Meeting of the chairman of the D.P., Mr. Eduard Selami, with intellectuals from the city of Fier Last week, the PD branch in Fier organized a meeting between the city’s intellectuals and the chairman of the PD, Mr. Eduard Selami. Mr. Margjilaj, after thanking those present and Mr. Selami, gave the floor to the two sides for a discussion. “It is a pleasure for me that we are in contact,” Mr. Selami began. “Not only because the PD is approaching an internal election campaign, but also because, as an open party, we need the support, suggestions and help of everyone who is genuinely concerned at this decisive and defining moment for the country, and wants to contribute so that we can move forward more successfully. In Albanian political life, despite the struggle among different political forces, what predominates is the concern to resolve and further advance all the initial achievements of democracy. The call for understanding made by the PS is right and is accepted by the PD, but there is a principled difference. If this call is for a coalition, as it presupposes, we have said, and continue to say: NO! This is not a matter of seats, but of a historical tendency: we do not want to go backwards. There is no domestic or international justification for sharing the power won on 22 March through such great effort with a party that is the heir to the one bearing the greatest responsibility. We have tried to prevent the boundaries of this struggle from expanding further, but we must remain alert to situations beyond our control. It is clear that resolving the Albanian question is a process…” Those present asked a number of questions and made suggestions. They drew the chairman’s attention to the constituency’s deputy, Mr. Uka, and his failure to stay in contact with voters. In response to a question about emigration, Mr. E. Selami said that concrete plans existed and would be implemented; the solution was to attract foreign capital and investment. Asked whether the tax system hindered private initiative, he replied that a tax system was necessary, but specific cases had to be examined carefully. For example, it was impossible to impose a rigid fiscal policy on food products. One attendee proposed taking a position against the newspapers «KJ» and «24 orë». Mr. Selami said there was no reason to consider doing such a thing, because that was precisely what democracy meant. On the other hand, the lack of journalistic ethics was steadily reducing readers’ trust. Sensationalism was the shortest route to selling a newspaper. Derogatory, personal, commonplace and unethical articles had to be avoided. “I have this objection about RD, too.” Regarding privatization, he explained once again the PD’s position. The current tension over this issue was somewhat artificial and would largely subside once the amount and forms of compensation had been determined and made known. The discussion extended to other areas as well. Those present thanked Mr. Selami for his remarks and explanations. … presuppose that, in these parts, very much NO! This is not a matter of career…? but rather backwards; there is no justification, neither internal nor democratic, for the power won on March 22 with such effort to be …? bearing historical responsibility for this country’s 47-year destruction. We want everyone to understand and respect what the people’s vote has given them. We are in favor of dialogue, but each person must respect the position they hold. If political life has a harsh atmosphere, it is because the PS has difficulty accepting the results of March 22 and understanding that Albania can also be governed by others. They, in one way or another—

— From President Berisha’s visit to Germany — On the afternoon of 14 November, the President of the Republic of Albania, Sali Berisha, arrived at Munich’s Franz Josef Strauss Airport. President Berisha went to Germany at the invitation of the Hans Seidel Institute for Foreign Relations. On 15 November, the president of the Hans Seidel Foundation, Dr. Frinc Spir, hosted a working breakfast for President Berisha. They discussed various problems facing Albania today, as well as the Hans Seidel Foundation’s ability to help Albania. President Berisha and Dr. Fricn. Dyr then signed an agreement between the Republic of Albania and the Hans Seidel Foundation of the Federal Republic of Germany in the economic and administrative fields. Also on 15 November, the international «Franz Josef Strauss» symposium, organized by the Hans Seidel Foundation, began its proceedings. It was attended by prominent figures from the European political scene. The symposium focused on current issues in Europe and the future of our continent. The Maastricht Treaty was also discussed at length and described as an important step towards Europe’s political and economic union. At the symposium, President of the Republic Sali Berisha delivered a paper entitled «Albania’s Future Is in Europe». The President addressed several issues, including the difficulties Albania is experiencing on the road to democracy; he spoke about economic reform and the broad support this reform is receiving from the IMF and other international institutions. President Berisha emphasized two main factors: controlling inflation, which is producing its first concrete results, and the rapid and extensive privatization of the economy, which he called the pillars of reform. Attracting foreign investment is another important factor, the President stressed. Mr. Berisha then addressed the tense situation in our region, where the armed conflict in Bosnia-Herzegovina was central. In his speech, President Berisha stressed that the international community must take concrete measures to prevent the conflict from spreading to Kosovo. He reiterated his position that Kosovo should be placed under UN control. President Berisha also concluded by emphasizing that the problem of Kosovo’s political status should be resolved through negotiations and democratic means. President Berisha also met with Jozef Shtraus’s daughter, Ms. Monika Shtraus, a member of the Bavarian parliament. The other deputy, Alois Braun, also attended the meeting. President Berisha also met with Mr. Peter Shulkluber, a member of the Commission of the European Community. This meeting concluded the first day of President Berisha’s visit to Germany. President Berisha went to Bonn, where he is expected to meet German President Vaizeker.

