Albania’s orientation toward the EC is absolutely clear and welcome. During talks yesterday afternoon with Mr. Leon Brittan, Vice-President of the Commission of the European Community, Prime Minister Meksi thanked him for the humanitarian and food aid that the European Community has provided to Albania to help it overcome the difficult period of transition. He asked the senior EC official for this aid to continue in the future as well, with a focus on investment, industry, tourism, infrastructure, etc., describing it as decisive for our country. “This aid,” Mr. Meksi stressed, “would help guarantee political stability in Albania and its position in the region.” “Albania,” Prime Minister Meksi further underlined, “is ready to take the necessary steps toward its integration into the European Community.” Mr. Brittan, after emphasizing that expressed to Mr. Meksi the European Community’s willingness to help Albania with infrastructure, to encourage the European Bank to finance various projects in Albania, and to support the establishment of democratic institutions, etc. “Albania has many friends in the European Community,” Mr. Brittan underlined, “because its suffering under the communist regime is well known, as is the progress it has made on the path of reform, acknowledged in the reports of the International Monetary Fund.” PRESS AND INFORMATION OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER

The criminal weapon of the State Security Service — the hub of the two extremes in Albania The Democratic Party was born and grew rapidly during this brief period of its life as a party of human values, embodying the democratic ideals that for centuries have radiated the spirit and thought of our nation. It was born under the heel of violence to restore tolerance to Albania and Albanians as a necessity of civilized life; it erupted as a protest against depersonalization, to place human dignity in its rightful temple. On this pillar and these strong foundations, which constitute its very existence, it has neither allowed nor will allow the individual, the people, to be trampled underfoot. All these things have placed it on the pedestal of popular respect. All these things have earned it the people’s trust for their future, to raise Albania from the abyss of communism to the heights of contemporary democracy. Such is the program of the DP, a center-right party steadfastly committed to building democracy in Albania. All developments over the past 18 months show that it is a program of national progress, a program that brought Albania out of economic and commercial catastrophe and into the great family of democratic countries. The Democratic Party’s sole alternative is the development of freedom and tolerance toward opponents. Albanians suffered under the red dictatorship as no other people did. It exhausted them, physically and spiritually, to the point of annihilation, extermination, and mass destruction through political genocide and crime. This tragic past is recent, but despite this fact, it will not be forgotten across generations, because it has left wounds that generations cannot easily heal without pain. It cannot be forgotten because the history of Albania will remain one of the darkest and most brutal periods, deserving to be remembered so that it may never be repeated. Nevertheless, history is a witness and a teacher, but not for everyone. Not everyone, everywhere, manages to understand it and learn its lessons. Survivors in different countries and among different peoples have, at various times, brought forth restrictions, dictators, criminals, and adventurers who have tried to halt progress, kill the future, and inflict mourning and suffering, slavery and serfdom, even fratricide, upon peoples. Today in Albania, adventurers such as Islami, and leaders and executors of the machinery of crime such as Ruçi and his associates, seek to drag Democrats along the ground, break their bones, raise the black banners of the red SS to terrorize Albanians, and stir up dark nostalgics to violently oppose democratic power. The Democratic Party has the historic mission of cleansing Albania of such criminal elements, who supported crime and dictatorship until their dying breath, and who, until their final breath, hang on and shed blood because only through blood do they remain enthroned, because only by extinguishing lives can they strategically secure their survival on this throne. For this commitment, Justice must speak firmly. It is a matter of its dignity as an institution-[?] (continues on page 4)

The closer the arc of fire comes to Kosovo, the more Serbian diplomacy seeks to gain time and room to act, and especially to create a new image of Serbian policy in the world. But since it has decided the Kosovo issue on its own terms, keeping Kosovo occupied and controlled by fire and iron, Milošević’s entire preoccupation is with justifying this occupation—specifically, with sidelining the legitimate representatives of the Albanian people of Kosovo: President Rugova, its parliament and government, who not only reject this national and human discrimination but also defend this people’s interests under all circumstances and at any cost. In this way, Belgrade’s dictators are trying to manufacture Albanian partners for talks, inviting Neritan Alitë and Basri Planet, Arben Imamet, Halit Treno[?], and others to dialogue. The corrupt have no moral right to make such a representation, nor do they have any mandate from the Albanian people. The Albanians of Kosovo declared their independence through their free vote, and to achieve this goal they entrusted President Rugova, their Parliament and Government with their confidence. Only direct dialogue with them, in the presence of an international party, can provide a solution to the problem. This is the only acceptable dialogue. MUJE BUÇPAPAJ

