Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Excellencies, I would like, in my remarks, to express my gratitude and convey my greetings to our hosts, the organizers of this meeting, and the Hungarian Chairmanship, which made excellent arrangements for the smooth running of the Conference and this Summit. I take this opportunity to wish the Hungarian Chairmanship success in directing this important institution for European Security and Cooperation in 1996. Mr. Chairman, We are all now aware of the very important role played by the CSCE in easing tensions during the last 15 years of the Cold War and in preparing for the fall of the Iron Curtain five years ago. The period of historic transformations that encompassed all the countries of Eastern Europe has been accompanied by geopolitical changes that not only cannot be ignored, but also require a serious commitment from all the countries of our region. We believe that the CSCE should become a western guiding body in the architecture for ensuring peace and stability [The text resumes mid-sentence.] committed to a process of rapid and profound political, legislative, institutional and economic reforms, the results of which are already evident. We have devoted particular attention to Albania’s integration into the international community and cooperation with international organizations. In recent years, the Albanian Parliament has drafted hundreds of laws to advanced European standards; it adopted as constitutional law the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms, which is an adaptation of the European Convention on Human Rights; it adopted the new Civil Code and the Code of Civil Procedure, which entered into force last month; and this month it is discussing the new Criminal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure, which meet contemporary standards. At the same time, Albania became a party to many international conventions that the communist regime ignored. Through profound political, legislative and institutional reform, and by applying the principles of shock therapy, Albania has created a pole of hope, represented by rapid economic growth over the past two years, the doubling of incomes, full control of inflation, and the stability and convertibility of the currency. But [Text missing.] this forum “... they are not discriminated against...”, that “... their assimilation has been actively prevented and pluralism protected,” and that “... their requests concerning the rights of national minorities to education, as set out in the 1990 Copenhagen Document and other international standards, have been met.” These achievements in a country that signed the Helsinki Act only three years ago are to be welcomed, and I wish to assure you that they are the result of our determination to build a genuine democracy in Albania, based on the rule of law and a market economy, as well as respect for signed agreements. Through his high-quality, serious and impartial work, Mr. Van Der Stoel and his team have helped illuminate the truth and dispel the fog surrounding an issue that was unwisely turned into a source of tension in our relations with our southern neighbor, Greece, with whom we have had very good and respectful relations based on mutual respect. To this end, from this platform, I wish to reiterate to the Government of the Republic of Greece that we should begin working toward achieving a bilateral cooperation treaty— [Text missing.] Bosnia and Herzegovina, which continues to claim people’s lives today, has consequences not only for the region but for the whole world. Ladies and Gentlemen, Albania is deeply interested in strengthening the role of the CSCE as a whole, and in our region in particular. In the context of the Balkan crisis, the resolution of the problem of Kosovo, which is experiencing Serbian occupation, is undoubtedly a matter of concern for us; it is a delicate issue that will determine peace and stability in the Balkans. The situation in Kosovo is heading toward progressive deterioration, and this carries great risks. This bad situation, however, should constitute the subject of a firm position and action by the Conference and its member states. The return of CSCE monitors to Kosovo, as well as to Sandžak and Vojvodina, which has also been requested by the UN Security Council, is essential and would mark the first step toward a lasting solution, without which lasting peace, stability and long-term security in the region cannot be achieved. Dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, under the care and with the presence of international mediators, is necessary and one of the most…

- Italian Prime Minister: Albania will be at the top of the list of Italian aid to other countries. - Austrian President: As a member of the European Union, Austria will help Albania integrate into the structures of our continent. - Swiss President: “In the future, economic support for Albania will be more substantial.” The speeches by the heads of the participating countries continued in plenary session. The forum’s meeting, which serves security in Europe and peace, was at the center of attention. The final conference session ended at around 3 o’clock, and its conclusions were: shaping the cooperation forum in the field of security, and beginning talks and negotiations to develop the concept of a common security model within the CSCE area. At this high-level meeting of the CSCE participating countries, the forum was instructed to intensify negotiations on arms control, armaments, and the creation of confidence- and security-building measures, based on the agreements already reached. The declaration on the former Yugoslavia was not adopted because one of the participating countries vetoed it. President Berisha, accompanied by the Italian Prime Minister, the Austrian President, the Head of State of Switzerland, and the Swedish Foreign Minister. Assuring President Berisha of his government’s support, Prime Minister Berlusconi said during their discussion that Albania would be at the top of the list of Italian aid to other countries. He pledged his personal support for encouraging Italian investors and private companies to be more present in Albania. Italian Foreign Minister Martino was also present at the Berisha–Berlusconi meeting. The Austrian President, who was accompanied by the Foreign Minister, told his Albanian counterpart that Austria, as a member of the European Union, would help Albania integrate into the structures of our continent. “We have always been,” the Austrian President said, “in favor of enlarging the European community with new members.” The President of Switzerland assured the Albanian President Berisha of economic support for Albania in the framework of Switzerland’s presence. In the future, he said, this would be more substantial, especially in terms of investment. The Swiss President also spoke about the opportunities for cooperation in the banking sector. At the meeting between Berisha and Zhelev, President of Bulgaria, it was emphasized that the two friendly countries, living in a troubled region, had shared opportunities to intensify cooperation in various fields. With Gligorov, President of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, President Berisha discussed, among other things, economic issues and cooperation between the two countries. One such issue, Mr. Berisha said, was expanding cooperation, particularly in transport and energy, and creating easier cross-border movement. Berisha also emphasized that the Albanians of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia remain a factor for the stability of that country and that their active participation in Macedonian state structures is necessary and should be achieved through an agreement between them. should be achieved through an agreement between them.

