— THE TREATY OF FRIENDSHIP AND COOPERATION BETWEEN ALBANIA AND TURKEY IS SIGNED. — MR. DEMIREL DESCRIBED ALBANIA AS A “BROTHERLY COUNTRY.” — AS A TRUE FRIEND, TURKEY WILL GIVE ALBANIA 50 MILLION DOLLARS IN CREDIT FOR URGENT NEEDS. — “WE CONSIDER IT AN HONOR TO SHARE EVERYTHING TOGETHER,” DECLARES THE TURKISH PRIME MINISTER. — “I HOPE THE VIOLENCE WILL NOT SPREAD TO KOSOVO, BUT IF IT DOES, ALBANIA WILL HAVE TURKEY’S SUPPORT,” MR. DEMIREL ALSO DECLARES. It is natural to expect results after every visit. We quote only the president of our country, speaking during the joint press conference with Prime Minister Demirel: “I have the great pleasure of confirming to you that the visit to Albania by Albania’s distinguished friend and my friend, Mr. Suleyman Demirel, concluded with great success...” The agreements reached in every field—economic and scientific, political and military—confirm this very clearly. This will be the beginning of long-term cooperation, which will be further realized this month with the start of the work of the joint Albanian-Turkish commissions. Turkey, as a true friend of our country, emphasized that it will give Albania 50 million dollars to use to resume work in industries paralyzed by a lack of raw materials. Urgent humanitarian aid will arrive within the coming week. Meanwhile, [text unclear] will revive the Albanian economy and employ many people. As a Balkan country, Turkey also closely follows developments in the former Yugoslavia and is concerned about the brutal violation of human rights. The shared view was that it is precisely Milosheviç’s Serbian policy that is a destabilizing factor in the former Yugoslavia, the Balkans and beyond. In this context, the achievements could allow medieval-style barbarities. All the more so because the implications in the former Yugoslavia could cause concern not only in the Balkans but farther afield as well. Another area of understanding between the two sides was the process of recognizing the republics of the former Yugoslavia. Albania, Mr. Berisha emphasized, considers the Turkish decision on recognizing the republics to be right, and also supports the recognition of Macedonia as an independent republic. Naturally, the Republic of Albania will make every effort to ensure respect for all the rights of the Albanians living there. It is hoped that agreements will be reached during President Gligorov’s visit to Tirana. The military agreement between the two countries is another important link on the road to friendship. Technical assistance, modernization of existing military structures, and Turkey’s support for bringing our country into NATO are some of the important areas of military cooperation, which are essential given the conditions in which our peninsula finds itself. During meetings and discussions between the delegations of the two countries, it was once again clearly confirmed that everything will soon be put into practice and that high-level reciprocal visits will be exchanged, strengthening the traditional friendship between our friendly peoples. The success of the recent visits by many prominent figures from Europe and the United States shows unequivocally that our country now enjoys comprehensive support from abroad— Turkey, as a true friend of our country, stressed that it would give Albania 50 million dollars to use to restart work in the industry paralyzed by a shortage coming week. Meanwhile, political understanding was reached on all the problems concerning Albania and Turkey, which will be reflected in the frequent exchange of delegations at all levels. The Turkish minister promised that he would encourage Turkish investment in Albania, which will give impetus to… … for everything they are doing, and also expressed the American position on continuing humanitarian aid and technical assistance for our country. In this regard, a quantity of vegetable oil worth ten million dollars will soon be released. Importantly, the Group of 24, so that Albania receives support in every respect. At the same time, Albania’s membership in the North Atlantic Cooperation Council will be supported, an international body that ensures consultation states. Certainly, following Baker’s visit last June, Eagleburger is the highest-ranking official from the United States to have visited every field. … reciprocal high-level visits will be exchanged, which will strengthen broad international support, thanks to the beginning of the functioning of a democratic state that respects the rights of its citizens and its international obligations. On this occasion, we also welcome the president of Turkey, who will visit our country soon. ARBEN RUJ…

