A reply to PS MP Mr. Namik Dokle Comrade Dokle, it is your right as a citizen and as a member of the People’s Assembly, like every citizen regardless of position and duty, to request an interpellation with the Minister of the Interior or to address the judicial authorities when you believe that the press has infringed upon your personal dignity. RD, as the first opposition newspaper, undertook from its very beginning to respond immediately to the accusations made against it. While waiting in vain for your response and that of the newspaper of the party you lead, the newspaper “RD” considered it reasonable to report the fact that “the leads that N. Dokle...” Meanwhile, it was the newspaper “RD” that, a day later, asked your close colleagues, who answered the journalists of “RD” and “Aleanca”: were you at the same time in Has and Sarande? regardless of one’s position or office, regardless of whether or not one has the opportunity to request an interpellation of the Minister of the Interior, to turn to the judicial authorities when one believes that one’s personal dignity has been infringed by the press. RD, as the first opposition newspaper, set itself the goal from the outset of not following the practices of the communist rag “ZP”, which it had addressed at a time when its central themes were violence, terror, slander and disinformation. In its fight against manifestations of corruption, theft and the misuse of state and public money, “RD” has been and will remain consistent, whoever the target may be, even if that person is a deputy in the People’s Assembly. In the “Alia-Dokle-Benz dossier”, the newspaper “RD” accuses you, as the former editor-in-chief of ZP, of $400,000 having gone missing without a trace in the affair involving the purchase of a phantom printing house. This is the accusation; this is the issue, not [a matter of] wanting a response. Under conditions of political pluralism, when people are very sensitive to the activities of public figures, it is the duty of every such person to Photo: Gani Xhengo

Tirana, 29 March 1995 — Invited by Dr. Alois Mock, President of the European Democratic Union and Foreign Minister of Austria, as well as by Mr. Wilfried Martens, President of the European People’s Parties and chairman of the EPP Parliamentary Group in the European Parliament, a parliamentary delegation of the Albanian Democratic Party left for Brussels yesterday. It was headed by its Secretary-General, Prof. Dr. Tritan Shehu, and comprised MPs Bashkim Kopliku and Tonin Alimehilli. The delegation will take part in the Joint Parliamentary Conference of the European Democratic Union and the Group of European People’s Parties in the European Parliament, to be held in Brussels from 29 to 31 March 1995. The purpose of this conference is to pave the way for dialogue and understanding between members of the European Parliament and members of the national parliaments of the parties belonging to the European Democratic Union and the European People’s Parties, in preparation for the Intergovernmental Conference to be held in 1996. The conference will discuss issues concerning the structure and institutional function of the Union, the Common Foreign and Security Policy, the prospects for enlargement of the European Union, etc. The aim of this conference is to establish common ground among these parties as they take further steps in the European Integration Process.

A reply to the newspaper “ZP” DYLBËR VRIONI Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance When I was assigned the task of establishing the Italo-Albanian Bank in February 1993, I thought I was serving Albania by creating a joint bank with Banca di Roma, one of the most successful banks in Italy and Europe. Banca di Roma’s entry into Albania was a great success ... HERMES, UN, BNV, etc. It is clear that these agreements did not please you, the people behind you, and the Serbo-Montenegrins whom you cite in your article, but they were necessary for Albania. The initiative to establish this joint bank between Banca di Roma and the National Commercial Bank was followed with attention and support by other international institutions as well, such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, as well as the closing of the bank’s 1994 balance sheet. I received no remuneration from this bank while I was a member of parliament or [unclear: shareholders with special authorizations from Banca di Roma and the National Commercial Bank]. My appointment as Minister of Finance coincided with the completion of procedures for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to participate with additional capital in the Italo-Albanian Bank, as well as ... for our country at a time when we were completely isolated and blocked because of Albania’s external debt. Naturally, this did not please those people who hold the old ideas of isolation. We did not create the external debt, but those whom you seek to defend in this article did. I chair a committee that, within one year, managed to unblock Albania’s public debt with Austria, Holland, France, England, Germany and Italy, restoring financial and banking relations with these countries and, consequently, opening the way to investments with them, guaranteed by insurance institutions such as SACE, COFACE, “RD” had reason to report the fact that it great success essential Banca di Roma and the National Commercial Bank was a decision also welcomed Reconstruction and Development, was accepted, to participate as well not think you have misinterpreted Article 47, which you cite and which states that a member of the governing council of the Bank of Albania may not have always been represented at the meeting of the essential decision also welcomed Reconstruction and Development, was accepted, to participate as well of the Bank of Albania may not have always been represented at the meeting of the

