Dear Mr. Klepsh, dear President Berisha, distinguished ambassadors and guests, distinguished members of parliament, The highest-ranking figure of the European Parliament, its President, Mr. Egon Klepsh, has come to visit Albania, meet with us, and deliver a speech before our People’s Assembly. This is a special mark of attention for pluralist democracy in our country. Building a state governed by the rule of law and economic reform are the two main aims of our pluralist Assembly and the two bridges by which we are strengthening our position in Europe. The material assistance provided by the European Community is extremely important, and we thank the European Parliament for the positive recommendations it has made on our behalf. But we value just as highly our contacts with all European parliamentary bodies, because they provide us with the political, legal, and parliamentary experience that is so necessary. This is the third time I have met Mr. Klepsh, and each time he has been well informed about Albania, about the issues and processes involved in democracy, the building of a state governed by the rule of law, and the work of the Albanian Parliament. He was particularly pleased last time when he learned that the law “On the Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Human Being” had been adopted, and he is also aware of the great work being done on the Constitution. Mr. Klepsh has strongly supported the strengthening of economic and political ties with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. He has advocated stable, regular relations and future exchanges. He has called for increased interparliamentary contacts with the states of Central and Eastern Europe. Mr. Egon Klepsh studied history, political science, and geography. He is a member of the Democratic Union of Germany and has held various posts, including Chairman of the European Union of Young Democrats, Vice-President of the European People’s Party, Member of the Bundestag, Chairman of the EPP Group, and, since January 1992, President of the European Parliament. He also has a special distinction: he is a friend of Albania. We have always very much wanted him to help us—not in what is unjust, but only in what is right—and the esteemed Egon Klepsh is such a friend. I therefore invite him to address our Assembly.

Yesterday morning, at around 11:15, the President of the European Parliament, Mr. Egon Klepsh, went to the People’s Assembly. There he was received by the President of the Republic, Mr. Sali Berisha, and the Speaker of the People’s Assembly, Mr. Pjetër Arbnori. Mr. Klepsh’s entrance into the People’s Assembly’s plenary chamber was greeted with applause by the approximately 120 members of parliament present, who had risen to their feet. After the welcoming address by the Speaker of the People’s Assembly, Mr. Arbnori, Mr. Egon Klepsh greeted the Assembly with an important speech. “RD” correspondent

