The address by the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha: “Three years of DP governance, commitments and their fulfillment” In this brief address, President Sali Berisha analyzes all the Democratic Party’s objectives in building the rule of law and carrying out institutional reform, as well as in economic, agrarian and social reform and foreign policy, together with what was achieved over the three years. The author presents the facts, showing how the DP’s objectives were implemented during the three years following the victory of 22 March. No political force has done more for its people and country over a three-year period than the DPA. This book shows: -How Albania was transformed from the “land of forbidden bread,” which the communist dictatorship reduced in its death throes to “Europe’s Somalia,” into a country of “surprise success.” -What has and has not been achieved from the DPA’s program. -That the Democrats have the right to sign a new contract with the electorate. It has been several days since the book “The Democratic Party’s Contract with Albania,” published by the newspaper “Rilindja Demokratike,” came off the press. From its contents, one can see the ambitious aim of putting down on paper that progressive movement, those rapid and all-encompassing developments, promoted by the Democratic Party with Albania... [The source text repeats and contains damaged passages.] “Rilindja Demokratike.” From its contents, the ambitious aim is clear: to put down on paper that progressive movement, that rapid and comprehensive development, promoted and, in some cases, left somewhat outside the attention of the wider public, known as the Albanian democratic processes of the three years 1992–1995. Far from euphoria, bombast or deification (which were characteristic of yesterday’s communist propaganda), the book comes to readers in simple, understandable and, above all, realistic language. Long phrases have given way to figures that refer to reality and seek to synthesize not only a three-year period of change but also the distance between two systems. Their effective use, appropriately interwoven with a clear description of the situation and the steps taken, prevents readers from becoming tired or bored and avoids the argumentative [text unclear] of the book. What makes the book interesting and credible is the realistic spirit that runs through it. In it, one finds objectives, ideas and aims that are achieved, as well as others that remain on paper; one finds goodwill and a sincere purpose in the efforts to make them concrete; one finds the coexistence of desire and possibility, will and obstacle, ideas and their concrete embodiment, initiative and its evaluation. One finds seriousness, dedication, work, perseverance, honesty in acknowledging the truth, and the optimism of a political force. The pages of the book are a reflection of the promises and achievements of the DP and the Albanian Democrats. Page after page, the book inspires respect for a small, freedom-loving people, eager to make up for lost time and catch up with the leaders, after having set out half a century earlier. The book objectively conveys the obstacles and difficulties that must be overcome. It does not dwell on who created them or is interested in making this road more difficult; although it denounces the organized backwardness of the extreme left, which nostalgically yearns for its bygone era, the year 1991, the year of its rule, chaos, anarchy and corruption, it aims to overcome them, to move forward and to identify the ground that remains to be covered. Naturally, at the heart of it is the program that was to lift Albania out of the catastrophe brought about in a day and a half: the rule of law, democracy, the welfare state, human rights and freedoms, economic and market development, investment and free enterprise. “Program” is the word ...

Prime Minister Meksi received the EIB Vice-President, Mr Genimatas Yesterday morning, Prime Minister Aleksander Meksi held a separate meeting with Mr Genimatas, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank, headquartered in Luxembourg, and the delegation accompanying him during his visit to our country. After briefing Mr Genimatas on the progress of reform in Albania, Prime Minister Meksi expressed the Albanian government’s readiness to deepen cooperation with the European Investment Bank and outlined priorities for its involvement in infrastructure, particularly the construction of the Durres–Tirane and Durres–Kapshtice highways. “The signing of the current agreements with the European Investment Bank will pave the way for an even greater development of relations between us,” Mr Meksi emphasized. He also noted that contacts should be deepened in the future to identify and find opportunities for implementing projects in energy, agriculture, tourism, etc. Mr Genimatas, who invited Mr Meksi to visit Luxembourg, stressed that the first phase of cooperation had now been completed and that, in the second phase, the main objective was to implement concrete projects, particularly in infrastructure, as well as in other fields to be determined by both parties. The European Investment Bank is ready to help Albania finance other projects, and further agreements for the development of Albanian infrastructure will be signed at the end of the year. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dylber Vrioni, and the European Union ambassador in Tirana, Elio Germano, also attended the meeting. ATSH

-The President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, also attended Yesterday evening, the grand festive concert was held at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana, concluding the many events organized for 1 June, International Children’s Day. The concert was organized by the Municipality of Tirana under the auspices of UNICEF. The President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, came to join thousands of children in wishing them a happy holiday. In this concert, which consisted of two parts, the children performed songs, dances and various artistic pieces. (ATSH)

