Albanian Prime Minister Aleksandër Meksi went to the camp of Operation «Pelikan» to deliver a greeting message from the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, addressed to the personnel of this operation on the occasion of Christmas and the New Year. The message states, among other things, that it is a pleasure and a special purpose, on behalf of the Albanian people, the first democratic Government of Albania and in my own personal name, to send my warmest greetings and heartfelt wishes to you, to your families and, through you, to the friendly and brotherly Italian people. You were entrusted with the noble mission and highly valuable and respected commitment of taking on the burden of standing by and helping our people in the first, very difficult steps they had to take for survival, recovery and a life-saving economic reform. After highly praising the selfless work of the «Pelikan» personnel, the message emphasizes that the work of this operation has been and remains of great value, as a true mission of friendship between our two peoples. The visit by Italian President Luigi Skalfaro, which will take place in the coming days, will give new impetus to our relations and cooperation in the political, economic and cultural fields, in the interests of both peoples and of peace and security in the region. The message concludes with the words: «Happy holidays! I wish you, from the heart, health, happiness and joy in your family and in your life! The commander of Operation «Pelikan», Brigadier General Karlo Caci, said that this greeting message is a sign of friendship and gratitude for the work we are doing in Albania. The best reward for us is the gratitude of the Albanian people, and this letter from President Berisha as well. On this occasion, he concluded, I wish President Berisha and the Albanian people success in 1993. (ATSH)

- The President of the Italian Republic, OSKAR LUIXHI SKALFARO, visits Albania today - - With the establishment of democracy, Albania is strengthening its natural ties with Europe - Today the President of the Italian Republic, Oskar Luixhi Skalfaro, arrives in our country. This is the first official visit by an Italian president to Albania. Skalfaro’s visit is an extremely important event for us, not only from a historical perspective but also politically and economically. Oskar Luixhi Skalfaro is one of the most respected figures on the Italian and world political scene. He began his political career very early in the Christian Democratic Party, but his election as President of the Italian Republic, at a time when Italian politics was in crisis, is undoubtedly a personal achievement. Skalfaro was the only one of the presidential candidates who, on 25 May of this year, received the support of all parliamentary political forces. His election as President also resolved the political crisis Italy had entered after the elections. Today Skalfaro is engaged in intensive activity within Italy to resolve this country’s key problems, such as the fight against the Mafia and the revitalization of the economy. Skalfaro is also known as a very active president in foreign policy, where full support for a United Europe occupies the leading place. Skalfaro’s visit to our country is taking place in pursuit of this policy. Albania, a European country with entirely European traditions and culture, and its democratic government are pursuing a policy of openness toward the democratic world. The positive results of this policy are now indisputable. Albania’s presence in many international political, economic and military organizations; the establishment of strong bilateral ties with countries such as the USA, Italy, Germany and many other European states; the free movement of businesspeople, tourists and, generally, foreigners; and many other facts speak to the successes of the foreign policy pursued today by the Albanian state and, in particular, by President Berisha. One of the significant indicators of this policy is the many visits by distinguished figures, among which the visit of the Italian President undoubtedly holds a place of honor. The great assistance Italy has given and continues to give Albania in every field is already well known. As one of the world’s seven most industrialized and developed countries, and as a European country, Italy, being geographically closer to Albania, took on a task that goes beyond the bounds of humanitarianism and springs from the friendly feelings between the two peoples: helping Albania. Albania and Italy are two countries that history has always brought close together. As two peoples with an ancient European culture, our ties have also been strong since antiquity and later in the Middle Ages (in one of Rome’s central areas there is a square called «Albania Square», where there is also a monument to Skënderbeu on horseback), continuing to the present day. Thousands of Albanians live in Italy, having gone there 500 years ago, as well as just a few months ago. The «Pelikan» operation, which has also helped foster friendly relations between the two countries, should also be mentioned. Skalfaro’s visit will undoubtedly further strengthen the friendly relations between the Albanian and Italian states and peoples, and will be another important step in Albania’s integration with Europe. On the occasion of the visit today by our respected friend, one of the heads of Tirana (before Sta

A warm, friendly and constructive conversation took place between the Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Mr Pjetër Arbnori, and two French personalities, Mr Zhan Fransua Denio and Admiral Anolenko, French parliamentarians. After Mr Arbnori gave an overview of the situation concerning our parliamentary issues, the balance of political forces in the Assembly and the intensive work to create contemporary democratic legislation, the conversation addressed the deepening of democratic processes and the obstacles these processes encounter from certain political forces that seek to destabilize the country, among other things through public disinformation. The Ambassador of the French Republic in Albania, Mr Zhak For, also took part in the meeting. (ATSH)

- Mr Vejsiu received by Pope Xhovani II - - Agreement reached to build 3 schools with funds from the Sant Exhidio Community - Our Minister of Education, Ylli Vejsiu, visited Rome on 13 December 1992 at the invitation of the Sant Exhidio Community. He was received by Monsignor Palia, with whom he held a warm and friendly conversation concerning the preparation of a program for assistance of 120 million Italian lire, which the Sant Exhidio Community will make available to schools in Albania. Under this program, contributions will be made toward the construction of ... vani. He asked Mr Vejsiu to convey greetings to the Honorable President, Mr Sali Berisha, and the duty of the president of the Italian Christian Democracy.

