From President Sali Berisha’s activities at the World Summit in Copenhagen President Berisha meets with the Prime Minister of Sweden, Karlson, the Prime Minister of Japan, Murajana, the Czech Prime Minister Klaus, the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Kohl, the Emir of Kuwait, Al Sabah, the Bulgarian President Zhelev, the Croatian President Tuxhman, the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Juker, and the administrator of the UN development programme, Stef The World Summit for Social Development, organized by the UN, continues its work in Copenhagen. Yesterday and today have been designated as the days on which only heads of state or heads of government will speak. President Berisha, who arrived in Copenhagen in the evening, took part in the summit’s proceedings yesterday. Danish Prime Minister Rasmussen opened yesterday’s proceedings, attended by the Queen of Denmark. Many prominent figures then spoke, including Butros Ghali, Fransa Miteran, etc. It should be emphasized that, in addition to the Summit’s significance, it offers all the personalities present an opportunity for bilateral meetings. In this context, yesterday morning President Berisha met with Swedish Prime Minister Karlson. At the meeting, President Berisha asked Prime Minister Karlson for help in increasing Swedish investment in Albania, as well as in arranging a visit to Albania by Sweden’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. He also asked for Sweden’s support for Albania’s membership in the Council of Europe and for the Association Agreement with the European Union. Prime Minister Karlson highly praised Albania’s efforts in this direction. [of our country’s infrastructure.] The Japanese Prime Minister said that the Japanese government was satisfied with, and greatly valued, the process of democracy and the stabilization of the extremely difficult situation the country had experienced. It was satisfied with the efficient use of aid. At his meeting with President Berisha, he said that they would try to increase aid and encourage Japanese investment in Albania. President Berisha told Mr. Murajana that Albania had decided to open its embassy in Tokyo soon and was striving to develop closer relations and cooperation between the two countries. In this context, President Berisha said, I appreciate the important work of the Japanese ambassador based in Vienna in promoting this cooperation. At the meeting with Czech Prime Minister Vaslav Klaus, President Berisha discussed further deepening bilateral relations and expressed his pleasure at the forthcoming visit of the Czech Foreign Minister to Albania. He also stressed that Albania would welcome visits by Prime Minister Klaus and President Havel. President Berisha asked Prime Minister Klaus to send a Czech privatization review team to help Albania’s privatization team with their valuable experience. the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Helmut Kohl. This was due not only to Germany’s importance, but also to the fact that the meeting, planned to last 30 minutes, lasted 60 minutes. First, President Berisha thanked Chancellor Kohl for the unstinting assistance Germany had given Albania and assured him that this assistance had been used efficiently. The President expressed his pleasure that President Herzog’s visit had been successfully carried out. As President Berisha emphasized, Mr. Herzog saw not only the reality and the goodwill of officials, but also came away from all the events having recognized all the qualities that held promise for Germany. Chancellor Kohl also expressed his pleasure at President Herzog’s visit, describing it as a very important step in deepening bilateral relations. In response to Chancellor Kohl’s questions about political and economic developments in Albania, President Berisha briefed him on the achievements of the reforms, as well as the great difficulties our country is experiencing today. Mr. Kohl assured the President that Germany would help Albania build its infrastructure, especially by modernizing its electricity grid system. The German Chancellor also promised to help advance negotiations on the Association Agreement with the European Union. The situation in the Balkan region and relations with neighboring countries were another topic discussed extensively at the Berisha-Kohl meeting. The possible withdrawal of UNPROFOR troops and the implications of such a withdrawal, as well as the situation in Kosovo and the path to resolving it, were issues that took a particularly prominent place in the meeting. Prime Minister Karlson praised Albania’s important achievements in consolidating democracy and deepening the market economy. He promised that the Swedish Foreign Minister’s visit would take place and that his government would encourage Swedish investment in Albania. He also promised that Sweden would support Albania’s membership in the Council of Europe and the Association Agreement with the European Union. He would also encourage exchanges of visits at senior political levels. President Berisha met with Japan’s Prime Minister, Murajana. President Berisha conveyed the Albanian people’s profound gratitude to the Japanese government and Prime Minister Murajana for the substantial and generous assistance they had given Albania during this difficult period. The technical and economic assistance from Japan, President Berisha told the Japanese Prime Minister, has been important and encouraging on our path toward consolidation and the transition of our economy from a centralized to a market economy. Japanese assistance, both through bilateral channels and through international institutions, has focused on the essential needs of Prime Minister Karlson highly Agreement with the European Union. President Berisha met with the Emir of Kuwait, Al-Jaber Al Sabah. During the meeting, President Berisha thanked the Emir of Kuwait for the very important assistance, as well as for the projects financed by the Kuwaiti fund for our country. The Emir of Kuwait assured the President that the Kuwaiti fund would approve the irrigation project and would also seriously consider other projects in Albania. Albanian ministers are welcome to cooperate in reaching bilateral agreements. This, the Emir of Kuwait said, would encourage Kuwaiti businesspeople to come to Albania. President Berisha also met with Mr. Stef, the administrator of the United Nations Development Programme. During this meeting, bilateral cooperation was praised. Among President Berisha’s many meetings yesterday afternoon, the most notable was the one with

