At the meeting, President Berisha said: I have welcomed your visit to Albania as part of your Balkan tour. First, because I have recognized and continue to recognize your special contribution to relations between our two peoples and countries, which I am convinced is appreciated and valued by all Albanians and Greeks who want understanding, peace and stability. But I have also welcomed your visit, Mr. Berisha continued, because we consider dialogue for resolving problems very important, and we are determined to insist that understanding and cooperation between democratic forces and countries in the Balkans are an unquestionable priority of our policy. In this respect, we believe that good and proper relations between Albania and Greece will have a positive effect and be beneficial both bilaterally and for the whole region. They would demonstrate that it is not alliances based on religion, but dialogue, understanding, cooperation, and full mutual respect for a country’s sovereignty and integrity that are of extraordinary importance for peace and stability. In precisely this way, our two countries will be able, at this difficult moment for our peninsula, to assume the great responsibility they have toward their peoples, the countries of the region and Europe in preventing conflicts and resolving the regional crisis. I would also like to emphasize on this occasion, Mr. Berisha continued, that Albanians and Greeks, as the oldest peoples of the peninsula, must give clear proof that the Balkans, as a peninsula of ancient European civilizations, is and must today be a region of peace and stability. From this perspective, Greece, as a member of the European Community, can undoubtedly play a major role. Albania is fully committed to implementing the rights of the Greek minority in accordance with the standards of the CSCE Copenhagen Charter, Berisha said. We will continue along this path, though I must say that efforts to manipulate this minority have been obstacles which, we hope, will not recur. We value the assistance given to the Albanian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, the President continued, and we assure you that the Albanian state, which is secular and separate from religion, treats all communities equally, under the law. Property will be returned in accordance with the law passed by the Albanian Parliament. Speaking about the situation in the Balkans, President Berisha said that Albania does not seek to change borders by force, but he also stressed that there can be no solution if the Albanian factor is ignored. Minister Papulias said that it was a special honor to visit democratic Albania and that he had come to open a new chapter in relations between Greece and Albania. These relations, Papulias said, are especially important against the backdrop of the crisis in the Balkans, and our wish is to improve and deepen them. He said that they had agreed with the Albanian government officials to form a friendly commission which, within the Greek legal framework, would determine the status of Albanian citizens in Greece for work; this would be submitted to the Greek Parliament. He also expressed support for opening new border crossing points and for an agreement on the maritime shelf. Greek-Albanian cooperation, Mr. Papulias continued, will include a joint bank and joint projects financed by the EC. Albania is now a democratic country and is oriented toward Europe. I fully agree with what you said about the Balkans, where Greece and Albania play a very important role, Papulias said. (ATSH)

- Meeting of the Tropojë DP branch held - - Mr. Tomor Dosti attends - For more than two hours, numerous speakers, activists and leaders of DP sections debated the work of the DP and the bodies it had elected, the day’s social, economic and political problems, citizens’ concerns and the prospects for the DP’s work. The audience, representing 76 sections and later expanded, emphasized its firm and unanimous support for reforms and democratic institutions, and especially for President Berisha. The concern to have as strong and effective a DP as possible in Tropojë was the subject of discussion for many speakers. M. Balla, A. Vatoci, F. Haluçi, B. Hoxha, A. Gjoni, Gj. Gjonpali and others also spoke about the economic difficulties faced by the people of Tropojë. Despite the many economic difficulties, democracy also laid the foundations for progress. The privatization of homes and the distribution of land have now been completed. Farmers are selling their produce, while the private market economy has enabled dozens of businesses to achieve their first financial successes. Attempts have been made to establish links with foreign businesspeople and companies for “joy-” The distance from Tirana is also a factor. Local government has many problems, especially in the town and in the two communes where the socialists won. Mr. Dosti, after speaking about the care the democratic government has shown so far for the development of the northeastern regions, including Tropojë, said that projects had been drawn up and would soon be implemented. Democracy faces obstacles in its implementation, but what matters is understanding and overcoming them with one sole aim: not to go backward. Communism built hundreds and thousands of bunkers in Tropojë, whereas democracy has built private commercial units. The DP promised you land, and today you all enjoy it. It promised machinery for it, and Tropojë has been and remains among the priorities for assistance from the 1,000 tractors that have arrived and the 2,000 more that will come. Mr. Dosti then congratulated the DP branch on the 213 new members it had gained during this month, stressing that the DP is a party of free thought and initiative, because its program and work are designed not only for our thousands of members but for millions of Albanians wherever they may be. The DP’s work must be publicized more. DP members should also be involved in this work of the newspaper. People must once and for all be freed from regressive propaganda. You can see the DP’s successes today. In less than two years, we built institutions of the rule of law, prevented acts of revenge and insecurity, and established justice under the law. Anyone who has committed an illegal act belongs before the law. The law is sacred, for us as well as for others. And I assure you that neither the DP nor the government will ever be overcome by complacency; on the contrary, they will work to achieve what has not yet been done and to assess the work so far through the realistic lens of contemporary thinking. We are determined to implement the program for which 70 percent of the population voted, and we do so because we have broad support from the electorate and, internationally, from European and American democratic countries. At the end, proposals for the DP conference were considered, and two candidates for chair and candidates for the executive committee were approved. RD correspondent ... congress. now been completed. The villagers sell their produce, while the private market economy has enabled even three businessmen to establish links with foreign businesspeople and companies for “joint ventures,” etc. Many charitable associations and state organizations have helped supply schools, hospitals, etc. with technical equipment. But not enough has been done to maintain order and strengthen the institutions of justice. Tropoja is among the districts with the highest crime rates. Nor has enough been done to integrate former politically persecuted people economically and socially. The implementation of decisions belatedly, as in other districts, continues to be a problem, where

