The 4th Conference of the PD branch in Tropojë held its proceedings This is the moment to show our energy, dedication and activism From the Conference of the PDSH branch in Pukë The ranks of PD members have doubled

Young European Democrats unanimously vote in favor of FRPDSH’s admission to DEMYC Recognition of Albanian democracy and the reforms implemented under the PDSH government Not a single vote against, not a single abstention Albanian youth, through FRPDSH, on an equal footing in Europe One more step in Albania’s integration into Europe Graz, Austria — the 16th DEMYC Congress held its proceedings LORENC LIGORI EDI PALOKA On 7–9 July 1995, the 16th Congress of the Democratic Youth Community of Europe (DEMYC) held its proceedings in Graz, Austria. DEMYC is the largest European youth organization. It includes in its membership 16th DEMYC-Congress EUROPE

PARIS — BBC correspondent in Paris, Klara Buda, reports that at yesterday afternoon’s session, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg voted in favor of Albania’s admission as a full member of the Council of Europe. The vote by the Committee of Ministers is a crucial formal link in the procedure for admitting a state to the Council of Europe, once the Parliamentary Assembly has already decided in favor. But as the highest executive body, it has the final say on every admission. The Committee of Ministers has the power to block a country’s admission to the Council of Europe, and if this had happened in Albania’s case, its admission would have been postponed until the autumn. Following the vote by the Parliamentary Assembly on 29 June and yesterday’s vote by the Committee of Ministers, Albania became a full member of the Council of Europe. The admission ceremony remains, of course; it is scheduled for 13 July, when the Albanian flag will take its rightful place among the flags of the other European countries.

President of the Republic Sali Berisha visits the Budo family President Berisha with the parents of democracy martyr Josif Budo On the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the first anti-communist demonstration in the city of Kavajë, in which Josif Budo fell as a martyr, yesterday morning the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, visited the Budo family in this city. The death of Josif Budo five years ago was a political act that marked the final liberation of the city of Kavajë from the communist dictatorship, President Berisha said. The more the space for democracy grows, the greater the value of its martyrs becomes. Josif Budo, as a martyr of anti-communism, and Josif Budo, as the first martyr of the movement, is its symbol. You have made a major contribution, both as a city and as a family, to democracy—and building a stable democracy in Albania is our only goal, the President said. The killing of Josif Budo on 10 July 1990 is connected to the first demonstrations against the communist regime, which were followed by the police terror organized by the state of that time with the aim of purging the city. The purges continued throughout 10 July, to culminate Berisha paid a visit to the Budo family in this town. political act that marked the final liberation of the town of Kavaja from the communist dictatorship, President Berisha said. The more democratic space expands, the more appreciation grows for those who sacrificed themselves to create that space, he added. Speaking about the movements in the towns of Kavaja, Shkoder and Tirana, the President said that they gave the democratic movement a broad dimension, and that The killing of Josif Budo on 10 July 1990 was linked that time with the aim of purging the town. The purges continued throughout the day on the 10th, culminating in the evening in a clash between Josif Budo and the police forces, and in his shooting death. ATSH

Declares the vice-president of the European Union of Christian Democrats (ATSH):- Athens, The vice-president of the European Union of Christian Democrats and, at the same time, a representative of the Greek party New Democracy, Marieta Juniku (Kuciku), told the BBC that her party had not signed any secret pact with the Democratic Party of Albania, but had supported its admission to the ranks of this union, as well as that of the Democratic Alliance party and the Christian Democratic party, in order to encourage Greek-Albanian relations and create conditions for their European orientation. The BBC correspondent met Ms. Kuciku in Athens and first asked her how she commented on Mr. Neritan Ceka’s claims that the Democratic Party of Albania and Greece’s New Democracy had signed a secret pact at their meeting in Bucharest. She replied: “At the Bucharest meeting of the Christian Democratic European Union, the issue was raised of accepting the Democratic Party of Albania as a full member, and accepting the two other Albanian parties—the Democratic Alliance party and the Christian Democratic party—as observers. The procedure w (Continued on page 2)

