The President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, receives Israel’s Foreign Minister, Shimon Perez “Your visit to Albania undoubtedly marks a new page in the friendly relations between our two very ancient peoples,” President Berisha said. This visit is a great encouragement for the bilateral relations that have now begun. We wish to strengthen our ties of cooperation with Israel considerably, and we believe that we can benefit greatly from your country’s experience. Albanians have gone through difficult times in their history, but they have always preserved their high moral and human values, as they demonstrated toward your compatriots during the Second World War. Minister Perez said: “We admire you for your efforts along the difficult but right path on which you are moving. We feel a deep friendship for Albania and are ready to deepen our cooperation.” The Israeli Foreign Minister expressed interest in the development of democratic processes and reforms in Albania. They then spoke more specifically about cooperation in agriculture, tourism, telecommunications, science, etc. President Berisha informed Mr. Perez about the situation in the region, as well as the dangers posed by the situation in Kosovo, a province historically inhabited by Albanians, and about the support received from international public opinion. They will undoubtedly win the freedoms and rights that belong to them. Likewise, Albanians in the diaspora, scattered across the four corners of the globe, celebrate the holidays today together with us, with a great sense of pride and joy. This is because Albania, the land of their ancestors, their sacred temple, is no longer a bunker of European communism or a place of the monstrosities of a paranoid dictator, but a country of free people, moving forward and developing in keeping with our ideals and our children’s dreams. May God bless Albania and its flag! Ladies and gentlemen, The presence today at our celebrations of Mr. Shimon Perez is a joy and an honour for all Albanians. Mr. Shimon Perez is not only an eminent figure of his nation and country. As a promoter of peace in the Middle East, he is today also an eminent man, respected by all those who love and build peace in the world. On this occasion, on your behalf, I wish to thank Mr. Perez from the bottom of my heart for his visit, which opens a new page in the development of friendly relations between our two peoples and countries. Your presence, Mr. Perez, at our celebration is a special honour also because of your great contribution to achieving peace with our Arab friends. We are convinced that the September agreement, signed in Washington, is a historic contribution by Mr. Rabin, yourself and Chairman Arafat to peace in the Middle East, and we hope that all the peoples of the region will soon join this process and make it lasting. President Berisha highly praised the efforts of the current Israeli Government and Minister Perez’s personal role in the new processes for a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Arab conflict. He described the Washington peace agreement as a triumph of the wisdom of Prime Minister Rabin, Minister Perez and PLO Chairman Arafat, and expressed his confidence that the governments of the surrounding countries would also join this peace process, which is in the interests of the entire Middle East region. Press and Information Office attached to the President

