Strasbourg At the meeting of the Political Committee of the Council of Europe, which discussed and unanimously approved Albania’s request for full membership in the Council of Europe, Lord Finsberg also took the floor. Among other things, Lord Finsberg stressed in his remarks that “in Albania not only is there complete freedom of the press, there are also people who abuse it. I give as an example of abuse of press freedom the falsehoods of one of the members of the Albanian delegation here at the Council of Europe (N.Dokle), who disinforms the Albanian public by declaring the opposite of what I think and value about President Berisha, the Albanian government and democratic developments in Albania. Nevertheless, he has faced no consequences and no one has dealt with him,” Lord Finsberg stressed. We have informed Albanian public opinion about the truth of this fact. Albania is especially honored by its freedom of the press, while Dokle, for yet another time, is left with the shame of deception before Europe as well.

Interview with the member of the Albanian Permanent Parliamentary Delegation to the CoE, Mr. Ali Spahia Question: Mr. Ali, what was the atmosphere you found in Strasbourg? Answer: The atmosphere we found in Strasbourg was very friendly on the part of all the delegations of the parliaments of the Council of Europe member states. Question: Almost three years have been spent working toward this very important step in Albanian politics. What do you think is the significance for Albanian politics of the invitation the Council of Europe has extended to Albania to join as a full member? Answer: I think this is a major achievement of Albania’s new democracy; it confirms Albania’s ongoing efforts to integrate into Europe through the establishment of the rule of law and a market economy. On the other hand, it is the realization of one of the most important objectives of the DP’s electoral program, which set out to replace the old laws inherited from the communist dictatorship with contemporary laws of European standards. The DP considers the achievement of this objective an accomplishment for all Albanians and a moral and historical duty to broaden the space of freedom even further, to be ever more determined in consolidating and orienting ourselves toward Europe, and to achieve our full integration into Europe. Question: Mr. Ali, for a country to join the CoE, certain criteria must surely have been established. How was it judged in Strasbourg that these criteria had been met, and how has Albania fulfilled them? Answer: First, I want to say that nowhere among the criteria for a country’s membership in the CoE does it say that consensus is essential for membership in the CoE. A country’s membership in the CoE is subject to other criteria, such as the rule of law, pluralism, free elections, respect for the free vote, especially fundamental human rights and freedoms, and the rights of minorities. The law on fundamental human rights is truly an excellent law that fulfills all the criteria and all the most advanced requirements of Western democracies. Question: Mr. Ali, today’s press reported that one of the conditions set in Strasbourg for Albania’s full membership was the abolition of the death penalty in Albania. You have come directly from Strasbourg; what can you tell us? Was Albania’s membership in the CoE made conditional on any requirement? Answer: There is no condition imposed on Albania for joining the Council of Europe as a full member. It has been said that efforts are being made in Albania to narrow as much as possible the scope for applying the death penalty. And that is true. We have made efforts and will continue making them, narrowing as much as possible the field of application of this punishment, that is, capital punishment. But that is not a condition at all for Albania. Albania was only asked to sign the conventions and agreements, just as all CoE member countries do, and nothing more. Question: What is the earliest date on which Albania’s acceptance as a full member of the CoE will be formally confirmed? Answer: I think the earliest date for Albania’s acceptance as a full member of the CoE is June 1995, when the General Assembly will meet and must approve the Political Committee’s decision. Then comes the decision of the Council of Ministers, and with that the procedure for Albania’s full membership in the CoE is complete. Regarding the criteria for a country's membership in the Council of Europe (CoE), nothing is said against [a] consensus-based and necessary [condition] for membership in the CoE. There are other criteria for a country's membership in the CoE, for the free vote, especially fundamental rights and freedoms and the rights of national minorities, respect for the free vote and free elections, and the existence of legislation in line with European standards. Naturally, consensus is also welcome, but the actual criteria for membership in the CoE are those I mentioned above, as well as the request made by the government of the country seeking to become a member of the CoE. Question: What is the earliest possible date for Albania to be admitted to the CoE as a full member? Answer: I think the earliest possible date for Albania to be admitted decision of the Political Commission. CoE is completed.