Answers to questions posed by the newspaper “RILINDJA DEMOKRATIKE” to the French minister responsible for European Affairs, Mr. Alain Lamassoure. 1) — As we welcome you to our country, Mr. Minister, we would like to hear your opinion of the Albanians and Albania. We ask you this because our country was isolated until the democratic developments. First of all, I would like to express my pleasure at coming to Albania. On the other hand, coming here with you does not mean I am arriving in terra incognita. I have had the opportunity to visit your country before as a member of parliament, when I also had the chance to meet several figures who were then in the opposition, beginning with President Berisha. On that occasion, I was able to learn about the Albanian people’s hospitality and their love of France and French culture. I am convinced that it would be in both sides’ interest to preserve this store of mutual goodwill by encouraging contacts at every level. The French Embassy in Tirana and the Albanian Embassy in Paris are no longer merely formal or symbolic. Nevertheless, I believe there has been potential for much more. Do you think there has been some delay, and, if so, for what reason? As you know, France encouraged Albania’s democratization process and supports it step by step in its opening to the world. This new situation opens up new prospects for our relations. For a year and a half, France has launched many cooperation programs in Albania. Some of them have begun to bear fruit: I am referring here to the work carried out by Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux (Public Hospital Assistance) of Paris with Tirana University Hospital Center; to the operation for irrigation of the Korçë Plain, which I will visit; and to cooperation between the Ministries of Justice and Interior, to give just a few examples. 2) — Former dictator Hoxha expressed a kind of declarative sympathy for France. Nevertheless, relations between our two countries were, in practice, frozen. Can this be explained simply by Albania’s isolationist policy? It is true that under Enver Hoxha’s dictatorship, political relations between France and Albania were almost completely frozen. The regime under which your country lived did not accord in any way with the ideals of freedom, respect for human rights, and openness to the outside world—ideals that France has always defended. Nevertheless, during that period, France was the only Western country to keep an embassy open, because it considered it essential not to sever every link. [the text at the bottom of the column is cut off] 3) — Mr. Minister, can we consider your visit a special gesture of support that will usher in a new stage in Franco-Albanian relations? As I told you above, I think the new phase in France–Albania relations began a year and a half ago. President Berisha was received in Paris shortly after taking office. The current French government wishes to give our relations a new dimension. I hope my visit to Tirana will effectively give them impetus, help consolidate our positions on several important issues that concern us—the future of the Balkans, security in Europe, and the construction of a more fraternal Europe. 5) — You will have a series of meetings with the President of the Republic, Mr. Berisha, Prime Minister Meksi, and Foreign Minister Serreqi. So you have a very packed schedule. In this context, is your visit intended to improve mutual understanding, or does it also include concrete cooperation projects? As I told you, I will present concrete projects that will make it possible to expand the areas of our cooperation, particularly in the economic, health, and social fields. We will discuss them in greater detail with the senior officials you mentioned. 6) — In Albania’s history, French policy (continues on page 4) under which your country lived was in no way compatible not to sever every tie between the two peoples and to make it possible to preserve a minimum of links in the fields of culture and, above all, science and technology. In this way, we were able to ensure the presence of French lecturers at the University of Tirana and offer young Albanians, from the 1970s onward, the opportunity to study in France. These exchanges made it possible to weave networks of friendship and solidarity which, in many cases, are the starting point for today’s cooperation led by France. I am pleased that, despite the isolation imposed by Albania’s former leaders, such contacts were possible.

