These days, President of the Republic Sali Berisha received the chairman of the Party of Democratic Prosperity, Mr. Nevzat Halili. At the meeting, the situation in the region, as well as relations between Albania and Macedonia, were discussed. Both sides were convinced that the Albanian political forces in Macedonia, while insisting on the realization of their human and national rights, should engage in all the structures of the Macedonian state, for the stability of this state, which is important for the entire region. (ATSH)

President of the Republic Sali Berisha received PBDNJ MPs, Messrs. Kosta Makarajadhi and Thoma Mico. At this meeting, the PBDNJ MPs, after emphasizing that the situation of the minority, its rights and freedoms are incomparable with the past, and that their party, as a party representing the rights of the minority (Continued on page 4)

—The DP deputy chairman, Mr. Ali Spahia, on the meeting between the President and parliamentary political forces concerning local-government issues— On Saturday, prompted by concerns about the organization and functioning of local government, the President of the Republic, Mr. Sali Berisha, called a consultative meeting with representatives of the parliamentary political forces. The DP was represented by MPs Ali Spahia, deputy chairman of the DP, and Tomorr Dosti, secretary of the DP. After the meeting, Mr. Ali Spahia said: “It was a valuable meeting that further enriches the President’s productive initiatives concerning the stability of the country’s life. It was also a meeting held at a necessary moment. In our discussion, we adhered to the following points: 1.—Local government is one of the foundations of a democratic regime. 2.—Citizens’ right to participate in the administration of public affairs is one of the fundamental democratic principles, recognized since the time of Pericles. 3.—To exercise power, authority and resources are needed. Authority is not lacking; experience and resources are. —The lack of experience also leaves room for party passions. The opposition complains that administrative reform is carried out on party lines. In some cases, that may be so. But, to the extent that this is true, PS members also not infrequently insist on staying where they do not belong. But let us leave that aside! The DP has power and intends to keep it by democratic means. It is therefore deeply interested in an administration capable of managing the economy and other areas of the country’s life. It is important to improve relations between the center and local government, and secondly—and this is what the President said, indeed, this comes first—to delegate as many powers as possible to the grassroots, to local government. The economically stronger the municipality or village, the stronger and wealthier the country. An important power is control over money; therefore, the law on local budgets should be passed as soon as possible. On the other hand, civil-servant status will put an end to every manifestation of party subjectivism. For these and other reasons, we consider the demand of Comrade Fatos Nano and his associates to be anti-national and anti-democratic, aimed at destabilizing the country. On behalf of the Patriotic Political Association ‘Kosova’ THE CHAIRMAN MURAT GJONBALA.”

—F. Nano’s demand for its resignation is anti-national— The Patriotic Political Association “Kosova,” having learned of Comrade Fatos Nano and his associates’ demand for the resignation of Dr. Meksi’s Government and early elections, declares: Our association supports Dr. Meksi’s Government and welcomes the principled, patriotic and democratic stance of the independent trade unions. Dr. Meksi’s Government is not only the best of the entire postwar period; through its achievements in a short time, it has also exceeded expectations and enjoys nationwide respect. It has secured for our people sincere, powerful and numerous friends in all four corners of the world, who support us strongly. This is reflected in the aid they have given us, are giving us and will give us to rebuild Albania, devastated by the communist regime and Comrade Fatos and his associates. Through its productive work, Dr. Meksi’s Government is bringing closer a solution to our national question, which is tied to the nation’s destiny. For these and other reasons, we consider Comrade Fatos Nano and his associates’ demand On behalf of the Patriotic Political Association “Kosova” CHAIRMAN MURAT GJONBALA