The prelude in Has. New members continue to join the PDSH. As part of preparations for the second conference of the DP branch in the district of Has, section meetings are being held. One of the most positive developments is the admission of new members to these sections. In this context, a meeting was held in recent days by the section in the village of Kostur, which is in one of the most remote areas of the Has district. At this meeting, delegates from the PDSH leadership, including Ms. Merita Za- Zalosh[a?], a member of this leadership, and Mr. Skënder Laku, the district’s member of parliament, discussed numerous issues relating both to the DP branch and to local government. In her speech, Ms. Merita Zalosh[a?] focused on the DP’s achievements since the 22 March elections. In this remote area, the admission of 32 new members in these elections is worth noting; most have higher or secondary education, and one of them is a woman. At the end of the meeting, elections were held, and the intellectual Fejzi Gjoni, a teacher with a higher education, was elected section chair. ... the section meetings, where one of the most positive things to note this context, a meeting of the section in the village of Kostur was held these days; it new district of Has. At this meeting, attended by delegates from the PDSH leadership, including Ms. Merita the district’s member of parliament, many issues were discussed, concerning both the PD branch and local government. In her remarks, Ms. Merita Zalosh[a?] focused on the PD’s achievements since the March 22 elections. In this remote area, it is worth mentioning that 32 new members were accepted in these elections, most of them with higher or secondary education, including one and the intellectual Fejzi Gjoni, a teacher with higher education, was elected section chair.

The SP is demanding that the DP explain why it has still not repaid the foreign debt. Hasn’t the time come for the DP to demand an explanation from those who plunged Albania into this debt? Hasn’t the time come to hold them accountable for all the crimes and destruction? «600 million dollars in foreign debt...» «What has the DP done to negotiate the foreign debt?» These words were printed at the top of the SP’s newspaper, formerly the organ of the CP and the PLA. So «ZP» is demanding that the DP explain why it has not repaid Albania’s foreign debt. «The foreign debt owed by the Albanian Bank to foreign banks, mainly European ones, compared with that of two years ago, has not decreased at all...» writes «ZP». So they admit that they themselves created this debt, along with the genocide against this people, the destruction and the theft? Hasn’t the time come for the PLA to face justice, together with all those who served it devotedly on its criminal path? A short while ago, the current leader of the former Polish communist party, a formalist, apologized in parliament for the crimes and suffering his former party had inflicted on the Poles and Poland. It is quite clear that the total destruction inflicted on Albania by the communist dictatorship is incomparable with the consequences of communism in all the other former communist countries. Nevertheless, the former Albanian communist leaders not only refuse to apologize but also dare to oppose democracy. Could it be that democracy in Albania has itself gone beyond the limits of democracy? On this occasion, I would like to quote the words of an American judge: «We have been pushed so far along the road of protecting the rights of the accused that there is a risk that truth and justice will be lost». These words were said about ordinary criminals, but they seem quite appropriate to the case in question. “ZP.” So, they admit that they themselves incurred this debt and yet, without the slightest shame, they demand an explanation from the PD for why it has not reduced this debt. By now we are used to the shamelessness typical of former communists. We have heard former members of the Bllok complain about being removed from the villas they had stolen from their owners after locking them away in cells; we have heard former State Security criminals complain about the “violation” of human rights. We have heard all sorts of things. But how much longer are we going to keep listening to them? Hasn’t the time come for us to demand an explanation from them for why they plunged Albania into the crimes

