From the press conference of the President of the Republic, Mr. Sali Berisha PRESS RELEASE On the visit of President of the Republic Sali Berisha to Brussels and Italy At this meeting I wish to acquaint you with the results of the important official visits I carried out last week in Brussels and Rome. At the invitation of the President of the Republic of Italy, Dr. Oskar Luihì Scalfaro, from 13–15 October I was on an official visit to Italy. I want to emphasize from the outset that this was a very important, successful and historic visit in the relations between our two friendly countries. Therefore, on this occasion I also want to sincerely thank President Scalfaro, the Speaker of the Italian Parliament Mrs. Piveti, Prime Minister Dini, and the Italian Foreign Minister Mrs. Anjeli for the invitation they extended to me and for the reception they gave me, as well as for the hospitality that showed their determination to expand and intensify cooperation in the future for Albania. During this visit I was received by and held talks with President Oskar Luihì Scalfaro, the Speaker of the Italian Parliament Mrs. Piveti, and the Italian Foreign Minister Susana Anjeli. During the dinner hosted by President Scalfaro in honor of our delegation, we held talks and discussed extensively and in a spirit of understanding with Dini. In the meeting with President Scalfaro, a true friend of Albania and Albanians, I expressed our deep thanks and gratitude for the major assistance, solidarity, and great generosity that he, the Government and the Italian institutions have given and shown to Albania in a difficult period of its history, a time when the communist dictatorship had crippled it. This assistance has been a historic contribution to emerging from chaos, anarchy and misery, as well as to building the rule of law and a market economy over these last three or four years, both on the humanitarian and the technical, economic, cultural and military levels. In the talks with the President, the Prime Minister, the Speaker of Parliament and the Foreign Minister, the following issues were addressed: First, the existing bilateral cooperation projects within the framework of cooperation between our two countries and the main possibilities and prospects for Albania within cooperation with Italy in the next two years, and the updating of the existing program into important regional projects such as the Durrës-Sofia-Istanbul highway, the trans-Balkan water pipeline, and the intensification of cooperation in the cultural, educational, military and other fields. Second, the issue of accepting seasonal Albanian migration in Italy and preventing clandestine migration on the part of Albania, as well as facilities for the movement of people. Third, the greater commitment of private Italian investments in Albania and the guarantee of this investment by Italian financial institutions such as SACE, and our unwavering determination to prevent clandestine migration. For this purpose, we agree to cooperate with Italian institutions and those of other countries. Albania is determined to prevent any kind of illegal trafficking. We think that opening consulates in Durrës and Vlorë, as well as the abolition of service visas and, in general, visa liberalization, will help solve these issues. In the talks it was agreed that the Italian government would ask SACE and other Italian institutions to guarantee Italian investments in Albania, since Albania’s macroeconomic stability and the settlement of the external debt make this guarantee fully possible. In the talks it was agreed that the perspective in Albania-Italy relations should be expanded within the bilateral framework and that Albanian potential should be improved in strongly supporting Albania’s inclusion in all European regional development projects, especially the major West-East-North-South corridors. Italy undertakes to make as one of the priorities of its six-month EU Presidency the opening of negotiations for the association agreement between Albania and the EU, and that it also supports Albania in the further progress of these agreements. In the talks it emerged that the Italian government values the important role Albania has played in peace and stability in the Balkans, Albania’s commitment to cooperation and integration in Europe, the prospect of improving relations with Greece, and the standards Albania has achieved for minority rights, placing emphasis on education. A very important place in the talks was occupied by the problems of Kosovo and the solution to this problem. The Italian government considers it necessary to resolve this problem for the solution of the Balkan crisis, values the position of the Albanian leadership of Kosovo, and will commit itself to contributing to the realization of the autonomy demanded by force for the Albanians of Kosovo. During my stay in Rome I had a meeting with a well-known Italian businessman who has invested dollars in our country. Albania. Representatives of Confindustria, enterprises with Italian media such as Agip, Eni, and many others, praised foreign investors and expressed their satisfaction with the commitment of the Italian government to ask SACE to protect Italian investments in Albania. Vlorë for an extended official visit to Albania President Scalfaro, who gladly accepted the invitation and promised me that he would travel to Albania to guarantee them. - Italy's assistance and support for Albania’s integration into Euro-Atlantic structures. - The problems of Kosovo and the regional crisis. The most important results of such a visit, and I believe its high success, are: - The signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation with Italy, as well as the agreement on military cooperation and the agreement on economic and financial cooperation. The Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation is a historic achievement. Friendships