—The factory union representatives stressed that they would make demands of the Government but would also support it— —President Berisha is invited to visit Poliçan— The Minister of Defense, Mr. Safet Zhulali, accompanied by the Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Ilia Vasho, Deputy Minister of Defense Fatmir Mema, and a group of specialists from the ministry, arrived in Poliçan yesterday to discuss meeting the demands of the trade unions at the town’s factory. Before the meeting, Minister Zhulali asked to see working conditions in several of the factory’s departments. He praised the workers for the order, cleanliness and discipline he found there and instructed the management of the enterprise to improve conditions as much as possible in some departments. Mr. Zhulali told the workers that foreign businesspeople who had come to Poliçan had also been pleased with the discipline and quality of the work, which serves as an example for all the other enterprises of the army and beyond. “Of course, like many military factories in the world,” he said, “some departments here will also change their purpose to produce civilian goods, but the factory will mainly continue production for defense needs, which is a permanent duty. The military industry, too,” the minister emphasized, “must enter the market economy with greater boldness.” Mr. Zhulali also conveyed the personal instruction of the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, that every Poliçan family should have at least one person in work, since this factory is known to be the only source of livelihood for the entire town. He emphasized that, thanks to the President’s personal interest, this factory had been allocated 12,000,000 dollars to ensure continued employment for its 1,500 workers. At the meeting with the trade unions and the enterprise’s directors, representatives of both unions expressed satisfaction that their demands were on the way to being resolved and emphasized that they would make demands of the Government, but would also support it. The factory director, Vladimir Bicaj, said that, regarding the placing of workers on assistance, as dictated by the reform, cooperation had taken place with both the Independent Trade Union and the Trade Union Confederation. The Minister of Defense said he was deeply moved by the atmosphere of work and mutual understanding. Unlike a few months ago, people are now calm and have confidence in the future. This shows that Poliçan supports the reform of the democratic Government and that this is the image presented to the President, the Government and the Ministry of Defense. Mr. Zhulali stressed that the reform must also extend to the administration. But, he said, it would be a tragedy if specialists were affected for political reasons under the guise of reform. A specialist is a national asset, the gold reserve that directs production. Outside work, everyone has the right to their own political beliefs; at work there is no politics. Finally, he also spoke about the situation in the region and the very good relations between our Army and NATO. Minister Zhulali then expressed the Ministry of Defence’s willingness to increase production and the remuneration of the workers at this plant. At this meeting, the leaders and the two trade unions expressed the wish that, if possible, President Sali Berisha would come among the people of Policant. Mr. Zhulali conveyed the invitation to the President, and he received it gladly. (ATSH)

As part of its many-sided work in exploiting the people’s hardships—which the newspaper “Zëri i Popullit” normally multiplies by 100—the same newspaper, in its 13 March 1993 article “Transparency of Minister Shehi,” divides the results of the Directorate of Emigration by 20. The Directorate of Emigration began work on 5 May 1992 as part of the Ministry of Labor. What it inherited from Albanian communism was a paper agreement with the Federal Republic of Germany to send 500 Albanian workers to that Republic per year for three consecutive years (and not 5,000 workers a year, as “ZP” writes). This agreement, which had been signed several months earlier, had not enabled a single Albanian worker to be sent to Germany by the Albanian communist governments by 5 May 1992. Over ten months, the Directorate of Emigration and the Ministry of Labor, supported by the work of the President, the Prime Minister and Minister Shehi, have achieved the following results: —An individual employment agreement with Italy. —An employment agreement with Cyprus... —Employment agreements with various private agencies in Arab countries. —Vocational training agreements with Greece and Italy. During 1993, we expect to reach seasonal employment agreements... with Italy and Greece, and employment agreements with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Libya. These agreements will open the way for private employment agencies that hire Albanians according to the labor-market needs of these countries. The Directorate of Emigration and ... have, by March 1993, employed abroad: —In Italy, 800 workers —In Germany, 300 workers —In Austria, 30 workers —In Switzerland, 15 workers (Continued on page 4)

