Official talks between Presidents Berisha and Slovenia The two presidents underlined their countries’ desire and readiness to develop economic relations. The Albanian President, Sali Berisha, and his Slovenian counterpart, Milan Kučan, signed a declaration on relations and cooperation between the Republic of Albania and the Republic of Slovenia. Dr. Berisha, at the Palace of Delegations in Skanderbeg Square, awarded President Milan Kučan the decoration “Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu”. After giving a brief account of the democratic process and the reforms underway in Albania, Dr. Berisha pointed out that our country is interested in close relations with Slovenia. He said that there is a sound basis for these relations, a basis linked to a long tradition of friendship and mutual respect. President Berisha expressed his conviction that relations between the two countries will develop positively, based on what has been achieved in political relations and what has also been reflected in the signed document. Dr. Berisha further stated that a favorable climate for cooperation has been created between Albania and Slovenia, adding that our country values the experience of its Slovenian partners in the economic, social and administrative fields. Speaking about Albania’s reservations regarding its participation in European structures, President Berisha stressed that this path requires stability, reforms and broad political understanding. Slovenian President Milan Kučan praised developments in Albania and said that his country supports Albania’s rapprochement with European institutions. He underlined that Albanian-Slovenian relations will further expand cooperation in the economy, culture and other exchanges of mutual interest. At the end of the talks, the two presidents assessed the climate of political understanding as the basis for repairing relations in all fields.

FROM OUR INTERVIEW WITH MR. MILAN KUČAN Yesterday morning, at the Palace of Delegations, Slovenian President Milan Kučan gave a press conference in which he spoke about the talks and agreements reached in Tirana. Mr. Milan Kučan stressed that relations between Slovenia and Albania have entered a new phase, in which politics and the economy must move forward simultaneously. He said that stability in the region and rapprochement with Europe require the strengthening of democratic institutions and the creation of a secure climate for investment and cooperation. The Slovenian president pointed out that the talks with President Berisha and the Albanian authorities were open and constructive. He added that there is a mutual interest in extending relations in all fields, particularly the economy, culture, education and human contacts. According to him, Albania has taken important steps forward, although the transition is accompanied by many difficulties. In the end, Mr. Kučan expressed optimism about the future of Albanian-Slovenian relations and about broader regional cooperation.

PPD’s extraordinary decision has pushed the historic struggle for survival, prosperity and mission About two months ago, PPD broke away from the coalition government and announced that it would run its own candidates in the upcoming local and parliamentary elections. After a meeting with its leaders and its representatives in the districts, it decided to organize an extraordinary congress, which many considered a forum to decide its political fate. Beyond public speculation, this congress was also expected to provide further clarification of its position in relation to the other parties. In the speech delivered and in the documents adopted, the need to preserve the political identity of this party and the need to broaden its electoral base were discussed. It was emphasized that PPD’s mission remains the representation of the interests of its electorate and cooperation with other democratic forces on the basis of mutual respect. It was also underlined that the extraordinary decision does not close the political debate, but pushes it into a new phase of the struggle for survival and prosperity.

Today the nation and the PPSH want the traitors punished. - In the time of the PPSH, the traitors must be punished. Ervin Hoxha still continues today to defend the old theses of the PPSH, declaring that “it was not possible to build socialism in Albania without class struggle”. He further states that even opponents of the regime cannot be rehabilitated without judging their historical role. This article criticizes such a stance and says that the country needs a new democratic awareness. The author argues that glorifying criminal figures from the past prevents Albanian society from breaking away from the legacy of violence and division. The article raises the question of how the future can be built when the past continues to be described in the language of party heroism.

In Hardhishtë e Shqipëri in Kavajë, where the PD section has been established, Mr. Rauf Kani called on residents to join the PD, saying that only this political force can move Albania forward. Full comment page 6

From 29.11.1993 to 3.12.1993, during a visit to Italy, the general director of the Ujësjellës Kanalizime Durrës enterprise, Mr. Ibrahim Turbja, as well as the prefect of the prefecture of Durrës, Mr. Ethem Përnaska, signed a memorandum of understanding with the president of the Italian company Bonifiche S.p.A., for financing the reconstruction of the Durrës water supply network... From 29.11.1993 to 3.12.1993, during a visit to Italy, the general director of the Ujësjellës Kanalizime Durrës enterprise, Mr. Ibrahim Turbja, as well as the prefect of the prefecture of Durrës, Mr. Ethem Përnaska, signed a memorandum of understanding with the president of the Italian company Bonifiche S.p.A., for financing the reconstruction of the Durrës water supply network. Full comment page 4

We were informed by the cassation section of the Supreme Court that these days a recourse request has been filed seeking dismissal of the case or at least replacement of the detention measure. THE CHRONICLE COLUMN WRITES ABOUT GJIN GJONI NËTËR BUKURTËN[?] FULL COMMENT ON PAGE 7