On Friday, 19 February 1993, the chairman of the Democratic Party, Mr. Eduard Selami, left for Austria. He was to take part in the two-day meeting of Committee No. 3 of the European Democratic Union. On Thursday, a member of the Democratic Party leadership, Mr. Dylber Vrioni, left for Athens. He represents the DP at the meeting of Committee No. 4 of the European Democratic Union, on the theme “Campaign Management.” PRESS AND INFORMATION OFFICE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

TIRANA, On Thursday afternoon, at his residence, the President of Albania, Sali Berisha, received the President of Turkey, Turgut Ozal. After the closed bilateral talks, which lasted about half an hour, talks began between the two delegations headed by Presidents Berisha and Ozal. In his speech, President Berisha stressed: “I am very pleased by your visit and express my conviction that it will contribute to the further development of the friendly relations that exist between our two countries. Our friendship is based on our kinship and on the principles of democratic states. I also express my gratitude, and that of all Albanians, for the valuable assistance that the Turkish government and people have given the Albanian people during this difficult period. This has brought the two countries closer and created conditions for greater cooperation.” President Berisha then gave an overview of the economic reform being carried out in our country and stressed the need for foreign investment here. He noted the possibilities for maritime and air links, and for relations in education, such as the reciprocal exchange of students, as well as in civilian fields. He stressed the need for cooperation in other areas too, and asked the Turkish president to facilitate the granting of visas to Albanian citizens, especially businesspeople. “This cooperation,” he continued, “will serve stability in the region and should be strengthened.” The president then presented President Ozal with an overview of the situation in the Balkans. He (Continued on page 4)

TIRANA, The first official meeting of Mr. Turgut Ozal was with Prime Minister Aleksandër Meksi. After welcoming the progress of democratic reforms in Albania, the Turkish president asked Mr. Meksi for a broader overview of Albania’s economic life. From the outset, the prime minister expressed the government’s commitment to continuing the reforms, especially in the economic sphere, which, according to him, have received broad public support. He went on to speak about the course of the reform and the difficulties it has encountered, and on this occasion thanked Mr. Ozal for the assistance (continued on page 4)

The Socialists, now conservatives, launched a noisy, frenzied campaign against the draft law on former owners’ property. In their communist newspaper, under a four-column headline, they write: “A complete lack of seriousness on the part of the government: a law is being presented without any preliminary study.” Further down, across four columns on that page, as well as on page four, are more articles prepared with headlines directed against this draft law. And THE LAW ON THE RETURN OF PROPERTY IS OPPOSED WITH FORCE AND FEROCITY “dear Socialists,” [the text is garbled here] this law will never be passed. As a pretext for this attack against democracy, they bring up the issue of the shops. Mr. Nano, when the communists and the secretary [text unclear], that decision acquired extraordinary legal force. You will say that you are not responsible for the mistakes of the dictatorship. But, on this point, you are right. However, since you call it a mistake, why do you rise up so fiercely against correcting that historical injustice? Not only that, but under the guise of socialism you further deepened the mistake the communists had made long ago. Having held the leadership in the Government of Stability, while [They] write in a four-column headline: a law is presented without any preliminary study.” Further down, in four, there are materials prepared with the aim of attacking this draft law. And Mr. Nano and his chorus are calling for a referendum so that this law will be postponed and dragged out, so that it will never be approved. This also confirms once again the reports from informed “socialist” circles that this attack against democracy, they raise the problem of the two gables. Mr. Nano, when the communists took citizens’ property, they not only did not discuss it in the People’s Assembly, but the idea of a referen- dum never even occurred to them. By means of a decree by the chairman of the People’s Assembly THE RETURN OF PROPERTY You have acted wrongly; why do we rise up forcefully against correcting that historic injustice? Not only that, but under the mantle of socialism you have further deepened the mistake the communists made long ago. While in control of the Government of Stability, and having the communist means to plunder the state as much as possible, the party abusively decided to sell them for nothing— (Continued on page 2)

