The President of the Republic of Albania, Sali Berisha, received in a separate meeting the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Croatia, Mladen Juric, and the Ambassador of the European Community, Elio Germano, accredited to the Republic of Albania, who presented their credentials. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alfred Serreqi, and others attended the ceremony for the presentation of the credentials. (ATSH)

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the incidents that occurred at the Embassy of the FRY of Yugoslavia in Tirana. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania states its position regarding two alleged incidents that occurred on 30 September and 11 October 1993 at the Embassy of the FRY (Serbia and Montenegro) in Tirana. The investigative teams of the Ministry of Public Order, which went immediately to the scene, concluded after conducting a chemical examination that the explosive substances had been placed by employees of this embassy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania expresses its firm protest against these provocations, which aim to create nonexistent problems and to incite tension in the region at any cost. The so-called incidents staged Tirana are taking place at a time when the International Community has mobilized to prevent the spread of the war from Bosnia to the southern Balkans. Such events prove that the ruling circles in Belgrade are repeatedly staging incidents in Albania in order to blame it and to have a pretext for bringing conflicts southward. The truth about the recent events in the former Yugoslavia has shown who the aggressors are and who is inciting wars. protest against actions of this provocative nature and calls on the authorities in Belgrade to stop them immediately. Democratic Albania has been and remains committed to preserving peace and stability in the region and to establishing relations of trust and mutual respect among peoples. The representative of the Embassy of the FR of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), Mirko Manojloviç, was also summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania and informed of the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ note of protest concerning the two incidents alleged by them. After being informed of the full contents of the Albanian note, Mr Manojloviç did not accept it. (ATSH)

The Congress for consolidating and further advancing the political platform of March 22 DEMOCRACY IN ALBANIA WILL NOT TURN BACK — Press conference by DP chairman Mr Eduard Selami — Yesterday, at 10 o’clock, at the International Press Center, near the Palace of Congresses in Tirana, the Chairman of the DP of Albania, Mr E. Selami, held a press conference whose central subject was the party’s new elections. The DP chairman, accompanied by DP Deputy Chairman Mr Ali Spahia, DP Secretary-General Mr Tomorr Dosti, and DP spokesperson Mr Lorenc Ligori, emphasized in his opening remarks: “On December 4–5, 1993, the Second National Congress of the DP of Albania will be held to give our country’s historic progress a further impetus, and to advance the ideals of December. This Congress will be one of consolidating and further advancing the platform of March 22, the ideals of victory. It will review the work and what has been achieved through our platform in the political, economic, and social fields, in domestic policy for Albania’s renaissance, and in foreign policy for its opening up and integration into the world. One of the campaign’s aims will be to call on all honest and patriotic people who have supported and stood by us from the beginning, as well as those skeptical elements who did not initially trust us, but whose time has shown the correctness of our principles and ideals—ideals of freedom and justice, and ideals for Albania’s development. Every day, we are demonstrating with evidence that we stand by our promises and our program, and that this program is bearing positive fruit every day. It is this program and the DP’s 18 months in government that have transformed Albania from a country at the bottom, in chaos and anarchy, into a place of hope and a good beginning, a great historic turning point. Our program is a program that separates two eras in Albania’s history, a program for breaking with and overcoming the past, and for opening up prospects and prosperity for the country’s development. Rarely in its history has Albania been so open and moving toward progress and development as it is during this period. Once again, therefore, we call on all honest and patriotic people, young men and women, and intellectuals from every field to support us in our country’s further historic progress, and to advance the ideals of December and the ideals of March 22. Our experience, as well as that of other Eastern countries, teaches us that one of the key political problems of these great transformative periods we are living through is the consolidation of new political forces, and their reorganization and structuring, not only on the basis of their political platform but also through their organizational functioning at every level. In organizational terms, the main aim and objective will be to organize, restructure, and renew the sections, the basic units of the DP’s structure. Work in this direction has begun. Responsibility for the DP at every level, from the center down to branches and sections, has been assigned in order to hold new elections within the DP. Another objective is to bring in new democratic elements who have supported and continue to support us, who for one reason or another have not yet joined, but are with us in spirit, heart, and mind. We aim to bring them in and place them in leadership positions without jealousy or resentment, giving priority to honest and capable people, distinguished and dedicated intellectuals, patriots and devoted citizens whom democracy and Albania need today, and to young men and women who not only initiated the democratic processes but also have a significant role and influence in the country’s progress. Reorganization and structuring at the most basic level—the sections in towns and villages—the effective functioning of the section as the base of the DP of Albania, which has a historic mission, and cooperation at every level where our people serve, from the state and parliamentary hierarchy to the local level, are also fundamental.” Questions from the journalists present followed. Asked to comment on the idea of early elections, raised in an article published yesterday in a newspaper, Mr Eduard Selami replied: “We will thank the newspaper ‘Aleanca’ for the suggestion, but at the same time emphasize that this is not our wish. We have decided on the timing of the regular elections, which will be held in 1996.” Asked what influence these ideas might have, given developments in Eastern Europe and the return of socialism to power in Greece, Mr E. Selami replied: “First, I want to distinguish between the politics of former communists in Eastern European countries and the coming to power of PASOK and part of the Communist Party; Greece, too, is a democratic country, and its governments are elected. These things have no connection. In Greece, there is no party that does not belong to and is not European; Greece is also a member of the EC. Former communist forces coming to power there, and in some Eastern countries, are part of the changes taking place, just as with the arrival in power of left-wing forces in Spain and Greece. We have carefully followed developments in Eastern countries and drawn conclusions from their mistakes. One such mistake was that the new parties were fragmented and poorly organized, and therefore lost their majority. It should be said that the situation in Albania is completely different. The DP retains its majority, and there is political stability in the country. These are factors that guarantee there will be no turning back in Albania.” Asked how the DP justified its existence as a center-right party when other parties had also occupied that political space, Mr E. Selami replied: “The DP justifies its political position through its program and its platform, which received the votes of 60 percent and 40 percent of the Albanian electorate. I think that in this way we are more firmly established on the center-right.” Asked about the conclusions the DP had drawn from events in Russia, Mr Selami stressed that, historically, events in Russia have also had repercussions in Albania. Mr Selami gave as an example the revival of the communists following the 1991 coup in Russia. Likewise, he said, what happened in Russia could have happened in our country on July 30, 1993. Our advantage is that the people peacefully opposed this revenge-seeking by the Albanian communists. Asked about some organizational details of the DP, Mr Selami replied that the party had 37 branches and two sub-branches, and more than 3,000 sections spread across almost every village. The DP had approximately 100,000 members, and was working to increase membership, particularly in the countryside. Asked how he foresaw relations between Albania and Greece after Papandreu came to power, Mr Selami replied: “His coming to power is expected by all observers to bring closer relations with Greek policy. Let us be sure that he will…” (Continued on page 2)

