Message from the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, on the occasion of New Year 1995 Dear compatriots and fellow countrymen in the ethnic lands and wherever you may be, Today we are changing years. After 4 years of essential historical changes, Albania closes today the year 1994, the year of major reforms. A year of sweeping historical, political, economic, and spiritual upheaval. Four years ago our country, under the December democratic revolution, broke away from the communist dictatorship, socialist economy, and Marxist ideology; hundreds of thousands of Albanians won their fundamental human rights and freedoms, private property and the market economy, while Albania, once the most isolated country in the world, is today integrating with dignity into the family of civilized nations. Of course, the year that has passed, like each of the previous years, was a year of sacrifice. We are beginning 1995 with major problems and difficulties, with unemployment and inflation, with our economic backwardness, with the severe destruction caused by the former system, with the great damage from the UN embargo against Serbia and Montenegro, with the tragic situation in Bosnia, and with the destabilizing aims and efforts of anti-Albanian circles in the Balkans. But 1995 is the fifth year of the market economy and of free society; it is the year in which we will reap the fruits of our efforts and reforms. If we, the Albanians, with our own energies make it a year of great work and production, then this year will be for us a year of success and greater prosperity. The year 1994 marked growth in all the main macroeconomic indicators. Inflation fell from 31 percent to 15.8 percent; GDP grew by 8-10 percent; agriculture recorded growth of over 10 percent, industry growth of over 20 percent, exports also increased, and the domestic market is better supplied than ever. Thousands of private businesses have opened, the trade and services sector has expanded significantly, while the state has taken important steps in building the legal and institutional infrastructure of the market economy. In 1995 our path is clear: mass privatization and the further consolidation of reforms. We must create more favorable conditions for investment, production, employment, and exports. We must encourage enterprise, savings, and competition. We must strengthen the rule of law, public order, and the administration. Only in this way can we accelerate economic development and bring Albania closer to European standards. At the beginning of this year, I wish every Albanian family more well-being, peace, and hope. I wish our compatriots abroad, who through their work and support have contributed to their families and to the country, the very best. I wish the Albanian youth to look to the future with confidence, the intellectuals, workers, peasants, entrepreneurs, soldiers, police officers, and all citizens of the Republic. Let us make 1995 the year of work, production, privatization, and the consolidation of the fast economic path.

Anniversary of the publication of the first issue By Skënder Buçpapaj Raindrop, jingle. The directors of Western European kino-politics were placing reformers, those with a reformist name, at the head of the Eastern states. In Albania, a different path was being chosen. It seemed that the directors of kino-politics were not indifferent to what was being prepared. On the contrary, they took an interest just enough to know, without needing to lift a little finger. In Albania, the path of the communist president with a technical government was chosen. Thus, the newspaper of the Democratic Party, which was consecrated as a tribune of democratization under the highly meaningful name "Democratic Flow," had to clearly define itself in dialogue with the Western world. Its mission was to prevent the return of communists in new clothes, at low cost and with bitter consequences for Albanian democracy. These ideas and this mission were clearly outlined from the very first issue, published on 5 January 1991. The centrepiece of the historical leader of Albania's anti-communists, Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha, is the lead article titled "The Two Albanian Extremists," which naturally possessed the qualities of a full stand. It was a matter of standing firm and not giving up anything, not even the little finger, if democratic changes were to avoid the extreme proletkultist extreme and the extreme anti-proletkultist and anti-democratic one. These ideas and this mission had been forewarned to the Democratic Party newspaper by the experience of the press throughout Eastern Europe, as the bitterest experience for freedom and democracy. In December of the previous year, the view had reached Albania that democracy and anti-communism are not the same thing, even though anti-communism is of course essential to freedom and democracy. Therefore, it was necessary to avoid the risk of collapse in the name of anti-communism, just as it was necessary to avoid the risk of manipulation with anti-communism. The second article, under the title "Voice of America with Double Standards," about a scandal that broke out during those days, placed the issue in a new context. The newspaper stressed concern that the information spread about Albania in certain Western media was one-sided and harmed the democratic process. The need for an independent opposition tribune thus became even stronger. Another article, "The Civic Action of 4-5 January 1991," revisited the chronicle of the first days of the great student and civic movement. The first issue of the newspaper aimed to be not simply a party publication, but a living instrument of social mobilization for freedom and pluralism. Democratic Flow played an important role in creating a new political and public language. It gave voice to the demand for pluralism, private property, a market economy, the rule of law, and Western orientation. This anniversary of the first issue serves as a reminder that the free word was among the main weapons of democratic change in Albania.

