Press conference by Mr. Tritan Shehu, Secretary General of the Democratic Party of Albania, and the party’s deputy chairman, Mr. Engjell Hyse[n]begasi Press conference by Mr. Tritan Shehu, Secretary General of the Democratic Party of Albania, and the party’s deputy chairman, Mr. Engjell Hysenbegasi The DP represents trust in the future Yesterday at midday at the headquarters of the Democratic Party of Albania, Mr. Tritan Shehu and Engjëll Hysenbegasi held a press conference for journalists regarding the final results of the survey by the American Republican Institute. After informing journalists that he is also ready to answer other questions outside the published topic, Mr. Shehu said. For last month, at the conference to present the now fully processed results of the survey carried out by the International Republican Institute in the second half of December 1995. In this case, the other parties were also invited, if they wished, for the institutions that belong to them to make them public. He then announced the results of the survey by the American Republican Institute: Results of the survey of the American Republican Institute: 77% of Albanians approve of the work Berisha has done as President 1. Here are some well-known people. For each one, please say whether you have heard of them or not and whether your impression is positive or not positive. -Sali Berisha- 74% (positive) 21% (not positive) 5% (no comment) 2. Do you approve or not of the work Sali Berisha has done as President? 77% (approve) 22% (do not approve) 1% (no comment) 3. Here are some characteristics. Please say which one best describes him: Sali Berisha honest 68% (think Sali Berisha is honest) 11% (have the opposite opinion) 21% (no comment) Sali Berisha democrat 67% (think Sali Berisha is a democrat) 20% (have the opposite opinion) 13% (no comment) Sali Berisha a new-type compassionate man 53% (think Sali Berisha is a new-type compassionate man) 23% (have the opposite opinion) 19% (no comment) Also a valued [?] 48% for the improvement of the country since 1992 59% (think Sali Berisha should continue until 1997) 19% (think Sali Berisha should leave before the end of his term in 1997) 22% (no comment) 4. Although some recollection that Berisha has been accused of having caused disorder in the issue due to the event brought about by some judged to be nothing, nevertheless judge whether, if elected, he would do a very good job, good, not so good, or not good at all. 77% (agree) Then the questions to which Mr. Tritan Shehu replied were put forward. Question: Among Gjin-RD “What does this mean for you: proof of continued support for reforms and optimism for the future?” Answer: In 1992, the DP came before the Albanian people with its alternative, with its program. This alternative, this program, made it so that almost two thirds of the Albanian population voted for us. We have fulfilled the aspirations for a better life, for democracy, for integration into Europe, and especially important is that we have managed to create optimism for the future, for Albanian work. So those who voted for us are satisfied with what we have achieved. 21% (do not agree) 6% (no comment) 5. If Berisha were to admit that he has made mistakes and shows that he is learning from them and is committed to acting better for his country, would he be the best person to remain President. 67% (agree) 28% (do not agree) 5% (no comment) 6. If elections were held in Parliament today, which party candidate would you vote for 41% Democratic Party 19% Socialist Party 16 No comment 3% Would not vote for any party 7. Do you approve or not of the work done by the Democratic Party as the governing party? 68% approve 30% do not approve 2% no comment 8. Thinking about yourself, would you say that your life and that of your family living with you has improved, worsened, or stayed the same as in 1992? 71% better 6% worse 21% about the same 1% no comment 9. Would you say that after 1992, despite the fact that your life and that of your family has improved, worsened, or stayed the same as before? 84% better 1% worse 5% about the same 10% no comment 10. Would you say that conditions in general have improved since 1992, worsened, or stayed the same as before? 78% better 5% worse 11% about the same 6% no comment made public this scandal. The DP only asked that the truth of the crime be clarified impartially in order to bring out the truth. So this is our beginning, without prejudice. Although the accusations that were being raised before thousands of Serbs against a newspaper and an opposition political force. We have our personal opinion on this issue, but without conclusions and presented. Parliament proposed that there should be a quieter life and more, for a better Albania. Regarding the second question, I agree with you that there is an increase in the poll indicators and I assure you that in future polls there will again be an increase in these indicators. This is natural in the path of developing reforms, of implementing the DP’s program and its work to strengthen its base, its structures; of the work done by the Democratic Government, by the President in all economic, social, foreign policy aspects, etc., thus the complex implementation of the DP program. In these remaining months we will work not for an election campaign but to implement our program, those points that remain as the only way to win the coming elections. These candidacies announced by the SP highlight two important elements, the Ruçi factor and the Nano factor. It seems to me that the candidacies now announced are linked either to the structures of the Ruçi factor or to the Nano factor, which are connected either to collaborators of the Hoxha family or to those of the former (Continues on page 2)

