Mr. Uiller, spokesman for the EC, and the editorial offices of the opposition newspapers continue to pay special attention to the collapse of agricultural cooperatives, the implementation of the land law, and the prospects for the development of agriculture in Albania. In various reports and commentaries it is emphasized that reforms in the countryside are encountering difficulties, but they are considered essential for the transition to a market economy. Some of the articles also point to ambiguities in land distribution, the role of local government, and the need to support farmers with credit, equipment, and a market. According to the authors, the polemics of the opposition press seek to present a situation more serious than it actually is, while official sources insist that the process is moving forward and that the results will be seen in the coming seasons. The debate has also focused on the way remarks by foreign representatives concerning privatization and agrarian reform have been interpreted.

On the occasion of the conclusion of the current cooperation program with the IMF and to examine the possibility of further extending this program in 1994, a delegation from this organization held talks during these days with the Albanian authorities. Simon Smit, head of the delegation and deputy director of the Europe Department at the International Monetary Fund, and the IMF permanent representative for Albania, Mrs. Maria Luiza de Silba, held discussions with the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, as well as with the Ministers of Finance and Economy. Mr. Berisha stressed that during this very short period Albania had made many efforts and sacrifices to establish a market economy. He expressed the view that the economic stabilization process begun a year earlier was producing its first results. The President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, thanked the IMF for the support it had given Albania at difficult moments in the first phase of reforms. Likewise, the head of the delegation, Simon Smit, said that he was taking with him the best impressions from a country where very positive results were being recorded in the economic program, which, according to him, was moving ahead at a satisfactory pace.

At the request of Av. Levorio Çoçoli, Co. changes the list of items approved for aid 1. Rice 10,000 tons 2. Sugar 20,000 3. Powdered milk 1,000 4. Butter 3,000 5. Flour and salami 1,000 6. Cheese 1,000 7. Unrefined sunflower oil, refinish- ed 3,000 Enclosed we are sending you the list of food products that we think should be proposed to the Italian side, worth around 50 million lire/day. ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA SECRETARY GENERAL VEHMUT NETO ABRAMO LA POSSIBILITÀ DI POTER INVIARE IN PROSSIMI هفته (CONTENUTO MEZZO) UNA O PIÙ NS. NAVI, OFFRIREBBERO CARICATE EVENTUALI CAPI LEVANTE-CO. DIRETTORE GENERALE PRESIDENZA DEST’FA 100 TONS SUNFLOWER OIL 300 TONS OF CHICKEN CANNED IN 200/300 GR PACKS (NS) 500 TONS OF CANNED PEAS, POSSIBLY IN HALF-KG PACKS. HALF KGT 1000 TONS OF JAMS AND PRESERVES IN 300/400 GR JARS. 3000 TONS OF RICE IN 5/10 KG BAGS 1000 TONS OF FRUIT JUICES IN 125/200/700 ML PACKS 40/500 TONS MILK POWDER LETTER WE ASK YOU TO SEND US YOUR PRODUCTS LISTED IN THE LIST IN THE POSSESSION OF OUR FIDUCIARY EMANUEL-CO. S.P.A. THE PRESIDENT IS TRANSMITTING AND SALVATORE. V. CAVALIERE Since the Italian firm Levante Co. SpA-Bari, having made preparations for the shipment of a batch of goods to be given by us. Through this letter we confirm that we have sent you the goods in question to the Italian side, offering the value of our country. The time of this letter confirms from the outset that we underline that the import of food goods from Italy into our country is carried out only by the food enterprise, with its seal on this letter that we send, stating that the order has come from the Aid Commission. The letter we present is not secret and should serve to shed light on this problem. It states that the Italian side will send a series of food goods, while later the issue became the subject of political debate.

In the early hours of 7 December, about 30 km near Pogradec, 4 km from the town of Maliq in the village of Symiz, police forces at the Vërnik border post discovered a Yugoslav citizen entering Albanian territory. He was named Kosta M., from the city of Ohrid, by profession an electrician, of Macedonian ethnic background. In his vehicle they found: an automatic pistol “Crvena Zastava” with 10 bullets, an automatic hunting rifle with 18 bullets, several military maps of the area, a camera, a compass, a pair of binoculars, a radio receiver and other materials. According to the law-enforcement authorities, his entry into our territory was linked to suspicious intelligence and surveillance activity of military objects. The article raises questions about networks of pro-Serb sympathizers and the risks they pose to the country’s security. The piece uses harsh polemical language against those called “Belgrade bootlickers” and stresses the need for vigilance. (Continues on page 5)

The delegation of the People’s Assembly, led by Socialist Party MP Simon Menda, was received in the Sejm of Poland and held talks with senior figures of this institution. In the meetings held, the importance of bilateral relations and the strengthening of parliamentary cooperation was emphasized. It is noted that the Polish side expressed willingness to help the democratic and economic processes in Albania. ATSH

By Mr. Agimne Returning from the side of the city stadium in Vlorë by car, I saw horses and people working in the garden, under the rain, in old blue shoes. This sight reminded me of the state of agriculture and the hardships of the peasants. The article refers to the situation in rural areas and the lack of assistance to cope with the consequences of weather and diseases in agricultural crops. The author raises concern that official propaganda does not match the reality seen on the ground. (Continues on page 6)

THIRD YEAR OF PUBLICATION No. 540 Wednesday 22 December 1993