President Berisha receives the Secretary of Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs President of the Republic Sali Berisha received the Malaysian delegation, led by the Secretary of the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tan Srz Kamil Xhafar, who conveyed to the President the warm greetings of the Malaysian Prime Minister, Mr. Mohadir bin Mohamed, and said that he had come to Albania at his request to put into practice what had been discussed during the Malaysian Prime Minister’s visit to Albania. During this cordial conversation, matters of mutual interest were also discussed, including the creation of free zones and the establishment of a joint economic commission. The discussion also focused on the situation in the region and political cooperation between the two countries. The Malaysian side expressed its readiness to fulfill all its promises to Albania.

President Berisha receives Mr. Van der Stoel, CSCE High Commissioner “The invitation I extended to you,” the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, told the CSCE High Commissioner, Van der Stoel, “is an expression not only of my confidence in your character, but above all of our great esteem for the CSCE and our determination to respect all the agreements we have signed, and especially to rigorously respect the fundamental principles of the Helsinki Act. Of these, the most important are maintaining and safeguarding the sovereignty of the country and respecting existing borders. That is why we have said, and say again today, that we have had and have no territorial claims against any neighboring state, but we will not accept anyone infringing upon the integrity and sovereignty of our country. Another great principle of the Helsinki and Copenhagen documents is respect for fundamental human freedoms and rights, and the protection and respect of the fundamental freedoms and rights of ethnic minorities. In the Council of Europe, [the text reads: ‘In the Council of Europe enjoys’] undoubtedly one of the highest standards of minority treatment. In the treatment of minorities. In the treatment of the Greek minority in Albania, you see two fundamental positive approaches at work. The first is respect for human freedoms and rights, and the strengthening and development of the ethnic identity of minorities. It is precisely for this reason that this minority has its own political parties and social organizations, its own free press, and fully guaranteed freedoms of conscience, belief, and movement in its place of origin; it has members of parliament and local officials wherever they have won through free elections. Minority children in 70 schools of different levels learn their mother tongue. They are employed in all structures of the Albanian state. Naturally, they have been and will be subject to the sacrifices of reform without any kind of discrimination. They have been joined with us, fought for democracy with us, and together with us bear its hardships. Mr. Van der Stoel thanked [the President] for the invitation and said that he had come on an official mission from the CSCE to prepare a report on the situation of the Greek minority in Albania. He said the text of the Charter of ...” But alongside this approach, which aims to preserve the identity of minorities in Albania, we have also pursued the other approach: their full integration into the life of the country. Thus, today the Greek minority, thanks to this process, has twice as many members of parliament as it won with the votes cast for its own party in the Albanian parliament, since it also has members of parliament in other parties. The party currently in power has appointed members of the minority as ministers, members of the Constitutional Court, ambassadors, and officials at all levels. This has by no means been done on a merely formal basis, but because, first, there is no feeling of discrimination against them and because, through their abilities and contribu- ... [text breaks off] ... to raise a wall between [them] and favor the soldiers of the idea of Vorio Epir, whose realization has also brought a considerable increase in the activities of the Greek Church and its missionaries.” The diplomatic tension between Albania and Greece, which escalated after the Albanian authorities deported a Greek priest from Gjirokastra, followed by the brutal expulsion of thousands of Albanian emigrants from Greece, is now centered on the Greek side’s claims of an alleged blocking of the rights and freedoms of the Greek minority in Albania and ethnic cleansing. The figure is 300,000, and according to the reply, around 60,000. The Greek government has tried to draw a parallel between this minority and the Albanian population in Kosovo, which makes up more than 90 percent of the population, but this is in no way logical or right, Mr. Meksi said at his meeting with the CSCE special envoy, adding that the Greek government is exploiting the inopportune moment characterizing the situation in the Balkans. (ATSH) [...cut-off and illegible fragment...] Another major principle of the Helsinki and Copenhagen documents is that of respecting fundamental human freedoms and rights, and guaranteeing and respecting the respective freedoms and rights of ethnic minorities. In this regard, I want to assure you that the rule of law and respect for human freedoms and rights in Albania have been our two main concerns, and we can say that the achievements in one year are encouraging. But, specifically, this time I invited you to learn more closely about the state of the freedoms and rights of the Greek minority in Albania. You yourself met with representatives of the Greek minority in Albania six weeks ago, and today you have met with them again. I, too, in the frequent meetings I have had with Greek officials, have not heard them express any concern; on the contrary, they have expressed satisfaction and acknowledged the great achievements of the Greek minority in Albania, which, if I may refer to the CSCE declarations and [...fragment cut off at the beginning...] Mr. Van der Stoel thanked them said that Albania’s adoption of the Charter of Human Rights some time ago once again demonstrated respect for CSCE principles, something the democratic government had done before as well. A month and a half ago, during my visit to Albania, I met representatives of the Greek minority, and they did not raise any very troubling issues with me. I will continue to examine the question of this minority and will report objectively. President Berisha then explained to Mr. Van der Stoel the various aspects of the situation of the Greek minority and said that in this regard he welcomed his involvement as CSCE High Commissioner in addressing this problem.

