- Press conference of the President of the Republic, Mr. Sali Berisha - - ALBANIA, FROM THE LAST PLACE FOR INVESTMENT, WILL BE IN A HIGHER POSITION IN 1994. - POLITICAL CALCULATIONS DO NOT SECURE TOMORROW. President Berisha held his final meeting with journalists for this year yesterday in a room at the Presidency. «I could not close out the year without coming before you,» Mr. Berisha said, «first of all to wish you well.» Then, as usual, Mr. Berisha made himself available to the journalists for their questions. Question: - How would you define the year ’93? Answer: - It is difficult to define a year, but I would define it as the year of consolidating reform and democratic institutions. As the year in which Albania made very important progress toward overcoming the consequences of darkness and the overall consequences of reform. If we take exports, they have grown about threefold. There has been a significant increase in production in various sectors. So it is certain that the Meksi government’s program, presented in June to Albanian public opinion and international institutions, was a successful program. This program was assessed by international organizations as an excellent program. It was mocked by certain skeptical circles, but time proved that it was a program for a major turning point, for serious reform. Therefore, I think it is of extraordinary importance to support the Meksi government. That the government present- support it, work today for tomorrow. They work for a future. The reformer is based on the self-organized individual, on the law. He aims for a civil society, while the anti-reformer is based on the party’s orders. Through orders, he overrides and blocks entire processes. Advancing by orders is catastrophic. Albania has experienced for half a century what it means to proceed by order. The reformer wants institutions to have direct contact with the individual. The anti-reformer is based on centralism, on bureaucratic control. In practice, these are the two currents that have been more clearly outlined to- the year ’93? Answer: — It is difficult to make a definitive assessment of a year, but I would describe it as the year of consolidating the reform and democratic institutions. The year in which Albania took very important steps toward overcoming the consequences of isolation. Why would I describe it as the year of consolidating the reform? If we go back to 1992, over an eight-month period we managed to ensure good progress in one of the most fundamental components of economic reform, the financial component: controlling inflation. But that was not enough. Reform also has other very important components, such as production. The 8 percent growth in gross output, the highest growth in Eastern Europe, is the clearest proof of this, an indisputable indicator of the consolidation and sound progress of economic reform. The growth in production is not the only positive indicator of this reform. Another important indicator, we are learning, is the start of investment. Albania has seen the beginning of investments on the second-largest scale and has made a good start, moving it from last place for investment to a higher position. Investment this year has amounted to around 200 million dollars, but contracts have been prepared that are expected to double this amount very soon. Other indicators that speak to ... the program was seen ... by international organizations as an excellent program. It was ridiculed Therefore, I believe it is extraordinarily important to support the Meksi government. Recently, this government presented its medium-term program to parliament. I assure you that it is just as serious as the program it presented two years ago. This government has worked on the basis of the facts, showing that it is capable of carrying out and implementing its programs. Support for the government has not been lacking, despite several misguided attempts. On the whole, Albanians supported the Meksi government, and this is wisdom. What kind of support? Obeying the laws—that is the greatest support a citizen can give their government. These laws are reform, and for all reformist forces reform is the process that will lead Albania to a civil society with democratic institutions. Naturally, there is also an anti-reform tendency. It is a reality in post-totalitarian and post-dictatorial societies. What is the difference between reformers and anti-reformers? The difference is that a reformer is visionary, progressive, someone who works today for tomorrow. If we look back, for half a century Albania worked only for the present, which led it to catastrophe. By contrast, the Meksi government, the forces that... ... for half a century, what does it mean to say ‘eat and give orders’! A An anti-reformer relies on centralism and have become more clearly delineated during this year. Naturally, the reformist current has prevailed. There has also been a substantial change this year in the psychology of the individual and of society. Many efforts and attempts were made to create turmoil through acts of disillusionment and to undermine support for reform; these efforts failed. Why did they fail? I can say that it was not because of force; they failed because among Albanians the power of positive thinking has historically prevailed and is now being revived and strengthened more every day. Thus, I would call 1993 the year of consolidating the reform. Naturally, this year also had its difficulties, but we are an old people who have travelled long roads and are destined to travel them again. At the same time, we are also a young people and can move quickly. That is why I look optimistically toward the coming year. Question: — Following the seizure of several Italian ships and the departure of the «Pelikan», people are talking about a deterioration in relations with Italy. What is the truth? Answer: — Regarding the ...

