Interview given by President Sali Berisha to TVSH after the conclusion of the Copenhagen Summit: The Summit on Social Development, organized by the UN, concluded in Copenhagen, Denmark. One hundred and eighty countries of the world took part in this summit. In the last two days, Albania was represented at this meeting by President Berisha, who on Sunday afternoon addressed the conference in a speech on various aspects of social development in Albania. The speech is published in today’s issue on page three. As a conclusion, the Copenhagen Summit approved a final document, agreed by those present, containing 10 commitments to combat poverty, promote employment and social integration. After five years, it will be verified whether progress has been made in implementing the commitments undertaken at this Copenhagen Summit. — Mr. President Berisha has returned to his homeland. President Berisha gave the following interview to RTV journalist Reiz Çiço. Question: Mr. President: — How do you assess the World Summit for Social Development, in which you took part? — This summit, organized by the UN within the framework of the 50th anniversary of its founding, was organized by ... [text continues below the edge of the image] ... all the opportunities to hold a series of important meetings. I would single out the meeting with Chancellor Helmut Kohl, which took place only a few days after President Herzog’s very successful visit. At this meeting with Chancellor Kohl, we discussed developments in bilateral relations at length. I expressed my deep gratitude to Germany, the Chancellor, the President and German institutions for the considerable assistance they have given us during this period. At the same time, I also acquainted him with the great difficulties we are experiencing today in the reform process, particularly with regard to infrastructure, which, because of the country’s rapid development, is making life increasingly difficult for Albanian citizens. I also briefed him on the process of consolidating democracy in Albania. Chancellor Kohl showed great interest in these achievements. He pledged that Germany and he personally would help Albania build its infrastructure, principally by improving the water supply to the population and repairing and rehabilitating the electricity network. Another topic of discussion with Chancellor Kohl was Albania’s integration into Europe. The Chancellor [discussed] the possibility of negotiating an association agreement with Albania, and would also encourage the European Investment Bank, on the basis of projects submitted by the Albanian side, to become involved in developing infrastructure in Albania. During my stay I also held a series of other meetings with heads of state from countries in the region, with President Demirel and Mr. Tuxhman. Bilateral relations, the situation in the region and the development of cooperation were the main topics of these meetings. I also met with the Prime Ministers of the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and Luxembourg, and with Denmark’s foreign minister. In all these meetings, the main topics of discussion were intensifying bilateral relations and these countries’ assistance for Albania’s integration into European institutions, as well as the situation in the region and the very grave situation of Albanians in the former Yugoslavia, particularly in Kosovo. I met with the Prime Minister of Malaysia and the Emir of Kuwait, who assured me that their countries would provide economic support for reforms in Albania. I also met with Mr. Hollbruk, with whom we discussed at length the situation in the region and the possibility of negotiating an association agreement with Albania, as well as encouraging in Albania. Question: Mr. President: — in which you took part? — the 50th anniversary of its founding, was organized by ... [the visible text is cut off at the lower edge] ... This organization had two major objectives: first, to address social problems, their causes and consequences; and second, to determine the most effective ways of overcoming these problems. I believe the first objective was largely achieved, in the sense that the various countries, or all countries, had the opportunity to bring the full range of the social problems they experience to the attention of international public opinion. We too expressed our concerns and our social problems, all of which are related to political and economic problems. In Albania, they are the consequence of one of the most disastrous legacies, the consequences of a transition that brings its own losses, and of the embargo that we are obliged to respect. So, in presenting the causes and existence of social problems, I believe the objective was achieved. The second objective, defining effective measures, is far from being achieved. Two trends stood out here. The