Albania and Malaysia are moving swiftly toward expanding relations in the economic and political fields Two weeks after the Malaysian Prime Minister, Dr. M. Mohamad, the Secretary-General of that country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tan Srz Kamil Xhafar, arrived in Albania to advance bilateral relations between the two countries, as he said in his conversation with Foreign Minister Alfred Serreqi. It seems that Mr. Xhafar’s visit is an indication of the Malaysian Prime Minister’s commitment “to greater cooperation with Albania, with which we have many things in common.” Welcoming the increase in government contacts between the two countries, Prime Minister Aleksandër Meksi told Mr. Xhafar at their meeting that this showed that the commitments made a few days earlier to greater bilateral cooperation were becoming reality. Cooperation between the two countries is expected to take shape through relations in banking, trade, tourism, etc. “Minister Serreqi and I discussed in detail greater cooperation in these fields,” Mr. Xhafar told Prime Minister Meksi, emphasizing the need for exchanges between traders and businesspeople from both countries. He said that “immediately after returning to Malaysia, Mr. Mohamed invited Malaysian businesspeople to invest in Albania, and they are expected to arrive soon.” The Meksi-Xhafar meeting also discussed other political issues and the tense situation in the Balkan region. On behalf of the Malaysian Prime Minister, Dr. M. Mohamedi, Mr. Xhafar repeated to Prime Minister Meksi the invitation to visit Malaysia.

— If you’re innocent, don’t tremble — What you and your loyal escort were so afraid of—an escort that did nothing but betray the early socialist ideals of so many people—has, fortunately, happened. Fatos, why are you afraid? No one has taken your car away; you still have the proper escorts and your drug addicts; you still give speeches; you are like all the other people you say you protect. If you know yourself to be innocent, don’t tremble, Fatos! Be a man. Just as you were when you encouraged “Enver’s volunteers”; as you were when the killings took place in Shkodër; as you were when you did not stand up to honor the martyrs of April 2; as you were when you did not deign to see the hunger strikers of Valias; as you were when you visited the black sampists in the hospital. Be a man! Just as you were when you knew the people wanted bread and you brought them fruit juice; as you were when you went begging around the world and came back whispering. What has happened to you and your escort? What has happened to the Sigurimi men and their lackeys? Why do you threaten, “we’ll drag you away,” and say you’ll crush our heads? Although the DP has been in power for more than a year, it has not convicted even one of yesterday’s persecutors. You are for reconciliation and national unity, but with one small condition: that you be back in ... (continued on page 6)

As a member of the CSCE, Albania is committed to respecting and implementing all the principles arising from its charters and other documents, including when it comes to national minorities, Prime Minister A. Meksi said. As a member of the CSCE, Albania is committed to respecting and implementing all the principles arising from its charters and other documents, including when it comes to national minorities, Prime Minister A. Meksi told the CSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, Maks Van Der Stoel, who arrived in Tirana in response to the invitation President Berisha had extended to him. At a brief meeting, [the aim was] to see everything firsthand and hear both sides on this issue, Mr. Meksi said, adding that despite the tension that had arisen, his government was ready to engage in dialogue with the Greek government, because Albania has no interest in quarreling with its neighbors. Our country has embarked on the path of development in order to rank alongside other developed countries. Throughout his conversation with Mr. Stoel, Prime Minister Meksi rejected the claim that the Albanian government had caused the tension in the south, blaming instead the Greek government, which perhaps, by provoking its own minority in Albania, aims to build situation in the Balkans. (ATSH) [...fragment cut off at the beginning...] ... from its charters and other documents, including where national minorities are concerned,” in response to the invitation extended to him by President Berisha. “At a brief meeting, [we will] look at everything closely and hear both sides regarding in quarrelling with its neighbors, as order to take its place among caused the tension in the south, saying it was the Greek government, which perhaps, through provocation and its own minority in Albania, seeks [...text interrupted at the bottom of the column...]

- What a great hero this little Kastrioti is - - A professor with the manners and vocabulary of a street thug - Astrologer Ramiz Alia also deserves credit for discovering the “little star” with the “great” brilliance, Kastriot Islami. While real scientists search for and discover stars with very powerful telescopes, Ramiz Alia discovered K. Islami... by candlelight. “Eureka!” Alia shouted. “This one will become the Albanian Napoleon Bonaparte.” And, to convince himself, he began listing the qualities the legendary Corsican had in common with the bombastic Mallakastriot. Kastrioti is almost of the same blood as Bonaparte. He speaks French very well. He knows the popular military art appropriated from the Enverian theoretical treasury. If Bonaparte was a genius creator in the art of war, Kastrioti is an unblemished creator in the art of hypocrisy, demagoguery, manipulation, deception, insult and threat. Just as Napoleon had fallen in love with himself, Islami is in love with Kastrioti, to the point that he considers himself the greatest scientist, politician and leader not only in little Albania, but beyond it as well. But Kastriot Islami himself has also become convinced that he is the last Napoleon Bonaparte, who, unlike the first, will subjugate Albania too. To resemble the original as much as possible, he has not contented himself with only what he “stole” from him during his years of study in France, but has also taken advantage of his frequent periods of specialist training and diplomatic visits. He had just returned from Bonaparte’s France when the battle over lifting Fatos Nano’s immunity erupted in the Albanian Parliament. Armed with Napoleonic bravery, self-confidence and adventurism, he attacked the opposing forces with all the batteries of his rhetorical and lexical artillery. If Napoleon failed in the Russian campaign, Kastrioti has sworn to triumph in the Albanian campaign. If Bonaparte threatened the poor or his opponents with a sword and would cut off their heads at the guillotine—“I’ll cut your head off with a sword”—Islami threatens his opponents. [...continued on page 6...] “DR. ISLAMI’S HALLUCINATIONS”

— NO TO RED CORRUPTION AND SOCIAL-COMMUNIST REVANCHISM! — LET US USE THE FORCE OF DEMOCRATIC LAWS TO STOP THE HISTORY AND REVENGE OF THE CORRUPT, THOSE WHO PROVOKE, THREATEN AND SEEK MASS ENVERIAN TERROR!