The Chairman of the Presidium of the People's Assembly, Mr. Pjetër Arbnori, received yesterday in meeting the ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to our country, Mr. Klaus Fels. During this meeting, they discussed the latest developments in the country, the progress of democratic and economic reforms, as well as bilateral relations between our two countries. The interlocutors assessed the positive developments in Albania in recent years and expressed confidence that Albanian-German relations will experience further progress in all fields. The importance of economic cooperation and German assistance for Albania's democratic transformation was emphasized. Ambassador Klaus Fels expressed his appreciation for the efforts of the Albanian institutions and for the reform process in the country. For his part, Mr. Arbnori underlined the desire to expand parliamentary and political contacts with Germany.

Moscow, 4 January - Russian federal forces will not launch new air strikes against the Chechen capital, Grozny, after the heavy bombardments of recent days, military sources announced. However, ground fighting continued in various areas and the death toll remains severe. According to reports, hundreds of civilians have left the city, while the infrastructure has been heavily damaged. The Russian military command stated that its objective remains the restoration of control over the separatist republic. The Chechen side declared that resistance would continue. The humanitarian situation in Grozny and the surrounding areas was described as very serious.

Press conference of the Minister of the Interior, Agron Musaraj Every citizen should fear the law, not the police In 1994, out of 7,423 criminal offenses that occurred, 6,284 were solved, which represents 85% of them. This was announced yesterday by the Minister of the Interior, Agron Musaraj, at a press conference organized on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the creation of the State Police. During the past year, 67 citizens were killed and 601 others were wounded. 1,237 perpetrators of crimes were arrested, while territorial control and cooperation with the prosecutor's office increased. The minister said that the fight against crime would continue with the same intensity. Musaraj stressed that the police must be at the service of the citizen and of the law. "The citizen must obey the law and fear the law, not the police," he said. He also spoke about the need to modernize public-order structures and improve working conditions for personnel. The conference also addressed problems of traffic, public order, and the fight against smuggling. The minister underlined that the results achieved are important, but that many tasks still remain to be fulfilled.

An analytical article about a court case, raising questions about the decision handed down by the court and the manner in which the evidence was interpreted. The author points out discrepancies in testimony, procedural shortcomings, and suspicions of unlawful influence on decision-making. According to the article, the case has caused reactions in public opinion and has sparked debate about justice and the responsibility of institutions. The case is presented as an example of the need for reform and greater transparency in the judicial system.

A group of veterans and citizens of Shkodër yesterday commemorated the events of 4 January 1991, assessing them as the beginning of the city's new history. At the gathering held on this occasion, participants recalled the first clash with the regime and its role in opening the path to political pluralism. The speakers said that Shkodër was among the first cities where open opposition to the dictatorship emerged and that 4 January remains a symbolic date for Albanian democracy. They called for this event to take its rightful place in the country's historical memory. At the end of the activity, flowers were laid and a call was made for the younger generations to become better acquainted with the sacrifices of those days.

An optimistic energy situation Emergency status is lifted With the gradual lifting of restrictions and the improvement of electricity supply, the authorities announced the lifting of the energy emergency status. According to official announcements, rainfall and better management of the system have brought relief to the situation. However, it was stressed that consumption must remain controlled and that investments in the network and in production are still necessary. Citizens and businesses were asked to continue saving in order to avoid a return of difficulties.

On the status of veterans of the war against the Nazi-fascist occupiers of the Albanian people 260 families from Tropoja will be settled in Mamurras Fighting in Chechnya is halted President Sali Berisha interrupts his consultations