On the morning of 8 July, the President of the Republic of Albania, Sali Berisha, received two American parliamentarians from the U.S. House of Representatives. During the meeting, views were exchanged on the current political situation in the country, on economic issues, on the consolidation of democracy and reform in Albania, as well as on American aid for this country. The initial discussions raised the issue of the 31 March elections, which was the main subject of the U.S. State Department report. On this occasion, President Berisha emphasized the serious efforts being made to create a state governed by law, to consolidate reform, to establish order and enforce the law. He pointed out the serious proportions corruption has taken on, describing it as an enemy of democracy and reforms. In this context, he mentioned his concern about several decrees and laws that have recently been discussed in parliament and in public opinion, but which need to be examined carefully in order to preserve the balance between individual freedom and the need to strengthen the state. The President also stressed that progress in reforms requires a cleaner and more responsible administration. During the conversation, issues concerning Albanian-American relations were also addressed, as well as the role of the USA in supporting democratic processes and Albania’s integration into Euro-Atlantic structures.[?] (ATSH)

The human rights crisis in Albania, concentrated internationally, is taking on an irreversible position[?] CLAUDIO LOMBARDESE DECLARES TO DANE CANT IN THE HEADLINE OF THE DAILY “IL TIRRENO” On 8 July, the prestigious independent Italian newspaper “Il Tirreno”, after bringing in many columnists and personalities to shed as much light as possible on the main problems facing Albania at this moment, devoted a special article to the latest developments that took place in our country. As the newspaper writes, the purpose of the interview with Mr. Claudio Lombardese is to create as clear a picture as possible around the accusation that in Albania “the Helsinki Convention and human rights” are being violated. Further on in the interview, Mr. Lombardese states that he “strongly believes that there is no one, not even in Italy, who has even elementary knowledge of Albania and the events there. If, in particular, this interview could convince some of those who still do not look at Albania with their own eyes, that would have been a good thing.” Regarding the Albanian-Serbian controversies, the Italian president of the international organization “Dane Count” replies: “I continuously follow the overall climate in Albania and I am in contact with many friends and people from your country. In particular, I am helped by Mrs. Spano and the Italian professor living in Tirana, Dr. Paolo Forovio. Then, in the second half of June, I had the opportunity to meet the President of the Republic of Albania, Mr. Berisha. He showed a serious and informal will to solve the problems in the best possible way, although he does not hide that Albania has many difficulties. He also informed the President of the new republic that the commission of “Dane Count” will soon travel to Albania, in order to study the human rights problems up close.” When asked by the journalists of “Il Tirreno” whether he considered the Albanian situation such that it could be compared with the events in the former Yugoslavia, Claudio Lombardese answers firmly: “It seems excessive to compare Albania with Bosnia. Today the world is anxious about there, whereas Albania has problems of a completely different nature. Albania is not Bosnia. I believe that Albania is living through an extremely delicate and troubled phase, but in any case its problems can be solved without catastrophe. In the case of Bosnia we are dealing with a real war, with thousands of dead and concentration camps. In Albania, however, we have a democracy on its difficult path.” (ATSH)

“AN AGREEMENT WITH THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY FROM ELEGY, A COMPLIANT OF THE WHOLE FIRE OF WAR FOR KIND”[?] At the end of the European Community mission’s mandate in Albania, the head of this delegation, Tomas Xh.[?] Shell, expressed his gratitude for the cooperation with the highest authorities of the Albanian government, before leaving yesterday, together with his staff, from Albania. At the Office of the President of the Republic, it was said that Mr. Shell had expressed to the head of the Albanian state his view that Albania is a country with developing democracy. Shell also presented President Berisha with the European Community’s position on Albania as a country with developing democracy, thanks to the progress achieved so far in the field of foreign relations and internal developments, as well as thanks to what Albania has ahead in the future. The European Community observers’ mission in Albania included 24 observers from 17 countries of the European Union, such as Austria, Denmark, Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, Greece, Ireland, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, etc. Their staff arrived in our country at the beginning of February of this year, with the aim of helping the Albanian authorities overcome the difficult situation created after 22 March.[?] (ATSH)

As regards certain accusations of corruption, made publicly recently, it has been stated that they do not concern the Office of the President of the Republic nor officials appointed by him.[?] In particular, it was emphasized that the claims regarding Professor Ylli Popa are unfounded and that he has been willing to clarify any matter before the competent authorities.[?] The President’s spokesperson declared that accusations must be based on facts and not on insinuations, so that the public opinion is not misled.[?] (ATSH)

Tell me that these are the light of the accusation. But up to now? Nano is already being considered a prime minister who has publicly been asked by parliament to review it? In his case, the Venice observers have begun to take it seriously. If he continues to react not with clarity, but with dosadoze?[?] there will be no immediate intervention against a parliament which is currently in this period in a stretch?[?] of Albania’s history to bring it before the law and to sanction corruption. This is perhaps something that needs to be clarified. When such accusations are made about Albania, a logic is made clear; our state?[?] and the accused person, the only one?[?] has? to the law?[?] Vuri?[?] Golfa?[?] by continuing through an introduction. In the case of the Albanian Vezhdan? and Drita?...[?] (Continues on page 4)

Kosovëllia[?] for and torture organizes the farewell ceremony of academician Aleks Buda on Monday, 12 July 1993. The official ceremony will take place in the scientific hall of the Academy of Sciences, where tributes will be laid and commemorative speeches will be delivered. Afterwards, the funeral procession will be escorted to the Tufina cemetery, where he will rest near his closest people.[?] (ATSH)

Yesterday, a meeting was held in the office of the Prime Minister with two American congresswomen, who are on a working visit to Albania. During the conversation, bilateral relations and issues of cooperation in the field of defense and security were discussed.[?] (ATSH)

Jan[?] J. Broker[?], an American senator, оценized that the development of democracy in Albania is moving along a difficult but certain path. He made these comments during a meeting with President Berisha and other senior Albanian officials. According to him, the USA will continue to support Albania in the reform process and in efforts to strengthen democratic institutions. (ATSH)

Shkodran Kocaj[?] Secretary of State Warren Christopher has warned Serbian President Slobodan Milošević that he will come into conflict with the entire international community if he continues to prevent international observers from working in Kosovo. UN Secretary-General Boutros Ghali said that the Security Council will decide on 15 July whether the observers’ mission in Kosovo should be extended. If Belgrade does not allow the observers on its territory after 15 July, the United States and the other countries on the Council will discuss what further steps they should take against him. Christopher told reporters in Madrid: “We are trying to avoid a decision by the Security Council that would suspend sanctions, but that would be unavoidable if the Serbs did not allow the observers to carry out their work in Kosovo.” (Continues on page 4)

Until 15 July, 10 are to be involved in moral operations [?] News from the foreign press on the “Provide Promise” operation[?] News from the foreign press on the humanitarian operation “Provide Promise” by the U.S. forces and their allies for the air delivery of food and medicine to the civilian population in Bosnia. This request has also been made public to the foreign media and their representatives in Tirana. RD correspondent