President of the Republic Sali Berisha received a group of representatives of the Greek minority in Albania, including Thoma Meço and Kosta Makariadhi, members of parliament from the Party for the Protection of Human Rights. They expressed to President Berisha their concern about the situation that has arisen in Albanian-Greek relations, from which, they said, Albanian emigrants expelled from Greece and the Greek minority in Albania are suffering most. The President of the Republic assured them that the Greek minority in Albania would enjoy all the rights deriving from the Copenhagen Document, the Paris Charter, and the other documents of the UN and the CSCE. The state, he said, would open two secondary schools for them, provided the necessary number of students could be secured, as well as a department for training teachers for the Greek minority at the University of Gjirokastër. Members of the Greek minority in Albania are free citizens of the Albanian state and enjoy all the rights of other citizens, without any form of negative discrimination, the President continued. On the other hand, however, they have all the legal obligations that other citizens also have toward this state. It is not right for an incident involving a Greek citizen to be exploited to turn the minority into a bone of contention between the two countries. President Berisha further emphasized that using the Church for political purposes is completely unacceptable. You have Parliament and political platforms, he said, where you can freely express your views. The Albanian government adheres to the principle that good-neighborly relations between Albania and Greece are important not only for our two peoples, but for the region as a whole. For this reason, it will not abandon its efforts and dialogue to restore a spirit of understanding, despite the difficulties we are seeing today in Albanian-Greek relations. Representatives of the Greek minority stressed that the minority was determined to play a role in bringing Albania and Greece closer together. They did not deny the hostilities that had marked [relations], but exchanged views on fulfilling the promises made. They also fully approved the official Albanian position toward the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania and called for the two governments to reach an understanding to reduce tensions. MP Miço said that the report circulated by the media claiming that he had spoken at the church in Gjirokastër was accurate. (ATA) Continuing his presentation, Mr. Selami stressed that the region in which we live is full of old and new conflicts. Chauvinist winds could one day ignite a fierce war, the cost of which would be paid most heavily by Albanians, half of whom live outside the territory of the mother state and are dangerously unprotected. Our friends are very grateful to us for having maintained peace in the Balkans so far, but gratitude alone is not enough to stop the Bolshevik aggressor Milošević, who is preparing to carry out a new massacre in Kosovo. The international community must take measures to prevent this impending conflict, while there is still time. Continuing, Mr. Eduard Selami noted that another cause of the tension in Albania and the Balkans was the disagreement with the Greek government over the return of Albanian refugees. As a member of all European and international bodies, Greece should help democracy in Albania, rather than place it in difficult circumstances for the sake of a Greek priest who acts contrary to our country’s constitutional laws and the status of the Greek minority. Mr. Selami called it fruitless— (Continued on page 4) ...that Albanians, from a country where the communist dictatorship carried out an inhuman experiment, are today turning toward progress in every field, and the achievements are evident, bearing in mind the problems we have faced and the profound reforms being implemented by the Democratic Government. state and are dangerously unprotected. He stressed: “We are here to tell your neighbors that Albania has great friends across the ocean. You should be certain that both the countries of Western Europe and the United States are on your side and want you to succeed. Albania has a strong chance of being admitted to NATO sooner than any other former member state of the Warsaw Pact.” The unanimous admission of Albania as an associate member of the Atlantic Alliance is of extraordinary importance for ensuring your country’s security. Congressional delegation (Democratic Party member of parliament), having called the meeting with Mr. Selami and the chairmen of our Assembly’s committees very important, stressed that “we will help Albania not only with technical matters in Parliament but also with economic assistance in the field of investment. Specifically, we are now discussing the technical modernization of the Parliamentary chamber, the training of its staff, and the completion of the People’s Assembly library.” Then Mr. Jeral Solomon, a member of parliament from the Republican Party, took the floor. Warsaw Pact. The Alliance...” This is arrogant of Belgrade—

— Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Pjetër Arbnori, received the delegation of American congressmen — On July 7, a delegation of the American Congress arrived in our country, led by Congressman Martin Frost and also including Congressmen Xheral Solomon, David Skags, David Pris, Dagllas Bereter, Luis Sloter, and Maik Billirakis. Congressman Martin Frost directs an assistance project for the new parliaments of Eastern Europe. The project includes comprehensive assistance for the Albanian Parliament, involving the modernization and automation of the People’s Assembly chamber and its staff offices, staff training, as well as assistance for the press sector, which will make it possible to publish the official gazette. The Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Pjetër Arbnori, received the delegation of the American Congress. Taking the floor, he said that for us—the former political prisoners and the entire Albanian people—the United States represents a pillar of democracy that firmly resisted communist aggression. I had heard good things about this great and powerful country without ever having seen it. But my impressions were multiplied many times over during my two visits to your country. During my last visit, although the meeting was brief, I took the opportunity to ask President Clinton to support Albania, the most suffering country among the others, and to help prevent war in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo. We are the only country in the world, Mr. Arbnori went on to say, whose population is divided in two: half lives within its borders and the other half all around us in the vast expanses of the former Yugoslavia. Although the democratic movement in Albania took place without bloodshed, international circumstances have not favored Albania receiving the assistance it deserves in resolving the national question. We are asking for help in securing our rights. In our relations, we particularly seek the great support of the United States in the democratic processes. The main assistance we seek is the consolidation of the principles of the free world and the adoption of the experience of your country and other advanced nations. Mr. Arbnori also spoke about the work of the Assembly and its efforts to bring laws into line with parliamentary practice. In just 14 months, 172 laws have been passed, including fundamental constitutional laws, and he also discussed parliamentary debate. For their part, Mr. Frost and the other congressmen expressed their commitment to supporting democracy and providing material assistance. They then visited the working premises of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly. (ATA)