trend among developing countries was characterized by insistence on increased aid from developed countries and debt forgiveness—in other words, greater generosity on their part. The other trend, among developed countries, was characterized mainly by insistence on the efficient use of aid provided. As for debts, there was no positive development apart from Australia and perhaps one other country, which declared that they would forgive bilateral debts. No other major country joined this initiative. Thus, the second objective remains for countries with social problems, as a whole, to try to resolve them through their own efforts and hard work, cooperation, a system of reforms and the application of more socially oriented policies. Question: At this summit you met many different prominent figures. What is the value of these meetings? — Thanks to the excellent organization of the Conference by the Danish government, I took advantage of ... [text continues] ... renew The Chancellor reaffirmed once again that Germany would be Albania’s advocate in all European institutions. In this regard, he said that he would personally work toward an association agreement for Albania, as well as in other areas of cooperation. The situation in the region, the situation in Bosnia and Kosovo, and Albania’s relations with its neighbors held an important place in these discussions. I believe we reached a great understanding, and I am convinced that this meeting will provide another major boost to relations between our two countries. I also met with Prime Minister Murajama, whom I thanked and to whom I expressed Albania’s deep gratitude for the assistance the Japanese government has given Albania, both through bilateral relations and in international institutions. Prime Minister Murajama assured me that Japan is following developments in Albania with particular interest and congratulates Albania on the achievements it has made. It is deeply interested in increasing the support of its predecessor, Prime Minister Hata. Japan is very interested in Albania’s stability and will support its efforts toward a new, free-market and democratic economy. During my stay in Copenhagen, I also had an important meeting with Mr. Zhak Santer, President of the European Commission. We discussed the development of relations between Albania and the European Commission, assistance and cooperation in this area, and examined the possibility of reopening negotiations on the association agreement, as well as the involvement of the European Investment Bank in developing infrastructure in Albania. Mr. Santer told me that, in keeping with the existing economic criteria, Albania naturally cannot be compared with Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland and other countries, but the European Commission considers developments in Albania very positive and will consider opening negotiations at the appropriate time, and not only on the situation in the region and the development of bilateral relations. With the Director General of UNDP, Mr. Speth, we discussed various fields in which UNDP should become involved in the future. I again put forward the request that Albania be considered by this organization as if it were among the poor countries, as a special case. This is because we are situated among wealthy countries. We may be regarded as such because our poverty stands out more due to our geographical position. Mr. Speth told me that he would reconsider continuing UNDP assistance to Albania in the future. I also met with the President of Finland, Ahtisari, with whom we discussed bilateral relations. We also discussed the assistance we expect from Finland through international institutions, particularly Albania’s integration into the Council of Europe and the EU institutions. In the meeting with the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, we discussed the development of bilateral relations. I requested his technical assistance with the privatization process, since the Czech Republic is among the most advanced countries in Eastern Europe in privatization. Czech Prime Minister Klaus expressed his full willingness to send a team to work with our team. In addition to these meetings, I also exchanged views with Chinese Prime Minister Li Pen and expressed my satisfaction with the high level of friendly relations between our two countries. I also met with Chancellor Varnick. I also exchanged views with Italian Prime Minister Dini, who assured me of Italy’s determination to help Albania in every possible way. I exchanged views with President Iliescu and President Gons. All three promised to visit Albania. Finally, I wish to express my deep gratitude to the Danish government for the excellent organization of the Conference and the facilities it provided for holding this meeting, which are very important to us.