The Albanian economy inherited from 1991–92 an industry that was nearly ruined. Production had fallen to the lowest levels ever, and some workers had gone on assistance. Many enterprises had closed or been paralyzed due to a lack of raw materials or bank liquidity. Many others produced below capacity and at considerable losses. Their products went to market at a price lower than their cost, and most products remained in stock, unsold. Poor quality and the lack of a marketing policy for finding sales markets sealed the economic failure of the large state-owned enterprises. Agriculture did not get off to a free start; it was caught in the grip of delays in land distribution. The lack of machinery and chemical fertilizers discouraged the newly established private farmer in the countryside from cultivating the land intensively. The lack of financial funds and a weak agricultural bank prevented him from investing and increasing production. The foreign investor came, attracted by the low-cost labor and raw materials, and by the high professional level of Albania’s intellectuals. His courage was not enough when he came up against an incomplete legal system, full of bureaucratic traps, inadequate treatment, and ambiguity in the interpretation of procedures for repatriating the profits from his investment. He either remained an observer, not daring to bring substantial capital into Albania, or left intending to return in the future. The state boat had managed to plug holes such as the 80-percent [turoral?], and had frozen loans for enterprises’ wage funds, but the chasm of the budget deficit was growing alarmingly: (Continued on page 4)

At today’s meeting, the Council of Ministers discussed and adopted several decisions: - The decision «On temporary financial support from the state, in the amount of 500 million lekë, for employees of agricultural enterprises (NB) being privatized». - The decision «On approval in principle of the fund of 10 million DM that the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany will allocate to the Republic of Albania in (Continued on page 4)

PRESIDENT Berisha: — May God and the Democratic Party bless this New Year! It is no longer a secret, so let others hear it too: even after this New Year, another 900 days will be needed to hold parliamentary elections. Eduard Selami: — As I have also emphasized, the Governor of the Bank was not one of ours, but part of the socialists. If another governor falls into corruption this New Year, let the socialists be the ones to take him, because I will hand him over to them. Ali Spahia: — We are a party open to all those who have not committed a crime and to all those who have no objections to the DP. Fatos Nano: — I am awaiting my contemporary, the New Year, in the cell of Tirana prison. Everyone knows that I am innocent, except the justice authorities. Aleksandër Meksi: — I have three more approved resignations in hand. All that remains is to decide the names of the ministers who will resign. Pjetër Arbnori: — As you know, I spent 28 years in prison and lost my mind in Shkodër when one of the speakers spoke badly about Ismail Qemali. I solemnly declare that this New Year I will walk out of the Assembly if anyone says a bad word about the party. Dylber Vlioni: — I am ready this New Year to take on other duties in addition to those I already have. I am a party soldier and Governor of the Bank. Tritan Shehu: — I do not understand why some people ask me provocative questions about health. Gentlemen, esteemed gentlemen, I can speak to you with authority about corruption in the Socialist Party, about the just decision to imprison Fatos Nano, about the Slavic-communist origins of socialism, but not, mind you, about corruption in medicine. Please do not confuse me with these things... Agron Musaraj: — I can tell you with authority that we have established order and calm, apart from a few bursts of automatic gunfire in broad daylight, some thefts in the middle of the night, an occasional murder or other accidents, most of which happen without the police’s knowledge. You should know, however, that the police are fully on alert and, in every murder case, no victim has escaped us, while we bear no responsibility when the murderers flee in unknown directions. Safet Zhulali: — The Zhirinovsky phenomenon in Russia has concerned our NATO colleagues. I publicly declare, with the responsibility of a civilian military official, that NATO should remain calm. After the reform, our army is capable of defending it without asking for any help, except for bread, automatic rifles—in other words, helmeted soldiers. Our ministry appoints the commanders and generals. Sabri Godo: — I have said before that the Republican Party is an independent party, with a clear program and a broad electorate that enjoys the sympathy of the entire Albanian people; their deep pockets... Republicanism is the future of the world. Therefore, our heartfelt wish is: Long live the Democratic Party! Skënder Gjinushi: — Our party will not allow another party to keep it in power. We will continue to criticize them and defend our program, against the Socialist Party and all the other large and small parties. It goes without saying that the Democratic Party is not included among these large and small parties; we have good relations with it, with some agreements and other disagreements. And in the program that ...

THE COURT BUILDING: THEY ARE TO BE TRIED FOR FOUR YEARS. Yesterday, at 14:00, the trial of 10 former members of the Bloc concluded in one of the courtrooms of the Tirana District Court. The proceedings were held behind closed doors, in compliance with the request of the prosecution, because of the presentation of the charges and the defense. ... testimony ... The convicted ...

On the basis of proposals from local government bodies, the Ministry of Public Order, the Court of Cassation and the Prosecutor’s Office, and in accordance with the Constitution, President Berisha, exercising his constitutional powers, releases 81 prisoners from their sentences and issues a decree pardoning the remainder of their sentences. They were convicted mainly of criminal offences posing little danger to society. The decree enters into force immediately. Press and Information Office attached to the President

The Democratic Party wishes all the Albanian people, all its members and supporters:

BEST WISHES ON THE OCCASION OF THE NEW YEAR 1994! «Rilindja Demokratike»