Press conference of the President of the Republic Mr. Sali Berisha

Yesterday the President of the Republic of Albania, Sali Berisha, in his press conference, focused on the key issues of the country's democratic development and reform efforts in 1994, as well as the objectives and tasks for 1995. Assessing 1994 as a year of special importance in the history of Albanian reform and democracy in Albania, President Berisha said that during this year reforms were undertaken in Albania for which former communist countries needed a much longer period than Albania did. The year 1994, President Berisha said, marked the greatest containment of superinflation on the continent. During this year, Albania rose from third place to first place in economic growth. During this year, the voice of Albanian reform was heard in Europe and beyond, and was especially appreciated. During this year, Albania enjoyed a very favorable international climate, and its role and position in the region underwent significant development. Citing first the successes in privatization, President Berisha said that this had been the most successful reform. Of the 180-200 enterprises that initially had excess staff and low profits, only a small number of 4-5 enterprises remained. According to him, with the privatization of 200 enterprises with an average of 200 employees, 40,000 jobs were privatized. Meanwhile, in agriculture, land was privatized and a completely different situation emerged. Modern markets were also created. On the other hand, analyzing the level of privatization of property in the city, the president stressed that while at the beginning of 1994 only 4 percent of property had been privatized, by the end of the year 92 percent had been privatized. During this year, in the field of banking and finance, the full independence of the central bank and the other banks was achieved. One of the most important issues, according to Berisha, had been bringing inflation under control through control of budget deficits. This was achieved to the extent of 27.6 percent in ten months, whereas at the beginning of the year inflation had been 31 percent. According to the president, in the employment sector around 77,000 Albanians returned to work, while unemployment in the last four-month period fell by 1 to 1.5 percent each month. Referring to foreign investment, President Berisha said that their total amount this year reached 250 million dollars. These are larger per capita investments in the region than in any other country. Regarding economic growth in the country, according to the president, it was 4.8% in the first quarter, 7.4% in the second, 10.6% in the third, and 12.4% in the fourth quarter. 1994 ends with average economic growth of 8 percent and higher. Speaking about relations with international organizations, the president noted that during this year Albania signed the agreement with the European Union and at the Brussels meeting the Albanian government presented the first report for a former communist country. It also signed an agreement with 15 states for the Central European Free Trade area. A great achievement for Albania was admission to the Council of Europe, which in January will be ratified by the parliament of our country. President Berisha devoted special attention to reform in public administration, stating that the Albanian administration was among the most corrupt. He assessed that in this reform the status of the civil servant should be completely changed, and what is permitted and what is forbidden to him should be defined more clearly. Public administration should be depoliticized by 80 percent. According to the president, corruption in public administration caused the creation of an unfavorable climate for the development of economic activity in the country. President Berisha dwelt in particular on our country's efforts toward integration into Europe, these efforts being, in his view, the most important success in the field of international relations. Speaking about relations with the USA, the president emphasized that the Washington administration is an administration that has had and still has Albania at the center of its attention. Regarding the war in Bosnia, President Berisha said that the Albanian government and the Albanian political class, despite their differences, consider it a major moral, national, and human duty to defend the rights of Albanians and Muslims in Bosnia. Referring to relations with neighbors, President Berisha said that they are generally good. According to him, with Greece, except for the absurd positions it maintains against Albanian emigrants, relations are increasingly positive. Regarding relations with Macedonia, the president said that the Macedonian leadership, with these absurd and anti-Albanian positions, is stabbing that agreement in the heart. He said that Albania had officially requested, in talks with Frojdesi [?] or within the framework of the eight and in its previous submissions, amendments to a treaty with Macedonia, but without receiving any reply. President Berisha said that in his last meeting with Gligorov in Geneva, he had presented precisely these issues. One of the problems the president raised particularly was the issue of Kosovo. He stressed that our country would pursue a determined policy in support of the rights of the Albanians of Kosovo. He said that the Albanian government is against any forceful solution to the Kosovo issue. President Berisha expressed his full conviction that a war in Kosovo would have catastrophic consequences for the entire region. Regarding the issue of the status of Albanian political emigrants in the USA, President Berisha said that he has repeatedly asked the Washington authorities to determine their political status. He said that the Albanian government had requested this because obstacles are being created for Albanian emigrants that seriously infringe their rights. President Berisha stressed that the Albanian side has also asked the American side for help in reforming the Albanian police and strengthening the fight against drug trafficking, smuggling, and economic crime in general. Speaking about the upcoming elections, President Berisha stated that they should be held in the first half of 1996 and, according to him, they will be administered more professionally. Assessing that Albania needs a new electoral code, President Berisha emphasized that the upcoming elections must meet Western standards. The president also addressed relations with political forces in the country, stressing that despite debates and polemics, the opposition's positions on reforms in the country are more realistic than a year ago. Likewise, the president stressed that the settlement of the issue of legality and the condemnation of the crimes of communism are an important moment for the country's future. In response to journalists' questions, President Berisha considered Dritero Agolli's accusations against the Academy of Sciences in Albania absurd. According to him, Agolli views honesty in scientific activity as a totalitarian idea, and therefore he denies that there are people with anti-scientific ideology among its ranks. Responding to a question regarding the arrest of Fatos Nano, President Berisha said that the person in question is in prison for the criminal offense of document forgery and not for political reasons. President Berisha said that in Albania it has never been possible to establish double standards and that this act is a violation of a civilized standard. Regarding the murder of the Italian businessman and the investigation of his case, President Berisha said that the Albanian government is making maximum efforts to clarify every aspect of the event. Finally, he said that on the economic front 1995 will be the year of mass privatization and in particular the privatization of strategic sectors such as telecommunications, mining, air transport, and maritime transport. He repeated that the most important objective for the coming year should be mass privatization.