DUKAGJIN HATA Albania ranks first among the countries of Central and Eastern Europe reporting an improvement in household finances. Strict control over food aid, the establishment of full parliamentary control over the budget, and the implementation of a series of measures to encourage investment. The DP’s election programme provides that These are the major achievements of the Democratic Government, which the red avant-gardists, the toxic remnants of communism, the scum of the neo-communist guard, vomited out against democracy, are undertaking one of the…

Following the joint Albanian-American exercise “Sarex 95,” another joint exercise, “MEDCEUR 95/1,” begins. The purpose of this exercise is to provide medical assistance by military units to the civilian population in the event of war or natural disaster. Civilian members of NATO and the “Partnership for Peace” have been invited to attend the exercise as observers. The “MEDCEUR 95/1” exercise will begin with a joint troop exercise. It will then continue with simulated operations to prevent a major disaster, involving troops and ambulance helicopters. The American teams will go to the northern areas to provide medical assistance to the civilian population. “RD” CORRESPONDENT

Foreign Minister says on the eve of his Greek counterpart’s visit to Tirana Tirana – “The visit of the Greek Foreign Minister, Karolos Papulias, to Tirana, on 13–15 March, is welcomed by the Albanian government. We all agree on keeping the political dialogue between our two governments open, convinced that only in this way can we overcome the disagreements and unresolved issues between the two countries.” This was stated by Albanian Foreign Minister Alfred Serreqi at a press conference of the Albanian Telegraphic Agency. “Our view,” Mr. Serreqi emphasized, “has been and remains that domestic political developments should not affect the course of relations between states, so as not to artificially create conditions and an atmosphere that run counter to the interests of the two peoples of our countries.” The Albanian Foreign Minister believes that “this visit should create the necessary conditions for addressing the factors that hinder the normal development of Albanian-Greek relations and for establishing a climate of mutual trust between our two countries.” For Serreqi, the visit marks “an important moment also for current developments in the troubled Balkan region, and will be a contribution by the two countries and their respective governments to peace, security and stability in the Balkans.” He went on to point out that improving Albanian-Greek relations is a major issue for the region; therefore, “the agenda of the talks is open and will cover this entire spectrum.” “I think,” Mr. Serreqi concluded in his interview with ATSH, “that the talks we will hold will be conducted in realistic tones and with a commitment to gradually move beyond the current state of our relations. We hope they will contribute to normalizing Albanian-Greek relations and cooperation, based on the principles of reciprocity and respect for mutual interests.” ...great importance for resolving many other problems. The thawing of the freeze in Albanian-Greek relations is not only possible, since there are in reality no factors keeping them frozen, but is also very important, not only on the Balkan level but more broadly. Our two peoples have an ancient tradition of good neighborliness, which can now be renewed within the course of European civilization, since Albanians, having overthrown the harshest dictatorship in Europe, are inclined to demonstrate democratic values and an openness to mentalities free of outdated prejudices. It would be desirable for the Greek official authorities to absorb this expectation of the Albanians, as is also expected to happen. It is now recognized at the European level that Albania has shown profound gratitude to the peoples who helped it in the early years of democracy, just as it has known how to assert its dignity in defending the values of the European civilization to which it belongs. Albanians are convinced that, before long, Albanian-Greek relations will be an example not only in the Balkans, but also of peace, stability and prosperity in the region and beyond.

Tomorrow at midday, Greek Foreign Minister Karolos Papulias will arrive in Tirana. at midday, Greek Foreign Minister Karolos Papulias will arrive in Tirana. During his two-day visit, official Albanian-Greek talks will be held at our Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including a one-on-one meeting between Albanian Foreign Minister Alfred Serreqi and Greek Foreign Minister Mr. Papulias. Mr. Papulias will also be received by the President of the Republic, Mr. Sali Berisha, and by Prime Minister Meksi. As can be understood, Mr. Papulias’s visit is being awaited with considerable interest in Tirana. Albanians are already familiar with the recent past of the distinguished Greek diplomat, Mr. Papulias, and his contribution to improving Albanian-Greek relations. The fact that this visit comes after a cooling and actual deterioration of Albanian-Greek relations is, in essence, an expression of the reciprocal will to improve these relations. Albania has consistently remained open and has taken initiatives for dialogue with Greece, and therefore also welcomes Mr. Papulias’s visit, which, as President Berisha said at the press conference, “... will mark the restoration of an understanding that has ...

The leader of the SP’s frenzied, epileptic attacks against the DP show that the crisis is in your heads, not in the DP. The facts show that it is you, Mr. Gjinushi, who do not want Albania to have a Constitution. Dokle once again returns to an exhausted issue.

Even today, the Socialists retain their monopoly on corruption. The socialist leadership has only one mission: to prevent the consolidation of democracy in Albania. Time gave you a chance that you did not know how to take advantage of. Do as I say, not as I do.

