—IN THE INTENSIFICATION OF BILATERAL RELATIONS KLAES: WE FEEL IT IS OUR DUTY TO HELP YOU ON THE DIFFICULT ROAD OF REFORMS From President Berisha’s meeting with the Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Vili Klaes. “I am pleased to welcome you to Albania,” President Berisha told the Belgian Foreign Minister, Mr. Vili Klaes. “I am certain that bilateral relations. I would like to mention here the recent meetings I had in Brussels with His Majesty King Albert II and Belgian Prime Minister Dehane, and the understanding I found there regarding the problems of bilateral relations and those of our region.” President Berisha gave a broad overview of the implementation and progress of reforms in the political, institutional and economic spheres, and of the latest achievements in this regard. We are grateful to the European Union and Belgium for the assistance they have given Albania. But Albania still needs assistance and increased cooperation with Belgium and the European Union. He asked the Belgian Minister, Mr. Klaes, for the Kingdom of Belgium to support Albania’s processes of integration into the European Union. Regarding the situation in the region, Berisha once again stressed that Albania, through its actions and positions, is working seriously for stability in the region. But the lifting or easing of sanctions against Serbia, he said, would not stop the war; it would merely shift it south, where it risks turning into a Balkan conflict. In this context, it is clear that the Kosovo issue remains a regional problem, whose resolution is a condition for regional peace and stability. It is therefore essential to put this issue on the agenda. The European Union should value the Albanians’ efforts to find a democratic solution. Treating Kosovo as a Serbian problem means ignoring two million Albanians and increases the chances of conflict. We ask that it be understood that Greater Serbia is a factor of war and destabilization in the region. I believe that the situation in Kosovo is constantly worsening. By also closing cultural institutions, in accordance with the memorandums of the Serbian Academy, Milosheviçi is inflaming the situation there. “Likewise,” Berisha continued, “Albania is interested in stability in Macedonia, but there are others who are trying to destabilize the situation in this Republic and to find and create destabilizing factors where none exist. Naturally, however, Albania supports and defends the human and national rights of the Albanians in this Republic, because only in this way can stability there be achieved.” “We feel it is our duty,” Mr. Klaes emphasized, “to help and support you on the difficult road of reforms. We value your achievements and assure you that Belgium will support Albania’s efforts to integrate into the European Union, the Western European Union, and all European structures.” He also expressed full understanding of the problems in the region. He praised Albania’s position as a factor for stability and assured President Berisha that Belgium would make a concrete contribution to resolving the Kosovo problem. PRESS AND INFORMATION OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY

Photograph of President Berisha and the Belgian Foreign Minister, Vili Klaes, with other officials.

