Broad support for condemning communist genocide 80 percent say genocide was carried out 78 percent demand condemnation of communist genocide 65 percent in favor of the genocide law 66 percent think the law serves democratic developments 80 percent say genocide was carried out 78 percent demand condemnation of communist genocide 65 percent in favor of the genocide law 66 percent think the law serves democratic developments Survey commissioned by the newspaper “Albania” The law for the condemnation of communist genocide, recently approved by parliament, has sparked considerable debate in public opinion. Based on this fact, the newspaper ALBANIA asked us to carry out a survey to see opinions on this law. This survey was undertaken by a team that built a platform so that the data emerging from the survey would reflect as accurately as possible Albanian opinion on this problem. First, the following questionnaire was drawn up according to table 1 (right) We believe this questionnaire covers all the discussions that have been raised both in Parliament and in the Albanian media. Since a sample survey was to be conducted so that the conclusions would be as accurate as possible, the survey was organized according to the following methodology: 1. 4000 people were to be tested throughout the territory of Albania. 2. In order for the sample to be as representative as possible, the proportional method was used. This proportionality was required to be maintained according to the characteristics of age groups, village-town and gender. In addition, the territory of Albania was divided into 10 zones with geographical, economic and psychological similarities. Population data today, such as the village-town ratio, age groups, population of the zones, etc., were taken from the Demography sector at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Tirana. The team in testing the population conducted surveys according to the preliminary study presented in table 2 (right) (Continues on page 2) SURVEY FOR THE LAW ON GENOCIDE Question 1: Was there genocide during the communist dictatorship in Albania? Age __ years Sex M F Place of residence Village Town Answer: YES NO ABSTENTION Question 2: Do you condemn this genocide? Age __ years Sex M F Place of residence Village Town Answer: YES NO ABSTENTION Question 3: Do you agree with the law for the condemnation of communist genocide? Age __ years Sex M F Place of residence Village Town Answer: YES NO ABSTENTION Question 4: Does the law on communist genocide serve democracy in Albania? Age __ years Sex M F Place of residence Village Town Answer: YES NO ABSTENTION TABLE OF DISTRIBUTION OF TESTS FOR THE LAW ON COMMUNIST GENOCIDE Zone Zone% Total Town Village Ratio Tropojë Kukës Dibër 8.5 340 136 204 Shkodër Malësi e Madhe 7.5 300 135 165 Pukë Mat Mirditë 4.8 192 67 124 Lezhë Krujë Laç 5 200 90 110 Ura?zani[?] Gramsh Skrapar Tepelenë 6 240 96 144 Korçë Përmet Kolonjë Pogradec 10.3 412 186 226 Gjirokastër Sarandë Delvinë 4.4 176 79 96 Vlorë Fier Lushnjë 16 640 288 352 Tiranë Durrës Kavajë 24.2 968 580 387 Berat Elbasan 15.3 632 238 392

Speech by the President of the Republic Sali Berisha at the greeting of the Conference “Factors of stability in the Balkans” Organized by the Albanian Atlantic Association Speech by the President of the Republic Sali Berisha At the greeting of the Conference “Factors of stability in the Balkans” Organized by the Albanian Atlantic Association Ladies and gentlemen ministers and deputies, Your Excellencies Ambassadors, Distinguished foreign participants, Ladies and gentlemen, It is a particular pleasure for me to greet the conference of the Albanian Atlantic Association devoted to the factors of stability in the Balkans. Stability is the thing our often troubled region has most lacked in order to build a European future. Therefore debate and dialogue with a spirit of finding the way to establish and strengthen it are very valuable, and your conference devoted to this problem represents an important contribution in this direction. I wish to express my great appreciation for the Albanian Atlantic Association, which took the initiative to convene this forum. This is the latest in a series of activities organized by this association, which through its work contributes to the integration of our country into the Euro-Atlantic Community. This is also a conference that will address issues of particular interest with a high-quality international group of panelists. I am delighted that this may be important for any country, but for Albania, which had the historical misfortune of international isolation, such an international activity sends a clear sign and comes to know more of its troubled truth. This message is clear: Albania is moving quickly along the road of political, economic and social reforms, it is developing democracy and consolidating the