-The economy does not flourish in a day or a year- -Democratic intellectuals have confidence in the Meksi Government and will support it- clearer and more secure. We are also aware of the fact that the country is going through difficulties for which the dictator E.Hoxha and his successors bear responsibility; therefore, the opposition forces must under no circumstances seek political gain, because ultimately it is the people who suffer this difficult situation. Historically, intellectuals have stood with the people, have always told them the truth, and have led them to win freedom and democracy. For their own strengthening, they seek a better future, a social system in which the distribution of material goods is carried out as democratically as possible and, above all, in which people live freely and express their thoughts as they formulate them, without fear or hesitation. The dictatorship was afraid of these ideas and did not want the people to learn the truth; that is why dictator E.Hoxha began building the communist state by purging the intellectuals. Using the most banal accusations against people who had been framed, this purge was carried out over almost a decade, and then continued through plenums targeting the intelligentsia, transfers, and other more elaborate forms, generally within the Party committees, often ending with the infamous charge of agitation and propaganda. Despite this strategy of constant tension and terror, the intellectuals survived and, in December 1990, were the first to support the student movement for democracy. The most active part of the University of Tirana faculty, both young and old, took the lead in this movement, and today many of these professors lead the PD, other parties of democratic character, as well as the state and its institutions. We have confidence in these courageous intellectuals, who have taken on a great responsibility, namely the transition from a socialist economy to a market economy. We are also aware that great difficulties have arisen and will continue to arise in people’s lives. Chronic unemployment, high prices, low wages, shortages in supplies, and other disruptions cannot be eliminated quickly and easily. Mr. Meksi’s government, despite the efforts of the social-communist forces that want to obstruct the progress of economic reform, is implementing the program for which we voted on 22 March 1992. For these achievements, the government has the support of the majority of Albanians, regardless of political affiliation. We do not hesitate to criticize the government for what it has failed to achieve, but at the same time we offer it our help whenever it is needed to solve the major problems confronting it. It seems to us that the recent campaign launched by the PS and its leaders is not in the country’s best interests or conducive to stability: they claim that the only alternative for improving the situation is to overthrow the democratic government. That will not improve the situation, gentlemen socialists. An economy does not flourish in a day or a year—not even when you had your motherland did you manage it in 50 years. Do not toy with this long-suffering people; do not hinder democracy from following its course. (Continued on page 4) Sh.Fatos has distanced himself from Comrade Enver When they signed the “Manifesto of a group of 192 intellectuals” a year ago, with all the patriotism they could muster, the electorate that voted for democracy, order, calm, and economic progress had confidence that the changes that would take place would be for the good of this country. The facts show that the positive developments are not justifying the fairness of this beginning. Life has begun to become harder in every area of economic activity; changes began in every area of economic activity, changes began in every area of economic activity, positive results did in fact begin to emerge, but the outlook also seemed

Paolo Foresti is the new extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of the Italian Republic to the Republic of Albania. He has replaced Torkuato Kardili, who left Tirana today. Mr. Forest was received by the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, on the occasion of presenting his Letters of Credence. The ceremony was attended by Albania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alfred Serreqi, and diplomats from the Italian embassy. Paolo Foresti was born in 1942 and graduated in economics and commerce. He entered the diplomatic service in 1967 and has held numerous diplomatic posts in various countries, including Belgrade in 1969 and Italy’s Permanent Representation to the European Community in Brussels in 1973. In 1979 he returned to Rome and worked in the Directorate General for Economic Affairs, while in 1980 he was appointed head of the special secretariat of the Undersecretary of State. In 1982 he was assigned to the Italian embassy in Washington. In 1984 he became director of the press and information office. In 1985 he was appointed Secretary General of the Vancouver International Fair. In 1986 he came under the direct authority of the Director General for Emigration. In 1987 he again became head of the Undersecretary of State’s special secretariat and, in 1989, diplomatic adviser to the Ministry of Defence. Minister Plenipotentiary Foresti is the author of many publications, particularly in the field of European integration.

Regarding the report published in the newspaper “24 Ore” as well as in “Zeri i Popullit” on 14 March, our editor spoke with the spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Order, journalist Ludmilla Pajo, who said: “I spoke with the Minister, and he said that the statement is not true at all, but an unscrupulous, deliberate deception. The Foreign Relations Sector is looking into whether the slander originated with the newspaper “Eleftheros Tipos” or someone else! To make Mr. Kopliku’s position known regarding the problems of refugees in Greece and other countries, I am providing for publication in full his speech delivered at the meeting of 16 February 1993, at the European Ministerial Conference on the prevention of illegal migration. Read on page 2

Sh.Fatos has distanced himself from Comrade Enver

Read on page 4