Regarding President Clinton’s appeal to Greece to begin dialogue with Albania unconditionally, as well as not to block European Union economic aid to Albania in the future, President Berisha stated: I consider very important and friendly the appeal President Clinton is making as not to block EU aid to Albania in the future, and I regard it as an appeal by President Clinton and the American government to normalize relations and establish understanding between our two countries. I also regard it as a message to our two countries that, in the name of the long-term interests of peace and stability in the region, we should contribute to bilateral and regional understanding. I wish to reiterate my conviction that the positive historical ties uniting our two peoples and the shared values they embrace today, together with the interests of Albania and Greece in the present and the future, constitute a genuine basis for achieving understanding and giving it concrete form through a treaty of cooperation and good relations between our two countries, based on the principles of the OSCE. I believe President Clinton’s appeal, as a friend of Albanians, Albania and Greece, will provide an impetus for establishing dialogue between our two countries to resolve existing problems. The Albanian government has always been, and remains, open to constructive dialogue with Greece, convinced of its value. It is also determined to bring all Albanian legislation into line with international standards and to abide by the agreements it has signed with the EU and other international institutions. President Clinton calls on Greece for good-neighborly relations in the Balkans ATHENS (AFP, ATSH): U.S. President Bill Clinton, in an interview given to the Greek daily Kathimerini on Sunday, called on Greece and Turkey to work together to ease tensions in their relations, and urged Greece to be more flexible toward Tirana and Skopje. Clinton also called on Athens to “open an unconditional dialogue” with Albania and the future. He later noted that “Greece has an interest in stability and economic development in the Balkans.” He warned Greece against any “isolationist” policy. Despite the respective reasons and precedents, it has been decided that the diplomatic matter will be examined in plenary session. Albania and Greece have far more friendship and cooperation, peace and understanding, stability and mutual understanding between them.

DUKAGJIN HATA unconditionally and not to block EU economic aid to Albania in the future is part of the responsibility and commitment that the United States and the number one occupant of the White House assume for political developments in the world, in Europe and beyond, in the Balkan region, where not all bridges operate on the basis of transparency and understanding. The President of the Republic, Mr. Sali Berisha, considers Clinton’s appeal to Greece very important and friendly: an appeal to begin dialogue with Albania unconditionally and Indeed, he regards countries. Leaving behind the recent period of strained political and diplomatic relations, along with its causes and precedents, there is an opportunity to find firmer ground on which to base diplomatic negotiations, which could create a basis for cooperation in a constructive spirit. In fact, democratic Albania has long been seeking such common ground; it remains for its old neighbor, with whom it is linked by thousands of years of peaceful coexistence, to move in this direction. The appeal from the leader in Washington is, as Berisha says, region, we should contribute to bilateral and regional understanding. Albania is contributing increasingly to stability in this troubled region. From being one of the coldest fronts of the Cold War in its communist past, it has become an open country, seeking to build its foreign policy not on transient, circumstantial reminiscences, but on solid, constructive foundations rooted in the principles of tolerance. On this ancient peninsula, where for thousands of years the paths of the Albanian people and our countries have crossed and been renewed, Albania and Greece have had much more friendship and cooperation, peace and understanding than disagreement. In this new era, which has carried political upheavals and confrontations into the irretrievable depths of the past, this tradition needs to be given a new dimension. President Clinton’s appeal serves this redefinition across all political and diplomatic spheres; it is another effort by the American government to restore the balance disrupted in the Balkans and beyond. The unconditional dialogue with Albania to which the American president is inviting Greece has long been part of the Albanian government’s foreign policy. The Albanian democratic government has consistently expressed its willingness for relations between the two countries to improve as far as possible. Albania Athens, which must finally understand that this is the only means of serving friendship and understanding between neighbors, and of serving peace and stability through the most outstanding values of peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding.

Meeting of President Berisha with representatives of political parties and government officials At the meeting organized today by the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, to discuss securities, the participants included representatives of the PD, Messrs. Selami and Kopliku; of the PR, Messrs. Godo and Babameto; of the PSD, Messrs. Gjinushi and Apostoli; and of the PBDNJ, Mr. Melo. Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Vrioni, the Bank’s Governor-General, Mr. Lunikun, and the Director of the National Privatization Agency, Mr. Glozheni. The President of the Republic emphasized: I thought we should discuss at this meeting the securities, how they are to be distributed, their nominal value, and their [??] in the privatization process. Securities, as is well known, are now the most widely used mechanism for mass privatization, through which citizens participate on a mass scale in the privatization process and national wealth is distributed justly and equally. To this end, acknowledging that there has been a delay in their distribution, I wish to inform you that during the past year the Government sent teams of specialists and officials to study experience with the use of securities and the privatization process as a whole in Germany, Great Britain, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Argentina and Malaysia. The privatization process is a single undertaking that transforms property from state-owned into private property. For Albania, however, it is a decisive process in its final separation from the communist planned economy and in establishing a popular capitalist system, at the center of which is not the state but the individual, with their abilities, talent, genius, energy and free, creative initiative. I am fully aware that the programs of the different parties do not coincide regarding the depth of privatization. The program of Mr. Meksi’s Government aims at broad and deep privatization of medium-sized and large enterprises, including all sectors such as industry, tourism, mining, railways, telecommunications, ports, etc. The programs of the other opposition parties differ from this one, but I hope everyone agrees on the importance of securities. Representatives of the political forces said they agreed with the use of securities in the privatization process, accelerating that process, and distributing them beginning at age 18, while giving priority to individuals’ contributions and to certain social groups such as former owners, the persecuted, the homeless, (shahart left without land, etc.). It was agreed that the process should proceed through legal procedures, respect institutions and use transparent methods. Those present criticized the delay in distributing the securities. Mr. Selami said that the PD supported rapid, deep and comprehensive privatization, based on laws and institutional foundations. Representatives of the PR said their party adhered to the same principle, but called for broader discussion of such important issues. Mr. Melo of the PBDNJ stressed that accelerating privatization was all the more important in order to prevent the destruction of national wealth. Representatives of the PSD said they agreed with extending the privatization process, but that its depth should vary from sector to sector. At this meeting, President Berisha expressed regret that Messrs. Servet Pellumbi and Shkelqim Cami, representatives of the PS, had not attended. In this regard, President Berisha stated that argument, not prejudice, should be the instrument of a constructive political force, just as building democracy and a market economy is not an attribute of the governing majority alone but also an obligation of the constructive opposition. Their absence can be justified neither by the restrictions nor by the differences between party programs regarding the privatization process. From President SALI BERISHA’s meeting with the political parties on privatization and securities

