President Clinton writes to Congressman Engel about Albania The office of U.S. Congressman Eliot Engel informs us that President Bill Clinton has sent Congressman Engel a letter in which, among other things, he writes: “Thank you, dear Eliot, for writing to me to express your support for the visit of the President of Albania, Berisha. I am pleased to inform you that I have invited President Berisha to come to Washington, where he will meet with me on September 11. My administration is a strong supporter of Albania’s efforts, under extremely difficult conditions, to build an open and democratic society and to lay the foundations of a market economy. President Berisha has played a very important leadership role in helping his country make the difficult transition from decades of oppressive communist rule. As you rightly note, Albania also has an important role to play in supporting the preservation of stability in the Balkans. I hope that my meeting with President Berisha will contribute to the continuation of democratic and market-economy reforms in Albania and will help advance stability in the region.”

The first Albanian political party to be accepted as a full member of a European union After joining the Council of Europe, another historic event for Albania

Today, on 1 July 1995, a meeting of the Council of the European Christian Democratic and People’s Parties was held in Bucharest. A PDSH delegation, headed by its Secretary General, Prof. Dr. Tiran Shehu, also took part in this meeting. The Council approved PDSH’s application to become a full member of this union. PDSH’s admission to the Union of European Christian Democratic and People’s Parties is another important event in the implementation of this party’s program, given that the union includes major parties that govern many European countries today. This afternoon, and until the 3rd, the seminar on the privatization of agriculture organized by this Union will continue. Messrs. Rexhep Uka and Tonin Antonini will also take part. The Albanian delegation will chair a session of this seminar. On by this Union will continue. Messrs. Rexhep Ukha and Tonin Alimellilli session of this seminar. ... The chairman, the head of the Albanian delegation who ... For all this, I want to emphasize that PDSH’s admission to EUCD is a major achievement for the Albanian nation, democracy and Albania as a whole. PD, which was created as a party of the democratic ideals of the Albanians, after the creation of the totalitarian power of PPSH and its overthrow alone ... ... for Albania and Albanian democracy, as well as all those hundreds and thousands of young people, men and women, children and elderly people who, with unparalleled courage and bravery, filled the streets of our cities and villages, denouncing the totalitarian power of PPSH with their powerful protests. PDSH’s admission to EUCD is the result of its consistent and unwavering stance in defense of the values of democracy, freedoms and human rights, and of its determination to advance these values. On this memorable day, our profound gratitude goes first of all to its activists, members and supporters, to Arben Broci and his comrades, who fell to become immortal in the Pantheon of democracy and the Albanian nation, and to the totalitarian power of PPSH with their powerful protests. Our profound gratitude goes ... ... to all Albanians who ... PDSH’s admission to EUCD is a great recognition and a true expression of gratitude by this union to PD for its achievements; at the same time, it is a powerful message from these parties to PD to continue its efforts without interruption to defend and consolidate the values of democracy, the rule of law and the market economy in Albania. ... of democracy and many others who supported PD morally, politically and materially from the first months of its founding, making, through their noble assistance, a valuable contribution to democracy’s victory in Albania and to PDSH’s admission to EUCD today. Deep gratitude to all Albanians who supported the reforms and contributed to carrying out PD’s program. PD’s membership in law and the market economy in Albania. ... of democracy and PDSH’s membership in EUCD today. “I want Albania to be like all of Europe,” and within just a few days PDSH itself is accepted into the great European family as a full member of the European Union of Christian Democratic and People’s Parties. The European Union of Christian Democratic and People’s Parties includes some of Europe’s most powerful centre-right parties, parties that for years have governed and continue to govern their countries. PDSH’s admission to EUCD is a reconfirmation of what the Council of Europe said about Albania; it is recognition of the path of Albanian democracy and, first and foremost, recognition for ... ... Europe, thereby fulfilling a longstanding aspiration of the Albanian people and one of the most important points in PDSH’s program, acclaimed as early as December ’90. Albanian democracy and, first and foremost, recognition for ... There is also a very significant fact concerning this membership: PDSH was one of the parties that had requested membership in this union. EUCD has three levels of party membership. The first is observer status, which grants only the right to participate in EUCD meetings. The second is associate status, or affiliated membership; once attained, it grants the right to vote, but not the right to elect or be elected. Only full membership in EUCD grants this right, namely, the right to elect or be elected. (Continued on page 2) Democratic and Popular European Parties. A delegation from PDSH, headed by its Secretary General, Prof. Dr. Tritan PDSH’s admission to the Union of Christian Democratic Parties and European Popular Parties is an important step for Albania. Dr. Tritan European Popular Parties is an important step for Albania. Dr. Tritan European Popular Parties is an important step for Albania. Dr. Tritan European Popular Parties is an important step for Albania. Dr. Tritan Shehu, also took part in this meeting.

Message from the President of the Republic, Mr. Sali Berisha, on the occasion of PDSH’s membership in EUCD On the occasion of PDSH’s admission to the Union of European Democratic and People’s Parties, this historic achievement, I wish from the bottom of my heart to congratulate all PDSH activists, members and supporters, as well as the entire Albanian electorate that voted for this party’s program on 22 March. I also ideals, regardless of party convictions, people believe in and love democracy. For the first time in history, a major Albanian political force is ranked alongside Europe’s most democratic forces. and unwavering stance in defense of democratic values, these values. On this memorable day, [our gratitude goes] to those outstanding men such as Helmut Kohl, Zhak Shirak, Xhon Mejkser, Alois Mok, Micotaqis, the leaders of the American Republican and Democratic Institutes, noble assistance a valuable contribution to strengthening democracy gratitude to all Albanians who supported and backed with their strength

EDI PALOKA Another historic event, not only for PDSH but for all Albania. Albania becomes a full member of the Council of acclaimed as early as December ’90: “We great European family as a full member of such an important union of European parties. PDSH was one of the parties that had [illegible] [?] ... This new historic event ... In this situation, PDSH ... ... that party which, despite the difficulties, managed within a few years to transform radically a country that in 1990–91 was on the brink of survival. This is an event of great significance, since PDSH is

The President of the Republic of Albania, Sali Berisha, departed in the morning for Valës, Switzerland, to take part in the international meeting that has been held here for several years, with the participation of the highest-ranking political and economic representatives from around the world. Prime Minister Aleksander Meksi and other members of the government came to Rinas Airport to see President Berisha off.

In an interview with the BBC, the Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Mr. KLEBE, having closely followed the issue of Albania’s admission to this institution, expressed his conviction that this step toward Europe will bring Albania ... In an interview with the BBC, the Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Mr. KLEBE, having closely followed the issue of Albania’s admission to this institution, expressed his conviction that this step toward Europe will bring Albania (Continued on page 2)

On Monday at 12:00, the Secretary of PDSH, Mr. Tritan Shehu, will hold a press conference regarding PDSH’s admission as a full member of the Union of Christian Democratic and Popular Parties. The conference will take place at the International Cultural Centre. All press representatives are invited to attend.

Greek Minister of Defense Mr. Gerasimos Arsenis is scheduled to make an official visit to Tirana on 3–4 July 1995. Mr. Arsenis will discuss bilateral military cooperation within the framework of the Partnership for Peace with his Albanian counterpart, Mr. Zhulali, and Albania’s military leadership, and will visit military institutions. At the same time, the Greek Minister of Defense will be received by the President and the Prime Minister of Albania.

Today marks five years since 2 July 1990, the day when Albanians dealt one of the deadly blows to the half-century-old dictatorship of the communist regime. It was one of the cruellest and most unparalleled dictatorships, with only Pol Pot’s as its equal. Young people, children, the elderly, men, women and girls of all ages, on 2 July 1990, prepared the dictatorship’s inevitable end by climbing over the high walls and railings of the embassies, which the Ramiz regime had surrounded to make “escape” impossible. surrounded to make “escape” impossible. ... discrimination and “victorious socialism”. The embassy events of 2 July were a signal for December ’90 and 22 March ’92, when the dictatorship would receive its final blow and Albania would win its freedom and join Europe. Today we speak with one of the protagonists of 2 July, Mr. ILIR DEMALIA. “—As a protagonist of 2 July 1990, what do you remember about those days? —The events of July 1990 are undoubtedly a landmark in Albania’s history: the struggle of Albanian youth to emerge from the 45-year-old communist sarcophagus. This event had many protagonists who risked their lives to break down the walls that separated us from the world. I can mention Ylli Bodinaku, who, together with his wife and eight-week-old child, took the wheel of a truck to smash through the wall of the German embassy, along with 40 others; this was followed later by another breach ... (Continued on page 2) The demolished wall of the German Embassy. Bilaver Bregasi, former official of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, facing the Embassy employee

He was born in Argostoli, Kefalonia, in 1931. He graduated from the Faculty of Law at the University of Athens and then pursued postgraduate studies in economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He gained international recognition for his study and proposals on international cooperation and the development of the world economy at the 1964 UN Conference on Trade and Development. He was director of the Economic Studies Directorate at the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) research centre from 1964 to 1966. Then, from 1967 to 1980, he worked as a senior economist and later as UNCTAD Director for financial matters and the financing of the foreign trade sector. He took part in studies and discussions on reform of the international system within the framework of the “Ministerial Council of the Group of Twenty” of the International Monetary Fund. He is known for his contribution to the Paris Club negotiations on international lending. He has served as an adviser to various governments on economic planning, external financing and public debt settlement. In January 1984, he was elected a member of the UN Committee on Development Planning. From 2 November 1981 to 2 February 1984, he was Governor of the Bank of Greece. On 5 July 1982, he was appointed Minister of National Economy; on 27 March 1984, Minister of Economy and Finance—a post he held until 25 July 1985. On 13 October 1993, he was appointed Minister of National Defense. He was first elected MP for the Athens constituency in 1985 and was re-elected in April 1990 and October 1993. In 1990, he was elected a member of the Central Committee and a member of PASOK’s Executive Bureau. He is married to Mrs. Luka Katseli, a lecturer at the Faculty of Economics in Athens and an adviser to the Prime Minister on economic matters, and they have four children.

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