The British Foreign Secretary, Mr Douglas Hurd, will come to Tirana on Monday. According to the policy of the Albanian government, only such an important visit can give our voice the proper weight in Europe. It concerns a fundamental issue: how NATO’s commitment to the defense of Kosovo and Albania should be understood in concrete terms. In the last week of January, the importance and regional evolution of the Yugoslav crisis, centered in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Albania’s role in facing it became very apparent. First the Turkish foreign minister Hikmet Çetin, and then the German one Klaus Kinkel, positively assessed Albania’s efforts so far and expressed their governments’ determination to support it. On Monday, the head of British diplomacy, Douglas Hurd, will come to Tirana. His country is one of the drafters and guarantors of the decision of the London Conference of last July regarding Kosovo. Against the backdrop of the dramatic conflict in the former Yugoslavia and the continuing concern that it may spread to Kosovo and Macedonia, Douglas Hurd’s visit takes on special significance. Albania has been constantly anxious about the outbreak of conflict in Kosovo and its regional consequences. This is why Albanian leaders have repeatedly called for a more concrete NATO commitment in this area. Such a commitment should not be understood as political rhetoric, but as a preventive guarantee. If Europe wants to avoid the expansion of war, it must take the situation in Albania and Kosovo seriously. A clear stance by Western countries would serve as a stabilizing factor not only for Albanians, but for the entire region. (continued on page 4)

The delegation of the People’s Assembly headed by Mr. Salim Muça in Strasbourg

The newspaper "24 Orë" published yet another lie about Albania yesterday. As early as its issue of 17 January 1993, it published an article speaking of "the plan of the Italian government to settle 30,000 Albanian refugees in Albania". The news was given without any basis and aimed to create confusion. Official sources denied it. Even in this issue the newspaper continues to distort the truth about Albania. This way of informing harms public opinion and the normal relations between the two countries. (continued on page 4)

22 October 1992 truly represents an event of particular importance for Albania. In Strasbourg, the European Parliament adopted its Resolution in favor of lifting the embargo against our country and reaffirmed its European perspective. For many people in Albania, this was regarded as a sign of a new climate in relations with Europe. However, in the foreign press and in certain political circles, unclear opinions continued to appear, often failing to understand either the internal Albanian transformations or the risk of regional destabilization. These differing opinions, sometimes friendly and sometimes prejudiced, show that Albania’s image was still being built. The positions of European institutions must be read carefully, because they are not only statements, but also political signals for the future. (continued on page 4)

Japan grants around 400,000 dollars for the Albanian educational program in Albania JAPAN - The Japanese government will give Albania a grant of 500,000,000 yen (around 400,000 dollars) to help supply teachers and essential teaching materials, the official news agency KYODO TSUSHIN reported last night. According to it, the aid is part of a program to help Albanian education and improve teaching conditions.

The Albanian delegation of the People’s Assembly, headed by Mr. Shpëtim Çela and with the participation of Mr. Preç Zogaj, met in Paris with representatives of European institutions to discuss aid and the process of bringing Albania closer to international organizations. The delegation explained that our country faces severe economic consequences from the embargo on the former Yugoslavia and from the influx of refugees. European representatives praised Albania’s constructive stance and its readiness to cooperate. The talks emphasized the importance of financial aid and technical assistance. It was said that the Council of Europe and other international partners will consider concrete forms of support. (continued on page 2)

from World Economic Portrait in 1993, dated 30 January 1993

A NEW SERIES SOON! WE IN CHINA The performance ends, the discussion about the film begins.

One by Rexhep Qosja and the other by Hajdin Sejda

COMING SOON IN EXPIER COSES for TIRANË From Tuesday and Saturday matinee Tickets will be sold at the theatre box office. Saturday premiere, date 13.II.1993