I do not want to dwell on Baker’s historic visit, which came just as the half-century of communist rule agreed to govern the country together with the opposition parties. I only want to emphasize that, on that unforgettable day when Mr. Nano’s one-party government was replaced by the government of stability, the ambassadors of the United States, Germany and several other powerful states were waiting to announce the news. And Gensher arrived immediately afterward. Albania was also admitted to the CSCE. Along with that, as was apparent even then, humanitarian aid began arriving, and an entire people—driven into misery by the PPSH and PS—continues to live on it. But the government of stability was still half-hearted, because it was led by communists under the name of socialists. Democracy had to win visibly and resoundingly, as in no other European country, before the developed world immediately came forward to help the new Albania. This is because democracy, through its foreign policy, has won the sympathy of authorities throughout the world. The results of this diplomacy, of this particular success, are becoming evident even before two months have passed since the government of Mr. Meksi, the new team directing the Albanian state, was formed. The prime minister of neighboring Greece, Mr. Micotaqis, arrived immediately with many specialists and prominent figures, with the aim of providing concrete help to democracy in Albania. That statesman and close friend arrived—the friend of a country toward which the Albanian communists spent half a century expressing nothing but bitterness, at times further worsening our relations. Mr. Micotaqis said publicly that they would help our country and that Greece would support it in all the European institutions of which Greece is a member. This [the text continues in the following passage] The subject of cooperation need not be mentioned, because it requires planning and will come in time. It is enough that the road has been opened and our fragile democracy’s diplomacy is moving swiftly along it. The world values this, because the program of Mr. Meksi’s government, as Igelberger and the U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, Mr. Robson, affirm, is very good and strong. That is why they urged the people to support it, to be patient in overcoming the hardships of the transition period, and not to fall into the traps set by ZP or its sister publication “Koha jonë,” which asks: “How long will the government be unable to put an end to poverty...?”—when poverty was brought about precisely by those who now have the audacity to accuse others. In these difficult days, when our future is being determined, the prime minister of Turkey, Mr. Suleyman Demirel, also came to help the people, the president and Albania’s first democratic government. He came as a brother seeking to help his brother, not only economically but also in securing peace in the Balkans. As for Serbia, Turkey will extend its hand to its Albanian brothers, and it can be sure it will not be disappointed, because Turkish businesspeople will benefit just like everyone else, whether they are American, German, Italian, Greek or French. The result of this visit: 4 agreements and a loan of 50 million dollars. Cooperation will expand in the future. In these two months our new diplomacy, led by Berisha, Meksi and Serreqi (together with the gentlemen directing our democratic state and the PD), has achieved so much … Mr. Micotaqis, with many specialists and prominent figures, in order to provide friend arrived, toward whom the Albanian communists have always expressed nothing but bitterness, at times seriously This is an additional form of help alongside that given to the thousands and thousands of Albanians, with or without visas, who are currently employed in Greece, as well as others who will be employed there through controlled migration. Let us also not forget Mr. Gensher’s visit and, a little later, the visit by the delegation of experts he promised. The visit of President Berisha to Strasbourg, as well as that of Mr. Meksi with his colleagues, should be regarded as a success of this policy; the latter engaged in concrete, fruitful discussions. Western diplomats observed that Albanians have capacity and are not the people of the negative image created by communist diplomats through their grotesque self-isolation. The visit of Messrs. Rexhep Uka and Genc Ruli to the United States must also be mentioned, as must their televised discussion of the successful talks with the relevant organizations, which are ready to help Albania and have confirmed the corresponding figures on the basis of the programs drawn up. All this intensive work is being carried out alongside the many plans this government is preparing in order to establish modern legislation on which economic reform can be based. But the series of diplomatic successes of our team continues at an unimaginable pace. We have just said goodbye to Mr. Igelberger, who, after learning about the situation in which communism and socialism left the people, immediately provided ten million dollars’ worth of additional food aid, mainly corn. months our new diplomacy, with Berisha, Meksi and Serreqi in the lead PD), has achieved more milestones than the one-party system managed in nearly 50 years. Not only that, but Macedonian President Kiro Gligorov is also coming to visit Albania. Are all these facts not an encouragement to all of us—not only for economic aid and cooperation, but also for a just and peaceful resolution of the Albanian question? When did the Western world ever raise the question of bringing Albania closer to the North Atlantic alliance, from which NATO derives? Never, because we had shut ourselves away in an ivory tower like Osa Kuka and built bunkers and museums for the dictator, spending the people’s sweat and blood. But as a result of our new diplomacy and the stance of the first democratic government, Mr. Igelberger made the concrete proposal that the United States would raise the issue of bringing Albania closer to that alliance. Naturally, even after recovering from a bout of flu, one needs time to get fully back on one’s feet. All the more so when the country was found by democracy on its deathbed: things cannot change by magic. Nevertheless, all this successful diplomacy, all these prominent figures who are coming, these discussions and concrete aid will lead us toward development, toward healing the deep and deadly wounds left by the one-party system. Naturally, it takes a little time. Whoever loses patience helps neither themselves nor democracy. GURI DHIMO