Television editor Leka Ndoja put the following questions to judges Metush Saraçi and Zef Nika, the prosecutor in the “Kallafatos” case, and the chairwoman of the Judicial Council, Fatbardha Selenica (who declined to comment): “Is Mr. Brozi’s action in releasing Kallafatos consistent with the decision of the trial panel?” And: “Do you think this case could damage relations with Greece, as Mr. Brozi says?” Below we publish some comments from the gentlemen, based on the answers they gave the television editor. Metush Saraçi – Member of the Judicial Council The release of the defendant Kallafatos is in clear contradiction with the court ruling. The Court of Cassation did not order Kallafatos’s release, and we, as the Judicial Council, discussed the matter and decided that the defendant should remain in custody. Mr. Brozi did not contact the Judicial Council about releasing Kallafatos, but everything was done outside the trial panel, and his release was manipulated. This has never been done in this way before. Keeping the defendant Kallafatos in custody has no effect whatsoever on relations with the Greek state, because this Greek citizen, who came to Albania, committed a crime, just like other crimes for which an Albanian could also be convicted. Many Albanian citizens have been convicted in Greece, and this has had no effect at all on this matter. The Judicial Council decided that the defendant should remain in the situation he was in—in detention and in no way at liberty. Zef Nika – Member of the Judicial Council As for the defendant’s release by the President of the Court of Cassation through a written order, it is an arbitrary and unlawful decision, because in the decision we made as the Judicial Council we did not order any such thing. Therefore, if he was to be released from custody, only this trial panel could make that decision, and nobody else. Keeping a person accused of drug offenses in custody cannot be intended to damage relations with the Greek state. Indeed, that idea can be called absurd, because the Greek citizen who came here for a commercial activity and committed an ordinary crime—just as Albanians have committed crimes in Greece and been punished for them—does not influence the deterioration of Albanian-Greek relations. Gani Dizdari – Prosecutor in the “Kallafatos” Case The Court and the Judicial Council declared: the ruling of the Court of First Instance and the Court of Appeal was overturned, and the case was sent back to the Prosecutor’s Office for further investigation. That was all the trial panel declared, whereas the subsequent statements issued in writing by the President of the Court of Cassation constitute an arbitrary and unlawful decision. This was also stated, with the judges’ reasoning, in response to his claim that he had acted professionally—a claim he has made with such fanfare in his many interviews. On the contrary, his action demonstrates something more than a lack of professionalism. When the President of the Court of Cassation claims that Albania should not have one Di Pietro, but many, that does not mean that he alone deserves the “moralizing mantle” for the “honesty” and “independence” of the courts. He should know that people can now easily distinguish who demonstrates Di Pietro’s qualities through their actions and who tries to hide behind moralizing rhetoric. As for the connection between the Kallafatos case and the criminal affair that, as Mr. Brozi says, might lead to a deterioration in Albanian-Greek relations, the opposing views expressed by his colleagues show that Brozi’s conclusion is something more than naïve. The President of the Court of Cassation’s actions lie outside the Court’s remit and are contrary to his duty. I think the “Kallafatos” case has no reason to influence relations with Greece at all. This is a person accused of an ordinary but serious crime, and crimes of this nature are punished all over the world. That person must answer for it, just as a foreign Albanian citizen must answer for such a crime. This is an ordinary, commonplace case and there is no reason to give it such political overtones. Editor’s note As the judges say, Mr. Brozi is turning out to be an exposer. The favor he has shown Kallafatos not only fails to demonstrate professionalism, despite the great fanfare with which he has made this claim naïve. KPR-se pledhje ti jne do te tij. je nga emrit te 10-Satrap. 15-E rta e lete e Shkak. kuarit. puncs. grenie. Krenja Flet e Shkak. kuarit. puncs. grenie. Krenja

Page 1 “Better late than never,” says the proverb. The government must correct its mistake with the Academy and the Falltore’s Osa; it should leave the taste of fish and raki to Prof. Beqja and his associates. Page 5

Meeting of President Berisha with representatives of political parties and government officials It is being revealed

Numerous complaints have been received by the Council of Ministers raising concerns about inaccuracies in the lists compiled by the district councils of Kukës, Has, Tropojë and Pukë concerning families flooded by hydroelectric power plants. The complaints have come from village elders and groups of citizens. To verify these complaints and finalize the flood victims’ lists, the Council of Ministers has assigned the task to the prefectures. We remind citizens once again that those included on the list of the first 650 families (as was also stated in the announcement dated 31.12.1994) who, following verification by the prefectures, are found to have been included unlawfully will be returned to the places they came from. STATE COMMISSION FOR THE RELOCATION OF FAMILIES FLOODED BY THE HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANT