Joint press conference of the President of Albania, Mr. Sali Berisha, and the President of Slovenia, Mr. Milan Kuçan. As part of the visit to Tirana by the Slovenian delegation, in the evening at the Palace of Congresses, the President of Albania, Mr. Sali Berisha, and the President of Slovenia, Milan Kuçan, held a press conference for journalists. As part of the visit to Tirana by the Slovenian delegation, in the evening at the Palace of Congresses, of Slovenia, Milan Kuçan, held a press conference for journalists. President Kuçan’s visit was important and helped develop relations between Albania and Slovenia. These two friendly countries—at this beginning, Berisha said in his remarks. “He further emphasized the friendship that the Albanian people and Albania have for the Slovenian people, Slovenia and President Kuçan. Mr. Berisha praised Mr. Kuçan’s contribution to the creation of the Slovenian state and expressed his belief that this country would continue to remain a factor for peace and stability in the Balkans. Albania and Slovenia, Mr. Berisha said, are two countries committed to... [partially illegible] developing the same values in their countries, as well as to their integration into Europe and other institutions... [cut off] ...some hesitant positions regarding the admission of these countries to NATO. The steps to be taken in this direction, the Albanian President said, would not only be able to advance more quickly the aims of our two countries, but would also give these institutions a new dimension. Speaking about the regional crisis, Mr. Berisha, after emphasizing that they held the same views on developments in the region, said that resolving the problem of Bosnia and preventing conflict in the south were necessary conditions for resolving the Balkan crisis. He then once again reiterated that easing the economic sanctions against Serbia was conditional on resolving the Kosovo issue. President Berisha also stressed the importance of stability in Macedonia in preventing the outbreak of conflict in the southern Balkans. In our talks, Mr. Berisha further said, we noted that relations in the economic, educational, cultural and other fields have considerable room to develop, as do the securing of investments and the elimination of double taxation. After praising the positive progress of Albanian-Slovenian relations and the importance of the bilateral talks, President Kuçan focused on three areas for developing reciprocal relations: According to him, the development of relations in the economic, educational, agricultural and other fields should reach the level of their political relations, despite the familiar difficulties both countries face during this period of transition. The joint commissions will examine investment and bilateral guarantees next year. Turning to the issue of the crisis in the Balkans, Mr. Kuçan said that both sides recognized the responsibility of our two countries for resolving it. Serbia is responsible for the situation created in Bosnia, as is its drive to create a Greater Serbia, which it seeks to achieve at the expense of others. Serbian policy aims to change borders through war, he said. The third area, the President said... [cut off] this country will countries committed to developing the same values in their own other international institutions. In this context, he called integration into these institutions vital, but also asked for understanding and greater commitment from Europe, calling them useless. to prevent the conflict from spreading to the south of the Balkans. “In our talks,” Mr. Berisha went on to say, “we found that relations in the economic, educational, cultural, etc. fields have considerable room to develop in order to reach the current level of political relations.” After welcoming the opening of the Slovenian Embassy in Albania next year, Mr. Berisha insisted on speeding up the legal framework for both sides, close to fulfilling our responsibilities in Bosnia and for its tendency borders through war,” he said. The third direction, the Slovenian President said, is the effort by the two countries to integrate into Europe. Next, the two presidents (Continued on page 4)

Washington — The U.S. Information Agency reports that on December 9 President Clinton said that the United States admired President Berisha’s courageous efforts to achieve major political and economic reforms in that country. He said that the United States “will continue to support this crucial process of reform.” President Clinton made these comments during a White House ceremony at which he accepted the credentials of Albanian Ambassador Lublin Hasan Dilja: Mr. Ambassador: I am pleased to accept your Credentials from President Berisha, appointing you Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Albania to the United States of America, and to take note of the Letter of Recall of your predecessor, Ambassador Roland Bimo. I gladly accept the greetings of your country and extend a warm welcome to you in the United States and in Washington, D.C. You face challenges and opportunities as you take up your post here in Washington. The Government of the United States is well aware of the difficulties resulting from your country’s struggle to free itself from the legacy of isolationism, despotism and an economy devastated by central planning. We greatly admire President Berisha’s courageous efforts to carry out comprehensive political and economic reform as rapidly as possible, and encourage your government to continue this effort with the same vigor it has demonstrated so far. I can assure you process of reform. The past two years of our restored relations have seen growing dialogue and cooperation between our two governments in the areas of regional and global issues, trade relations, military cooperation and assistance for your country’s reform efforts. Among the areas of cooperation we have valued most has been Albania’s responsible and supportive role in efforts to end the conflict in the former Yugoslavia and to effectively enforce sanctions against Serbia. There is every reason to hope that this fruitful relationship will grow further in the months and years to come. I wish you success in your efforts here in Washington and look forward to working with you in the future.

The PS continues to defend corruption “ Nano must be released” and hundreds of variations of this wording are incessantly served up to us in “ZP.” These directive calls, orders and pressure have become so absurd that they have completely lost their original value. They have turned into a jumble of sounds that deafen our ears. The Nano case is now clear to serious public opinion, the justice authorities and every individual who judges for himself: Nano is accused of a common crime. Naturally, this accusation against Nano means, for the PS, that they deafen our ears. It cannot accept that a chairman of the PS should be sentenced like an ordinary prisoner. But what is it to us that the PS chose as its leader people who bring shame upon it, the PS and Albania, as they did before (Continued on page 4)

FROM THE FIRST MEETING OF THE PD NATIONAL COUNCIL. Continuing the proceedings of the country’s Second National [Congress], the National Council of the PD met yesterday to elect its new leadership. The chairman of the PD, Mr. Eduard Selami, who opened the meeting, reiterated the full session of the Assembly and pointed out the importance of new memberships in the future as well. Then Mr. Sali Berisha, President of the Republic, took the floor. “We are, we must be and we will be an ‘open party,’” he said, speaking about the importance of further expanding the PD’s base. Berisha criticized the Tirana branch, whose policy had caused membership in Tirana to be restricted. He also cautioned those in power to engage in efforts on behalf of the PD’s policies. Speaking about the PD’s future progress, Mr. Selami emphasized the role the PD parliamentary group should play, saying that its level of work needed to improve. For his part, Mr. Berisha, speaking about the future, said: “We must not look only at what we have done, but also at what we have left undone and what we need to do.” Finally, the procedure for electing the new leadership began. (Continued on page 4)

- They preached equality, they cultivated inequality - - Prosecutor Gene Gjokutaj: The sums wrongfully appropriated must be returned to the state - - The blockmen—clients of Albanian banks in Europe - The 25-minute delay in starting the trial of the 10 former blockmen, attributed to the screening carried out outside the Tirana Court , ended as hundreds of curious onlookers gathered amid the strict checking of visitors and rigorous enforcement of entry procedures. Thus, at 10:25, under the direction of the presiding judge Artan Meta, with prosecutor Gjokutaj representing the prosecution, the trial began of Qirjako Mihali, 64, represented by attorney Hydate Kundraku; Pali Miska, 62, represented by attorney Arben Vani; Besnik Bekteshi, 62, represented by Luan Berliu; Vengjel Cërava, 52, represented by Zamir Stefani; Prokop Murra, 62, represented by Arben Murra and Bashkim Merkaj; Llambi Geprqifti, 61; Muho Artunda (Asllani), 56, represented by Musa Berçano; Hajredin Çelliku, 66, represented by Ilir Selenica; Foto Çami, 68, represented by Ali Metaj; and Lenka Çuko, 61, represented by Vladimir Bineri. After the attendance of the witnesses was checked—the list included names such as Pirro Dodbiba, Niko Gjysari, Abdyl Bncka and Qamil Peshgashi—the presiding judge, Artan Zeneli, explained the defendants’ procedural rights and duties. Prosecutor Gjokutaj took the floor and submitted a motion which he considered legally grounded: in addition to the specific charge, the Tirana prosecutor’s office’s civil claim should also be heard, requiring the defendants to return the sums wrongfully obtained. The prosecutor’s motion was (Continued on page 4)

Comrade Fatos, Fellow fighter, we are sending you the request made by Mr. Nicolas Arsidi to grant him the mandate to... [cut off] [Handwritten notes, partially illegible] be our Adviser for international trade. With this title he can work to secure financing for our country. We think this mandate should be granted to him for a period of six months. Respectfully, Shane/Kozbeci. Tirana, 27.3.1991.

I thank all the members and supporters of the Democratic Party, especially the young people and political and cultural associations at home and abroad, for their friendship and for the congratulations they have sent me on my re-election as chairman of the Democratic Party of Albania. EDUARD SELAMI

Handwritten notes, mostly illegible [?]

SHKODRA ...TETIT TE ...VESTIMI ... PREJ ... SHPALL ...T-IDE ... UJ ... DHE ...RANI ... PER ...RANES