Honorable deputies, Honorable guests, Although Albanians have had a reputation throughout the world for hospitality, life was so bleak, as if under a curse, that no distinguished guest would set foot here. Now, within just a few months, from the rostrum of this parliament we have heard many statesmen greet Democratic Albania. Today we have the honor of having among us the President of the Republic of Turkey, His Excellency Mr. Turgut Ozal, a distinguished personality and an esteemed friend of our country. Turkey is a country with which we have no shadow over our relations. It was among the first to support the democratic turn in Albania, and it did not stop at political solidarity, but also provided concrete assistance, among the greatest given to us by foreign countries. A friend is known in times of hardship. Now, when the flames of war burn and scorch everything in Bosnia, when bullets kill innocent people indiscriminately, when the political and human rights of our compatriots are trampled and violated, when Kosovo faces the danger of ethnic cleansing and Serbian genocide, there are many voices in the world defending us, and among them Turkey’s voice stands out. Once, nobody paid us any attention; few people knew what Kosovo was or what Albania was. Today, great and small powers declare that they will not allow Serbian chauvinist-communist aggression to extend its claws any further. There are visits of peace and visits of war around the world. Today’s visit by the President of Turkey is a hope for peace in the Balkans. Aggressors should not be allowed to impose war on peoples. All the countries of the Balkans must impose peace on the aggressors. States that are not in the conflict should consult and reach agreement, and act as firefighters to put out the war. Albania, where democracy and pluralism have triumphed and reforms are being carried out successfully, has declared that it does not support changing borders or violence. But this does not mean that it disregards the rights of our people in Kosovo, Macedonia and Montenegro. Kosovo must be demilitarized; the UN forces must be deployed there to protect the peace. War always complicates problems; only dialogue solves them. Mr. Turgut Ozal, as a distinguished figure in Balkan and world politics, a personality with undisputed authority in his country, and having stood at the head of the Turkish state for many years, has made a special contribution to peace in the Balkans and to resolving problems through dialogue. I invite him to address our Assembly. 19.2.1993

— Meetings between deputies and the people are not optional. — Activity of the DP branch in Përmet. — Mr. Eduard Selami takes part. On February 15, the chairman of the DPA, Mr. Eduart Selami, took part in a meeting of the Governing Council of the DP branch in Përmet. Mr. Teodhorag Vangelj, chairman of the DP branch, highlighted in his report the extensive activity, not only propaganda-related but also focused on issues, on which the members of the Governing Council and intellectuals have been working on a broad front. The distribution of new DP membership cards is also serving to assess new recruits and their cohesion, and to invigorate the life of the sections, which have shaken off the apathy of a few months ago. The fact that intellectuals are drawing closer to the party in order to contribute through their commitment is highly significant, foreshadowing a unification of their aspirations with the politicians and the DP program. The Governing Council has planned a “program” to strengthen its ranks with economists, agronomists, engineers and doctors. The motto—intellectuals should not only come to the party, but the party should also come to the intellectuals, and even to townspeople and villagers—is producing results. Thus, in the section of Çarshovë, the main village of Çarshovë Commune, membership has risen from 42 to 56; in the Topojan section, from 13 to 32 members. [The following phrase is unclear in the source: “Muësisë me reputacion”] (Continued on page 2)

Honorable Mr. Speaker, Distinguished representatives of the Albanian people, I am convinced that as long as our friendly Albania advances along the path of pluralist democracy and a free-market economy and establishes the necessary institutions properly, cooperation with Turkey—as well as with all Western countries and institutions—will continue to exist and grow. Our parliamentary relations must be developed. For example, I have myself been accompanied by five deputies from different parties. On the path of transition from a rigid, centralized political and economic system to a free and pluralist system, and to a free-market system based on free institutions in the economy, it is natural that there should be difficulties and obstacles. What matters is not to be afraid of difficulties, to be patient and to show determination to reach the final goal. We are pleased to see that this path has opened up for Albania and that you are moving along it with determination. Over the past 10 years, we have aimed to integrate the Turkish economy with the world economy. We liberalized imports. We took measures to increase the share of industrial products, rather than agricultural products, in the value of exports. We directed material investments not toward industry and agriculture, but toward infrastructure. Without distinguishing between domestic and foreign investors, we encouraged them to invest. We began to privatize public economic enterprises that had been nationalized and brought under state control. Gradually, we removed subsidies. We freed bank interest rates. One of the most important measures among these was setting a realistic value for the currency. While also paying attention to inflation, we made daily adjustments. (Continued on page 4)

— Machiavellianism, partisanship, thievery — In Thursday’s issue, the social-communist newspaper ZP published, under bombastic headlines, the draft law “On the Return and Compensation of Property to Former Owners,” which the government will soon submit to parliament for approval. After studying this draft law, it is not difficult to understand that its general principles are: In Thursday’s issue, the social-communist newspaper ZP published, under bombastic headlines, to Former Owners,” which the government will soon submit to parliament for approval. After studying this draft law, it is not difficult to understand that its general principles are: 1 — Properties (houses, shops, workshops, etc.) that remain physically intact—that is, properties that still exist in the condition they were in at the time they were expropriated by the communist system—will be returned to their legitimate owners. 2 — Properties that no longer physically exist, but on whose land no buildings have been erected, that is, vacant land, will be returned to their owners. 3 — permanent buildings have been erected, will be compensated by the state to their former owners through government bonds, etc. These are the three main principles that make up this law. For a normal, level-headed person who judges without passion, these three principles are entirely humane and fully acceptable, all the more so when the issue is to rectify one of the greatest injustices perpetrated by the communist regime through the seizure— (Continued on page 2)

The true face of the socialist leaders is the communist, collectivist face. The draft law “On the return and compensation of property to former owners” is logical. Psychological terror and deception—ever-present weapons of communism and its offspring.