A memorandum of understanding in the military field was signed between Albania and the US - The first official document of such a high level of seriousness and cooperation between our two countries. - The first document of this kind signed by the US with countries of the former communist bloc in the East — another recognition and confirmation by the democratic world of the irreversible success of democratic reforms in Albania. , the representative of the American Department of Defense, Mr Glen Lazarus, brought from Washington, along with a handshake with the Albanian Minister of Defense, Mr Safet Zhulali, the document of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Albania and the US Department of Defense, previously signed by the American Secretary of Defense, Mr Les Aspin. At precisely 8:00 yesterday morning, this first official document of such a high level of seriousness and cooperation between our two countries was also signed in an official ceremony by our Minister of Defense, Mr Safet Zhulali. The Albanian side was represented at the signing ceremony by the Chief of the General Staff of the Army, Lieutenant General Ilia Vasho, the Deputy Minister of Defense, Mr Bashkim Shehu, and senior and high-ranking officers of our army. The American side was represented by the Ambassador of the United States of America in Tirana, Mr William Rajerson, the American military attaché in our country, Pol Maser, the representative of the US Department of Defense, Mr Glen Lazarus, and others. After Minister Zhulali signed the Memorandum, both sides expressed their pleasure and conveyed the appropriate greetings, considerations, and assessments regarding the importance and seriousness of this document. Among other things, our Minister of Defense said in his remarks that the Memorandum of Understanding we have just signed is another step forward in military relations and cooperation between Albania and the United States, which hold a leading place. It is the result of democratic achievements in our country and the reform and restructuring of the army, thanks to the high spirit of dedication and patriotism of our military personnel. It is also recognition of the work and contribution of the democratic government and President Berisha. The signing of this document opens the way for further development of cooperation between our two armies in education, training, exchanges of experience, and comprehensive assistance in the field of defense. The prior signing of the Memorandum of Understanding by Mr Les Aspin, Mr Zhulali said, is an honor, but also confirmation both of the role Albania plays in the region through its peaceful, defensive policy and of support and security for our country. The Minister then pointed out that this agreement between our two countries is directed against no third country, but serves peace, security, and stability in the region. But it should be emphasized, he added, that the fact that the US values Albania at this level will also have an impact on those who have ill intentions toward it. Finally, Mr Zhulali conveyed, through the representative of the Department of Defense, Mr Lazarus, his best wishes to the American Secretary of Defense, Mr Les Aspin, and to all Americans for the assistance provided in signing this important treaty. “It is no coincidence,” Mr Rajërson said in his remarks, “that the signing of this Memorandum coincides with the completion of the restructuring of the Albanian army. Its signing is another step forward. Joint working groups will be established to further develop friendly relations and cooperation between Albania and the US.” At the end of this report, we would add a significant fact: Albania is the first among the countries of the former communist bloc in the East with which the US has signed such a document. This fact is also further recognition and confirmation by the democratic world of the undeniable success of the reforms in democratic Albania. RD correspondent

Albania Day was held at the German Bundeswehr Command Academy in the city of Hamburg. was held at the German Bundeswehr Command Academy in the city of Hamburg. Military personnel from various countries who are studying there, the Academy’s leaders, senior officers, representatives and heads of several German institutions, politicians, and others attended. The Deputy President of the Hamburg Parliament, Ms Buseck, was also present. Before the event began, the Academy’s commandant, Major General Hubener, received the Ambassador of Albania to Germany, Xhezair Zaganjori, in a separate meeting, and had a cordial conversation with him about the situation in Albania and the possibilities for strengthening cooperation in military education and training. (ATSH)