President Berisha’s speech at the Palace of Brigades Honoured clergymen, Dear Mr. Perez, Your Excellencies, Ambassadors, Ladies and gentlemen, Honoured veterans of the National Liberation War and relatives of the fallen, It is a great pleasure for me to offer you my heartfelt wishes on 28 November, the day of great celebrations, the day of the flag and liberation, the first day of the Albanian nation. Today we jointly celebrate the 550th anniversary of the liberation of Krujë. 550 years ago, Gjergj Kastrioti liberated Krujë, the blessed city, and the flag of Arbëria, Skënderbeu’s flag, flew proudly over the Kastrioti castle. In commemorating this day, the entire Albanian people honour their history and their eternal leader on the road to freedom, the victorious Skënderbeu. Today we celebrate Flag Day, our national holiday. 81 years ago, Ismail Qemali, the clear-sighted man of the Albanian nation, raised Skënderbeu’s flag in Vlora and proclaimed Albania’s Independence. Thus, after centuries of interruption, the ancient Albanian state resumed its life. By honouring this day, we honour Hasan Prishtina, Isa Boletini, Bajram Curri, Mihal Grameno, Çerçiz Topulli and hundreds of thousands of brave captains and fighters who fought and fell for honour and the flag during the great uprisings in Kosovo and throughout Albania. These shook the foundations of the Ottoman Empire and showed the world that the Albanian nation was determined to regain, through blood, its lost freedom and independence, and that under any circumstances it was resolved to make sublime sacrifices. In a war lasting several years, in which thousands of sons and daughters of this country gave their lives, after an ordeal of suffering, torture, burnings, destruction, hunger and bitter cold, they succeeded in liberating the country and bringing Albania into the world’s anti-fascist coalition. Eternal honour to those who gave their lives for Albania’s liberation. They fell for a free and democratic Albania, and today their beloved homeland is free and democratic, so they now rest peacefully in their own soil. But they, together with those who fell in all eras, will rest peacefully in another warm nest—in the hearts of all those who love freedom and love Albania. Ladies and gentlemen, For us Albanians, 28 November is the day of the great celebrations: of the flag and independence, of the liberation of Krujë and Albania; it is, therefore, the day of freedom of the Albanian nation. May God bless this sacred Albanian day and bless us. This great day shows Albanians that deception and dictatorships, however prolonged, are temporary, whereas freedom is eternal, and that those who know how to fight and sacrifice for freedom are eternal and immortal. The history of humanity teaches us that those nations have faded and disappeared which were unable to defend their freedom. The history of Albania proves that our nation has survived because Albanians have known, and know, how to fight, die and work for freedom. Ladies and gentlemen, This great day finds our nation today in [text missing in source] and with the support of the entire international community. soon join this process and make it lasting. May God bless Albania and its flag! ...shkin, Isa Buleçini, Bajram Curri, Mihal Hine Gjanë and Gramenon, Çezik Topulli, and hundreds and for honor and the flag during the great uprisings of Kosovo and all Albania, which world that the Albanian nation is determined to regain with blood the freedom and independence it lost, and that under any circumstances, alone or with others, it is ready to fight and win. Eternal remembrance to those who fought and fell for the flag and independence of Albania. Their homeland today is free and independent, just as they wished it to be. Ladies and gentlemen, Today we are celebrating together another great day in our history—the liberation of Albania from the Nazi-Fascist occupation. The National Liberation War is one of the brightest epics in the history of the Albanian nation. In this war, hundreds and thousands of Albanian girls and boys of different ages, regions, and convictions took up arms, joined partisan units, and filled the mountains of Albania. The Albanian partisans, with courage, bravery, self-sacrifice, and ... ...and everlasting nations that have been unable to defend their freedom have perished and disappeared. The history of Albania bears witness Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Çamëria, and the Albanian diaspora, everywhere in the world, more united than ever around Skanderbeg’s free flag. Albanians wherever they are in their lands in the Balkans are an important factor for peace and stability. Today, for the first time in their millennia-long history, they are turning into reality the ideals of Buzuku and Budi, of Bardhi and Barleti, of Naim and Konica, of Fan Noli and Fishta; they are building the rule of law and a market economy, and integrating the country with the other civilized peoples and countries of Europe and the world. Although Albanians in Kosovo continue to experience deep oppression by Greater Serbia, through their resistance, based on democratic means and forms, they have won the admiration and respect ... honor, also in recognition friends. We are convinced that the Shef-tor Rabin, yourself, and President that other Arab countries will soon join this process and that the Middle East will become a region of understanding and cooperation. Your presence at our celebration, Mr. Perez, is also greatly valued by all Albanians, not only because of the special bonds of friendship we have shared, but also because peoples who have suffered throughout their history understand one another better and feel closer to one another. Finally, I thank you very much for choosing this day for your visit, because in our ancient tradition of celebrating special days, the presence of a guest has been and remains the greatest joy for an Albanian. Therefore, it is my special pleasure to give you the floor to greet the Albanian people on this day of celebration.

From the Meksi–Perez meeting On Sunday morning, Prime Minister Aleksandër Meksi received Israel’s Foreign Minister, Mr. Shimon Perez. Mr. Perez thanked Mr. Meksi for the meeting and conveyed the heartfelt greetings of the Israeli people and Government on the occasion of the 28 November holiday. Prime Minister Meksi told Foreign Minister Perez that Albania is now an open, democratic country with many friends. “With Israel,” Mr. Meksi added, “we would like broad cooperation in all fields, particularly agriculture, tourism, telecommunications, the energy industry, minerals, etc.” Mr. Meksi proposed setting up a joint technical commission to study the possibilities for bilateral cooperation and make them concrete. Mr. Perez supported Mr. Meksi’s proposal and assured him that Israeli experts would be sent to Albania. “We can help Albania,” Mr. Perez stressed, “in agriculture, tourism and health. We will present our experience, science and technology to your specialists; we will offer you scholarships for specialist training and increase contacts at various levels. I assure you of the Israeli Government’s goodwill, which will continue in the future.” Press and Information Office attached to the Prime Minister