FROM THE VISIT OF U.S. UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE, LORENC IGELLBERGER. On Saturday, U.S. Undersecretary of State Lorenc Igellberger made a working visit to Albania at the head of a delegation representing various U.S. departments. He held separate meetings with Albanian President Sali Berisha, Prime Minister Meksi, Foreign Minister Serreqi and other government figures. At their first meeting, Igellberger emphasized that the Albanian government has his “full admiration” for everything it is doing, and conveyed the American view that humanitarian aid and technical assistance to our country should continue. In this context, ten million dollars’ worth of vegetable oil will soon be released. It is important that the United States promises to help at the meeting of the Group of 24, so that Albania can receive support in every area. At the same time, it will support Albania’s membership in the North Atlantic Cooperation Council, an international body that enables consultations between the governments of Eastern European countries and NATO member states. Certainly, following Baker’s visit last June, Igellberger is the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Albania, and many matters agreed in principle between Albania and the United States will soon be put into practice in every field. GENC TIRANA

The PS is loudly trumpeting its first congress. It has no chance of escaping its past, when it was in power with a majority of deputies at the 10th Congress of the PPSH, says the chronicle “Enver’s Party, Ramiz’s Party.” They now present themselves as new, although they are just as they have long been. At their first congress they came face to face with one another, but clashes between them were unavoidable. They tried to impose themselves, but… … the 16-member Political Bureau. They did not even dare to separate themselves from Enver Hoxha’s dictatorial deeds. Yet they called themselves a new party. Mr. Fatos Nano shook hands with the fervent, newly born socialist sympathizers, born of mother PPSH. Through this anachronistic trick, the PPSH is seeking to prolong its life under a new name. It sought to hold on to power and did so by managing to manipulate the formation of the Government of Stability. This was the Nano government (now gone from the scene, without even having properly approved [text unclear]). During a year of the agony of socialist Albania, many of its leaders, wherever they were, began grabbing economic power. They amassed wealth, and are suspected of abuses; an investigation into that period will now begin. Together with their parliamentarians, they signed their own discrediting, because they opposed almost every vital issue for the people raised by the Democratic Party. They repeatedly revealed their incompetence and ignorance. And yet they wanted power. They felt it slipping away as the people turned toward democracy, but… Earlier… the party from which they sprang, along with their relatives, comrades and friends… (Continued on page 3)

The perpetrators of the Libofshë crime have been arrested Immediately after receiving the report of the tragic crime in Libofshë, Fier, the Minister of Public Order, Mr. Kopliku, went to the scene, where he spoke with the victims’ family members and with the Fier branch. Urgent measures were taken. As a result, two perpetrators of the crime have now been captured. The investigation continues. It would be wise for uninformed or malicious people, whose unchecked rumors seek to stir up political chaos speculatively by making various accusations against the Ministry of Public Order in the name of destabilization, to reflect objectively first.

According to information given to us by Mr. Jolanda Kuçuçi, an employee in the office of the representative of the Council of Ministers, the unloading of food supplies that have arrived as aid from the European Community continues at a high pace at the port of Durrës. It has been possible to handle 2,000–2,500 tons per day. At this port, 5,080 tons of powdered milk from the Federal Republic of Germany have been unloaded and are being distributed. The unloading of 122,300 tons of wheat from the ships “Falistia” and “Shanon” has been completed, while work continues on the ship “Kopa” lina Wierck, which brought 10,500 tons of wheat. Three more ships carrying wheat will arrive on June 1, 6 and 12. Another 5,000 tons of flour are expected. Large quantities of olive oil have been stockpiled at the Italian port of Ravenna. Its delivery to Albania has so far also been held up by Italy’s prolonged government crisis. The Ministry of Economic Relations with Foreign Countries is showing greater and more persistent interest not only in the oil, but also in soap, rice, etc. “RD correspondent”