On the morning of 24 November, a ceremony was held at the President’s Office to present the First-Class «Naim Frashëri» Order to Mr. Ahmed Mohamed Ali, awarded by the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha. This order was awarded to Mr. Ahmed Mohamed Ali for his humanitarian and financial contribution in helping our people cope with the consequences of the economic and social earthquake caused by 50 years of communism, and in particular for his contribution to the education sector, as well as for building friendly, charitable relations with the Albanian people. As he presented the decoration, President Berisha thanked the international community, the European Community, the European Union, friendly countries and Islamic countries, and the Islamic Bank, which had contributed decisively to overcoming our country’s difficulties during this difficult period. For his part, Dr. Mohamed Ali, in his speech, praised the decline in inflation in Albania, the stability of the domestic currency, etc., pointing to the progress of economic reform. In the future as well, he stressed, we will support your efforts to develop Albania. (ATSH)

The conference of the Tirana branch of the DP, held on 25 November 1993, definitively consolidated the DP’s genuine position: its program will never be based on the extremist pathologies of those who preach class warfare and would plunge the country into the chaos of right-wing extremism and fascism. Instead, it will implement without hesitation its national and peaceful platform. From the meetings and conferences of the DP branches in the districts THIRD CONFERENCE OF THE TIRANA BRANCH OF THE DP A COMPLETE SUCCESS Unanimous support for President Berisha, the DP chairman and its program To call for a change to the DP program is not only an adventure, but means playing into the hands of communism - Through its program and activities, the DP will show extremists where they belong. - Right-wing extremists are ugly copies of left-wing extremists. - Right-wing extremism will not divert the DP from adhering to its program of 22 March. The conference of the Tirana branch of the DP, held on 25 November 1993, definitively consolidated the DP’s genuine position: its program will never be based on the extremist pathologies of those who preach class warfare and would plunge the country into the chaos of right-wing extremism and fascism. Instead, it will implement without hesitation its national and peaceful platform, its constructive program affirming human, democratic, intellectual and nationwide values, in order to heal the wounds left by the communist dictatorship. It began at 9 o’clock in the main concert hall of the Palace of Culture in Tirana and continued until late afternoon. In addition to the delegates, those attending the conference included DP chairman Mr. Eduard Selami, Prime Minister Mr. Aleksandër Meksi, Tirana Mayor Mr. Sali Kelmendi, members of parliament and ministers. The report delivered by Mr. Shaban Memia, secretary-general of the Tirana DP branch, addressed the branch’s organizational activities in 1992–1993, issues concerning institutional reform and aspects [text unclear] of the many intellectuals among its ranks. However, the enrollment of members issued with new membership cards had not been properly assessed. Mr. Memia stressed that this required a separate analysis, implying that the extremism of former chairman Kalakula had contributed to the decline in DP membership in the capital. During the ensuing discussion, Mr. Petrit Kalakula also spoke. The DP presidency and its National Council had removed him from the position of branch chairman back in June 1993, after he declared, «I consider it an honor to be a fascist» ... in the Albanian Parliament. He attacked the DP from a right-extremist position and glorified revanchism and revenge. (Continued on page 2) - The program ... of right-wing extremism and of the ...tharë of fascism, but constructive program affirming human, democratic, intellectual and popular communist dictatorship and take Albania into the old and modern European continuity. The conference began its proceedings yesterday the church of Tirana, Mr. Sali Kelmendi, deputies of the Tirana branch of the PD, dealt with the branch’s organizational activities during 1992–1993, institutional reform issues, aspects of the progress of economic reform, and the activities of local government. Mr. Memia stressed that the Tirana branch has recently done good work in accepting mem-

- MAT - On Friday, 19.11.1993, at 11 o’clock, a meeting of the branch of the DP in the Mat district was held in the officers’ club hall. Also attending the meeting was the Deputy Speaker of the People’s Assembly and member of the presidency of the Democratic Party of Albania, Mr. Tomor Malasi, together with the district’s members of parliament, Mr. Agim Çupi and Lindita Prifti. The chairman of the DP branch, Mr. Hysen Kuka, read to the meeting the draft report prepared by the working group, which is to be submitted to the branch’s second conference, to be held on 26.11.1993. Messrs. Astrit Kola, Eduard Bozhqi, Sami Selita, Rexhep Kurti, Fatmir Kola, Ndue Gjini, etc., spoke up and remarked that the report should better highlight the work of the governing council, the work done on privatization in the districts, how the party was run at the grassroots level, administrative reform, etc. The meeting then proceeded to approve the members of the governing council to be submitted to the conference, as well as the candidates for party chairman. After those present had spoken, the delegate of the DP presidency, Mr. ... took the floor. (Continued on page 6)

- The Albanian economy on the threshold of the event It seems that the period in which Albanians hoped for a healing remedy for their economy has come to an end. That hope is now beginning to take concrete form, no longer through the spontaneous, individual arrival of foreign investors, but through the mass conversion of their intentions and projects into investments in Albania. The 310 participants from 25 countries, representing 150 well-known companies from all five continents, are indicators of a conference that even the most optimistic forecasts could not have anticipated, and that proved unfounded the skeptics’ earlier predictions that foreign investors would not come to Albania. The participation of financial institutions such as the Islamic Bank, the World Bank and the EBRD confirms what President Berisha said in his welcoming address: Albania’s future is becoming tied to the market economy and international institutions, in order to make this country committed to global progress. Foreign investment is coming to Albania at a time when the Albanian economy has found stability, development and growth. It is coming into a favorable environment where resources are abundant and enterprise is thriving; it is coming to a country where [text corrupted] proposed a capital of 50 million dollars, but it was precisely the large turnout that raised the figure to 100 million dollars. Is the Investment Conference for Albania an Albanian idea, or was it suggested from elsewhere? The Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Mr. Abdyll Xhaja, who is also the conference chairman, answers: A project of this kind was implemented some time ago in Malaysia. And when you recall Malaysia’s level of development and consider Albania’s resources, it is encouraging to think that implementing this project in Albania will produce effects like those seen in Malaysia within a short period. Asked about the conference’s results, the Minister of Industry and Trade, Selim Belortaja, said: I think it should be regarded as a very important event in the economic life of the country. It has added value to several objectives that have now been achieved. First, it aimed to draw the attention of foreign opinion to the opportunities, potential and prospects Albania offers foreign investors. It aimed to inform the investment community about these opportunities, and especially about the legal framework, which can now be considered complete. Secondly, the conference aimed to pave the way for a series of concrete projects that would have a catalytic effect on the flow of investment into Albania. A number of results have been achieved during these days of the conference, the most important being that foreign investors have been thoroughly informed about Albania’s situation. Their very participation shows that interest in Albania has been great, and through their participation they have been able to form an appropriate picture of how their enterprises might progress. Prepared by: SHPETIM LUKU to make this country an interested party in the global arena. Foreign investment in Albania is arriving development and growth; it is arriving in accelerating; it is arriving in a country where the legal framework is such that it attracts these investors and bureaucratic procedures have been eliminated. It is an important event in Albanian economic life, since, as the President said, Albania is moving toward building a state governed by the rule of law and strengthening the market economy. Just as Albania has felt all the countries of the world close to it, today it confirms and guarantees its closeness to them. The Arab-Islamic Bank has declared its willingness to finance various projects in Albania, and a decision was also made to establish a «Holding»-type company with open participation by foreign and domestic capital. It is worth noting that the project initially ...

Mallakastër Even in Mallakastër, we hold power, not the Socialists On 21 November, the third conference of the DP branch in the Mallakastër district was held in the town of Ballsh. Among the delegates and guests at the conference were the delegate of the DPSh presidency and member of the People’s Assembly, Mr. Mitro Çela; member of parliament Azem Hajdari; and the chairman of the Fier DP branch, Mr. Viktor Margilaj. This conference is taking place at a time when democratic processes and economic reform in Albania have achieved visible successes, said Mr. Arben Hoxha, chairman of the Mallakastër DP branch, at the beginning of his report. The destructive forces of the PS extremists in Mallakastër are trying in vain, even though only a few months ago they thought that on their own soil they could forever overshadow these positive achievements. Their calls and shouts for premature revolts, for blocking local government, etc., were the death throes of an ageing political force that is dying day by day. A significant test here in the town of Ballsh, in the heart of Mallakastër, was the reception and failure of the rally by Kastriot Islami, Sabit Brokaj and company. We tell them that the DP, given its young age, its capacity for renewal and self-correction, and the inexhaustible support of young people and intellectuals, workers and peasants—now the true owners of the land—will continue to win here even beyond 900 days. So don’t count down the days, Communist comrades: your era ended on 22 March 1992. Even in Mallakastër, despite countless obstacles from conservative socialist-communists, there have been visible achievements. Land distribution, for example, has been completed for 96 percent of the area, and in some villages, such as Hekal and Kutë, it has been completed in full. During 1993, 31 tractors were bought on credit and distributed to farmers. 82 percent of the irrigation network was put to use. Wheat production increased by 178 percent. The rate for work and ploughing has been reduced from 500 lekë