«All Islamic countries, members of the Islamic Conference, welcome Albania’s rapid accession to the Islamic Conference», said the Secretary-General of the conference, Dr. Hamid Al Gabid, at a meeting at the Ministry of Finance and Economy, where he spoke with Ministers Genc Ruli, Dashamir Shehi and Abdyl Xhaja, and Deputy Minister of Education Vasillaq Zoto. «It is a pleasure for me,» Mr. Ruli told Mr. Al Gabid, «to express our thanks to you for speeding up the process of admitting Albania to the Islamic Conference as soon as possible, because this will open up new prospects in relations between the Islamic countries and Albania.» After explaining the organization, operations and prospects of the Islamic Conference, Mr. Al Gabid spoke at length about the crisis in the Balkans, and particularly the political crisis engulfing the former Yugoslavia and the armed conflict raging in Bosnia-Herzegovina. He invited a delegation from Albania to attend the Conference’s extraordinary meeting in Gjedje, and said that the delegation should come with concrete proposals on resolving the problem in Bosnia, because the conflict there today could spread as well (Continued on page 4)

For more than a year, we have kept our eyes on the port of Durrës, on the ships bringing us food and on the vehicles of Operation «Pelikan» distributing it throughout the country. The world is providing a great deal of help, not only financially, materially and technically, but also through its excellent organization, high discipline, commitment, productivity and maximum efficiency at work. Meanwhile, we continue to work with old mindsets and the remnants of socialism, with an organization that is lame in both legs, weak discipline, and low levels of seriousness, commitment, responsibility, productivity and efficiency. Thus, intentionally or not, we show the world that among us there are quite a few managers and ordinary workers who not only do not know how, but do not want to help themselves either; they do not want to climb out of the abyss into which the socialism of Enver Hoxha, Ramiz Alia, Fatos Nano and their comrades plunged us. All the personnel of Operation «Pelikan» have carried out, and continue to carry out, work on a massive scale, beset by difficulties and sacrifices. At the port of Durrës alone, the team led by Mr. Feruz Mataj has always had close cooperation—not only with others, but also with representatives of the state bodies, the districts? and the members. At the port, warehouses and cold-storage facilities are being filled at a very rapid pace. They have managed to unload 2,000–3,000 tons of wheat a day, compared with the 500–600 tons achieved a year ago. But as soon as one passes through the port gate, anomalies, difficulties, purely subjective obstacles and unjustifiable delays begin. General Çaçi aptly described it as «our endless daily drama». In the districts, many worrying problems have emerged because of extremely poor work organization; the lack of responsibility and commitment on the part of local authorities, managers of trading enterprises, warehouse keepers and unloading workers; and the unsuitable condition of the warehouses, which prevents the widespread use of machinery for unloading. As a result, they are forced to work at a productivity level three times lower than their normal capacity. This situation exists in all districts, but is especially worrying in Tropojë, Kukës, Fier, Berat… It is understandable that all these delays? imposed on us prolong the crisis, the period of shortages and the queues, without reducing hardship and dissatisfaction. And all the blame falls on the government, the PD and democracy. These things clearly show responsibility and incompetence? below… year ago. 5,000 tons of flour from Turkey and 8,000 tons of potatoes from Greece are expected, among other things. 2,000 tons of rice have arrived. On 15 November, another 2,050 tons of butter arrived. 3,500 tons of meat have arrived by ship from TPE, and the cold-storage facilities are full. Every Wednesday, 600 tons arrive by truck in the markets from Italy, while every Friday 300 tons arrive from France. The warehouses are likewise full of powdered milk, and more quantities are expected. XHEVAT MUSTAFA … the economic [situation] is now …?; that is, the establishment of a market economy—in other words, privatization and opening the way to investment. The situation is difficult in the city and is better in the countryside. We believe that we are able to change living standards and set out on the road to recovery. There is political stability. There is a pluralist system; a democratic parliament; a democratic constitution is expected—these are the main prerequisites for political stability. Regarding foreign policy, Mr. Selami …? our region is very well known in world public opinion because of its extremely destabilized situation. Very close to us hang the clouds of a devastating war … or of deliberately glorifying the past—“we were better off in Enver’s time,” “we’ve gone from the rain into the hail,” “democracy isn’t doing anything for us,” “the world isn’t helping us,” and so on. But instead, let us speak with the language of facts that we found at the port of Durrës, to refute these opinions or malicious and nihilistic statements. According to the information given to us by Mr. Feruz Mataj, 6,000 tons of sugar arrived during this month, and another 2,000 tons are expected. In Vlorë, 3,700 tons of unrefined oil that arrived a month ago have yet to be distributed, while 1,700 tons have arrived in Durrës and another 6,000 tons are expected. On November 15, 4,000 tons of oil in barrels are arriving from the USA, while …