The President of the Republic's address at the reception given to the diplomatic corps on the occasion of the New Year It is a special pleasure for me, at this traditional New Year gathering, to extend heartfelt greetings to you and your families, your governments and peoples, and to wish you a Happy 1996, a happy and successful New Year. During this year, the essential processes under way in the very important development of our continent and the world are expected to move forward. I wish that this year may be a year of success for the great peace initiatives in regions such as the Balkans, the Middle East and elsewhere. 1996 will also be an extremely important year for Albania, and developments during it will be decisive for many things. I hope it will continue to be a year of success, since the preceding year, 1995, was undoubtedly a year of major historical successes for Albania. Last year marked the uninterrupted, fourth consecutive year of democracy in Albania. This is our greatest achievement, one of which we must rightly be proud. Albanians, though only recently on the path they chose, upheld democratic values with dignity. This is the most splendid heritage we will all pass on to our future. Freedom is the most precious part of the human being and as such must be protected and expanded by all of us. The democratic system we are building constitutes the basis of the shared values that connect us with Europe and the civilized world. Last year brought special achievements in the institutionalization of our democracy. A large number of laws were approved over these twelve months. I would mention first of all the approval of numerous codes. Among the most important are the civil, criminal and criminal procedure codes, which at the same time constitute a basis and a guarantee of the rule of law and the protection of human rights. The civil laws and the code of procedures strengthened the legislative basis of the market economy in Albania, which guarantees that the market can develop with all the economic forces that drive it forward and that the country will be more attractive to foreign investors. During 1995 the first victory of the free spirit and initiative of Albanians triumphed. The continuation of economic liberalization and massive privatization meant that last year more Albanians became owners and free entrepreneurs than ever before. This process, a consequence of the victory of the market economy over the state economy, is successfully guaranteeing democracy. In the private sector hundreds of thousands of jobs are being created. More than three quarters of gross product now comes from the private sector. Exports increased by about 20 percent over the past year. A very great success was keeping inflation below 7 percent, despite the fact that 1995 was a difficult year for the economy because of the prolonged drought and the shortage of electricity. In the end, Albanians have begun to feel the first benefits of the market economy in the improvement of their living conditions. Albania has also made considerable progress in foreign policy. Relations with the European Union have registered a significant rise. The European Union agreement, with its future-oriented growth and our expectation of it, is a key step in this direction. Relations and cooperation with friendly countries have also been extensive, with political, economic, legal and cultural agreements forming bonds of friendship. Visits at the highest levels have clearly expressed this rapprochement and have shown that, among others, the presidents Herzog, Klestil, Demirel, Iliescu and Zhelev have visited Tirana, as well as my visits to Washington, Rome, the Vatican, Bonn, Brussels and elsewhere. Thus, I can say that solidarity, understanding and support for Albania are taking an increasingly important place on our continent. On this occasion I would like to thank you, the ambassadors accredited in Tirana, for representing your governments and peoples and for the sincere assistance shown to our country. Your governments and peoples will enjoy the deep gratitude of Albanians. I would like to mention here the figure of François Mitterrand as a great man, an unwavering fighter for democracy, peace and the development of peoples and nations, a friend and supporter of Albania. But I would also like to emphasize my appreciation for the solidarity, assistance and friendship shown by the European Union and its member states, the United States of America and the Western European Union. They have made efforts to help Albania. Friendship and close relations with these countries lead me to believe that such cooperation and aid will continue in the future, helping Albania finally break away from what has tormented it for nearly a century: the syndrome of a bitter past. About 6 months ago, Albania was admitted as a full member of the Council of Europe, which is an international recognition of the progress of Albanian democracy. Last year also marked new achievements in Albania's Euro-Atlantic orientation, which has been the fundamental line of Albanian foreign policy from the very beginning. After joining Partnership for Peace, Albania managed to develop relations with the Atlantic Alliance. Relations with the European Union have developed and we expect to have in the future a key step in this direction. Relations and cooperation with friendly countries have also been extensive, with political, economic, legal and cultural agreements forming bonds of friendship. Visits at the highest levels clearly expressed this rapprochement and demonstrated this closeness during the visits in Tirana of Presidents Herzog, Klestil, Demirel, Iliescu and Zhelev, and my visits to Washington, Rome, the Vatican, Bonn, Brussels and elsewhere. Thus, I can say that solidarity, understanding and support for Albania are taking an important and significant place on our continent. On this occasion I would like to thank you, the ambassadors accredited in Tirana, for representing your governments and peoples and for the sincere assistance shown to our country. Your governments and peoples will enjoy the deep gratitude of Albanians. I would like to dedicate here the figure of François Mitterrand as a great man, an unwavering fighter for democracy, peace and the development of peoples and nations, a friend and supporter of Albania. He devoted his life to the struggle for democracy and social justice, leaving deep marks on our shared political transformation. Europe and France lost a prominent political personality; Albania lost one of its great friends at the start of the year and a supporter of its democracy and integration into Europe. At the same ceremony, a year ago, speaking about the situation in our region, I could not express optimistic notes. Today, the Dayton Agreement gives us, for the first time, a new opportunity for the world public opinion the prospect of a major positive turning point. With this step, the Contact Group Powers and the entire international community regained the strength to put a stop to the evil that had erupted in the whole blazing area. The presence of NATO forces in Bosnia-Herzegovina is materializing the will expressed in Dayton and, for the first time, truly establishing peace in this republic. Albania has consistently supported NATO's peacemaking role as a decisive factor in establishing peace and stability. On this basis, it has continuously offered its modest assistance to the Atlantic Alliance during its efforts. Today as well, we have decided to offer our participation in IFOR, of course according to our possibilities, but with the good will to contribute ourselves too to peace and stability in our region. At this very delicate stage, our attention is focused especially on the Kosovo issue, which during 1995 was present in all major Western chancelleries and the subject of a special United Nations resolution supported by 115 governments. This problem remains open. We welcome the opening of the Kosovo office in Bonn and the decision to open one in Washington, as well as the opening of a U.S. information office in Pristina. All these are steps toward a fuller recognition of the Albanian reality in Kosovo. We hope that the Kosovo issue, whose resolution is a sine qua non for long-term peace and stability in the region, will itself take the road to a solution through a dialogue between the legitimate leaders of the Kosovo Albanians and Belgrade in the presence of a third party and through efforts to ensure full respect for the freedoms and human and national rights of the Kosovo Albanians and relations that guarantee these rights. 1996 is a crucial year for Albania because parliamentary and local elections will be held during it. These votes, which will be largely free and fair, are of particular importance for the continuation of democratic processes and reforms, as well as for the final orientation of our country. This year, Albanians, with their free vote, will determine Albania's place in the Europe of the year 2000. I would like to express my belief that we will all work together to increase cooperation with the countries and organizations you represent, aiming at new levels. I want to express my confidence that Albania will choose and especially deepen cooperation with Europe and the USA, the European Union and NATO. We are determined that the government will undertake the responsibilities of consolidating the rule of law and the market economy. To this goal we will dedicate all our attention and energy. Once again, happy New Year and prosperity to everyone in 1996! Albania will continue to contribute to peace in the region Last night the Albanian President Sali Berisha gave a reception at Vila Kodër in Durrës on the occasion of the New Year 1996. The reception was attended by the diplomatic corps accredited in our country, ministers, MPs, representatives of various political parties, MPs, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo Bujar Bukoshi, as well as other guests. In his greeting, President Berisha called 1995 a year of historic successes for Albania, while seeing 1996 as the year of consolidating achievements. Your governments and peoples will have the gratitude of the Albanian people. Considering Kosovo as an Albanian issue, the path to a solution should be through a dialogue between Kosovo leaders and Belgrade. Berisha expressed optimism about the stability of the situation in the region after the Dayton Agreement and announced that Albania had decided to send military forces to Bosnia, as part of IFOR. Of course according to our possibilities, but with the good will to contribute to peace in the region. Berisha also addressed other issues in his greeting, which we publish in full. At the close, delegates of the corps, participants and the Dean of the Albanian diplomatic corps, Ambassador George Miron. "RD" correspondent

