe the final decision will be made by Parliament after it considers the law on salaries. “RD”: What do you think about army reform? — We are fortunate that in our army, people who support such reform make up a large number of the military cadres. Up to now, reform has been relatively [unclear]; the current moment can also be called a good beginning, enabling it to continue better and more quickly. We will also seek the help of foreign experts. “RD”: Many people in the current military cabinets have served, perhaps zealously, a particular policy as well as a failed military tactic and strategy. How effective is cooperation with them now, under the new conditions? — I took up this post about a month after March 22, and I have not encountered such a communist mentality among my colleagues. During this brief period of cooperation, I have become familiar with their serious commitment. Nevertheless, the administration and quite a few of its leaders will be refreshed. But there will be no repetition of “absurdities”; instead, we too will use the modern methods employed in Europe to train reservists. “RD”: With the removal of the communist star and the Republic’s emblem, the military emblem has also remained undecided. What will it be? — The star and emblem will be replaced very soon. The delay is connected with the parliamentary commission’s determination of the symbols. That decision has now been made. In a month, the military symbol will be put in place. “RD”: And what is planned for the famous bunkers “planted” all over Albania? — Not all of them are useless. As for the vast majority that do not fall into this category, our current means do not allow us to do what we would like—that is, to clear the Albanian landscape of this “scenery.” This would cost us financially. Our experts and foreign experts have suggested several ideas. Their technical and practical feasibility, as well as their economic viability, are being examined. “RD”: Military weapons depots have today become the subject (Continued on page 2)

One day a friend of mine told me: “Have you read my interview in the newspaper?” “Yes,” I replied. “In fact, that’s where I found out you had been persecuted by the communist regime...” “Why didn’t you know that they took me from the village on the border where I lived and interned me 300 km away, in the apparatus of the Central Committee of the PPSH? Not only that, they even made me a member of the Central Committee. Then they made things even worse: they promoted me, and I was forced to work night and day, while the former political prisoners in Burrel were wandering around[?] in their cells for seven kinds of plea- ... upstairs and not take him a jar of jam?” As we talked, we mentioned the other comrades persecuted by the monist regime. One comrade had been kept abroad as an ambassador for thirty years, unjustly separated from his children, who were grown men by the time he returned to his homeland. His longing for his homeland had reduced the poor ambassador to 100 kilos, pressure and heart disease, so he quite rightly sought justice from the new system in power. But one of our friends from the faculty had suffered even worse: Enver Hoxha’s despicable regime had sent him thousands of kilometres ...