The Nano File A FILE THAT LOST ITS COMPLICITY —Nano indirectly admits the violations but justifies them with the “difficult situation” —Y. Bufi “denounces” Nano —Nano’s last “devotees” defend him with their last “arguments”: “The court’s spokesperson is illegal.” The longest judicial proceeding of at least the last 50 years is nearing its end. The facts, the statements of the defendants and witnesses, and the documents have now clearly established the entire course of events, marked by continuous violations, abuses and falsifications in the distribution of the aid that the Italian government and people granted to Albania in its most difficult moments. Whether he likes it or not, directly or indirectly, the self-proclaimed “innocent” former PP prime minister, F. Nano, is also obliged to admit this. So far, his “arguments” and words (most recently also in an interview with “Voice of America,” published in “ZP”) have simply tried to justify these violations by invoking the “difficult situation” Albania was going through. The other former accused, R. Alija, uses the same excuses, although he does not forget to recall the “devotion” with which the PP, represented by Hoxha, Alia, Nano and others, worked for the Albanians. It is clear that the justification Nano uses is extremely weak. The truth is that he and Alia took advantage of that situation to carry out their crime, perhaps thinking that they would not relinquish power and that, perhaps, justice would not later deal with their violations. But laws are laws and do not depend on circumstances (especially since Nano himself appropriated 9 million at the trial. Then, whether or not the two of them shared those 9 million, according to “ZP” this must be proved only by a document signed by Nano stating that he received money from Levante Co in return for the advantages he provided. Whatever the complicated problem may be, Nano cannot do this, since such money is taken even without signing declarations of that kind. As for Levante Co, the facts and Nano’s notes in the official documents clearly show who brought it in. A. Çarcani also declared that he knew nothing about that firm. Nano himself even admits that “there was no question” of removing Levante Co. Why? If Nano were to answer this question too by invoking the emergency, Ylli Bufi himself would accuse him, because when Bufi was leading the government, Levante Co was removed precisely for the reasons now known and for which Nano is in the dock. Nano might say that conditions were not so urgent during Y. Bufi’s time, but Bufi himself declared that at that time Albania had only six days’ worth of bread, so the situation was far more urgent. As for the “violations,” it would be best for “ZP” to stop lying, even under the names of MPs. “Is this an open-court trial?” asks MP F. Abdiu. I do not know what Abdiu means by an open-court trial, but I do not think he expected the trial to be held in a stadium. A courtroom has only so much space, and invitations were sent out; in fact, more invitations went to the PS and “ZP.” If they choose not to come and see their leader, that is nobody’s fault. Regarding one of the points Abdiu writes about in “ZP,” I have to say that he is lying when he claims that the specialists did not give the defendants the opportunity to ask questions before the proceedings. Then what were Nano’s 33 questions to the specialists during the investigation? It is strange that the “devotees” cannot understand that Nano cannot be defended with such absurdities, especially when he himself has given up his defense. Those who are still trying to portray the case as complicated by talking about whether the court spokesperson is legal or not are wasting their time. The Nano file is now entirely clear and has completely lost its complicity. EDI PALOKA that the justification Nano offers perhaps thinking they would not relinquish power for a long time and that justice might not later pursue their violations. But laws are laws and are not tied to circumstances (all the more so because Nano himself stated in court that there had been stability while he was governing). The world has experienced entire wars, including the world wars, and yet this did not prevent the justice systems of those countries from sentencing an ordinary thief under the law. Thus, the crime is now evident and acknowledged by everyone, and the main culprits, Alia and Nano, accompanied by their “victims,” are in the dock. Meanwhile, the usual drumbeaters keep beating their own drums: no, Nano’s embezzlement has not been proven; no, there were procedural violations; no, Levante Co did not bring Nano, etc. Yesterday they even went so far as to debate whether “the trial is being held behind closed doors or in public”; “whether the court spokesperson is legitimate or not”; and other equally “very” important issues concerning Nano’s guilt. In any case, the drumbeaters should remember that Nano is accused of complicity in embezzlement, meaning that through his actions he helped Levante Co to [emergency?]. Bufi himself stated of bread, so the situation was extremely urgent. As for the “violations,” it would be good if “ZP”

—Confirmation of the desire to support Albania bilaterally and within the framework of the European Union— JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE OF SERREQI AND KLAES We discussed defining the structures and guidelines for making cooperation concrete, so that we can soon sign agreements such as those on promoting and protecting foreign investment, eliminating double taxation, etc. Albanian Foreign Minister Alfred Serreqi continued his remarks at the joint press conference with the Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, highlighting the issues discussed at the meeting. Asked about Kosovo, he replied that it was difficult to speak in advance, but that he imagined the EC would help implement the agreement. Mr. Serreqi, in response to a Belgian journalist’s question about the Kosovo problem, said that since we are oriented toward a political solution to the problem, we cannot begin the debate on Kosovo below the level of autonomy defined by the 1974 Constitution. We discussed defining the structures and directions agreements on such matters as encouraging and supporting the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Belgium by highlighting the points discussed at the bilateral meeting. “Being a member of the European troika, Belgium has been a natural interlocutor for Albania’s integration into the EC,” Mr. Serreqi said. On the issue of Kosovo, he stressed that complete agreement of views and positions on it had been established. According to Mr. Serreqi, the most positive point was Mr. Klaes’s recognition that the crisis in the former Yugoslavia is contingent on resolving the Kosovo issue. Belgium will support Albania both bilaterally and in its integration into the European Union. “Expanded autonomy”—this was Mr. Klaes’s option for the Kosovo issue. Asked afterwards about the concept of expanded autonomy, Mr. Klaes said that it encompassed not only individual rights, but also collective rights in political, cultural and other respects. Asked whether the troika envisaged an international protectorate to guarantee Kosovo’s legal status, but “I imagine that the EC will help implement the agreement.” In response to a question from a Belgian journalist concerning Kosovo, Mr. Serreqi said that, since they were oriented towards a political solution to the problem, they could not established by the 1974 Constitution. * * * Yesterday, Mr. Klaes also met with Prime Minister Meksi.

FREE PROFITS TAKE CARE, MR. NANO HE LAUGHS BEST WHO LAUGHS LAST. ANTE CO. FATOS NANO Dino.

