- Executive secretary of the Islamic Committee for Business Activity, Dr. Muhamed Mofijed Ali Habib - The project for a school for free vocational education will begin at the start of next year Those who benefit from the $6 million fund will return only 40 percent of the amount over 7 years In response to questions from our editorial staff, the executive secretary of the Islamic Committee for Business Activity, Dr. Muhamed Mofijed Ali Habib, gave this interview: Question: Mr. Secretary! The first year after the fall of the Berlin Wall coincides with the revival of interest in Albania, the first aid for which is now coming from Islamic countries. Specifically, what can you say about the activities and projects for our country and their progress to date? Answer: Our institute, established in 1980, has as its main purpose creating the conditions for the work of the Islamic Development Bank. We now represent 48 member countries of this bank, headquartered in Saudi Arabia, and it has been decided that a wide range of activities will be carried out in Albania. Specifically, we have entered into talks with the Albanian government and economic bodies for the construction of the first sugar plant. Our institute's activities also include the creation of an Islamic bank in Albania, the creation of an Islamic insurance company, etc. But we also intend to extend the scope of this institution to finding scholarships for Albanian students in Islamic universities, to sending Albanian specialists to our study centers, etc. Question: Of these ideas and projects, which will be implemented first and what amount of credit could Albania obtain from them? Answer: First, the Islamic Development Bank has decided to grant a loan of 6 million dollars for the construction of a vocational education center, with all the necessary equipment. This center, in addition to being used for teaching, will also have production branches and will be given free of charge to Albanians. The Albanian government has also insisted on finding 15-20 million dollars in order to create the conditions for building a university center, but we believe that in the end only the 6 million dollar loan will be approved. We have agreed with the Albanian government that in the future, in order to obtain further aid and loans from the Islamic Bank fund, the loan now granted should be repaid by the government at 40 percent within a 7-year period. Question: What is the status of the other funds and loans from this bank for Albania? Answer: This is something that will be better defined in the future. For example, we have discussed with the Albanian government the possibility of creating a food-processing factory using Albanian agricultural raw materials, but we have not yet focused on specifying the figures. Likewise, the Albanian government has expressed the need to use lignite as an energy raw material and also to build a hydroelectric power plant, but all these ideas cannot yet be called ready projects. At the present time we can also put into practice several other ideas on the basis of their economic advantage. Question: What are your impressions of the changes taking place in Albania and of their prospects? Answer: I think that Albania will undoubtedly benefit from the new government. The new climate of religious and political tolerance that has been created, together with President Berisha, arouses respect and sympathy in the financial and banking circles of Arab countries, which will greatly help Albania in securing the necessary funds for the start of economic revival. A.TYLLI

The Italian delegation, represented by the president of this banking institution, Alberto Scocchi, during the conversation with the chairman of the Democratic Party, Mr. Sali Berisha, stated that Banka Di Roma, the second-largest bank in Italy with around 800 branches and offices, is interested in operating in Albania both by financing various projects in the public sector and in the private sector. He underlined that, with the successful leadership of the new democratic government by President Berisha and the creation of a climate of stability and security, it would also be possible to consider larger investments in our country. Thanking them for the interest shown by Banka Di Roma, President Berisha informed them of the priorities of his government which, as is known, first and foremost aim at the swiftest possible implementation of economic reform, in which the privatization of the economy occupies a central place. The conversation was friendly and warm. At the end, President Berisha presented the representative of Banka Di Roma with the beautiful symbol of Albanian folklore, a çifteli.

The Foreign Ministers of MAI-TES and CROTIA will visit Albania At the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alfred Serreqi, on 27-29 October 1992 the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Belgium, Mr. Mark Eyskens, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Austria, Dr. Alois Mock, are carrying out a working visit in Tirana. At the conclusion of these visits, after the talks held with the Albanian government, Mr. Mark Eyskens will give a joint press conference with the Albanian Foreign Minister Alfred Serreqi, while Dr. Alois Mock will depart for Skopje, where, at the invitation of the President of Macedonia, Mr. Kiro Gligorov, he will take part in the tripartite ministerial meeting of the countries of the Council of Europe, Austria, Hungary and Czechoslovakia together with the Albanian government. The Albanian Foreign Minister, Mr. Alfred Serreqi, will also take part in this meeting. On 28 and 29 October the Danish Foreign Minister Uffe Ellemann-Jensen will pay a working visit to Albania. During his visit he will meet with Mr. Sali Berisha, chairman of the Democratic Party, as well as with members of the Albanian government and parliament. These visits are taking place within the framework of the active foreign policy of the right-wing coalition government, which has led to an intensification of relations with Western countries. At the end of 1992, Denmark will hold the presidency of the Council of Europe. Mr. Uffe Ellemann-Jensen is a member of the Venstre party in Denmark, which is a party closely aligned with the Democratic Party of Albania.

- IN THE ACTIVITY OF REVANCHIST CURRENTS - The aggressive stance of the Albanian left is becoming increasingly evident, especially these days on the anniversary of the first year of the general strike of the former Trade Unions of Albania. Their activities are becoming more frequent, apparently as part of the intensified destabilization program for the upcoming local election campaign. According to information from our law-enforcement agencies, on Sunday hundreds of PS militants and sympathizers, selected from the main districts of the country, will come to Tirana with the aim of organizing a demonstration. It is believed that these militants will be organized by designated sectors in order to destabilize the peace of the capital in key places such as Skënderbej Square, Student City, the Palace of Congresses, etc. According to a scenario that is very likely to be malicious, these disturbances, in which extremist and radical forces of the left are also thought to be involved, will be preceded by a series of protests and gatherings linked to the anniversary of the BPSH general strike. Within this scenario, as can be seen from the activity of the leadership of BPSH and the “independent union,” which is now a creation of the former nomenklatura, there is also thought to be use of the peasantry and other dissatisfied strata for destabilizing purposes. Also on Sunday, according to our reports, the “Forum for Democracy” will try to make itself visible with a demonstrative activity, with which the former communists seek to penetrate the ranks of the persecuted and former landowners. In fact, this forum, contrary to the orientations of the new government, is trying to exploit the dissatisfaction of various groups to use it against public order and peace. Within this coordinated activity, meetings and contacts have been organized with other dissatisfied segments, seeking to create a broad front of opposition to the government. At various meetings and gatherings, the idea has been put forward that the democratic government is governing arbitrarily and that its actions are leading to a deterioration of the economic situation. This propaganda has also emphasized certain measures taken by the state, such as controls over private activities, checks on payments for electricity, water, transport and other services, presenting them as “oppression against the people.” In reality, this is an open political manipulation aimed at stirring up dissatisfaction and creating ground for confrontation. The leaders of these currents are counting on the fact that some citizens are still not accustomed to the discipline of the rule of law, and therefore are trying to push them toward unlawful acts. According to the data collected, preparatory meetings have been held in several cities, where people have talked about bringing people to Tirana, dispersing them at key points and holding slogans against the government. It cannot be ruled out that during these efforts there may also be attempts to provoke the law-enforcement forces, in order to create incidents and use them for further propaganda. The government and public opinion must show maturity in the face of these maneuvers. The stability of the country, public order and the progress of reforms cannot be held hostage by actions driven by nostalgia for the past or by narrow political interests. Albania has entered a new stage and every attempt to turn it back must be treated seriously by institutions and citizens. FROM ZH.KOTA