Berisha and Clinton together for 45 minutes Clinton: Albania has our full attention Berisha and Clinton together for 45 minutes Full U.S. support for democratic processes in Albania Clinton: Albania has our full attention Albania is also granted 45 million dollars LORENC LIGORI EDI PALOKA Washington, 12 September 1995 Yesterday at 11:40 the President Berisha limousine entered the White House, where the meeting with U.S. President Bill Clinton took place. In the first part of the meeting, the U.S. Vice President Al Gore, the Albanian Deputy Prime Minister Dyber Vrioni and the Foreign Minister Alfred Serreqi were present. Later, the meeting between Presidents Berisha and Clinton continued tête-à-tête. Instead of the scheduled 30 minutes, the meeting lasted more than 45 minutes. Sources from the Presidency report that the meeting discussed relations of cooperation between the two countries. President Clinton stressed the broad assistance that the U.S. will continue to provide to Albania. Among the important issues discussed was also the situation in the Balkan region, the war in the former Yugoslavia and especially the solution of the Kosovo problem. After the meeting, President Berisha said to the Albanian journalists: "I and the President at the meeting with President Clinton had an extraordinarily important meeting. All the main problems of great interest for bilateral relations and those of the region were discussed. President Clinton expressed full support for democratic developments in Albania. He expressed his commitment to contribute to the further consolidation of the rule of law and the market economy, the determination to expand aid to Albania and, specifically, he guaranteed me that this year there will be another 45 million dollars in aid in addition to a portion of aid that is not included in this package. I think we agreed with President Clinton to expand all-round cooperation, and he guaranteed me that he will encourage American investors to come to Albania. Economic aid will increase and military cooperation between the two countries will grow." I declare that I found full understanding and great determination from President Clinton and his administration to help Albania. Several times President Clinton told me: "Do not think that Albania, being a small country, does not have our great attention." Regarding the Kosovo issue, I insisted that the Contact Group should act with firmness, and President Clinton assured me of U.S. support until the full restoration of the human and national rights of the Albanians of Kosovo". From President Berisha's activities in Washington

From President Berisha's activities in Washington

Economic aid and military cooperation will increase After the meeting with Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin and other representatives of the U.S. Treasury, President Berisha held a series of other meetings in Washington. Thus, on Monday at 16:30 President Berisha addressed the Forum for International and Strategic Studies. The well-known analyst Zbigniew Brzezinski delivered the opening speech, in which he assessed the processes of democratic development in Albania. In his introduction of President Berisha, Brzezinski praised Berisha's contribution to democratic developments in Albania and to the policy of stability and peace in the Balkans. Berisha then delivered an extensive speech, in which he presented the progress of Albanian democracy, its foreign policy, etc. After Berisha's speech, which was received with interest by those present, a discussion followed in which the President answered the participants' questions. Later Berisha and his wife visited the Holocaust Museum. At this museum, the contribution of Albanians to the protection of Jews from Nazi genocide during the Second World War is also recorded, the museum director Mark Lemen told President Berisha. Albania was added to the list of countries that influenced and protected Jews during the Second World War, Lemen added, and he showed President Berisha the symbolic plaque bearing the names of 30 Albanian citizens, for whom there is documentation both in the Holocaust Museum and in Israel, who helped in various ways Jewish citizens to keep them out of the hands of the Nazis and send them to concentration camps. The account of each of these Albanians is now preserved in the museum's archives and history. During this visit President Berisha was also accompanied by Congressman Gilman, secretary of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. He said that the role of Albanians during the Second World War, especially that Albania was the only country in Europe where the number of Jews after the war was greater than before the war, was presented by Museum Director Lemen. President Berisha thanked the efforts of the Holocaust Museum in Washington and the one in Israel to recognize the contribution of Albanians, who protected Jews during the Second World War. Today there are only 30 names here, but this enters the museum's history and the representation of the people, the nation, and through every example shows the world the values, virtues and humanism of the Albanian people, President Berisha emphasized. During his visit, President Berisha laid a wreath to honor the victims of the Holocaust and Nazism and signed the visitors' book. In turn, Museum Director Mark Lemen introduced President Berisha to his remarks and added that this institution is honored by the visit of the President of Albania. On behalf of the Holocaust Museum I thank the noble conduct of the Albanian people during the period of Nazi occupation. Albania was one of the few countries where Jews were neither tortured nor killed. They survived thanks to the help of Albanians. This is an institution of terrible memories, but we also remember nobility and generosity. President Berisha's visit was a noble gesture. As a token of thanks for the visit, Mr. Lemen presented President Berisha with a book from the Museum. President Berisha thanked him for the gift and stressed that the democratization of Albania and its opening to the world have also increased interest in showing its values to the world. The meetings of representatives of international affairs of the National Democratic Institute and, on the economic side, with trade and assistance agencies of the WB, OPIC, IFC, AID, TDA, EX/IM Bank, Treasury, Commerce and AAEF closed Berisha's activity in Washington. Yesterday undoubtedly culminated with the meeting of the two presidents Berisha-Clinton. The first meeting was with representatives of the Heritage Foundation. A visit to Arlington Cemetery followed. The meeting with CIA Director Dr. Deutch took place late in the afternoon. Meanwhile, 11:45 marked the beginning of the Clinton-Berisha meeting. Full support of the American administration for democratic processes in Albania. After the meeting Berisha would be the guest of the Director of the IMF, Mr. Michel Camdessus. President Berisha's meetings continued later with the Republican Gilman, Senator Dole and HIRC, etc.

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