Defense Minister Zhulali says Integration into the Atlantic Alliance is at the heart of present-day Albanian policy, Albanian Defense Minister Safet Zhulali said in an interview with Voice of America radio, where he expressed Albania’s position against the backdrop of differing reactions to NATO enlargement. The Albanian position has remained unwavering, and Albania is fully determined to achieve membership in the NATO Alliance, Minister Zhulali emphasized. This position is unwavering, he added. Many more steps must be taken before this goal is reached, but we are working well, taking the right steps and pursuing the right policy. I am convinced that Albania will be among the first countries to join NATO, Minister Zhulali said.

President Rugova meets with the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of Great Britain, Mr. Malkolm Rifkind p. 2

Interview with the Secretary General of the Albanian Democratic Party, Mr. Tritan Shehu The Socialist Party is in complete confusion. It is in a crisis of identity. Being in an identity crisis, it is afraid of names, afraid of prominent figures, afraid of elections involving named candidates. It is in total disorganization and is unable to provide real answers and real solutions to specific and general problems concerning the interests of the country. An identity crisis is the most serious crisis any political force can experience, and it leads to its complete disintegration within a relatively short time. What holds the Red Front together The Socialist Party has once again reactivated its left-wing satellites, the PSD and the PAD. Their call to join the Socialists’ front had been anticipated and put into practice from the day they jointly sought a model for the electoral law; their relationship, extending further back in time, began when they started collaborating with the State Security service. The Socialist Party’s exploitation of the two small parties is ruthless. In ’92, the leaders of the PAD failed to carry out the tasks assigned to them by Ramiz Alia and left the Democratic Party completely disillusioned. The PSD did the same two years later, leaving its coalition with the DP. In both cases, we see the mechanisms used by Socialist extremists’ leaders to weaken and undermine the Democratic Party and its government. As time has shown, the Democratic Party was not weakened and its government was not destroyed. On the contrary, it became clear that the PSD’s presence in parliament, and that of the MPs who joined the PAD, resulted from their association with the Democratic Party, not from their own merits or the personal contribution of any of the leaders of the two parties. Their history is painful. Now, because of this history, both sides must serve without reservation in the ranks of the Socialist Party or, in other words, if they unite, in the ranks of the Red Front. What keeps these three parties close and brings them together is their shared past and the threat their leaders have created throughout their political activity. Thus, some PAD leaders did not oppose alliances with the Socialist Party even when they were communists. The social democrats, meanwhile, have leaders who were communist ministers and helped prolong the life of communism. The elements behind the three parties’ current collaboration are also revealed by their accounts and clandestine histories. Some of these parties’ principal leaders served the State Security service as collaborators, and also as resident agents in foreign countries. Today, they are the only ones who oppose the Law on Genocide and the law on the vetting of political figures. Indeed, they are the only ones even within their own parties. About a month ago, the Red Front set out the details of its founding at a secret meeting and drew up its strategy. The meeting was so private that the founders of the Red Front did not issue even a notice or press release. A photograph published in the press identifying this meeting shows that the principal leaders of these parties took part in devising this strategy. They have not said a word about it, even though on other occasions, when they merely have coffee together, they issue yet another press statement about what they consider the most important issues. The same photograph reveals that some of those who brought about the proclamation of the Red Front are figures deeply compromised by the State Security service. From this perspective, clandestine activity by this front can be expected, or many clandestine actions carried out across Albania may have been inspired by it. The night after the meeting shown in the photograph above, Tirana’s streets were covered with communist slogans, while extremist calls for civil war, physical protection of the votes, taking power by force, and so on continued. p. 3

President Berisha welcomed a group of children from Tirana’s “Dora D’Istria” eight-year school The Presidency had its most interesting and special visitors today. A group of children from the “Dora D’Istria” eight-year school in Tirana visited its premises. For the first time, these quiet and serious rooms were filled with the lively energy of children. Relaxed, lively and curious, the children asked questions to learn everything. Their delightful humor was also in evidence. Amid laughter, they improvised political conversations. One pretended to be the president, another a minister, and the fun continued naturally for several minutes. Later, the children learned from the President’s Secretary about how the office worked, the receipt of letters, the scheduling of meetings, and so on. The President of the Republic welcomed the children in his office. “The Presidency has never had such lovely and honest guests,” he said. “You live in freedom, and that is your greatest privilege. I promise you,” the President emphasized, “that we will invest in education the same share of the budget as wealthy countries do. Every parent will accept and embrace this, because it is an investment in their children’s education and their future. I always see in you,” the President told the children, “the future presidents, ministers, scientists, teachers, engineers, businesspeople and doctors. Albania has great natural wealth, but your minds are our greatest wealth.” The children gave the President several issues of their newspaper, titled “The Future,” which is also the publication of the “Dora D’Istria” school. The conversation then turned to books, songs and sports. “Which local singer do you like most?” the President asked the children. “Ardit Gjebrea, Projektion, Ritfolk, Akullthyesit,” they replied. “I like them a lot too,” the President added. The children quickly made a long list of international singers. “To tell you the truth,” the President said with a laugh, “I don’t know all the singers you’ve named.” Then everyone went together to the reception hall to capture the visit on film. Embracing the children, the President of the Republic wished them success in their studies.