BETTER UNCHANGED WORSE ALBANIA ROMANIA SLOVENIA ESTONIA BULGARIA PHARE Czech Republic SLOVAKIA LATVIA LITHUANIA POLAND HUNGARY FYROM BELARUS KAZAKHSTAN UKRAINE GEORGIA RUSSIA CIS ARMENIA

BETTER UNCHANGED WORSE ALBANIA ESTONIA ROMANIA Czech Republic SLOVENIA LATVIA PHARE SLOVAKIA LITHUANIA POLAND BULGARIA HUNGARY FYROM RUSSIA ARMENIA GEORGIA KAZAKHSTAN CIS BELARUS UKRAINE others Albania is once again at the top of the list: 54 percent of Albanians think they will be much better off, 24% do not expect any major change, and only 10% see no chance of improvement in their financial situation. The decline in the number of “hopeless” people from 17% to 10% shows, among other things, that the market economy in Albania is increasingly reaching more Albanians, becoming an integral part of their lives and of the way they think and work. In the three years of democratic governance, they have experienced a grim past, a delirious period and a jumble of economic organization, an economy in collapse and a land in darkness, where nothing thrived, apart from propaganda farces and the noise of festive podiums. In 1992, when the distorted ... ...family finances, over the past 12 months and the optimistic outlook for the next 12 months. This confirmation of EUROBAROMETER results ranks 53% of Albanians among the most enthusiastic about what has changed in their individual (family) finances; 29% feel good about this, although they report no change. Meanwhile, crammed into the long bread queues, amid the banditry of the red owners who seized control of Albanian trade, etc. During this period, 60 percent of the budget was covered by alms, and even that was halved by the Nano and Bufit-type government, which left Albania a jungle intertwined in a thousand ways with the corrupt mafia at home and abroad. Heating and water-supply problems are considered priorities. Villages with clean water are thought to be in a situation that will improve significantly. The boom in the construction industry and in the production of building materials, in which 1,300 private construction firms operate, has noticeably eased the inherited wound of the sprawling villages, with their wells ... the values of freedom, which they raised on the ruins of the forty-year hell. These gentlemen, who carry on their shoulders the burden of the crimes of 1990–91, when they made you worthy successors to the dictatorship, and who never dared to denounce them publicly, would do well to reflect, if only because of some occasional mistake ... [Having been] squeezed into long bread queues, [facing] the banditry of the red-owned properties that crippled Albanian trade, and so on. by handouts, and even those were cut in half by governments of the Nano and Bufi kind, which left Albania at the door of a jungle bound by thousands of threads to the corrupt mafia inside and outside the country, several cities burned and devastated, and national wealth violently plundered. Individuals confronted with this grim reality could hardly imagine what would unfold in Albania during three years of democratic government, when free people would begin the race toward another life, with different dreams and different opportunities. The country of total collectivism now ranks, according to assessments by the most serious international economic and financial institutions, in an enviable position in terms of the indicators used to assess the market economy. The private sector produces over 55% of GDP, and inflation is comparable to that of some EU countries. For two years in a row, it has been at the forefront of economic growth in Europe. Implementation of the Democratic Party’s programme brought the lek out of galloping inflation, liberalized prices, and established problems of heating and water supply to be considered top priorities, and next year the situation is expected to improve considerably. of building materials, in which 1,300 private firms operate, has significantly eased the inherited housing shortage. Successful cooperation with European mechanisms and institutions such as the EU, the IMF, the World Bank, the EBRD and the G-24 has enabled Albania to receive grants and soft loans from these institutions, a good part of which have gone toward private privatizations benefiting individuals. Albania is the only country treated by an EU institution as a special case, having initially received food and other essential products worth 400–500 million dollars, as well as grants and other assistance provided free of charge to date. The privatization of 65%–70% of national wealth has made thousands of Albanians owners, and they have begun competing in the free market to make up for lost time. The issuance of securities is the final stage of privatization, which will make all Albanians owners and put an end once and for all to ownerless property. Albanians who say they are satisfied with their household finances, ranking first on the list of Central and Eastern European countries, do not need to [unclear: take/receive] [unclear] to demonstrate their integration into the free-market economy and the rise in their wellbeing. If this and other indicators of Albanians’ optimism under democracy have diminished your chances of returning to power, it is not their fault; gentlemen, use the logic of facts, not parades of wishes.

TELEGRAM The unexpected news of the death of the President of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Kosovo, Prof. Gazmend Zajmi, deeply saddened us. With his untimely death, the outstanding Albanian intellectual and tireless activist for the Albanian cause and scholarship has left a great void in the noble efforts of the Albanian intellectual community on its arduous path toward scientific truth. Prof. Gazmend Zajmi entered Albanian cultural life with the passionate determination of an activist committed to defending the rights of his compatriots through knowledge. His intellect and exemplary dedication were present at important moments in the efforts to achieve the cultural and national emancipation of Albanians. His broad culture, clarity, uncompromising commitment to the great issues of the nation, combined with delicacy and modesty, make Gazmend Zajmi a worthy member of the illustrious company of distinguished Albanians. Dear colleagues, on this sad occasion, please accept our heartfelt condolences on this great loss. President of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Albania Prof. Shaban Demiraj