SAMIMILLOSHI Today Mr. [Van Den Broek] arrives for an official visit to our country. The PD program, supported powerfully by the minds and strengths of free individuals, saved Albania from the “Somalization of Europe” and for the Fundamental [Charter] of Albania. Therefore, it is no coincidence that the European Union is the principal supporter of reforms in Albania. The signing in 1992 of the economic and trade cooperation agreement with the EU, the opening of the EU’s permanent mission in Tirana, the high-level meetings in Brussels—Berisha–Delor, Meksi–Delor—the visits of European Commission Vice-President Andersen and Commissioner Leon Britan, as well as other reciprocal visits by senior officials, have all served to strengthen cooperation between Albania and the European Union. Albanians have not forgotten the very important decision for which Mr. Jacques Delors himself took a stand, when, at his meeting in May 1992 with President Sali Berisha, he considered Albania a special case. This means that throughout this period the European Union has given Albania priority in comparison with the other countries of the former communist East. The signing by the Meksi government was not the only historic event; so was the July 1992 G-24 meeting in Tirana, organized by the European Commission and chaired by the Commission’s Vice-President, Mr. Andersen. Meetings between President Berisha and the President of the European Commission, Egon Klepsh, and Mr. Santer, also gave a powerful impetus to Albania’s relations with the EU. After all this close cooperation, EU assistance has been comprehensive: hundreds of millions of dollars, not only in humanitarian aid, but also to cover the balance of payments and under the PHARE program. What should be emphasized is that Albania is the only country in Eastern Europe to which the European Union has provided aid free of charge. All the aid provided from 1991 until today amounts to over 800 million dollars, free of charge. And after all this generous assistance, Albanians will never forget the slander spread three years ago by leading PS figures through the rag ZP, which gleefully published the lie that the European Union had stopped aid to Albania, when in fact it had granted 100 million dollars. Europe left the liars with shame on their faces and made it clear that it would have nothing to do with liars and ingrates who besmirch Albania’s splendid tradition of gratitude. With this deep sense of gratitude, embraced during these three years of democracy, Albanians welcome Mr. Van Den Broek today. Mr. Van Den Broek’s visit today is truly very important. President Berisha and the highest state officials will welcome Mr. Van Den Broek. This visit will surely serve as a new impetus and will advance close cooperation between Albania and the European Union. Albanians will welcome and see off Mr. Van Den Broek as a great friend, SAMİ MILLOSHI Today Mr. Hans Van Den Broek, a member of the European Commission responsible for the European Union’s relations with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, Mongolia, Turkey, Malta and other countries, is arriving in our country on an official visit. The visit of this distinguished political figure is further evidence of the excellent relations that democratic Albania has established with the European Union. It demonstrates the special friendship that has been formed and the European Union’s support for reforms in Albania, for the consolidation of democracy, the rule of law, and the market economy. The fact of 22 March 1992 is now well known: on that day the Albanian people, with their free vote, freed themselves from the yoke of the harshest dictatorship Europe has known in its history. Now, after three years of democratic government, it can be said wholeheartedly that, thanks to the implementation of PD’s serious program, Albania was oriented toward Europe, and it was this program that pulled the country back from the abyss of history into which the red nomenklatura was rolling it. The PD program, strongly supported “the Somalia of Europe”; and this is not shown by words but by facts, and facts alone. The great transformations in every field speak for themselves, as do numerous institutional and international documents, from the IMF, the World Bank, and the EBRD, with which Albania has had and continues to have close cooperation. The visit today of the distinguished figure Mr. Van Den Broek also bears witness to this. On this occasion, Albanians, through Mr. Van Den Broek, express their gratitude to and appeal to the European Union for everything, and especially for the military aid, water, clothing, etc. that came to Albania free of charge and made it possible to overcome the hunger and misery into which the communist dictatorship and its red comrades had plunged the country. The aid was and continues to be extraordinary, and Albanians will be eternally grateful to the European Union. After the victory of 22 March, the EU gave Albania hundreds of millions of dollars in aid. Humanitarian aid alone amounts to 450 million dollars. The European orientation of the country is the foreign-policy orientation of the second and third governments of Van Broek. 1982–1989 Foreign Minister in the Lubbers government 1993–1995 Member of the Commission of the European Community, responsible for External Political Relations. 1995 Member of the Commission of the European Community. Period of responsibility for relations with Malta and other countries. Responsible for foreign policy and for ensuring cooperation, human rights, and cooperation for the President of external diplomatic relations and external diplomatic missions. Mr. Van Den BROEK is married and has two daughters.