- Mr Vesiu received by Pope Xhovani II - - It was decided to build 3 schools with funds from the Sant Exhidio Community - vani. He asked Mr Vesiu to convey to the Honorable President, Mr Sali Berisha, his warmest greetings and, through him, his profound feelings of sympathy to the Albanian people. Minister Ylli Vesiu met at the headquarters of Italy’s Ministry of Education with the minister of this department, Prof. Roza Ruso Iervolino, who construction of 3 schools in Albania, whose construction will begin in January of next year. Ylli Vejsiu was received on a private visit by Pope Xhovani II. During the meeting, Mr Vesiu informed him about the situation of Albanians in Albania. His Holiness, Pope Xho- Meanwhile, Mr Sali Berisha, his warmest greetings and, through him, to convey Iervolino, who in January of next year. Ylli Vesiu of Albanians in Albania. His Holiness, Pope Xho- also holds the office of president of the Italian Christian Democracy. Among other things, Minister Iervolino declared her full willingness to provide planned support for the strategy of intervention in the education sector that the minister intends to implement in Albania. (ATSH)

- Press conference - The Commission of the European Community allocated 500,000 ECU (about $650,000) in emergency aid for the population affected by the flooding in the northwestern region of Albania. This contribution from the European Community to help the victims of this natural disaster is part of the substantial assistance the Community provides to Albania. This aid includes, on the one hand, the distribution of medicines, which will be carried out by PHARMACISTS WITHOUT BORDERS, and, on the other, the distribution by CARITAS of around 5,000 food parcels weighing 30 kg each, as well as around 1,000 stoves for heating and cooking. Distribution will take place in cooperation with the government and will begin immediately.

The Shkodra trial has been going on for so many days, and increasingly we find ourselves faced with infuriating scenes. We have all noticed that the defendants, those accused of being criminals, dare to speak about the people as if they were a destructive force that had also caused the events of April 2. In his first testimony, H. Shyti would ask cynically: “What forces were these, if they weren’t forces of the PD? The police knew them; they were the forces that caused destruction and set fires.” So the people, the students and the pupils gathered in front of the KP were the forces that destroyed and burned—or, if I may use the vocabulary H. Shyti and his bosses used at the time, they were “destructive, hooligan forces,” etc. Even in the dock, the criminals cannot change their language. They continue to speak as if they still had their weapons close at hand, as if it were not after March 22, ’91 but after March 31, ’90, when they shouted “hurrah” for the victory of the PP, “Alia’s party.” H. Shyti demands that witnesses account for their actions on April 2; Çapajev Taci shouts that he is the prosecutor. The man called Gjekë even makes sarcastic remarks in the courtroom, while the police chief, Dilaveri, after twisting and turning and almost saying that he was on the demonstrators’ side that day, suddenly bares his teeth like his comrades and talks about illegal gatherings, about “incidents” or “Didn’t you, as a politician, think that this would hinder the investigation? Doesn’t this amount to mocking that trial?” And after all these days H. Shyti continues to call the people the instigators and the guilty party because the detainees whom they later released came from among the people, not from among the criminals who carried out the killings—that is, the police. So H. Shyti accuses the PD of having called for the release of people detained by the people, claiming that this thereby hindered the discovery of the guilty parties! Well, let us accept this absurdity as true. Did an organization such as the local branch of the Interior Ministry at that time really take orders from the PD? Knowing that a crime had been committed, how could those whom Shyti says were guilty have been released merely because of a simple request from the PD? Did these people, who from the beginning of the trial until now have spoken only about upholding the law, not enforce the law? Well, releasing someone suspected of being guilty means breaking the law. When it came to suppressing and marking the people with violence, they “acted according to the law”; but when it came to catching the guilty, they bent the law, and did so “for the sake of the PD”! Will the criminals still be allowed to speak to us and to the people of Shkodra?

MUNICIPAL LIBRARY TIRANA On the occasion of Christmas and the New Year

- ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ITALIAN-ALBANIAN JOINT BANK — A SUCCESS FOR THE GOVERNMENT AND THE BANK OF ALBANIA - “The establishment of the Italian-Albanian Joint Bank is — it was said the day before yesterday in the People’s Assembly, during consideration of the relevant draft law. During the discussion of the principles, Jemin Gjana, chairman of the Committee on the Economy and Finance, also speaking on behalf of the PD parliamentary group, pointed out that the Bank of Rome had noted that the Bank of Italy [text unclear] for our bank, but that it was also support for carrying out economic reform in our country. On behalf of the PS parliamentary group, A. Angjeli expressed the hope that we would have similar agreements with other banks as well, and made comments and suggestions concerning the statute, taxes, etc. The members of parliament voted on all 22 articles, with the corresponding editorial revisions, and then approved the draft law as a whole. THE DRAFT LAW “ON THE ADOPTION OF MINORS BY FOREIGN CITIZENS AND ON CERTAIN AMENDMENTS TO THE FAMILY CODE” IS APPROVED. During the discussion of the principles, views were expressed regarding abuses; meanwhile, the issue of criminality in cases involving the adoption of minors by foreign citizens (intercountry adoption) was raised. Therefore, under the new conditions created after the democratic processes, it has become necessary to prepare a separate law on intercountry adoption. At the beginning of the session, there were questions and discussions among the specialist members of parliament and other members of parliament. Then, on behalf of the PD, PSD and PS parliamentary groups, Messrs. Baleta, Laço and Lakrori, respectively, acknowledged the necessity and satisfactory quality of the draft law and declared their support for it in principle. It was also requested that, through an official state statement, those responsible for flagrant violations in the adoptions that had come to light be held accountable. The draft law was approved in principle by a majority vote. The session then continued with discussion article by article, during which the necessary additions and clarifications were made to the draft law. “RD” correspondent [Part of the lower column is unclear:] ... and, in particular, the adoption of Albanian minors by foreign citizens (intercountry adoption). intercountry adoption. The Family Code currently in force regulates the most important relations in the field of family, while ... Anast... Kondo, who was the first to bring this abuse concerning the nation’s future to public attention, felt ... ... in this code is not regulated