market economy. It is taking its rightful place in the family of civilized nations and is integrating into Europe and the West. Such a conference itself, and the participation of NATO officials and representatives of its member countries, is an indication of the great change that has taken place. Five years ago this would have been unimaginable. The country's major achievement in recent years, I would say, has been the broadening of the free and democratic economic space. Citizens in freedom, historically separated from the world, are taking their place back in Europe. In closing the conference I wish to emphasize that stability in the Balkans has one fundamental condition: the establishment of democracy and the rule of law as the basis of the new regional order. The massive legislation approved in these four years and modeled on that of Western Europe. In recognition of this progress is also Albania's unanimous admission to the Council of Europe. I am convinced that the reforms and changes are also impressive. From the country of total autarky in the past and of galloping inflation in 1991 alone, Albania managed to secure its macroeconomic stability and to have a double-digit sustainable economic growth rate. The privatization of free initiatives, [sic][?] today, 82 percent of the volume of trade is carried out with the European Union and 3/4 of the country's gross product comes from the private sector, which has created 4/5 of jobs. Albanians have had a long and difficult journey in their history. They suffered under occupations and dictatorships, but kept their dream of integration into Europe, to which they belong and to whose culture and history they have contributed, intact. This was truly proven in recent years. Albania's international reorientation in this respect has been in the long-desired direction. Integration with the Council of Europe and the Euro-Atlantic Community constitutes the strategic aims of the country's foreign policy. I can state with satisfaction that during these last years relations with European states and the USA have seen a remarkable development, marked by exchanges of visits at high levels and the signing of international agreements. Thus Albania, having joined the Council of Europe, seeks to proceed with signing the agreement with the European Union and to seek, in the Western European Union, cooperation with NATO. In this framework, cooperation with NATO has seen rapid and continuous development. A good commitment is known to the number, which has become increasingly developed with the USA and other allied countries here, as well as the participation of our troops in exercises organized in NATO countries. Albania has offered the Alliance its airport bases for its missions aimed at establishing peace in the former Yugoslavia. We stand by this promise today and in the future. NATO's role as the only force that can intervene decisively and impose peace has been proved best in the conflict in the former Yugoslavia. It was the air sorties of the Allied Air Forces, the strikes of the Rapid Reaction Force made up of peacekeepers, which together with the successful Croatian offensive in Krajina halted Serbian aggression, opened the way to a Europe by methods that for the civilized world had long been considered buried. The new situation created by the space of American diplomacy and the achievement of the Geneva agreement, which gave breathing room to the peace process and Dayton. The deployment of NATO troops in Bosnia and Herzegovina is a necessary condition for extinguishing the flames of the conflict that threatens to engulf nationalism and to strengthen democracy in Eastern Europe. Integration into NATO is a matter of vital interest for Albania. In it we see not only the international guarantee of the country's security, but also a guarantee for the new Albanian democracy. As leader of the opposition I called for NATO membership in 1991 and I did likewise formally as head of state one year later. I expressed this position also to the North Atlantic Council during my three visits to NATO headquarters in Brussels. Although I am aware that the admission into the alliance of a former communist country cannot be done overnight, I believe that the Partnership for Peace [sic?] program is a wonderful opportunity to cooperate, to learn. It is an obligation for NATO standards and criteria, but its final station remains full membership in the Alliance. At least that is Albania's will. Meanwhile, concrete cooperation with NATO has seen a rapid and continuous increase. (Continues on page 2) Ladies and gentlemen ministers and deputies, Your Excellencies Ambassadors, Distinguished foreign participants, Ladies and gentlemen, It is a particular pleasure for me to greet the conference of the Albanian Atlantic Association devoted to the factors of stability in the Balkans.