Gramsh The DP is gaining ever-increasing support On Monday, 22 November 1993, the third conference of the Gramsh DP branch held its proceedings in one of the halls of the Gramsh Palace of Culture. Attending were branch chairpersons, section secretaries, delegates representing each section, guests from other political forces such as the PR and PSD, the association of former political prisoners, the independent trade union, and intellectuals who were members and supporters of the DP. The delegates were Mr. Dylber Vrioni, a member of the DPSh presidency, and Mrs. Evelina Karagjozi, a member of the presidency of the DSH Women’s Forum. The branch chairman, Mr. Hysen Kula, delivered the report on the branch’s activities over the past year to consolidate and advance the political and economic platform of 22 March. The report outlined the branch’s weaknesses and successes, those of the governing council, and relations between the DP and local government. Given the specific circumstances in Gramsh, where the Socialists hold local power, the DP’s work is difficult, but it is also more responsible when it comes to implementing its economic and political program. The conference stressed that restructuring the DP at the grassroots level would further advance the party’s work in the district. People with new outlooks and clear visions of the DP’s political and economic program were appointed to head the sections. During this campaign, 166 new members joined, around 60 of them intellectuals. The conference set as a task that new memberships should continue on an ongoing basis rather than through campaigns, and that sections should be established according to profession, such as those for education workers, doctors and agronomists. Propaganda work remains fundamental to highlighting the positive achievements of the reform, in the city as well as in the countryside, where the economic environment is undergoing visible changes. It was emphasized that the opposition is in power and views this situation with a jaundiced eye; consequently, the political struggle in Gramsh is even more heated. (Continued on page 2)

The Islamic Development Bank will give Albania 100 million dollars to establish an association that will encourage foreign investment in Albania, Radio-Tirana reported on Tuesday, citing the bank’s president, Muhamet Ali. The total amount of foreign investment in Albania, according to Radio-Tirana, will currently reach 150 million dollars. The main investments concern oil exploration (by the American firm Chevron as well as the Italian firm Agip, which are already present). (ATSH)

After the symposium organized by the «Fridrih Herbert» Foundation on the press law, the left-wing newspapers, basing themselves on half a comma from the remarks of the German lawyer Braun, who spoke at the symposium, once again rushed to «prove» through their propaganda that the press law is «repression» by the state against the press. The half of Braun’s statement that enthused «ZP» was: «Sections 21 and 22 on sanctions are not in the Westphalia law at all...» It is clear that if this phrase had not had three dots after it, the spokespeople’s enthusiasm would have been justified, and perhaps they might have been allowed to talk about bluffs too, although it has been said several times, from the law’s drafters all the way up to the President, that our law was adapted from the Westphalian one and copied from beginning to end, dots and commas included. In this adaptation, it seemed to the fools that they had found the «bluff» and, unable to wait for Braun to finish speaking, they shouted «Eureka». But what did Braun really say about sections 21 and 22? Westphalia law at all...» We have shown with prison time that you do not have it». That, then, was Mr. Braun’s complete statement, made in front of the «ZP» newspapers as well; but by now it is known that those journalists only hear and see Mr. (I don’t know whether they seem willing to answer to the law for this distortion.) According to «ZP», changing the sanction from prison to a fine means «repression» by the Albanian state. What would they say, then, about Germany, where the sanction is prison? I would like to ask my colleagues whether they prefer prison or a fine? I too am a journalist and, as such, I would like the press to have no restrictions at all, and for us to write without problems whatever comes to hand. Could that possibly be democracy? In the case of a friend this is called «anarchy» if, with our freedom, we were to infringe on another person’s freedom without ... [continues on page 6]

TO THE GENTLEMEN: SALI BERISHA, PJETER ARBNORI, IBRAHIM RUGOVA, ILJAZ RAMAJLI «The air tragedy happened that O- ...» [partly illegible in the image] In this case ... [text partly illegible] Democratic Movement for the Union of Albanians Chairman HAZBI SHALA 23.11.1993