— Meeting between Mr. Eduard Selami, Chairman of the Democratic Party and Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the People’s Assembly, and the delegation of American congressmen — Yesterday morning, at the headquarters of the People’s Assembly, Mr. Eduard Selami received the delegation of American congressmen, who are visiting our country these days. The chairmen of the People’s Assembly committees were also present at the reception. After welcoming the guests from the American Congress, Mr. E. Selami gave them a detailed account of the political situation in the country and the region. He stressed that Albania, once experiment, is now the profound reform being implemented by the Democratic Government. Continuing his presentation, Mr. Selami stressed that Albania represents the policy of those who want to resolve problems in the Balkans according to the law of the strongest, or according to the logic of old alliances that have kept our region a powder keg forever. If the fire breaks out in the region, Mr. Selami concluded, it could engulf everyone, including Greece. No one should play with our national feelings. Mr. Martin Frost, head of the American Congressional delegation and a member of the Democratic Party, our Assembly’s committees very important. He fields of investment.” country’s security. On the recommendation of our committee and following the meeting we had with President Clinton, we decided to send 300 troops to Macedonia. Greece did not want troops in Macedonia, but we will send them there to make it clear to everyone that we will not allow trouble in Macedonia or war in the region. It is important that Albania not become involved in its neighbors’ provocations. The congressmen then asked about Albania’s relations with Greece and requested further explanations concerning the recent conflict. On this issue, Mr. Eduard Selami clarified matters for the congressmen...

In recent days, at the initiative of the Minority Teachers’ Association for Saranda, teachers from the Greek minority in this district set off for Athens. They will take part in a Greek-language training course on teaching Greek in the lower and upper grades of the eight-year school. This large-scale, long-term training course for teachers of the Greek minority in Saranda is the first of its kind, following several short courses for small groups previously held in Ioannina and other Greek cities, which aimed to improve teaching for members of the Greek minority. (ATA)

On July 7, the three-day seminar organized with Albanian members of parliament by the East-West Parliamentary Practice Project group concluded. On the final day, participants discussed relations between Parliament and the Government, the press and information bodies, as well as relations between Parliament and the people. The Minister of Labor, Emigration and Social Support and member of parliament, Dashamir Shehi, spoke about the experience gained and the problems that arise in relations between Parliament and the Government, noting Parliament’s oversight of the Government through the organization of numerous interpellations, as well as their cooperation in drafting and passing laws. The Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Culture, Press and Information, Uran Butka, and MP Rodolf Marku discussed several issues relating to freedom of the press and its misuse. They emphasized the need for professional status for press workers, which would discipline and make journalists aware of their mission, thereby increasing the importance of the press as the fourth estate. At the close of the seminar, the head of the East-West Parliamentary Practice Project group, Zhan Pjer Leës, expressed satisfaction with the results achieved, the free exchange of views, and the high level of discussion. Arbnori, thanked the organizers of the seminar and expressed the hope that such meetings would be held more often in the future. (ATA)

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania strongly condemns the decision of the Belgrade government to prohibit the continuation of the CSCE mission in Kosovo. It joins its voice with that of the foreign ministries and governments of the CSCE member countries, which have asked the Belgrade government to allow the continuation of the CSCE mission in Kosovo, Sanxhak and Vojvodina. The decision to ban the CSCE mission gives rise to great concern and signals an even more serious deterioration of the grave and highly threatening situation in Kosovo. It proves that the warnings of the Albanian Government regarding the dangers of Serbia’s aggressive policy of extending the conflict to Kosovo are justified. Belgrade seeks to remove the presence and testimony of international missions in the event that Serbia intensifies the conflict, and in the event of massacres and the repetition of a new chauvinist campaign against the population in Kosovo, targeting Albanians. This arrogant conduct by Belgrade toward the international community, this brutal violation of the unanimous decisions of the CSCE to send Observer Missions and increase their number as an expression of efforts to stop the conflict, clearly shows that Serbia’s leadership does not want cooperation with the international community. It is pursuing the path of war and aggression against non-Serb peoples, as it is doing in Bosnia, and seeks along this path to create a Greater Serbia. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania urgently calls for the intervention of the governments and parliaments of the CSCE member countries, and calls on the UN, the European Community, the Council of Europe, the European Parliament and the entire international community to exert all their influence to compel the Belgrade government to revoke its decision banning the observer missions and to allow them to continue their valuable work in the service of peace in the region.

ADDRESSED TO: THE PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA TIRANA THE PARLIAMENT OF THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC ATHENS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA, MR. A. MEKSI TIRANA THE CHAIRMAN OF THE GREEK GOVERNMENT, MR. K. MICOTQIS ATHENS We, who are writing this message for friendship and understanding between the Albanian people and the Greek people, are a group of citizens belonging to the Greek minority in Albania, originating from Pogori Malor, Dropulli, Vurgu, the Theollogos Mountainous Zone, and other minority areas. Through this message we express our deep concern about the deterioration in recent days of relations between the Albanian government and the Greek government. It seems to us unjustified and paradoxical that the great achievement of friendship, understanding, and good neighborliness which— (Continued on page 6)

Dr. Hamzh Zawba, health adviser to the Islamic Relief Organization I.R.O. and Director General of the Central Polyclinic of Tirana, wishes to thank the police officers of the Tirana district: ABDULLA GUZI, Head of the Organized Crime Department PËRPARIM MUHO, Inspector in the Organized Crime Department, for their prompt assistance Dr. HAMZl ZAWBA