Prime Minister Aleksandër Meksi received the President of the French Senate, Mr. Rene Monory “You are on the right track. On your path, you need the help of Europe and France. We will help you. I am here precisely to convey this message,” French Senate President Mr. René Monory told Prime Minister Aleksandër Meksi at the beginning of their meeting. Your visit undoubtedly marks an important development in Albanian-French relations, Prime Minister Meksi emphasized in turn. The processes of democratic reform in Albania have been difficult but successful. Assistance from the European Union, including France, has played an important role in their success. We once had 100% inflation, a budget deficit of 40%, mass unemployment and a complete economic collapse. Today, inflation is 6%, the budget deficit is 7%, and total production has grown by 11.3%. So, as you can see, the assistance provided has been well administered. Prime Minister Meksi went on to highlight favorable legislative and financial indicators and called for a greater presence of French investors in Albania. Mr. Meksi asked France to support Albania’s Association Agreement with the EU. Another topic discussed was the development of longstanding cultural traditions and ties between the two countries. Regarding the situation in the region, Prime Minister Meksi stressed that stability requires a resolution of the Kosovo issue. After restating Albania’s position on this issue, he called for increased international pressure on Belgrade. In conclusion, Mr. Monory stressed: “I will convey to President Chirac the sentiments expressed here toward France, with a view to further increasing the French presence in Albania.” Press Office of the Prime Minister

Hoxha’s nostalgics distribute photographs The run-up to the election campaigns has awakened the nostalgics of dictator Enver Hoxha. Among other things, they have also begun guerrilla-style actions, with slogans, leaflets and photographs. The latest target of these nostalgic “activists” in this city was, a few days ago, the “Babe Dudar Karbunara” high school in Berat. Around 20 photographs of Enver Hoxha were distributed in the classrooms of this high school. These photos, as students and law-enforcement officials in the district report, are of such a size that they show they were taken during Enver Hoxha’s “summers.” To carry out this “illogical and unscientific” action, the people involved chose nighttime; they [unclear] the wall at the back of the school, distributed papers over the desks, and then left without being noticed. In the morning, as soon as the students entered the classroom, they repeated/spread a word [?] of the local and Bookseller [?] were offended by this act and notified the police, who immediately went to the scene, collected evidence, and began seeking to identify and apprehend the perpetrators of this crime. The distribution of these photographs of Enver Hoxha at this Berat high school is not an isolated act in the activities of these “activists.” It comes right after the car-bomb explosion in Tirana, after leaflets and slogans were distributed in the Franciscan church, after dynamite was planted in public places in Shkodër and Gjirokastër, and after slogans and threats of violence appeared not only in newspaper pages but also on walls in Tirana, Berat, etc. It seems, therefore, that criminalized elements of the former communist secret police, installed by the head of the PS, have chosen as their alternative the spread of terror and insecurity, in order to fight democracy, using anti-democratic and unscientific means. N.GJINI

There are many ways to arrange double financing In an effort to dismiss the accusations of Serbian financing, PS deputy chairman Servet Pëllumbi has also come forward with a response that, in practice, lacks an argument. “Let them inspect us; if such large sums have been provided, they pass through the banks,” Pëllumbi said. Considering that the response came quite some time after the accusations were first made, and that its argument is very weak, it turns what should be a defense into an additional reason for suspicion. Declaring that there will be a “banking audit” does not mean at all that you have found an alibi for the accusations being made; on the contrary, it gives reason to suspect that the PS cannot find a convincing alibi. Pëllumbi knows very well that when it comes to illegal or simply dubious financing, it cannot be carried out openly through banks. According to Pëllumbi’s “defense,” investigators should go to the bank and find such a document. This act [the following passage appears duplicated/misplaced in the source]: they to fight democracy, using anti-democratic and unscientific means. E.PALOKA

Those who kept only the name separate from the dictatorship will not win Interview with the writer and screenwriter Roland Gjoza p. 4

Distinguished figures from around the world assure Albania “France will stand alongside Albania in its efforts to build a market economy and the rule of law. Albania’s European orientation has had, and will continue to have, France’s support. This was the message that French President Chirac addressed to President Berisha, once again assuring him of the support that one of Europe’s superpowers is giving to Albanian democratization. Albania’s path, marked by high economic growth and supported by the International Monetary Fund, has also received the encouragement of the No. 2 figure in French political life, the President of the French Senate, Monori, who said during his visit to Albania that he would encourage French investment in our country. Support for Albanian democracy was also assured during his visit to Albania by UNESCO Director-General Federico Major. “UNESCO will strongly support the building of democracy and calls for the entire United Nations system to join Albania’s efforts to build democracy,” Major declared, once again demonstrating the willingness and assistance that powerful international organizations offer to democracy in Albania. A series of statements by senior figures in international politics encourage us and show that democracy in Albania is on the right track. Similar statements in support of Albanian democratic reforms and institutions have previously been made by other prominent figures, including US President Bill Klinton, German President Herzog, and many other figures in world democracy. Albania’s foreign policy, oriented entirely toward the country’s full integration into Euro-Atlantic structures, has found the support of Europe and the USA for fulfilling as soon as possible Albania’s criteria for membership in NATO and the EU. Meanwhile, Albania has become a full member of the Council of Europe and the Partnership for Peace and the OSCE—pillars of the new architecture of post-“Cold War” Europe into which Albania is integrating thanks to democratic processes. B. KASMI