that I sign are built. Albania and the Italians in times of peace and bloom have established close ties of friendship. The Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation is, in a sense, the foundation stone of the cooperation and intensive, friendly developments of these last years, the solidarity and major assistance that Italy has given our country, as well as the traditional ancient friendly ties that have bound and developed our two peoples. But the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, as well as the other agreements signed these days, are also important documents for the future intensification of cooperation in all fields, from economic aid and the promotion of investment, to military and cultural cooperation, environmental protection, etc. Our now friendly and very good relations have a solid and complete legal framework for their future development. This has been fully proven by the friendly spirit, the open character and the positive results of the talks that we achieved with President Scalfaro, the Speaker of the Italian Parliament Mrs. Piveti, Prime Minister Dini and Foreign Minister Anjeli. In these talks it was agreed that Albania should be defined as one of Italy’s priorities in economic cooperation and it was also agreed that in the future Italian aid and cooperation in the interest will be directed mainly to water supply, roads, electricity, agriculture, education, culture, but will also include other fields. In these talks it was agreed that Italy would accept seasonal migration from Albania and that the Italian government considers this a bilateral-interest agreement, that is, for both the Albanian and Italian sides, and that the Italian side would work toward an agreement for the employment of seasonal migrants. While we discussed strict measures to curb the clandestine entry of foreign citizens, we also expressed our unwavering determination to prevent clandestine migration. For this purpose, we agree to cooperate with Italian institutions and those of other countries. Albania is determined to prevent any kind of illegal trafficking. We think that opening consulates in Durrës and Vlorë, as well as the abolition of service visas and, in general, visa liberalization, will help solve these issues. - In the talks it was agreed that the Italian government would ask SACE and other Italian institutions to guarantee Italian investments in Albania, since Albania’s macroeconomic stability and the settlement of the external debt make this guarantee fully possible. - In the talks it was agreed that the perspective in Albania-Italy relations should be expanded within the bilateral framework and that Albanian potential should be improved in strongly supporting Albania’s inclusion in all European regional development projects, especially the major West-East-North-South corridors. - Italy undertakes to make as a priority of its six-month EU Presidency the opening of negotiations for the association agreement between Albania and the EU, and that it also supports Albania in further progress by these agreements. - In the talks it was agreed that Kosovo and the solution to this problem, the Italian government considers it necessary to resolve this problem for the solution of the Balkan crisis, values the position of the Albanian leadership of Kosovo, and will commit itself to contributing to the realization of the autonomy forcibly demanded by the Albanians of Kosovo. Likewise, I invited Prime Minister Dini, Minister Anjeli and other senior Italian officials. During a visit to the Municipality of Rome, Mayor Rutelli showed special interest in expanding cooperation between Rome and Albania. Mr. Rutelli demonstrated special interest in the development of cultural and educational ties between Rome and Albania. He took part in the opening of the exhibition of the well-known Albanian painter Keli Kodheli at the main center of Modern Art in Italy. During my stay in Italy I visited Calabria, where the large Arbëresh community lives, renowned for the oldest traditions from centuries past. In Calabria, in Cosenza, together with the highest local authorities I was warmly received by the Arbëresh. At the prefecture of Cosenza I met the mayors of the Arbëresh municipalities of Cosenza, visited the University of Cosenza, where many Albanian students also study and which has a chair of the Albanian language that carries out important publications and studies in our language. The meeting with the Arbëresh of Italy, as the first meeting of the Albanian head of state with the Arbëresh who left 500 years ago, was a special event and left a deep impression on me. The Arbëresh, our dispersed blood, are our noble blood with the wise men who gave the Albanian nation. In San Demetrio Corone and Macchia Albanese I visited, I remember, worked and saw the colossus of our national Renaissance Jeronim De Rada, and met his descendants and compatriots. I spent my birthday with the Arbëresh of Italy. They, like us and the foreigners, preserved intact the pride of being Albanian, the most precious virtues of our culture. From San Demetrio Corone to Macchia Albanese, with the voice of De Rada, Dares and many other enlightened men of our nation, the powerful call of rebirth, national awakening, was heard. In the city of Castelaneta, one of the city’s main and beautiful squares was named after our national hero Skanderbeg, a great honor that this city and its municipal council bestowed on Albania. In conclusion, we can say that this visit was completely successful and opened a new chapter in cooperation and friendly relations between Albania and Italy. During my stay in Rome on 14 October, I was received in audience and had a private conversation with His Holiness, Pope John Paul II. This meeting, the third I have had in these three years with His Holiness, was undoubtedly (Continues on page 2) PHOTO: A. BABANI

