"Albania will have Austria’s support to be a factor of stability in the region" ACCOUNTABILITY - A DEMOCRATIC STANDARD "Albania will have Austria’s support to be a factor of stability in the region" Prime Minister Aleksandër Meksi and the Federal Minister of Defence of the Republic of Austria, Werner Fasslabend, View of the KPD meeting held yesterday at the PD headquarters. Albanians, it seems, understand that the road to freedom and democracy is difficult and full of sacrifices, but only it can bring light. You confronted the crisis of the restart and the beginning of a new life with courage. Austria supports your efforts and democratic values, said Austria’s Minister of Defence, Dr. Werner Fasslabend, at the press conference he gave yesterday in Tirana. Assessing the dynamic developments in Albania, he emphasized that democratic movements have taken a visible place and are producing the first results. The Austrian minister’s words had a slightly bitter tone because of the comparison he drew with his own country, where the transformation took place through an evolutionary process and not from economic conditions such as those in Albania. Meksi: Albania has gained the image of a factor of stability in the region. This, he said, also represents the achievement of the Albanian government in international relations, despite the fact that Albania is emerging from a long dictatorship. The PD and the government have worked with dedication to play a stabilizing role in the region, he underlined. The Prime Minister stressed that the prospects for the development of relations between Albania and Austria are good. He mentioned the aid provided by Austria to the Albanian army and the interest in training personnel. Fasslabend expressed readiness to expand this cooperation. At the end of the meeting, regional problems, Bosnia, Kosovo and the rights of Albanians in Macedonia were also discussed. The Albanian side stressed that the solution must be political and peaceful. (ATSH)

The 42nd Infantry Brigade is inaugurated in Korçë The inauguration of the 42nd Infantry Brigade took place yesterday from throughout the district of Korçë. The ceremony was attended by Austria’s Deputy Minister of Defence, Colonel Johan Frank, the NATO headquarters representative, Austrian Colonel Otmar Wasservogel, the Deputy Minister of Defence, Colonel Ahmet Prençi, the Commander of the Land Forces, Colonel Bujar Njarri, as well as other military officers. Speaking on behalf of the Austrian government, Colonel Johan Frank congratulated the officers of the 42nd Infantry Brigade for their training and organization, and noted that Austria will continue to support the process of democratization in Albania. During the meeting he stressed that the rapid democratic developments in Albania have been supported with sympathy by Austria. He highlighted President Berisha’s contribution to establishing a democratic system as well as the steps the Albanian government is taking to establish a market economy. According to Colonel Frank, stability in the region also depends on these processes in Albania. Mr. Ahmet Prençi, after thanking the government of Austria for the help it has given the Albanian army, stressed that the choice of the democratic path is a path with no return. He praised the creation of the brigade as an important step in modernizing the Albanian army. (AISH)

An invalid note by the deputy, as in Sunday’s issue, since it suggests that on Sunday, after the holding of an electoral rally by the Reformist League of this district in front of the office of the [B]eson of the [A]lidhja (?) it was answered by a crowd of PD militants. There are untruths in this reaction. The electoral rally was organized by the multiparty commission, it had been announced and, as is known, it was held within the framework of the campaign for the upcoming elections to be held on 6 November 1993. It was attended by parliamentary candidates, activists of political forces and citizens. The PD of Peshkopi had informed the police and the multiparty commission of the campaign program, the place and the schedule of the rally. During the conduct of this activity there was no organized reaction from PD militants. Any gathering of citizens near their offices cannot be presented as a party reaction. Mr. Koko Prenga, the prefect of the district of Dibër, in his statement to TVSH made the necessary clarifications on this issue. Likewise, law enforcement bodies assessed that there were no serious incidents. The PDSH branch in Peshkopi regrets that inaccurate versions are being presented in the media and stresses that the electoral campaign should be conducted in a civic and democratic manner. MUSA REPÇAJ

MP KEKO demands a BOYCOTT Mr. B. PD has carried out several polls and subjective assessments of voters in order to determine political preferences and attitudes toward various candidates. Possible alternatives for candidates have also been examined. In some cases, the name of the current MP Keko has been mentioned as an independent candidate or one supported by other groups. Although Mr. Keko has publicly expressed reservations about some decisions of the Democratic Party, he has not been officially presented as a candidate of another force. In his district, different discussions and interpretations on this issue are taking place. Sources close to him said that MP Keko is dissatisfied with his ranking and the support he has been given. However, so far there has been no final statement about his running in the elections outside the PD lists. Some of his supporters think that he may withdraw from the race or seek another political solution. Others are convinced that everything will end in a compromise. The situation remains unclear. The possibility of an independent candidacy has sparked debate in local opinion. But PD officials say that the party structures are determined to implement the decisions that have been made. For this reason, political commentary in the district continues to be heated, while it is expected that the MP himself will clarify his position. M. P.

HOUSING PRIVATIZATION - BY NOVEMBER It is part of the government’s short-term and medium-term program. As part of the implementation of reforms, housing privatization will be completed within the month of November. According to preliminary data, thousands of apartments have been registered so far and procedures are being carried out to transfer ownership to citizens. Specialists have said that in some cities the process is moving faster, while in other areas there are delays because of documentation. The government has asked local authorities and the responsible bodies to ensure there is no administrative delay. Ministry representatives said the process has special economic and social importance because it aims to create property security for families and encourage a more normal housing market. At the same time, instructions have been issued regarding payment methods and the categories that will benefit from facilitation. In some cases citizens have expressed concerns about the valuation of apartments and about deadlines. The authorities have stated that every complaint will be reviewed and that the November deadline is achievable if all structures cooperate. This process is seen as part of the country’s economic transformation and the departure from the former system of state ownership of housing. M. P.

PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC, SALI BERISHA, RECEIVED AUSTRIA’S MINISTER OF DEFENCE, WERNER FASSLABEND Press Office at the President’s Office Tirana, 25.10.1993 The President of the Republic, Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha, received yesterday at the Presidency Austria’s Minister of Defence, Werner Fasslabend. Austria is among the countries that greeted Albania’s democratic transformation with great interest and supported it continuously. Most recently, it was the Austrian government that allocated $2 million for the reconstruction of the Poliçan factory. They discussed the general situation in the region and the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In particular, President Berisha focused on the importance of resolving the Albanian issue in former Yugoslavia through peaceful means. The Albanian President’s insistence on a political solution to the crisis through peaceful means made an impression on the Minister of Defence, who promised that Austria would make its contribution to resolving the problems in the region. The Chairman of the United Nations Presidency, Austrian Foreign Minister Dr. Erhard Busek, will make Austria’s interest in the Albanian issue known at the conference on Yugoslavia, which will be held in Austria. The meeting examined possibilities for expanding military relations between the two countries. Mr. Fasslabend promised the President of the Republic that his ministry would do everything possible to ensure that Albanian military specialists are trained in Austria. (ATSH)