To assist and regulate the work of local government bodies, on 15 November the Council of Ministers approved the draft law «Amending the tax system, whereby certain existing national taxes become local taxes in order to secure the necessary financial resources for local government». As part of the Government’s ongoing concern for those persecuted under the communist regime, it approved the draft law «Amending the existing law “On the innocence, amnesty and rehabilitation of former political persecutées”», which grants them the same rights as political prisoners and internees up to the end of 1954. Also on 15 November, the draft law «On ratifying the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Albania and the United States Department of State» was approved. The Council of Ministers also adopted decisions on: - Approval in principle of the Albania-USA Agreement, with the latter represented by the USA Agency for International Development, whose purpose is development, for the Agricultural Development Support Project. - Approval in principle of the Albania ... Agreement on trade, economic and technical cooperation ... Two weeks ago, the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Mr. Abdyl Xhaja, informed the Council of Ministers about the severe energy situation. On 15 November, he confirmed that the situation had improved as a result of the heavy rainfall in recent days, but also raised the concern that household consumers in some cities were facing electricity cuts. This was happening because electricity was being consumed indiscriminately, with people attempting to use it not only for lighting and cooking but also for heating. Minister Xhaja reiterated that any attempt to use electricity for heating would result in power cuts. Mr. Xhaja also reported that although the amount of kerosene distributed during October was 78 percent greater than in May, the market was experiencing a kerosene shortage. This shows that kerosene is not reaching the population but is illegally ending up at uncontrolled destinations. The Minister called for the Government to address this problem, particularly the Ministry of Construction and the municipalities, whose responsibilities also include this matter. nd to ... [?] ... that ... to ... entary, ... to ... this ... and ... k...te ... industri... and ... remov... and ... and ... ... ...

- The accused «Nano» is defended by the accused Perniola, while «ZP», with excessive enthusiasm, presents this as proof of Nano’s innocence - «ZP» continues to use bluffs to defend its chairman. As is known, a group of Albanian investigators handling the scandal over the first Italian aid to Albania is in Italy to extend the investigation. In Italy, the case is being handled by Italian investigator Evelina Canale, who has stated that she will also investigate in Albania, since «former Albanian officials» were involved at this level. Thus, it can be seen that the representatives of justice in both countries have concluded that the scandal not only exists, but that officials from both countries were implicated in it. This is why the cooperation agreement was established. As of 16 November, the group of investigators had not returned to Albania but was continuing its work in Rome. It is clear that in such delicate cases, when every piece of information is kept secret, journalists find it difficult to obtain information, especially when they are face to face with investigators—and even more so when the investigators are on the other side of the Adriatic. Nevertheless, this did not stop «ZP» from publishing articles twice within a few days under the same headline: «Failed mission». «No facts, no documents against F. Nano, who continues to be unjustly detained. Blerim Çela is getting cold feet. Testimony from the executive director of Levante Co exposes the falsehood of his accusations. Prosecutor Qeleshi is overcome by pessimism.» These headlines and subheadings take up half the front page of Fatos’s newspaper. The anonymous «ZP» writer draws all these «optimistic» conclusions solely from a phrase by Qeleshi on the BBC that witnesses «may refuse to answer questions or may even lie, and there’s nothing you can do about it». The «legal experts» and diplomats of «ZP» have previously provided proof that their ability to interpre...

PRISHTINË, 16 November. - In Kosovo, reactions continue against the imprisonment of Albanians in Macedonia. The Albanian political party for supporters [unclear in source] and Albanian public opinion in Kosovo consider these imprisonments a dangerous act aimed at destabilizing Macedonia and a scenario connected with Serbian policy and its warmongering, anti-Albanian aims.

PRISHTINË, 16 November. All the satellite dishes on the roofs of Albanian homes in Kosovo have these days turned to point toward the satellite that carries the Albanian television program. The first question heard everywhere is, “How is E. receiving the broadcast, for the most part; excellently. The experimental program was the parliamentary beginning of the beginning, very successful.”

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ON THE FIRST DAY, DATE 19.11.1993, AT THE PALACE OF CONGRESSES IN TIRANA, AT 12:00, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PDSH, MR. EDUARD SELAMI, AND THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE CSU, MR. ERWIN HUBER, WILL HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE. PDSH PRESS AND INFORMATION OFFICE