Yesterday, on 26 April 1995, the permanent Albanian parliamentary delegation participating in the regular session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe was received at a special meeting by the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Mr. Miguel Angel Martinez. Yesterday, 26 April 1995, the permanent Albanian parliamentary delegation participating in the regular session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe was received at a special meeting by the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Mr. Miguel Angel Martinez. Mr. Martinez informed the delegation that He also expressed a wish to visit Albania soon, as soon as Albania becomes a member of the Council of Europe. The Albanian delegation expressed its satisfaction that the procedures are at the final stage and conveyed Mr. Martinez’s wish to visit Albania. Today, the report on Albania submitted by the rapporteur for Albania, Mr. Kelchtermans, who is also the chairman of the Political Affairs Committee, will be considered by the Political Affairs Committee. LEON SHESTANI Secretary of the Delegation

At the invitation of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, the President of the French Republic, Fransua Miteran, and the President of the Russian Federation, Boris Jelcin, President of the Republic Sali Berisha will take part in the ceremonies to be held in London, Paris and Moscow on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the victory of the Allied forces and the end of the Second World War. At the invitation of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, the President of the French Republic, Fransua Miteran, and the President of the Russian Federation, Boris Jelcin, President of the Republic Sali Berisha will take part in ceremonies to be held in London, Paris and Moscow on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the victory of the Allied forces and the end of the Second World War. These ceremonies, which will be attended by heads of state and government from more than 50 countries in Europe and around the world, will take place on 6 and 7 May in London, on 8 May in Paris, and on 9 May in Moscow. Press and Information Office of the President

On 13 April 1995, on the basis of the complaint filed by the State Control Service, the Tirana District Prosecutor’s Office opened criminal case no. 605 for

- Dokle’s personal guards have set off to meet “old friends” in Canada - Will Gellçi sign again to withdraw dollars? These are the latest reports concerning the scandal over the 400,000 dollars for the “printing press”

On 13 April 1995, on the basis of a complaint filed by the State Audit Service, the Tirana District Prosecutor’s Office opened criminal case no. 605 for the criminal offense of abuse of office under Article 106 of the Criminal Code, against Perparim Xhixha, former editor-in-chief of the newspaper Zeri i Popullit, and Drita Sheshi, chief accountant of that newspaper. On 13 April 1995, on the basis of a complaint filed by the State Audit 605 for the criminal offense of abuse of office under Article 106 of the Criminal Code, against Perparim Xhixha, former editor-in-chief of the newspaper Zeri i Popullit, and Drita Sheshi, chief accountant of that newspaper. The offenses identified concern the following matters. In December 1990, by decision of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the PPSH, an amount of USD 400,000 was transferred from the solidarity fund to the account of Zeri i Popullit for the purchase of a printing press from a Canadian company. This sum was recorded as a loan in the city in two installments, the first of USD 150,000 in December 1990 and the second, of USD 250,000, in April 1991. The sum of USD 150,000 was disbursed to the Canadian company in April 1991; this amount remains a debt owed by the company, which has not delivered the goods. The newspaper’s editorial managers used this foreign currency for other needs, and the bank balance in March 1995 stood at 36,620 US dollars. In May 1992, the government decided to transfer to the 1992 state budget the foreign-currency funds of the former Central Committee of the PPSH. Nevertheless, the editorial staff, contrary to the above, laid hands on this foreign-currency sum. In connection with the above, the former editor-in-chief of Zeri i Popullit, Perparim Xhixha, was charged with the crime Code, and the measure of house arrest with guards was imposed on him; Drita Sheshi, chief accountant of the editorial office of the newspaper Zeri i Popullit, was charged with the crime Code, and a measure requiring personal surety was also imposed on her. The prosecution authority has ordered an accounting examination in this case. The decision to conduct the accounting examination was communicated to the persons charged, who made suggestions regarding the questions put to the experts; these suggestions were taken into account, and the group of experts was ultimately provided with the documents necessary to carry out the examination. The investigation into this case is continuing. On the “Alia-Nano-Dokle-Ruçi-Benc” scandal