. “Your visit is a notable event not only for athletes and sports fans, but for all Albanians,” President Berisha said, welcoming Mr. Samaranc. “There is a good tradition of sport in Albania, and I am optimistic that, despite the difficulties of the transition period, Albanian sport will progress well. I am grateful to you for the assistance and support you are giving our sport, also as an expression of cooperation and the participation of Albanian athletes in international competitions.” Mr. Huan Antonio Samaranc said that they were interested in supporting Albanian sport and athletes, helping them with specialist training courses as well as technical assistance. “I hope to see Albanian teams at the Atlanta Olympic Games, and I will also insist that we maintain regular contacts with your Olympic Committee.” Roma and the National Commercial Bank was also viewed favourably by other international institutions, such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Investment Bank, etc. Moreover, the EBRD requested, and was accepted, to participate with additional capital in this Italian-Albanian joint venture. I do not think you misinterpret Article 47, which you cite, stating that a member of the board of the Bank of Albania cannot be an employee, director or shareholder of a bank or financial institution other than the Bank of Albania, out of ignorance, but rather, regrettably, because in fact I have been neither an employee nor a director nor a shareholder. The director of this bank is Roberto Pancani, and the shareholders have always been represented at the meeting of Photo: A. Babani Traditionally, sports have united peoples and nations and continually bring messages of friendship.

PRESS AND INFORMATION OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT ATA—President Berisha received ATA—President Berisha yesterday received the Director General of the Greek News Agency, ANA, Andreas Christodoulides, who arrived in Tirana on an official visit. President Berisha stressed that he was convinced that the two countries were growing closer and that there was an opportunity and room for friendship, good neighbourly relations and cooperation in the common interest of the two peoples and the region. After thanking President Berisha for the reception, the Director General of the Greek News Agency said: “There is room for cooperation.” “Let us also lay a stone in establishing cooperation between ATA and ANA. Let us establish relations to help one another not only in the distribution of news, but also in addressing problems,” Christodoulides said. ANA—ATA The Director General of ANA was received yesterday by the Director General of ATA, Mr. Ilir Zhilla. President Christodoulides [and his counterpart] agreed to sign a bilateral agreement establishing a direct information-exchange line. The senior representatives of ATA and ANA also agreed to make use of European Community assistance for the technical development of ATA through connection to the INTERNET programme.

A delegation of the People’s Assembly, headed by the Chairman of its Presidium, Mr. Pjeter Arbnori, set off today for Italy at the invitation of the President of the Italian Parliament, Ms. Pivetti, with whom they will hold meetings, as well as with the President of the Senate, Mr. Skojmali, parliamentary groups and other senior state dignitaries. In the Vatican, the Albanian Parliament delegation will also hold a meeting with Pope John Paul II. “RD” Correspondent

On Tuesday, the city of Albanian cultural and artistic tradition, Shkodra, experienced profound grief. Pjeter Gaci, son of this city and the nightingale of the violin, is no longer alive. The life of this great talent of Albanian music has come to an end, but not his great artistic spirit or his musical works. The sounds of his violin will delight us and the generations to come, which is why we say that Pjeter Gaci has not died. At the funeral ceremony, Pjeter Gaci’s body was accompanied by an endless procession. All of art-loving Shkodra accompanied him to his final resting place. Local authorities and representatives of Albanian culture attended the funeral ceremony; the Minister of Culture, Mr. Tedor Laço, was also present. Pjeter Gaci died in a Tirana hospital, where he had spent part of his active creative life. He was buried in the Catholic cemetery. On this occasion, the entire staff of “RD” conveys its heartfelt condolences to his family for this great loss suffered by his family, his relatives and the entire Albanian musical world. “RD”

Press conference by the Marquis Huan Antonio Samaranç After the successful match between our representatives and those of Moldova, which was also attended by the highest-ranking figure in world sport, the Marquis Huan Antonio Samaranc, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), accompanied by Messrs. Jacque Rogge, President of the EOC, and Mario Peskante, President of the NOC, together with the Albanian Olympic Committee, held a press conference for journalists yesterday. The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Teodor Laco, was also present at the conference. His Excellency the Marquis Huan Antonio Samaranç, in addition to congratulating our representatives on their worthy victory, said, among other things: “Politically, you are a wholly European country, and you will gradually integrate into the institutions of the continent as well. My congratulations go to sport and Olympic activity. We welcomed the participation of the Albanian team in Barcelona, and we hope for a more competitive representation in Atlanta. We spoke with the Albanian authorities about the possibilities of greater government support for sport, not only for major sports but also for the representation of sports in the educational programs of the education system. I had the support of the Albanian President and Prime Minister.” The EOC President, Mr. Rogge, spoke about a new program that had been drawn up to support sport, covering three areas: preparation for the Atlanta Games, financial assistance, and material aid and finding sponsors. The IOC president, Mr. Peskante, also supported his colleagues’ views in this area and spoke about the future of Albanian sport and the conditions that need to be created. ALBION ORHANASI

Pellumbi and Dokle against each other over the Nano issue SERVET PELLUMBI: “I would now say that it is precisely the release of Fatos Nano that is destroying the Democratic Party, because it has now become a key issue for Albanian democracy” (“Koha Jone”, March 9, 1995, p. 5; statement by Servet Pellumbi, under the headline: “The release of Fatos Nano is destroying the DP”). NAMIK DOKLE: “Whereas we say that if Nano is kept in prison, the DP will be destroyed” (“Zeri i Popullit”, March 29, 1995, p. 3: “We want elections to give the people a new way of governing”). A. DARA SERVET PELLUMBI; NAMIK DOKLE