20 January, 1993 Dear Mr. President, On behalf of the Albanian people, in my personal name and that of the new democratic government, I send you my warmest greetings on the occasion of the inauguration of your new presidency. Albania has undergone profound democratic transformations over these 13 months. The harshest Stalinist system in Europe, created by the communist regime, has been completely overthrown. The country has firmly and courageously embarked on free-market economic reforms and pluralist democracy. The United States has been and remains an inspiration, a source of courage and support for Albanians throughout the twentieth century. The extraordinary assistance of President Bush and the government of the United States to our country was decisive in bringing Albania out of the abyss of a totalitarian system, a ruined economy and misery. The United States and the friends of the Albanian people have helped and are helping, wisely and resolutely, to make Albania free and prosperous. The United States has also been and remains our strongest defender of our national integrity. Mr. President, the Albanian government and people rejoice at your coming to the helm of the United States. For them, this represents the arrival of a great and loyal friend. The Albanian people, the government and I fully believe that under your leadership, the American people and the United States will achieve great successes in consolidating democracy and prosperity, not only for your great people and country, but also for preserving peace, stability and prosperity throughout the world. I wish you from the heart success in your noble and divine mission. Please, Mr. President, accept my highest consideration. Respectfully, SALI BERISHA

Young people must take the place they deserve in DEMOCRACY THE NATIONAL COUNCIL MET Today the work of the National Council of the Youth Forum of the Democratic Party began in Tirana. The meeting was attended by members of the National Council, district chairmen, general secretaries and members of the presidencies of the district forums. ... [?] In his welcoming speech, the chairman of the FRPD, Azem Hajdari, emphasized that the youth forum of the PD is a school of democracy, from which important figures of the country's political life have emerged. Speaking about the work done so far, he praised the participation of young people in the election campaign as well as the organization of new branches throughout the country. He stressed the need for young people to take their place in democratic processes.

Tirana, 15 January 1993. In the aftermath of the findings before the N/S commission, the photographs were published for the first time in “The New York Times” and were followed by the report of “Los Angeles Times” about practice in “Irtigj” [?].

Self-requested they took a vote of no confidence in the RTV Council; he says the Government will study it seriously Na qepuçi ERAN VITJA Today the public broadcaster is discussed in a cultured and developed way in the committee of the People’s Assembly. It includes implementation of the current radio-broadcasting law. Likewise, these words containing the public information discussed were also part of the discussion. ... [?] The aim was to somehow bring out the “failure” of some of those who intended to establish the general management and work in the name of ERT. Other officials presented this move as an attack on the management bodies of this institution. (Continues on page 5)

The association, a defense of pseudo-history It was the afternoon of last Monday. The next session of the parliamentary bureau is taking place in the hall of the People’s Assembly of Albania. In the office of the Speaker of the Assembly there also appear to be special guests: S. Cacani, T. Topi, M. Eftimi, G. Spaho, D. Veizaj, J. Bëtari, M. Haxhiu, I. Ceka. All members of the leadership of OMONIA. They are urgently demanding that the Assembly convene and discuss the events in Peshkëpi. The Speaker of the Assembly, after consulting the chairmen of the parliamentary groups and the association of independent deputies, decided that the Peshkëpi issue should be left to the special parliamentary commission created specifically to investigate this incident. After receiving their answer, the Speaker’s guests left. In the leadership of OMONIA, including its chairman, almost everyone was present. But one was missing among them. Yes, the former chairman of OMONIA, Naum Disho, was missing. Only after 5 days did the press mention his name in connection with the arrest. Without yet delving into the later analysis of the case, the appearance of the leadership of OMONIA in the People’s Assembly with the urgent request to discuss the events in Peshkëpi, where only a few hours had passed since the incident and investigations had barely begun, clearly constitutes either an unjustified rush or a pre-prepared scenario. We are surprised by the insistence of the leadership of OMONIA to push the Assembly to meet urgently on this issue. Why this haste? For staging the plan? For heightening the atmosphere? In our political and national environment, OMONIA has long been the subject of debate. From its beginnings it was presented not as a cultural organization of the minority, but as a body with political weight and claims that went beyond the status of an association. It is precisely here that the defense of a pseudo-history begins, which is used for political and propagandistic purposes. (Continues on page 4)

Was THJESHTA separated? I always ask the monitors. Where else can we prove this change? In the care economy? Not better. Scratching at the appearance of power towards care for the sick. All the contemporary health consequences are spreading. (Continues on page 3)

“The Albanian government is consolidating the basic components of the market economy” Tirana. On 20 January, within the framework of the work of the 16th session of the Permanent Planning Commission for cooperation between the countries of the Group of 24 and Albania, at the invitation of the Albanian government, a delegation of the donor community arrived in Tirana, headed by Mr. Kemal Dervis, representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for Europe and the CIS countries. This delegation includes delegations from the Italian government headed by Mr. Alfredo Mantica, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the French government delegation headed by Mr. Georges Kiejman, Minister-Delegate to the Minister of Foreign Affairs; and the American government delegation headed by Mr. Richard Schifter, Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau for Organization and Congress, etc. On this important event, our newspaper addressed several questions to Prime Minister Aleksandër Meksi. Based on this session and the meeting now being held with representatives of the donor community, can you give us a brief overview of the results achieved so far by the aid program in Albania? The difficult road of transition for the Albanian economy, which is advancing successfully thanks to the dedication of the Albanian people, political consensus, and the strong support of the international community, especially over these past 10 months, has managed to overcome some acute social problems and also achieve significant results. The aid program for Albania has played an important role in easing the situation that had arisen. This aid has focused on food and humanitarian assistance, as well as on financing the import of raw materials, spare parts, machinery and equipment. Assistance for reforms and the building of institutional capacity in the fields of finance, agriculture, privatization, as well as in many other sectors, has also played an important role. Of all this aid, America led the way with about 1 billion USD. One of the successes and promised results is that the domestic economy is moving ahead at strong positive rates.