These are the latest reports concerning the scandal over the 400,000 dollars for the “printing press” that Dokle should have collected four years ago. - in Canada - the “printing press” that Dokle should have collected four years ago. One or two of the personal guards of PS vice-chairman Namik Dokle set off for Canada a few [codes?] ago. At first the purpose of Dokle’s guards’ “trip” was unknown, although the connection could easily have been made, but now the latest reports reveal the purpose of this “tourist excursion” too. After arriving in Canada, Dokle’s envoys ended up in Ottawa, a city between Montreal and Toronto, where they made contact with the “old friends” of the former Canadian Communist Party. It is not known whether Hardiali Benci was one of them, but it is very likely that Benci has disappeared, just like the 150,000 dollars and the printing press. In any case, according to our information, after their first contacts, Dokle’s envoys and the “friends of the world revolution” got to work searching for the “printing press”—only not the one that was “bought” and is awaiting collection, but another, old printing press that must be dismantled and prepared for shipment to Albania. This, it seems, is how the PS leaders have thought to plug one of the holes from which the accusations against them are coming. However, the old printing press awaiting packing and shipment from Canada cannot be packed and shipped without paying its value. Dokle would therefore have to sign again for thousands of additional dollars, although it is hard to imagine that he would do so, given that he has already [an unclear phrase in the source]. The other PS leaders, too, would not agree to take on such a risk at this time. But perhaps it could be Gellçi who signs, as he has signed on other occasions. In addition to this problem, there is another: where will the dollars come from to pay for the printing press that is being dismantled? Will Benci produce them, or will the remaining 36,000 dollars in the “ZP” account be withdrawn as well, out of the other 250,000 dollars? These and other matters will be clarified later. “RD” will keep you informed of every move the PS leaders make to erase the traces of the scandal, which has now erupted from all sides.

- Berat’s youth support democracy - Present: PDSH Secretary-General Mr. Tritan Shehu More than 500 young men and women Democrats gathered for the assembly of the FRPD branch in Berat. The PDSH Secretary-General, Mr. Tritan Shehu, and the MP, Ms. Aferdita Zeri, also took part in the meeting. After the opening remarks by the chairman of FRPD Berat, Gj. Hotova, the chairman of the FRPD, Afrim Krasniqi, took the floor. He expressed confidence in such assemblies, focusing on their constructive purpose. Krasniqi then focused on the current political situation in the country, comparing the role of the FRPD, both today and in the past, and its integration into politics and its structures. “The youth forum is, and should be, part of politics and not stand outside it,” he said. Then the FRPD chairman spoke about relations between PD and FRPD and ways to consolidate them. He said the FRPD’s demands should be more insistent and described the work of FRPD activists in universities, secondary schools, and throughout the country’s youth sector as an important factor. PDSH Secretary-General Mr. Tritan Shehu also addressed the assembly. He said that PD is aware of the role of Albanian youth in determining the fate of democracy. Mr. Shehu praised the role of FRPD in democratic development and within PD. PD, Shehu stressed, is a party of the ideals of December: “We remain faithful to these ideals.” He reiterated that PD has remained, and remains, faithful to the program it promised its electorate. As such, PD, Shehu continued, rebuffed all attempts to divide it. Mr. Shehu then discussed the role and amplification of the PS’s anti-reform propaganda. He reiterated the corruption in which the socialist leadership is mired, as it seeks to halt the reforms that Albanian society has begun. Mr. Shehu went on to discuss relations between PD and FRPD. Saying that it was necessary for PD structures to be renewed, he called for FRPD’s role to be strengthened in consolidating the structures of the entire PD, in both town and countryside, and for FRPD to play an important role in extending PD’s reach. To achieve this, he said, the restructuring of the Youth Forum should also begin. Speakers emphasized their support for democratic processes and affirmed that the youth of Berat support PD, the President, the government, and democratic reforms. The meeting then moved on to discussions and questions. Finally, candidates were selected for the FRPD leadership structures in the Berat branch. IDILIR AZIZI

SAMİ MILLOSHI Today Mr. Hans Van Den Broek, a member of the European Commission responsible for the European Union’s relations with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, Mongolia, Turkey, Malta and other countries, is arriving in our country on an official visit.

ZP censors the response of the Italo-Albanian Bank The complete facsimile of the Italo-Albanian Bank’s response addressed to “ZP” A response to the unscrupulous journalist Ded Kola Gjinushi and the political prestige-seekers When are we to believe you, Mr. Pellumbi? The dividers, having failed with class warfare, are seeking to divide Albanians by religion and region Contradictions among PS leaders also over Albania’s membership in NATO Switzerland... Canada... where the cycle ends and who are the appropriators of the money stolen from Albanians

Hans Van Den Broek was born on 11 December 1936 in Paris. He completed the Albergine Thym Lyceum in Hilversum, after which he studied law at the University of Utrecht. He attended a postgraduate course as a degree program at “De Baach” in Noordwijk. 1965–1968 Qualified and began practicing as a lawyer in Rotterdam 1969–1973 Secretary of the Board of Directors of the private company ENKA B.V. Arnhem 1973–1976 Trade Director at the private company ENKA B.V. 1976–1981 Member of the moden Municipal Council 1976–1981 Member of the Bar Association at Parliament 1978–1981 Executive Member of the Catholic Party 1981–1982 State Secretary