Arbnori received by the French President Chirac Chirac soon in Tirana Arbnori received by the French President Chirac France will intensify bilateral cooperation in all fields Chirac soon in Tirana During the activities held in Paris at the meeting of the presidents of parliaments member states of the International Association of French-speaking Parliaments on 16 October, the Chairman of the Presidium of the People's Assembly, Pjetër Arbnori, met with the President of the French Republic, Jacques Chirac. The French president assured Mr. Arbnori that France would continue to support Albania politically in its efforts to integrate into the institutions of the European Union. France will also intensify bilateral cooperation in all fields. (Continues on page 3)

From the meeting of the PS Leadership Council The genocide group triumphs over the reformers of the PS Declared anti-Marxist elements, unconnected with the state security service, are secretly targeted by the incriminated group Ruçi, Pëllumbi, Dokle The blow against reformist elements is a blow against the reform of the PS “The cigarette” eliminates people without files Among the newly elected, old protégés of Ruçi From the meeting of the PS Leadership Council Great divisions in the PS The genocide group triumphs over the reformers of the PS Declared anti-Marxist elements, unconnected with the state security service, are secretly targeted by the incriminated group Ruçi, Pëllumbi, Dokle The blow against reformist elements is a blow against the reform of the PS “The cigarette” eliminates people without files Among the newly elected, old protégés of Ruçi YESTERDAY'S WINNERS: MARX, RUÇI, DOKLE, PËLLUMBI EDI PALOKA What was expected happened yesterday in the meeting of the PS Leadership Committee under the direction of former interior minister Gramoz Ruçi: the Marxists who have seized the leadership of the PS eliminated, without much ceremony, the anti-Marxist elements of the PS. Lakrori, Lloshi Zeneli, Shahollari and Kumbaro were yesterday removed from the PS presidency through a manipulated, crude procedure. Everything had been secretly prepared by the former head of the State Security, now General Secretary of the PS. Before the meeting, in certain circles, the names of those who would be “cleared out” of the presidency were being whispered. The “enemies,” who in fact were among those not implicated with the State Security in the PS presidency (Continues on page 3) TWO VICTIMS: LAKRORI, ZENELI YESTERDAY'S WINNERS: MARX, RUÇI, DOKLE, PËLLUMBI TWO VICTIMS: LAKRORI, ZENELI

Yesterday afternoon President Berisha took part in the meeting of the PD parliamentary group. Berisha gave the deputies a broad account of his recent visits to Brussels and Italy. The President spoke about the hospitality he found in all the meetings held in Brussels and about the issues discussed with the NATO chairman Willy Claes, the EU chairman Jacques Santer, Mr. Van den Broek, etc. Berisha also stressed the importance of the visit to Italy and the hospitality he found from all the personalities he met. Afterwards, the deputies discussed the various problems of the electorate. Many deputies requested that the genocide law be applied in all its aspects. Likewise, during the discussions, they insisted on a harsh response to the slanderous lies of the socialist leaders and on quick retaliation against the offices of the discredited figures of the PS governments. The meeting also discussed the concrete problems of the specific areas represented by PD deputies in Parliament Correspondent of “RD”

The Embassy of the United States refutes the newspaper “Koha Jone” The Embassy of the United States of America wanted to point out certain factual errors and misinterpretations in the last two issues of the newspaper “Koha Jone”. In the Sunday issue of 15 October, page 2, in an article titled “Brozi's Dismissal Beyond the Borders”, it was written that two American lawyers who recently visited Albania were “emissaries of the State Department”. In fact, the two individuals mentioned above have no connection with the State Department. In the Tuesday issue of 17 October, page 1, in an article titled “The USA fears electoral manipulation”, a number of statements were falsely attributed to a US diplomat. This article gives an inaccurate and distorted description of the reported conversation. Statements attributed to this diplomat do not accurately reflect the opinions of American diplomats nor those of the American government. The U.S. Embassy The independent newspaper “Koha Jone” should be informed that it has the “ability” to be refuted by the Embassy of the United States. After the refutations regarding our notes on American aid to Albania, regarding comments on President Berisha's visit to Washington (Continues from page 1)

Top secret Minutes of the Political Bureau meeting of the Central Committee of the PPSh on 8 October 1982 “...Why is it, comrade Kadri, that after all these events, after the suicide of the enemy Mehmet Shehu and especially after the exposure in the Ministry of Internal Affairs of crimes committed by people such as Feçor Shehu, Llambi Peçini and Mihallaq Ziçishti, who for a long time had been deputy minister of internal affairs, did you... not draw any lessons?...” page 5

Today in Tirana Minister for Economic Cooperation of the FRG Carl-Dieter Spranger: “...We want to send a signal in support of the democratic government” p. 3

PAD holds a rally...” with 30 people - p. 3

Investing for the future You cannot defend yourself when you break the law by attacking and accusing the police - p. 3