Albania–Italy relations over the course of a year 2 June, Italian Republic Day, brought together yesterday at the residence of the Italian ambassador in Tirana, Mr Paolo Forresti, representatives of the press and Radio Television. 2 June, the Italian Republic Day, brought together yesterday at the residence of the Italian ambassador in Tirana, Mr Paolo Forresti, representatives of the press and Radio Television. Mr Forresti first recalled that Italy’s National Day this year also coincides with the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, an important event that should remind us not only of the end of that bloody war but also that, despite Europe’s progress toward cooperation, mutual understanding and international peace, just two steps away from us a fierce war continues, “a disgrace to civilization and humanity.” Speaking about the policy of the Italian Republic since its founding on 2 June 1948, Ambassador Forresti emphasized that it had focused its efforts on several key points: the process of European integration; the transatlantic force, namely the Atlantic alliance in its political and military dimension as a guardian of peace; and the promotion of the principles of the UN Charter as instruments for maintaining and managing international crises. Forresti then focused on relations between Albania and Italy. He described the period from 2 June 1994 to 2 June 1995 as intensive in terms of the development of democratization processes in Albania and the role of relations between the two countries in the region as an element of stability and peace. “With the growth of (Continued on page 3) Italian Ambassador Forresti

At the Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the North Atlantic Cooperation Council Yesterday, the Albanian delegation returned home, headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Alfred Serreqi, who took part in the Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the North Atlantic Cooperation Council, held in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, on 31 May 1995. In the 1995 report on the Partnership for Peace Planning and Review Process, it was stated that Albania considers Partnership for Peace and cooperation within this framework to be the first stage of full integration into NATO. There are no constitutional, legal, or political restrictions on this. In his speech, Mr. Serreqi focused on the grave situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Kosovo issue. Referring to the Kosovo issue, Minister Serreqi pointed out that there can be no solution to the problem of the former Yugoslavia without the participation of the Albanians. Preventing the conflict from spreading south is an element that must be supported and strengthened through dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade, in the presence of a neutral third party. Today, more than ever, it is time for the international community to pursue preventive diplomacy in this zone fraught with dangers. We adhere to the idea, Mr. Serreqi concluded, that collective security is closely linked to the security of each country individually, and that Europe’s political, strategic, and economic integration is a guarantee of overall security.

Yesterday afternoon, at the headquarters of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Mrs. Pack, head of the European Parliament delegation for Southeastern Europe, met with representatives of the parliamentary group of the Democratic Party, consisting of Messrs. Tomor Dosti, Pjeter Pepa, and Bashkim Kopliku. Mrs. Pack also held a meeting with representatives of the SP. The discussions focused on the progress of democratic processes, the implementation of legislative and economic reforms, and the political situation in Albania and beyond; our country’s integration into European and international organizations, etc. Mrs. Pack showed particular interest in the consolidation of democracy and the rule of law, the achievement of human rights protections, the organization and functioning of political parties, freedom of the press, etc. ATSH

Meeting of the National Council of the FRPD On Monday at 11:00, a meeting of the national council of the FRPDSH will be held at the DPA headquarters.

(3) Work begins on the Mamurras–Milot highway The 400-thousand-strong leaders discredit themselves Maqo Lakrori’s 3-thousand-dollar affair ... Ruçi’s “ignorance” and ... The distortion of contemporary history, or “CSCE in the service of the SP” German Social Democrat MP Reuschbach against Gjinushi, or the SD alternative outside control? Switzerland’s red devil, aka K. Danaj The Italian ambassador denies “ZP”

The years 1992–1995 IN THE POLITICAL FIELD Albania’s independence and sovereignty; Building the rule of law; Legislative reform; The judiciary; Local government; Depoliticization; The army; The police and SHIK; The Democratic Party’s position toward the SP and the SP’s allies; The position on the war against the Nazi-Fascist occupiers ECONOMIC REFORM Liberalization of prices and investment; Incomes as soon as possible; Currency convertibility; Full liberalization of the economy; Rapid privatization of the economy; Liberalization of employment, social assistance and emigration; Unblocking relations with foreign countries; Opening the way fully to foreign investment; Encouraging regional development; International economic cooperation; Investment in environmental protection; Construction and housing; Implementation of the economic program THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY’S AGRARIAN POLICY IN THE SOCIAL FIELD The Democratic Party and political persecuted persons; The Democratic Party and women; Education and science; Culture and sport; Health care FOREIGN POLICY Integration into European and Euro-Atlantic institutions; Cooperation with the Council of Europe; Cooperation with the European Union; Cooperation with NATO; Internationalization of the Albanian question THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS KEPT ITS WORD... Index * The contents have been arranged to correspond to the order of the Democratic Party’s electoral-program chapters.