At the two-day CSCE high-level meeting in Budapest, during the second-session proceedings, participants expressed themselves as a united front in response to the state of war in Bosnia, and called for the war in Bosnia to end and for NATO to withdraw. Eastern Europe is troubled by such geopolitical changes, which not only cannot be ignored, but region. We believe that the CSCE should become a leading body for undertaking the architecture of peace and security in Europe. We acknowledge our responsibility for the efforts made so far to put the organization’s political mechanisms into operation and for the results—which, in truth, have not been very prominent—of their effectiveness. We also support strengthening the commitment of existing mechanisms and creating other instruments that will address what is necessary, but this requires all of us to work together to ensure their effectiveness and avoid commitments which, if not fulfilled, would compromise the image of this Forum. We value the extensive work undertaken by the CSCE to develop politico-military security concepts, which constitute standards unique to date, and hope that the basic principles of collective security, which are being called for, will not be undermined from the outset by bloody tragedies such as those in Bosnia and Herzegovina, by hostilities in Trans-Caucasia, or by inaction in potentially highly explosive regions such as Kosovo. Mr. Chairman, Albania is expressing its readiness to face the difficult challenges of transforming a society shaped by the most closed and orthodox communist dictatorship into an open society, with a market economy and the rule of law, in a region affected by war and tensions such as the Balkans. The Government of Albania supports plans for undertaking 3,000 aggressions in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Albanian leader [?] At the two-day CSCE high-level meeting in Budapest, during the second-session proceedings, participants expressed a united front regarding the state of war in Bosnia and ending the war in Bosnia and the withdrawal of NATO. The CSCE is likely to support plans for demilitarizing the territories of Nagorno-Karabakh. The Albanian leader [?] We are convinced that, as a continuation of this, there will be a trend toward more direct cooperation among member countries. This will serve especially the countries of our region, in favor of peace and stability in our troubled region. Ladies and Gentlemen, The presence behind the Iron Curtain, where the values and principles of Helsinki had a powerful corrosive effect, had major repercussions on the two main pillars of this Act. Thus, the principle of respect for human freedoms and rights acquired new dimensions and expanded into new areas following the fall of the communist dictatorship, and this was a great victory for all humanity on the threshold of the year 2000. But we must acknowledge that the other principle of equally decisive importance—that borders must not be changed by force—experienced its first crisis in the former Yugoslavia. The fall of the communist regime created the necessary space for the development of extremist movements, which in some countries have taken the form of aggressive nationalism. Serbian nationalism, determined to resolve its national question through war, first attacked Croatia and later generated aggression in Bosnia— [Text resumes mid-sentence.] legislative and institutional reform, and applying the principles of shock therapy, Greece, with whom we Albanians wish to have good relations and our interest in beginning work toward a bilateral cooperation treaty based on the principles of the CSCE. We propose such a treaty because we are convinced that all the problems between our two countries can be better resolved within the framework of these principles. I also wish to assure you that this would be not only in the interests of our two countries, but also later generated aggression in Bosnia— In other countries, for example Macedonia, Croatia and Albania, the Albanian governments [?] have taken measures to prevent conflicts and protect the principles of collective security. We support the principles of collective security in these countries as well, and we also recognize the efforts made to preserve stability and security. Mr. Chairman, In concluding my speech, I wish to emphasize my country’s support for the efforts begun in this institution to establish a regime for controlling concentrated military weapons near the borders in Southeastern Europe. We also welcome the work done on military documents, which provide considerable scope for cooperation and greater pan-European transparency on military matters. My country will do everything in its power to meet all the obligations arising from them. Thank you for your attention.