- Mr. EGON KLEPSH addresses the People’s Assembly - It is a great honor and joy for me to have the opportunity to speak as your friend in the Albanian Parliament, and to have the opportunity to talk with you. I thank you warmly for your hospitality. My official visit, at the invitation of the Speaker of the Albanian Parliament, is taking place at a very important historical moment for both the European Community and your country. At the beginning of the 1990s, your country stood before an entirely new path. You are now at the beginning of this path and are preparing to join the family of the other peoples of the European Community. The old political and economic structures of your country have collapsed. After a 45-year period of communism and a state-run economy, you are now making a radical change to all your foundations, based on the principles of democracy and a market economy. But a state’s structures cannot be changed from one day to the next. You, too, the citizens of this country, as well as the citizens of Central and Eastern Europe, have experienced this bitter reality. The Albanian people have decided to follow the democratic path. We in the European Community, and above all in the European Parliament, guarantee all your democratic foundations and will pursue policies We are all interested in building a new, stable economic and political life, in accordance with all the rules. The hopes that arose at the beginning of the 1990s were, unfortunately, not all fulfilled, Mr. Klepsh went on to say. With the fall of the Berlin Wall, with the fall of the Iron Curtain, after the collapse of the Soviet empire and the fall of communism, the Cold War ended. Nevertheless, there are indeed many uncertain factors at this time: the war in the Balkans, confrontations in the former Soviet Union, and conflicts in Asia and the countries of Latin America. These are examples showing that efforts for peace must not be exhausted; on the contrary, they must continue. The 12 member states of the European Community and, above all, the world’s seven most industrialized countries must be aware of the important responsibility they bear and the role they must play in this regard. This is a primary responsibility: to serve as a model for democracy and democratic development. The European Parliament, approaching its 50th anniversary, is aware of all democratic developments and is responsible to all citizens. The European Community was created to put an end to the continual wars between Germany and France. We wanted to create an organization that would oblige us to cooperate continuously, and we achieved this. Moreover, not only did we have no armed conflicts among ourselves, but we also succeeded in creating a very good common economy. The main thing was that we all had the goodwill to cooperate continuously. The European Community, and especially the European Parliament, are ready to integrate the Republic of Albania into the democratic community of nations. I emphasized this view from the outset, at my first meeting with the Albanian President, Berisha, in Brussels, immediately after his election, and during the visit to Strasbourg in May of last year by the Albanian parliamentary delegation led by President Arbënori. From the very beginning, the European Parliament has supported the new developments in Albania. We want to help you in very concrete ways to overcome the major economic and social difficulties and problems. Our stated goal is to lay the necessary foundations for a functioning social market economy and to help develop democratic processes based on rights and freedoms and on the rules of the state. We are aware that many difficulties still have to be overcome before your people and country can be fully freed from the heavy burden of the communist past. The establishment of new relations between the European Community and Albania received successful impetus following the agreement concluded in 1992 on cooperation and trade. The European Parliament approved this agreement in September of last year. It supports the further expansion of trade relations and technical assistance in the fields of economics and trade policy. It includes a clear human-rights clause. This will make it possible to establish an association agreement between Albania and the European Community in the future. The European Community has already taken significant steps to radically improve Albania’s dire economic situation. From the outset, we have been interested in the G-24 initiative to support democracy and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, and we intervened firmly to ensure that Albania, too, was fully included in this program. Within the G-24 framework, all its member countries have provided 80 percent of the financial assistance, clearly demonstrating their solidarity with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. With the same aim and desire to help the economies and human potential of these countries, the European Community has undertaken and set in motion concrete initiatives, and Albania has received its support. But you yourselves also have an important part to play in developing and rebuilding your country. From an extremely difficult starting point, you have managed to achieve results that are well known in all the countries of the Community. I want to remind you of just one thing: for several months, you have had an inflation rate of 0 percent, and this is a successful achievement for all of us—one that even we find very difficult to accomplish. You have thus achieved success in your accounts. I am aware that you must make further important efforts, and we are aware that we must continue to support your development. Your country occupies a very important geographical position, Mr. Klepsh continued. Last April, President Berisha expressed Albania’s interest in becoming a member of the Western defensive alliance, NATO. After the collapse of communism in the Soviet Union, we have a commitment. We must strive to achieve a highly secure world system, and I hope Albania will also make its valuable contribution. The inability of all the international organizations to prevent the war in the former Yugoslavia has been demonstrated. This is a danger for the countries of Europe, which, through their policies, were unable to secure the means needed to deal with this situation. Maastricht, agreed in 1991, is an organization that seeks to achieve such a goal for peace in Europe. The European Parliament is therefore exerting pressure for the ratification of this agreement so that the ultimate goal can be reached as soon as possible. My visit to Tirana should be understood as a political signal for peace throughout the region. The European Parliament exerts strong influence in pursuit of a democratic Europe based on solidarity, with the sole aim of achieving lasting prosperity and peace. Albania must be part of this Europe. My visit here is also an expression of this desire and this will. The European Parliament follows the situation of the Albanians in Kosovo with great concern and interest and has repeatedly called for the rights of this population to be respected. We know that the writer Adem Demaçi, recipient of the Sakharov Prize, spent a long time in prison. I wish to express my solidarity on this matter. On July 15, 1993, the European Parliament stressed that good relations between Albania and Greece, and with other countries, are of particular importance to the region. I am convinced that you will pursue a policy founded on human rights. [… to examine and resolve …] You have the example of coexistence and cooperation among different religious faiths. This is a good policy. I assure you that everyone in Europe will welcome this policy of yours. At the same time, it entails responsibilities, such as respect for minority rights and the use of their languages. Regarding the expulsion of Albanians from Greece, we called on the governments to cooperate with mutual understanding, in accordance with the Charter of Human Rights. I believe that respect for these principles will eliminate the new tensions that have arisen between Albania and Greece. I am pleased to note that relations between Albania, its political leaders and representatives of the People’s Assembly, and the European Parliament are much better. From the first interparliamentary meeting, and at the second meeting of representatives of the European Parliament and the Albanian Parliament in Tirana in July 1992 and the meeting in Strasbourg in May, all the economic and political problems of your country were discussed very clearly. I look forward to future meetings—which I hope will be numerous—at which we can likewise find ways to resolve issues concretely and support one another. We need a European Community in order to overcome the problems faced by different peoples, and you are an important link in the community of the peoples of Europe. Therefore, solidarity is not an empty word, but a law of our coexistence. We Europeans must show the whole world that, united, we are capable of building a better common future.

… and joy foundations and will pursue policies significant steps to radically improve Albania’s dire economic situation. We have been interested from the outset of Central and Eastern Europe, and intervened firmly to ensure Albania’s full inclusion policy founded on human rights. … to examine and resolve … are capable of building a better common future.

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PRESIDIUM OF THE PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY, PJETER ARBNORI, RECEIVED THE PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, EGON KLEPSH - When the democratic movement began in our country, from its very beginning, you, Mr. Pjetër Arbnori, proclaimed your slogan: “Let us make Albania like all of Europe,” because historically, geographically and spiritually Albania has been part of the West. Albania today is an open country, indeed a very open one, because we want to repay the debt incurred through 50 years of isolation, while … (Continued on page 4)

- FROM MR. EGON KLEPSH’S MEETING WITH THE CHAIRMEN OF THE PARLIAMENTARY GROUPS OF THE PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY - As part of his program, the President of the European Parliament, Mr. Egon Klepsh, met with the chairmen of the parliamentary groups of the People’s Assembly, Messrs. Ali Namik Doka and Todi Laco. In his remarks, Mr. Klepsh … expressed his satisfaction with the progress made by Albania in all fields and voiced his wish to intensify relations between the People’s Assembly and the European Parliament. He highlighted the importance of the elections and … (Continued on page 4)

- INFLATION IS NOW ZERO FOR ALBANIA AND DEATH FOR THEM! - Yesterday morning we hurried to the People’s Assembly to arrive as early as possible for the session, which would also be attended and greeted by the distinguished European figure, the President of the European Parliament, Mr. Egon Klepsh. Ahead of us hurried PS deputy Shkëlqim Cani and, somewhere behind in the background, perhaps very far away and very late, socialist deputy Kastriot Islami as well. Our goodwill, sense of Albanian identity and logic of normality initially gave us a pleasant emotional feeling, when … (Continued on page 4)

President of the European Parliament: We will do everything to ease your country’s difficult path toward a better future.