Turkish President Demirel in Tirana tomorrow Albanian-Turkish relations have been established at a high and stable level. There is now close and institutionalized cooperation between the two countries in the political, economic, cultural and military fields. Their foundation is the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation signed in Tirana in June 1992 by President Berisha and Prime Minister Demirel, who is coming to Albania this time as President of Turkey. This is the second visit by a Turkish head of state, following Ozal’s visit in February 1993. Political relations are considered very good. The highest-ranking figures in both countries—the presidents, speakers of parliament, heads of government, and senior ministers—have exchanged visits, during which a large number of cooperation documents in various fields have been signed. Although economic and trade relations have continued to intensify, they have not managed to match the high level of political relations. Officials on both sides are working to put cooperation in this field into practice, based on the agreements signed so far, including those on economic, trade, industrial and technical cooperation; the promotion and protection of foreign investment; and the elimination of double taxation, etc. The first Turkish loan, worth 15 million dollars, was followed by another of the same amount. A joint Albanian-Turkish commission is working to increase cooperation in (Continued on page 2)

Hundreds of Kavaja residents took part on Sunday afternoon in the activities organized to mark the fifth anniversary of the death of the first martyr of democracy, Josif Budo, who was killed by the police forces of the dictatorship. Also taking part in these activities were the secretary-general of the PDSH, Tritan Shehu, local government officials, members of parliament, and the dean of the diplomatic corps accredited in our country, the Romanian ambassador, George Miku. Tributes were paid and wreaths were laid by the commemorative plaque, while the final match for the Josif Budo Cup was held at the town stadium. The afternoon continued with a memorial evening at the town cinema, during which songs and recitations alternated with memories shared by Josif Budo’s relatives and friends. His death had sparked one of the first mass movements to overthrow the dictatorship. Prime Minister Mr. Aleksander Meksi also visited the home of democracy’s martyr, Josif Budo.

At the invitation of the Speaker of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Pjetër Arbnori, a high-level Polish delegation led by Senate Speaker Adam Struzik arrived in our country yesterday morning. To welcome the guests from Poland at Rinas Airport were Tomor Malasi, Deputy Speaker of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly; Shaban Memia, chairman of the Albania-Poland parliamentary friendship group; and a group of members of parliament. Yesterday, the Polish delegation was received by Selim Belortaja, State Secretary for Economic Relations with Foreign Countries at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other senior officials of the ministry.

Yesterday afternoon, the Speaker of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Pjeter Arbnori, received the Speaker of the Polish Parliament’s Senate, Mr. Adam Struzik, at the parliament building. Mr. Arbnori thanked Mr. Struzik, a participant in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, for the Polish delegation’s affirmative vote on our country’s candidacy to the Council of Europe, as well as for the support his country has given Albania throughout the progress of democratic reforms in the legislative and economic fields. (Continued on page 2)

PD Activists, Korçë Let us create a leadership team of people with standing in the Democratic Party Also attending: the Secretary General of the Democratic Party of Albania, Prof. Dr. Tritan Shehu PAGE 2

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the Democratic Youth Committee is the largest European youth organization. It includes the young democrats of Europe. Following the changes in Eastern and Central Europe, DEMYC decided to expand by welcoming new members and new democratic, anti-communist youth organizations. In this context, FRPDSH, Albania’s first anti-communist youth organization of democracy, made up of the students of December ’90 and the largest youth organization in the country, with “We want Albania like all of Europe” as one of its primary commitments, sought to be in Europe, to find itself and experience the friendship and support of young people who believe in the same cause; at the same time, it sought to contribute among young people who share a vision for Europe’s present and future, and to contribute to Albania’s integration into Europe and beyond. On Saturday, DEMYC congress delegates, young representatives from across Europe, unanimously voted to admit FRPDSH to DEMYC. Not a single objection, not a single vote against, not a single abstention. A complete success! As we congratulated one another, and later in our first conversations among ourselves or with representatives of other organizations, we were all convinced that, above all, the positive assessment had been given to Albania, to the reform and democratic processes led by President Berisha and the PDSH government. We recalled the path of (Continued on page 2)