The Hague: The Netherlands will release nearly 20 million florins (11.3 million dollars) to support Albania’s development, the Dutch Ministry for Development Cooperation announced. The Hague: The Netherlands will release nearly 20 million florins (11.3 million dollars) to support Albania’s development, the Dutch Ministry for Development Cooperation announced in a statement published on Monday in The Hague. The Dutch funds are intended to support an agricultural program, finance essential imports, and provide public health assistance, the statement said. The Netherlands considers Albania a “country in transition” that should be supported with institutional and macroeconomic aid, the statement concluded.

A long time had to pass before December ’90 arrived. Much anxiety had to shatter dreams before, at last, on those December nights, the students told themselves, “The time has come,” and after them many voices repeated loudly, “The time has come.” That moment was also awaited by those who, shut away in their towers, even though surrounded by soldiers, could feel that their end had come. Europe had brought down the walls of communism, while dictators were floundering in the mud. Only a short time was needed—as long as it took for the lights switched on at “Q.Studeniti” to go out and bring about the explosion. “They” woke from their sleep, cursing and swearing at those others who dared disturb them. They pulled their cudgels from under their mattresses and handed them to the guardians of their sleep, but it was too late. Shkodra and Kavaja were the sparks that lit the fuse; Q.Studenti was the explosion that would not stop. The night of December 8 would bring the morning when the students united and streamed down toward Tirana, to clash for the first time, forcefully and without fear, with the dictatorship. It was the battle of David (Continued on page 2)

Political parties at the negotiating table. At the center are the identification of common ground and the possibility of a consensus on the Constitution. Such initiatives have been welcomed by politicians from all parties. But while the public’s concern today is drafting a new proposal that is desirable and acceptable to the majority of Albanians, some party leaders seem more concerned—or concerned only—with the process of approval, insisting on defending their party colors. Even at the meeting the day before yesterday, little was discussed about drafting the proposal, and more about the form of its approval, even though it has not yet been drafted!! The majority of Albanians said “No” to the proposal not because they disliked its form of approval, the referendum—as clearly shown by the high percentage of voter turnout—but because of their reservations about the articles in question, and for other reasons. The citizens’ appeal to the political parties is therefore clear: seriousness in the efforts to draft the Constitution.

Interview with the chairman of the PDSH Youth Forum, Mr. Afrim Krasniqi QUESTION: Mr. Krasniqi, FRPD is the initiator and organizer of a series of highly varied activities commemorating December 8, the National Day of Albanian Youth. Could you please explain specifically the work and responsibility you have as a youth forum in this matter, and the scope of these activities? ANSWER: For some time, we have been planning to hold a youth week in the lead-up to December 8. The reasons are already known. For us, December 8 is not merely a symbolic day, but also a major moral and political responsibility. The PDSH Youth Forum, formed and led by those who made and led the student revolution of December ’90, felt it had a duty to turn its national day into a festive day for all Albanian young people of the same age. That was why we planned a national youth week. On December 8, each of our branches in all the country’s districts will organize mass activities. In Tirana, the program has two parts. For a whole week, “Demokracia” Square will resound with cheers and the music of the first Albanian rock musicians. QUESTION: What are the main activities included in this anniversary program? ANSWER: First of all, a rock music festival will be organized. What is more, awards will be given only for Albanian music and lyrics. Sports and theatrical activities will take place in parallel. A photographic exhibition featuring evidence of the student demonstrations will accompany all the days. We have attached particular importance to round-table discussions, open to journalists, leaders, agriculture, and youth organizations. They will take place in the historic hall where (Continued on page 2)

PAGE 2 - ATTENTION TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT PAGE 3 - TIRANA: HEALTH SERVICE LEVEL RISES PAGE 4 - A NEW AGRICULTURAL POLICY IS TAKING SHAPE, AIMED AT SUPPORTING PRIVATE FARMERS PAGE 5 - READING PROF. QOSEN PAGE 6 - DIBRA FOLKLORE IN A NEW PUBLICATION BY HILMI KOLGJEGJAJ PAGE 7 - ADVERTISING FOR YOU - OVER THE SPAN OF 20 YEARS: PARADOXES? PAGE 8 - EUROPE: UNDER THE “POWER OF FOOTBALL”…

Yesterday, at the PDSH headquarters, Secretary General Mr. Tritan Shehu and Deputy Chairman Tomor Dosti held a meeting with representatives of the National Democratic Party. During the meeting, PDSH representatives and PND Chairman Mr. Fatmir Çekani presented several views held by the two parties and discussed issues of Albania’s domestic and foreign policy. The discussion was conducted in a spirit of mutual understanding and recognition. PDSH Press and Information Department