—Benet Koleka writes for the Reuters agency. Albania may be the poorest country in Europe, but it also recorded the continent’s fastest growth last year. While most of Western Europe experienced a decline in output last year, Albania, one of the least developed countries in Eastern Europe, recorded an 11 percent increase in overall output, the IMF says. The Fund forecasts another 10 percent growth this year. Part of this growth is due to the fact that the economy is recovering from a massive contraction in 1991 and 1992, following the fall of the communist system. Output is still a quarter below its 1990 level, the IMF believes. But the government emphasizes that the policies of the free market, by encouraging private enterprises, are also contributing to this improvement. Measures taken over the past few years, such as price liberalization, a tight credit policy and stabilization of the national currency, the lek, have set the stage for improvement, Prime Minister Aleksander Meksi said. “I am convinced that without price liberalization the Albanian economy, primarily agriculture, will not grow,” he told Reuters in a recent interview. A recent study of Albania’s economy by the Economist Intelligence Unit states that agriculture, which accounts for 56 percent of gross national product, is the engine of recovery. But industrial production is showing signs of revival after its decline in 1991 and 1992. Meksi became prime minister in March 1992 after the victory of the Democratic Party of President Sali Berisha. The government has pursued ongoing reforms recommended by the IMF to modernize the economy, which under the Stalinist dictator Enver Hoxha was one of the most centralized in the world. (Continued on page 4)

—The views of several American analysts on the development of Albanian democracy— Two years ago, most foreign observers doubted that a liberal democracy would be established in Albania after the almost half-century-long communist regime, which had flagrantly violated the social, political and economic rights of the Albanian people. In the following report, Elez Biberaj points out that American analysts believe that, despite all the major difficulties, democracy in Albania appears to have begun taking root. The Democratic Party inherited a country that was almost bankrupt in every respect, a situation reflected most dramatically in the arrest of hundreds of thousands of Albanians. In no other country in Eastern Europe did the communist regime leave more devastating consequences than in Albania. Two years after winning a popular mandate, the democratic government has managed to secure continued popular support for the implementation of painful but necessary reforms. While Albanian leaders are aware that they face evident challenges, the achievements to date are encouraging. (Continued on page 4)

The President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, today received Mr. Isa Elez Ndreu, chairman of the Albanian Democratic Union Party. “Your party,” the President noted, “has rightly chosen its position, and your initiatives can serve both to unite the diaspora and to oppose extremism. These are ugly manifestations that must not be neglected, because they work against the image of Albanians and the country. The democratic state has guaranteed individual freedom and the necessary democratic space, where everyone, wherever they may be, can make as great a contribution as possible for the benefit of the homeland.” PRESS AND INFORMATION OFFICE AT THE PRESIDENT’S OFFICE

The BSPSH Congress, which held its proceedings in Tirana for two days, concluded after re-electing Mr. Valer Xheka as head of the BSPSH; he received over 90 percent of the votes. The Congress also set out the new paths and objectives of the BSPSH’s “trade union struggle,” including improving trade-union legislation, raising the minimum wage threshold, etc. RD CORRESP. 1

The United States has lifted Tirana’s longstanding arms sales embargo President Clinton’s decree lifting the arms sales embargo on Albania and five other former communist states marks a normal step by the United States, having become convinced that this country now meets all the prerequisites for purchasing all types of permitted weapons. Clinton’s decree concerning Albania is of considerable importance: first, Tirana can now buy any type of American armament, except for categories prohibited to all other states; it can purchase certain weapons manufactured or completed under an American licence; any friendly country wishing to help the Albanian army can henceforth buy from this source on its behalf; and, finally, American armaments that a particular state has previously purchased itself may be offered or made available to Albania. Washington had prohibited the sale of its armaments to most of the countries that were communist at the time (the former Yugoslavia was an exception, owing to the special American interest in that country). Thus, after relations with Moscow were severed, Albania was forced to obtain Soviet weapons through China, Vietnam or North Korea. Because it had outdated weapons, Albania under communist rule in recent years rarely appeared in the assessments of international strategic studies institutes. It had an ill-equipped army, especially lacking communications systems and reliable air defence, with Russian equipment but no modern supplies, while the Albanian air force had secure airfields but few military aircraft, all of old types. However, the victory of democratic rule in Albania two years ago initiated the reorganisation of the army and its return to the barracks system. This also marks the beginning of the renewal of its armaments and the restoration of the conditions and standards customary for the armies of normal countries. With around 40,000 soldiers and 200,000 reservists, this army, with the modern armaments it is now acquiring, will be able to safeguard Albania’s sovereignty and contribute within the framework of NATO, both during the “Partnership for Peace” and when the time comes for full membership. The hundreds of military personnel sent to many countries for various specialisations, together with substantial assistance from foreign experts, primarily Americans, are prerequisites for preparing the armies to transition to modern armaments, which require new knowledge and greater commitment.