The 3rd Conference of the Fier DP branch held its proceedings - MR. EDUARD SELAMI ATTENDS. - IN FIER, 151 OF 421 NEW MEMBERS ARE INTELLECTUALS. - DURING THESE 18 MONTHS OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE, FIER IS ONE OF THE DISTRICTS WITH THE HIGHEST STANDARD OF LIVING. - AMONG OTHER FIGURES, IN 1993 THERE WERE 316 LITRES OF MILK PER CAPITA. - A NEW TEST OF THE GROWING CONFIDENCE IN THE PDSH. On Friday, 26 November, the 3rd Conference of the PDSH branch for the district was held at the Fier city theatre. Those attending the conference included the chairman of the Democratic Party, Mr. Eduard Selami; the PDSH leadership; the distinguished DP delegate, Mr. Tritan Shehu; members Agron Musho, Hasan Haxhiaj and Rexhep Utka; People’s Assembly deputy Azem Hajdari; and other guests. [The opening passage is garbled in the source:] For good governance, and it demonstrates Albania’s economic strength; indeed, Albania has developed more than other countries in the region. In politics one must have patience and moderation. A DP member… A DP sympathizer is someone who approves its programme and statutes. And there are hundreds of thousands of them in Albania today. Eduard Selami, chairman of the DP of Albania, speaking at the conference, said that the Fier branch had worked, had achievements and maturity, but there were also things that still needed improvement. Our goal is to restructure the DP at the section level. We must gain new support for the PDSH programme, continue recruitment and reorganise the sections after the conference as well. We are improving everything. People have placed all their hopes in us, and we must not disappoint them. In these two years of our government, almost everyone has gained. The only ones who have not gained are those who criminalised Albania for 45 years. Mr. Selami went on to suggest that membership should be based on professions. Attracting intellectual opinion, wherever it may come from, remains a permanent task of our time and of our party. In his speech, Mr. Selami criticised manifestations of nepotism, which still occur here and there. Our struggle is to prepare the DP for the forthcoming 1996 elections and beyond. Albania absolutely needs another four-year DP term to consolidate democracy. During these 18 months of democratic governance, Fier has been among the districts with the highest standard of living. Wheat production in 1993 increased by 72,270 quintals, or 18.87 per cent compared with 1992. Milk production per capita was 190 litres in 1990, 266 litres in 1992 and 316 litres in 1993. Mr. Viktor Margilaj then spoke about new admissions to the DP during this period, and about some achievements and shortcomings in the life and activity of the branch. The 3rd Conference of the DP branch in Fier was then greeted by representatives of political parties, independent trade unions, the association of former political prisoners, the LDGSH, the Catholic Church, the DP Youth Forum in Fier, etc. Many questions were also asked at the conference. Answering a question concerning Kallakula, Mr. Selami said: “Kallakula came out at one point with a programme … [passage garbled in source]. But we think he will be in politics; he must have patience and moderation.” point with a programme … in politics; he must have patience and moderation.” … 28 November? [garbled text] … in politics; he must have patience and moderation.” (Note: continued on page 2) DYLMAN KARAJ

- Yesterday afternoon, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Albania and Israel signed an agreement on cooperation in the fields of culture, education and science, and an agreement abolishing visa requirements for diplomatic and service passports. On the Albanian side, the agreements were signed by Foreign Minister Alfred Serreqi, and on the Israeli side by Foreign Minister Shimon Peres. Members of both delegations were also present at the signing ceremony. (ATSH)

- Mr. Perez made the statement at the press conference he held. “Development [in] agriculture, tourism, education, health, etc., and the signing of today’s two agreements, which will help intensify diplomatic and cultural relations between the two countries,” were among the outcomes of the talks announced at this press conference. “Albania offered political stability and the goodwill to cooperate bilaterally,” said Albanian Foreign Minister Alfred Serreqi at the joint press conference. Continuing, Mr. Serreqi described the first visit by this senior Israeli figure as important, saying that “it is proof that Albania’s image has become known as that of a country pursuing an open policy.” “Establishing a joint commission, which will define the terms and ways of cooperation, including specific development plans in [garbled text in source], and signing the two agreements today, which will help intensify diplomatic and cultural relations between the two countries,” were among the outcomes of the talks announced at the press conference. At the press conference he held, Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres declared that “the prospects for economic relations and cooperation in the cultural and scientific fields will soon become a reality.” (ATSH)

On the occasion of the 28 November celebrations, around 10,000 Albanians living in Austria, from Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Croatia and Albania, gathered at the Vienna Congress Centre to celebrate this special day together. Representatives of parties and associations from these countries had also come. Those present were also greeted by Albania’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary in Vienna, Albert Aliçka. At this magnificent gathering, a congratulatory telegram addressed to the President of the Republic of Albania, Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha, and the President of the Republic of Kosovo, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova, was read. Honoured Presidents Berisha and Rugova, Honoured political parties of the Albanians in Macedonia, Montenegro and Eastern Kosovo. (Continued on page 2)