Editorial Not only Mati, but all Albania knows where you come from and where you are trying to go. Like Enver Hoxha, Pellumbi chooses Mati for his Marxist speech You are the ones who have bloodied this people for 50 years in a row 1991 is the year of the reign of crime — The Marxist Pellumbi, following the example of the clown Dokle, speaks in the capacity of the PS’s “Shadow President.” The poor man believes the lists drawn up by him and the other communist shadows. — The deceiver Pellumbi lies when he declares that we based ourselves on the German Constitution. — The PD is implementing its program every day. Today’s reality cannot be compared with yesterday’s communist past. The people observe, judge, compare and express themselves in surveys. — The Eurobarometer shows that Albanians have achieved the greatest increase in their finances in Central and Eastern Europe, are more optimistic, and have greater confidence that the country is being steered in the right direction. The PS leadership—Pellumbi, Ruci and Co.—descended on anti-communist Mati, Mati so persecuted and struck by class warfare and political-background checks during their rule, to spread Marxist lessons. From Mati, in a programmatic speech “addressed to the socialists and the entire Albanian people,” the Marxist leader Servet Pellumbi (published at the top of the front page of “ZP”) declares that “the PS is not, and is not confined to, a few people in the leadership in Tirana; it is in all four corners of Albania, it is among you; it is everywhere—in your hopes, in your aspirations, in your thoughts, in your future...” Twenty-odd years ago, around the end of February and beginning of March, just as now, Enver Hoxha addressed the Albanian people with the call, “The masses build socialism; the party makes them conscious.” In this programmatic speech, which “ZP” published at the top of its front page, Hoxha tells the Albanian people that “communists are everywhere, in every corner of Albania,” that “communism is in your hopes and aspirations,” and that “your future, the future of the world, is communism.” It is no coincidence that the “legendary leader” of the PP and today’s leader of the PS, from the same region, address the Albanian people with the same programmatic speech. Since 22 March, the Socialist leadership’s policies and positions have pursued only a strategy of tension. The advocates of a policy of tensions and constant destabilizing positions, those who never accepted the people’s verdict that marked the end of their era, and those who called for new early elections on 23 March 1992, had the nerve on Friday in Mati to accuse the President of the Republic, Mr. Berisha, of “proposing a strategy of tension!” A little retrospection is needed to answer. To Albania’s misfortune, today’s PS leadership, with its PPSH and former State Security “curriculum vitae,” “led” the country in 1991–92. It plundered it, burned it and plunged it into the darkness of anxiety and chaos, anarchy and the reign of crime, into the misery of begging and the conscious looting of what little there was, turning it into the European Somalia of the late twentieth century. “Strategy of tension” was far too mild a phrase to characterize their rule. Words closer to the reality of 1991 (although they would still fall short of an accurate characterization) would be: a strategy of theft, of ordinary political crime, of creating an image of an unchanging evil for Albania and Albanians. This strategy, designed by the old PPSH leadership and implemented with great devotion and zeal by those they carefully selected—the Marxist “Eurosocialists” of today’s PS—received its answer on 22 March 1992, the day the people ... [text as printed is garbled here] ... Pellumbi and the others gave their speeches in Mati. From that day until today, they have not managed to put on record a single word, a single constructive statement in support of democratic processes. That alone would be half the trouble. But they not only failed to keep silent when they should have left the political stage; they not only failed to remain passive when they should have hoped that the traces of the crimes they left behind would not be seen; they not only failed to apologize for the crimes committed, whose victims, relative to the population, are more numerous than in any other country, with some still alive; during these three years they have done nothing but insult, blacken and obstruct democratic processes and reforms day and night. They have tried to obstruct Albania’s integration into international structures; they have sought and continue to seek to block reform through “strengthening the laws already passed,” through “turning the markets into clans,” through imposing “their justice,” and so much else. On 22 March, democracy, this new system, offered them tolerance—which they exploited without scruple—and today they openly proclaim Marxism as the backbone of their program and dare once again to offer this people its practical implementation. Those who stole all the remaining savings from this people’s systematically plundered labor, and emptied and burned its warehouses, now equate privatization with theft. To equate privatization with theft today means, apart from being a fraud, that you are allergic to it, that it pains your eyes and that you hate privatization and private property. This takes little intelligence to understand if one keeps in mind the Marxist collectivist economy. To say that economic reform has been blocked when the most prestigious international institutions describe your country, Albania, as “the surprise of the East,” is more than malice. It is pure nihilism that stops at nothing, not even the trampling of national interests. Shame on you for making such disgraceful declarations. Pellumbi assures people in Mati that “there is no going back.” But who is Pellumbi, and