On Tuesday, invited by the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha: Born: Vienna, Austria, November 4, 1932. Primary and secondary school in Vienna Vienna University of Economics (doctorate, 1957) Married to Edith Marie, née Wielander 3 children (Ursula, Thomas, Stefan) 1957–1959 Office for Economic Coordination in the Federal Chancellery, Vienna 1959–1962 Austrian Delegation to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Paris 1962–1966 Austrian Embassy in Washington, D.C. 1966–1969 Secretary to the Federal Chancellor 1969–1974 Austrian Consul General in Los Angeles 1974–1978 Director, Office for International Organizations, Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vienna 1978–1982 Austria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, New York 1982–1987 Austrian Ambassador to the United States 1987–1992 Secretary-General for Foreign Affairs July 8, 1992: Federal President of Austria The Federal President was born on November 4, 1932, and was the youngest of the five children of Thomas and Maria Klestil. His father came from Bohemia (today the Czech Republic) and had lived in Vienna since 1912. He died in 1941, when his youngest son, Thomas, was 9 years old. Thomas Klestil attended primary school and then a grammar school, which he completed in 1952 with the distinction “Summa cum laude.” He enrolled at the university college ... in the private office of the Federal Chancellor. His work at the Federal Chancellery expanded and intensified Dr. Klestil’s contacts with well-known Austrian figures, particularly in politics, business and diplomacy. In 1969 Dr. Klestil was sent to Los Angeles to open a new Austrian consulate general and to make Austria better known in the western part of America. As a result of his high standing, Austria appointed him, as a highly respected senior diplomat, to be its candidate for Federal President. On May 24, 1992, Dr. Klestil was elected Austria’s new head of state by secret popular vote, in a two-round election, with 56.9% of the vote. In 1956, Thomas Kles­tli attended primary school, then went on to of World Trade in Vienna. He completed his studies in 1956, earning a “Master of Trade” degree, followed in 1957 by a doctorate in Economic Sciences (with special emphasis on Trade). After earning his academic degree, Dr. Klestil decided to devote himself to public service. In November 1957, he joined the Federal Ministry of Trade, responsible for economic and trade matters worldwide. He was assigned to the Office for Economic Cooperation of that department. After two years in the Federal Chancellery, Dr. Klestil joined the Austrian mission to the OEEC (later the OECD—the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) in Paris in 1959. During these three years in Paris, Dr. Klestil gained invaluable experience in multilateral diplomacy and international economic cooperation. In 1962, Dr. Klestil was appointed economic attaché at the Austrian Embassy in Washington. This marked the beginning of the many years he spent in America—a total of 18—which had a major influence on his personality and working style: 1962–1966 — Economic Attaché in Washington 1969–1974 — Consul General of Austria in Los Angeles 1978–1982 — Ambassador of Austria to the UN (New York) 1982–1987 — Ambassador of Austria to the United States (Washington) In 1966, Austrian Federal Chancellor (i.e. prime minister) Dr. Joseph Klaus, who had noticed the 34-year-old economic attaché during an official visit to America, asked him to become one of his private secretaries at the Federal Chancellery in Vienna. There, Dr. Klestil was responsible for economic policy and foreign trade matters and was also deputy chairman of the council. In 1974, Dr. Klestil returned to Austria to take up the post of Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responsible for conference matters and the central office in Vienna, a sector that was particularly important for Austria and its role in the international community at the time. Representing the Foreign Minister, he was active on the Higher Council of the Company (IAKW), which was responsible for the construction of “UNO City” in Vienna, and took an active part in bringing international organizations to Vienna. Four years later, in 1978, with the rank of Ambassador, he became head of the Austrian mission to the UN in New York—one of the most important posts in Austrian diplomacy. There, Dr. Klestil distinguished himself through his speeches to the General Assembly and his work on numerous committees and at conferences. As a diplomat with a thorough knowledge of the United States, its political leadership and American media, he was sent to Washington, D.C., four years later (1982) as Austria's ambassador to the United States and to the Organization of American States. During this period, bilateral contacts in the political, economic and cultural fields intensified significantly, and diplomatic visits increased greatly. From America, Foreign Minister Mock summoned him to Vienna in 1987 to make him Secretary-General for International Affairs. As a close and trusted associate of the Austrian Foreign Ministry, he was responsible for the overall management of all the Ministry's official affairs and represented the Republic of Austria on numerous trips abroad. In 1992, the Austrian People's Party placed him on its candidate list for Federal President. On 24 May by popular vote in the second round, with 56.9% of the votes. On 8 July 1992, Dr. Klestil began his six-year term as president. In addition to his intensive work on domestic issues and Austrian affairs, from the outset Dr. Klestil placed particular emphasis on maintaining contacts with other countries through visits, especially in Europe—bearing in mind Austria's participation in the integration process and the need to intensify relations with the new democracies of Central and Eastern Europe. In this context, the Federal President held a number of meetings with the heads of state of neighbouring countries (the high point of these contacts came in August 1994, with a meeting with the heads of state of ten Central European countries and the President of the European Commission in the village of Alpbach in Tyrol). Among other countries, Dr. Klestil visited all the member states of the European Union and the three “capitals” of the European Union (Brussels, Luxembourg, Strasbourg). Together with the Austrian Federal Government, he made an extraordinary contribution to the preparatory work, both in Austria and abroad, for Austria's accession to the European Union. Shortly before the Austrian referendum on the European Union, which on 12 June 1994 resulted in a two-thirds majority in favour of membership—a result widely recognized internationally—Dr. Klestil married Edith - Maria Klestil, née Wielander, in September 1994. They have three children: a daughter, Ursula (born in 1959), and two sons, Tomas (1963) and Stefan (1967).