At the invitation of President Weizman At the invitation of the President of Israel, Weizman, and Prime Minister Peres, the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, accompanied by Mrs. Berisha and senior officials from both sides, will make an official visit to Israel from 29 to 31 January 1996. During this visit, President Berisha will hold talks with President Weizman, Prime Minister Peres, Speaker of Parliament Vajs, Foreign Minister Barak and other senior figures in the country. President Berisha will also meet representatives of the Likud Party, representatives of close circles, as well as the Albanian-Israeli community living there. This visit, during which several agreements will also be signed, aims to open a new chapter in the traditional friendship and cooperation that exists between the two peoples. Subsequently, President Berisha, at the invitation of the President of Malta, Misfud-Bonici, will make an official visit to Malta from 1 to 2 February 1996, in return for the visit that the President of Malta made to Albania in February 1994. During his stay in Malta, President Berisha will hold talks with President Misfud-Bonici, Prime Minister Avami, the Foreign Minister and other official figures. He will also meet with opposition representatives. Several agreements between Albania and Malta will also be signed. This visit aims to strengthen the friendly ties that already exist between our two countries and to intensify economic cooperation between them.

On 5 February, The National Council of the Democratic Party of Albania will meet Yesterday afternoon, the Democratic Party leadership decided that on 5.02.1996 a meeting of the National Council of the Democratic Party of Albania would be convened with the following agenda: “Preparation for the Third Ordinary National Assembly of the Democratic Party of Albania” The spokesperson of the Democratic Party of Albania

Dokle invents things to hide the traces Statement by the Secretary General, Mr. Tritan Shehu, regarding Namik Dokle’s latest fabrication: “Mr. Dokle, it is clearly obvious that he has been so troubled, confused and stunned by the scandal of Serbian financing of his collaborators and his flares(?) that he is forced to utter such absurdities and completely senseless things, which no one believes either in Shtihavec, or in Kukës, or in Tirana. This rhetoric of Mr. Dokle, although he is in Brussels, this confusion in super Albania, although he has still not returned to Albania, rashly and unconvincingly declaring himself the first among socialist leaders, and although without consulting the other captains of the opposition leadership, gives the impression that it is linked to his efforts to hide something of his own personal or of someone else very close to him”

Why did Dokle rush from Brussels to “deny” the Serbian financing At a time when none of the other SP deputies has yet spoken on the pages of their own press in response to the accusations made against them over Serbian financing, Namik Dokle rushed to speak from Brussels, calling them absurdities. In fact, the only “absurdity” in this case is precisely Dokle’s statement from thousands of kilometers away, at a time when those in Tirana remained silent. It is certainly not simply his origin that led Dokle to be the first to launch an attack against the accusations directed at SP deputies. Perhaps after the statement, the 400,000 dollars disappeared, which should also be checked for Serbian financing. E.P.