what guarantee does his political “curriculum vitae” offer? His guarantee is his love of Marxism. Let him sit in libraries, because he is behind the times in all four corners of the world, both in time and in thought. Pellumbi and the adolescent Majko offer guarantees. But what about blocking reform, undoing laws, the decorations, the threats and intimidation—are these not a return to the past? Albanians no longer believe those who trampled on their trust for half a century. You talk about failures, Pellumbi! You and your comrades, who deceived this ... (Continued on page 2) renew population and repairing and rehabilitating the electricity network. ... of become involved in the future. ... Perhaps another ...? Also the situation in the region, It is no coincidence that the “legendary leaders” programmatic speech. ... communication ... ... a strategy of theft, of ordinary and political crime, of creating an image of Alia and the crime that ... ... the strategy of ... and of ... ... Which they ... exploited without scruple, and today Those who stole all ... ... deceived this (Continued on page 2)

Foreign Minister Karolos Papulias began his official visit to our country yesterday. At Rinas Airport, where Mr. Papulias was due to arrive, the particular interest of Albanian and Greek journalists in this visit was evident. On this occasion, Albanian minister Alfred Serreqi told journalists: “We must be objective in our bilateral relations, because they are important not only for our two countries, but also for this region. The agenda for the talks is open to many issues. I have been, and remain, of the opinion that Albanian-Greek relations should not fluctuate, but should be realistic and consistent.” Greek minister Karolos Papulias was received at Rinas Airport by his Albanian counterpart Alfred Serreqi, by Selim Belortaja, Secretary of State for Economic Relations with Foreign Countries, as well as by department directors and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ambassadors of Albania and Greece, Mr. Hysen Çabej and Kristo Saliqi, were also present. Official talks took place at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs between the two delegations, led by Ministers Serreqi and Papulias. Photo: A. Babani

Yesterday afternoon, Albanian Foreign Minister Alfred Serreqi and his Greek counterpart, Karolias Papulias, held a meeting at the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Official talks between the delegation of the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the delegation of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs followed. After welcoming him, Minister Alfred Serreqi described the visit as evidence of the political will to improve Albanian-Greek relations and of the responsibility arising from these relations, which are of mutual interest. He praised Minister Papulias’s personal willingness to put an end to the gloomy and cold period in Albanian-Greek relations. “I am not speaking of a new chapter,” the Albanian minister said, “but of a progressive improvement in these relations. I am optimistic that realistic tones and an objective assessment will characterize our talks, so as to set aside the factors that hinder us and encourage those circumstances that are more and more essential and that influence friendly Albanian-Greek relations.” “Thank you for your kind words and for the hospitality you have shown the Greek delegation,” said Minister Karolias Papulias. “As you said, Albanian-Greek relations are very important. We are two states and two neighboring peoples; we must find ways of cooperation and peaceful coexistence in the interests of both our peoples. I come to your country with these views and with the Greek government’s political will to work in this direction. You know very well,” Papulias said, “that at our meeting in November ’93 we expressed our views on this matter. Greek-Albanian relations,” the Greek foreign minister observed, “are a point of reference for stability and peace in the Balkans. I believe that, including at the one-on-one meeting we held, we observed your side’s goodwill to work in this direction.” The talks then continued without the presence of journalists. According to the spokesperson for the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister Serreqi pointed out that the Albanian government is fully committed to respecting the rights of the Greek minority in accordance with European standards. The presence of the Greek minority in Albania and of Albanians in Greece serves understanding between our two countries. Education in the Greek language has been resolved, Serreqi said, also mentioning the law on private schools, which will resolve this issue better. The Albanian minister thanked the Greek government and people for their assistance to Albanian emigrants, who through their work have contributed to Albanian families and to Greece itself. He called for ways to be found to legalize their status. Regarding recent events on the Albanian-Greek border, Serreqi said that there had been no emotional reactions and stressed the need to activate the joint border commission. Speaking about the Albanian state’s position toward religious beliefs, he said they are guaranteed by law and treated equally. Religious tolerance has existed and continues to exist in Albania; it is a great Albanian asset that we will always preserve. Greece, Serreqi went on, ranks second in terms of investment and trade in Albania, and we hope these will increase further as the legal framework is further completed. The Albanian minister also raised the issue of the property of the Çam population, regarding which some projects discussed at previous meetings have still not been carried out. He called for the opening of border crossing points and the expansion of consular services. In response to his counterpart ... (Continued on page 2)