The Advantages of Value Added Tax By Michel Decroix, tax adviser at the Ministry of Finance The phantom scandals fabricated by “ZP” cannot cover up the scandals of PS leaders Two PS deputies facing one another E. PALOKA Pellumbi must learn that Albanians are grateful to the EU for the assistance it has provided Faik Konica—the distinguished figure of Albanian diplomacy E6 - THE WEEK’S SPORTS PAGE

The decision of the Political Committee of the CoE - A major achievement of the DPSh program - The DP must consolidate and broadly extend its grassroots structures - The PS leadership is in a complete moral crisis and corroded by corruption - In any case, with its policy toward the extreme left, it is leading the PSD toward complete assimilation by the PS. Tropojë DP activists’ meeting - Attended by Secretary-General Prof. Dr. Tritan Shehu Albania’s new democracy: this is the realization of the country’s most important objectives of the DP’s electoral program, which specified that Albania’s membership in the Council of Europe is the first and most important step toward Europe. This is the fruit of close cooperation established between Albania and the Council of Europe as early as May 4, 1992, the day on which the President of Albania, Mr. Sali Berisha, submitted Albania’s application for membership in the Council of Europe in Strasbourg; from that day until today, this cooperation has continued to grow ever closer. This is a great and honest recognition by Europe of the achievements of reforms in Albania, and especially of respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights, the beginnings of a market economy, the development of the market economy, and the development of Albania’s new democracy. It is a process that gives concrete form to the market economy. There is no constitutional vacuum in Albania; there are laws that meet European standards. The chapter on freedoms and rights ... [text as printed is incomplete/garbled] electoral objectives of the DP, which provides for Albania’s membership in the CoE and its accession to Europe. This is recognition by Europe of the efforts of the Albanians, the success of the reforms, and the development and consolidation of Albanian democracy. It is recognition of the achievements of the Meksi government and the DP, as well as a major moral and legal obligation for us Albanians to further consolidate and develop the values of democracy and the market economy in our country. This is recognition of the regional policy and stabilizing role that Albania has pursued and continues to pursue with its neighbors, but also an obligation to continue this policy consistently. It is also a response to those who spoke out against Albania’s membership in Europe and denounced their own country—to those who disinformed and deceived people by claiming that Europe would supposedly not accept confirmed? Answer: According to the report presented to the Political Committee by Mr. Kelçermans, Albania meets all these criteria. ... Question: How has Albania fulfilled these requirements? by Mr. Kelçermans, Albania meets all these criteria. ... the development and consolidation of Albanian democracy. Yesterday, a meeting of the expanded activists’ group of the DP in the Tropojë district was held in the town of Bajram Curri. The meeting was attended by the DP Secretary-General, Prof. Dr. Tritan Shehu; DP members Halili and Xhaja; members of the DP Presidium, Fiqiriu; the chairman of the Tropojë DP branch, Xhevdet Mehmeti; and others. Together, they assessed the DP program; it has 2,300 members, twice as many as last year. In the section about ... (Continued on page 2)

The Press and Information Office attached to the President reports that, in response to the invitation President Sali Berisha extended to the President of Greece, Kostis Stefanopulos, the latter has confirmed in a letter sent to President Berisha that he gladly accepts the invitation to visit Albania and will plan a visit at a suitable time, convinced that it will serve cooperation and the traditional friendship between the two countries.

Foreign news agencies on the visit to Tirana of EU Commissioner Mr Van Den Broek DPA Albania and the European Union will begin talks on an association treaty, Albanian Foreign Minister Alfred Serreqi and EU Commissioner for External Relations Hans Van Den Broek said after two days of talks. Experts from both sides will meet in the coming months to study the situation and make recommendations on starting the talks, Serreqi said. “We agreed that we will ...” (Continued on page 4)

REUTERS Hans van den Broek, the European Union Commissioner for Eastern and Central European Affairs, said that he believes the EU will begin talks on ... (Continued on page 4)