Decree of the President of the Republic of Albania Yesterday the President of the Republic decreed an amendment to the Decree “On the issuance of passports for travel abroad and the granting of visas”. Under this decree, starting from tomorrow, 11 January 1996, visas are lifted for Greek citizens entering the territory of the Republic of Albania.

Last night, the President of the Republic, Mr. Sali Berisha, departed for Paris, where he will take part today in the funeral ceremony of former French President François Mitterrand

Socialist Party press conference Pëllumbi admits the formation of the reformed Socialist Party Dokle accuses Lesi of being a collaborator of SHIK The Socialist International: “Forbidden apple” for the PSSh Pëllumbi once again against the “fifth ones” Kadare attacked - “Kadare is not at a level to judge the Socialist Party” Dokle protests against the decree he himself voted for Social pact instead of law JOZEFINA [?] OUTSIDE THE CONFERENCE “The ‘fifth ones’ will not even be followed by their wives,” declares a female PS activist p. 3

SAMI NEZA - The PDSI press communiqué after this meeting was a statement that could have been issued even without Meta being there, or otherwise throughout the statement Meta's presence is not felt in it The vice-chairman of the Socialist Party, Ilir Meta, did not feel like a socialist in Rome. This did not happen because his agenda was not planned as one for a socialist, but because the agenda of the International Secretary of the Italian PDS, Pietro Fassino, was not such. It was structured as if for a representation with an intermediary Albanian through whom Italian messages could also be conveyed to the Albanians. Pietro Fassino is now known to Albanians through his statements during his recent visit to Albania. He spoke openly and clearly in favor of a reformed Albanian Socialist Party and for a left wing quite different from European social democracy. He has never given up his views on the leadership of their party and on socialism as a government in the East and on European ideology, but he could only choose and, if there were a socialist government in Albania, the visible socialism could also be seen there. Albanians want links with Albanian-Italian relations, but he seems to have had difficulty at least in taking his two invitations with Pelikani and giving them to the socialists. Meta, who like his party does not know well the reform that has been made in Albania, and whose party as well, with the intensity of Albanian-Italian relations, has remained alone in Rome. - All the statements had strong notes of enthusiasm for relations between Albania and Italy, just as the lack of enthusiasm for his relations with the Albanian Socialist Party was very easy to read. The meetings were a clear lesson for Meta about the challenges faced by Albania and Italy, and Meta understood this. There was not a single moment in the statement in which he spoke about the Socialist Party as if it were Pelikani or about emergency aid. Fassino found it easy to speak about Albanian-Italian relations but seems to have had difficulty at least in taking his two invitations with Pelikani and giving them to the socialists. Meta, who like his party does not know well the reform that has been made in Albania, and whose party as well, with the intensity of Albanian-Italian relations, has remained alone in Rome. After in that city he was corrupted, he kept as party chairman Craxi, who had been a partner of Meta's party, then saw him leave from there and now seems to him a criminal. The number-three figure of the Albanian socialists laughs at Craxi, just as they were upset that Nano, had been on the real row of Meta in an activity like PDSI, where above all one struggles (To be continued on page 3)

From the Socialist Party heritage fund Minutes of the meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Party of Labour of Albania, dated 2 and 3 July 1974 p. 7

NATIONAL LIBRARY TIRANA