Defenders of the law abuse their duty; this would indicate that corruption is present Page 2

Press conference of the President of the Republic Mr. Sali Berisha The most important objective for the coming year should be mass privatization. Yesterday the President of the Republic of Albania, Sali Berisha, in his press conference, focused on the main issues of the country's democratic and reform development in 1994 and the objectives and tasks for 1995. Assessing 1994 as a year of special importance in the history of Albanian reform and democracy in Albania, President Berisha said that during this year reforms were undertaken in Albania for which former communist countries needed a much longer time than Albania. The year 1994, said President Berisha, marked the greatest curbing of superinflation on the continent. During this year Albania moved from third place to first place for economic growth. During this year the voice of Albanian reform was heard in Europe and beyond and was especially appreciated. During this year Albania had a very favorable international climate and its role and position in the region saw particular development. He cited successes in privatization, banking and finance, employment, foreign investment, relations with the European Union and the Council of Europe, public administration reform, relations with the USA, Bosnia, Greece, Macedonia, Kosovo, the case of Fatos Nano, and stated that 1995 would be the year of mass privatization, especially in strategic sectors such as telecommunications, mining, air transport and maritime transport.

Conferenza stampa del Presidente della Repubblica Sali Berisha L'obiettivo più importante per l'anno che viene deve essere la privatizzazione di massa. Ieri il Presidente della Repubblica d'Albania, Sali Berisha, nella sua conferenza stampa, si è concentrato sulle principali questioni dello sviluppo democratico e riformatore del paese nel 1994 e sugli obiettivi e compiti per il 1995. Valutando il 1994 come un anno di particolare importanza nella storia della riforma albanese e della democrazia in Albania, il presidente Berisha ha affermato che durante quest'anno in Albania sono state intraprese riforme per le quali ai paesi ex comunisti è stato necessario un tempo molto più lungo che all'Albania. Il 1994, ha detto Berisha, ha segnato il maggiore contenimento della superinflazione nel continente. Durante quest'anno l'Albania è passata dal terzo al primo posto per crescita economica. In questo anno la voce della riforma albanese è stata ascoltata in Europa e oltre, ed è stata particolarmente apprezzata. Durante quest'anno l'Albania ha avuto un clima internazionale molto favorevole e il suo ruolo e la sua posizione nella regione hanno conosciuto uno sviluppo particolare. Ha citato i successi nella privatizzazione, nelle banche e nella finanza, nell'occupazione, negli investimenti esteri, nei rapporti con l'Unione Europea e il Consiglio d'Europa, nella riforma della pubblica amministrazione, nei rapporti con gli USA, la Bosnia, la Grecia, la Macedonia, il Kosovo, il caso di Fatos Nano, e ha dichiarato che il 1995 sarà l'anno della privatizzazione di massa, in particolare dei settori strategici come telecomunicazioni, miniere, trasporto aereo e trasporto marittimo.