Statement by the Association of Journalists of Albania NO, terrorizing journalists The Association of Journalists of Albania is observing with concern the escalation of the attack surrounding the accusations made against the newspaper “Koha Jonë” and the Socialist opposition, for illegal financing from Serbia. The Association of Journalists is observing with concern a reaction to the accusations, which makes not even the slightest attempt to clarify the truth, but has begun blackmail and provocations against their fellow journalists, who are covering the events related to this political and financial scandal. Thus, the director of the newspaper “Albania”, Ylli Rakipi, was threatened two days ago, in his office, by three people authorized by the management of “Koha Jonë”, Nikoll Lesi, who were asking to clarify “Albania” with writings about nothing regarding this scandal. Yesterday as well, during the day, threats were made systematically every ten minutes to his family’s phone by unknown persons. The atmosphere of terror that uncontrolled forces are trying to create in Albanian society, and especially the use of this method as a counter-response to accusations of financial ties with Serbia, makes more credible the accusation made by the press office of Petro Xhanoni, in Italy, against the leaders of the newspaper “Koha Jonë” and the opposition. The Association of Journalists of Albania asks the Albanian Parliament to set up a special committee to shed light on the truth about these accusations and to put an end to the terrorizing of journalists who are trying to write the truth about this scandal, which besides everything else also concerns our national dignity. The Association of Journalists of Albania

Reply to the director of the newspaper “Koha Jonë”, Mr. Nikollë Lesi Vulgar defamation Reply to the director of the newspaper “Koha Jonë”, Mr. Nikollë Lesi Your reply of 27.1.1996 regarding my article of the same date is full of slander and lies. Therefore, I am clarifying to the public the truth of the meeting you had at the Presidency of the Republic. 1. I have never asked to meet you, neither directly nor through anyone else. You requested the meeting by phone, which is also documented. At first you asked me to have a coffee with you, which I refused, but I agreed to receive you in my office, as you wished, in private and like any other citizen. 2. I have not had any conversation with you to support the Democratic Party. How could I have done such a thing when your newspaper has positioned itself openly and from its beginnings against the DP and the Democratic Government? No one believes that. The DP does not need your newspaper. 3. Fatos Nano is not a voice of honest speech in the 2-3 minute meeting in my office. This is an extremely vulgar slander. Your conversation, which was made known by the press, lasted not a second for me, but once again you are the one who wants to give yourself importance. Besides, how could I have asked such a thing of a man who has spent three years in his newspaper only slandering me, going so far as to insult me? A normal person cannot believe this. 4. I did not propose any meeting with the President of the Republic to you. You asked for it, saying that the purpose of your meeting and the sole topic of the conversation would be this. 5. I only found out this morning, from your newspaper, the news that the newspaper “Koha Jonë” had been blocked by police forces. 6. I did not ask you for any other meeting. The words “it would be good to meet once more to talk” were not said by me, but written by you in your newspaper. KOLEC TOPALLI

The Institute of Informatics and Applied Mathematics, in cooperation with the Italian company CREDI, will carry out the INCER 2 dual computer project. To carry out a project for the activities of this project, 500 girls are sought for employment. The applications will take place on 26 and 31 January 1996 and 1 and 2 February 1996, at 9:00. You must be equipped with a recent photograph and identification document. Requirements are: 1. Good knowledge of the Italian language 2. At least four years of secondary schooling 3. Age under 28.

All citizens who benefit from privatization vouchers and who, up to today, have not withdrawn the first installment, are hereby informed that the distribution of the vouchers for these beneficiaries will be carried out by the Savings Bank, as presented on page 8.

Tirana International HOTEL SKANDERBEG SQUARE # Tirana (ALBANIA) TELEPHONE 355 42/34185 # Fax: 355 42/341 88 BORA COFFEE SHOP Open every day from 10:30 Offers you to enjoy: *A quick snack *Typical Albanian cuisine *Varied specialties of Italian cuisine *Freshly prepared sandwiches All this in a pleasant setting and with a service that will make you come back again to the “Tirana International” Hotel TURIN HOTELS INTERNATIONAL VIA LAGRANGE, 10-10123 TORINO ITALY TEL: (011) 561 3488 FAX: (011) 561 71 91 LA PERGOLA PIANO BAR TERRACE Open every day from 7:00 a.m. to midnight. From the terrace of the “Tirana International Hotel” you will enjoy interesting views of “Skënderbej” Square. Cocktails and aperitifs among the most sought-after are offered to you. You will have the opportunity to try a variety of desserts and fresh sandwiches. Prepared from time to time, a musical atmosphere will accompany you, enveloping you in pleasantness. “LA PERGOLA PIANO BAR TERRACE” welcome and you us so much