A meeting of the Bulqizë district branch of the DP was held — 122 new members accepted, more than 50 percent of them intellectuals — 122 new members accepted, more than 50 percent of them intellectuals The Secretary General of the DP of Albania, Mr. Tomor Dosti, attended — The chairman of the district council, Mr. Bashkim Lami, and DP member of parliament Mr. Agron Çoku also came to attend this DP meeting. After opening remarks by Mr. Petrit Shehu, chairman of the Bulqizë Party branch, Mr. Tomor Dosti addressed those present. He spoke on behalf of a party open to every honest person. The Democratic Party is a democratic organization whose foundation is the individual, with his or her dignity and freedom, where each person is free and master of themselves. Your broad participation in this meeting shows the confidence you have in this party, in its lofty and democratic ideals. “Our party,” Dosti continued, “must not be a closed, static party; it must be as open and democratic as possible. A party that is not like this is sooner or later destined to die. The DP is not the privilege of a group of people; it is and will remain open to all people with positive qualities. Let us abandon attitudes such as ‘it’s us and the others’ and ‘we are the founders, so this or that belongs to us.’ Today we need honest people, not political adventurers and Don Quixotes. I want to stress that the DP must be a party of competition and c-[?] (continues on page 4)

Announcement from the Press and Information Office attached to the Prime Minister At its meeting on 1 November 1993, the Council of Ministers approved in principle the «Financing Memorandum between our Government and the European Community for the programme supporting the restructuring of Albania’s health system», which aims to further improve the primary health sector, support hospital reform, intervene decisively in the pharmaceutical sector, etc. On the proposal of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance, and pursuant to the law on implementing economic reform in the health sector, the Council of Ministers adopted the decision «On setting prices for services in the health service». Furthermore, recognizing the difficult working conditions of employees in the pharmaceutical industry, it was decided to increase their wages to the level of those in the chemical industry. Among a number of other important decisions, the Council of Ministers approved the contract between the Government of the Republic of Albania and the American company «The Hawthorn Group, LC fi Jack Buechner» concerning support for and strengthening of relations with the American administration and public. Tirana, 1. 11. 1993

On Saturday afternoon, the Minister of Education, Mr. Xh. Teliti, received the student delegation, composed of representatives of the Student Union, the Association of Persecuted Students and the PD Youth Forum. Mr. Teliti, during this beginning [unclear], informed the students by means of an announcement that their demands had been taken into consideration. In this way, the telesnolet, simaljet, and continuation of leave-taking have been liberalized. (continued on page 4)

On 30. 10. 1993, invited to the commemorative meeting held in Shkodër on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the magazine «Ylli i Dritës», Konrad Gjonaj, in the very first lines of his paper, attacked without cause or justification one of our most prominent figures, calling him «Ismail Qemali the coward». Pjetër Arbnori, the only state representative present at that meeting, rose demonstratively from the presidium and walked out. Regarding this event, we clarify as follows: 1. The respected magazine «Ylli i Dritës» was not closed by Ismail Qemali in 1913, but by the representatives of the great powers in Shkodër, because of the famous article «A Dishonest Comedy of the Nineteen Hundred Years», written by At Gjergj Fishta, which exposed the European powers for the injustices inflicted on Albania. 2. The distinguished in 1933, but by Ahmet Zogu, because of a stinging criticism by the editor of the programme presented by the King[i?] 3. The authoritative in 1945, but by Enver Hoxha, who pursued a distinct and openly repressive policy toward the Catholic clergy. 4. The cultural magazine «Ylli i Dritës» and its director, At Gjergj Fishta, never attacked Ismail Qemali; on the contrary, they mentioned him with respect as the man who raised the flag of independence on 28 November 1912 in Vlorë. 5. If he wishes to follow the principle of wisdom of the Catholic clergy, «faith and fatherland», Konrad Gjonaj would do well to let patriot Ismail Qemali rest peacefully in his grave and speak more (at least now, when he is not afraid) against those who dragged him and the chairman of the presidium of the People’s Assembly, Mr. Pjetër Arbnori, through the prisons of Burrel and the camps of Laç, Elbasan and Fushë-Krujë, with the sole aim of preventing this tragedy from happening again. Press spokesperson of the presidium of the People’s Assembly