The conservative and Christian Democratic parties that are members of the European Democratic Union (UDE) are concerned about communist parties returning to power in the countries of Eastern Europe, only a few years after the fall of the Soviet system. Speaking about the enlargement of the European Union at a press conference, UDE chairman, Austrian Alois Mok, said: “Those who were freed from the communist yoke must be given this chance.” French Prime Minister Alen Zhype said that the return to power of some communist parties in Central and Eastern Europe is perhaps an indication that we have underestimated the difficulty of moving from communism to a radically different society. Albanian President Sali Berisha said that communism poses a real threat to Europe’s stability and future. Mok announced that they would hold a symposium in Vienna in the spring on the subject of the course of communism.

Today: Today, at 12:30, at the PDSH headquarters, Democratic Party Secretary General Tritan Shehu will hold a press conference regarding the PD’s acceptance into the EDU.

Statement by President Berisha for TVSH Europe attentive to Albanian Europeanism Europe’s attention to the East is no longer limited to social care. The conference of the European Democratic Union, which ended two days ago in Paris, sets out a new Western approach toward Eastern countries. The focus is now on ideological concern and greater attention to the political tendencies of some former communist parties in the East. It was established that communism has fallen, but there is a firmly established base, primarily among former communists, that could revive communism as an ideology. The admission of the Democratic Party into the European Democratic Union is an alternative to the West’s measures to detach Albania from the political effects of the East, and a maximum effort to support the pro-Western tendency of Albanian democracy. The victory of left-wing parties in some Eastern European countries has revealed the post-communist Eastern syndrome, which is nevertheless very close to their communist past. The Eastern communist herbarium has been opened up by former Albanian communists too, who, in terms of their ideological ambitions and the alternatives they have put forward, are at the closest parameters of ... The locomotive of Albanian democracy, fully integrated into Europe, is the principal value of yesterday’s decision by the European Democratic Union to accept the PDSH as a full member. I think this is a historic victory for Albania and the Albanian nation, for all those Albanians whose deepest instinct is to orient themselves toward the West and integrate Albania into Europe. Because this locomotive, positioned in Europe, will surely take our train to the station we want. On the other hand, the PD’s membership in the European Democratic Union is a great recognition and acknowledgment of all the members, supporters, and everyone who backed the PD. It is recognition of this party’s deeply democratic character and of its undeniable achievements, not only in overthrowing communism, but also in building the values of democracy, the rule of law, and a market economy in Albania.

President Berisha received the Foreign Minister of the Swiss Confederation, Flavio Koti Yesterday afternoon at the Presidency, the President of the Republic “I congratulate you on the exemplary progress you have made on the path to building the rule of law and a market economy, as well as on your ongoing efforts to protect and develop the values to which all Western countries are committed,” the Foreign Minister of the Swiss Confederation, Flavio Koti, told President Berisha. Welcoming him, President Berisha said: “We are grateful to you for the incomprehensible assistance Switzerland has given and continues to give Albania over these four years. I want to assure you,” President Berisha told Minister Koti, “that Swiss technical assistance, followed by financial assistance, has been and is being used efficiently in restructuring the electricity networks, hospitals, etc. I also want to thank you,” President Berisha said, “because the efficient use of your assistance has created credibility for the development of our economy and has encouraged other countries to take part in helping Albania.” Minister Koti, after once again emphasizing the profound changes Albania had undergone over these four years, as well as the very satisfactory progress in relations and cooperation between our two countries, assured President Berisha that, as in the past, when Switzerland designated Albania a priority country for aid, it is also committed in the future to helping and supporting it on the path of national development and integration into Europe. “Albania is one of four selected countries in Central Europe for priority Swiss assistance,” he said. President Berisha and Minister Koti also discussed regional issues and the Kosovo question. President Berisha reiterated that resolving the Kosovo problem through dialogue in the presence of a third party is a prerequisite for resolving the Balkan crisis. Minister Koti stressed that this year would also be decisive for resolving the Kosovo problem, and said that he would personally contribute to this. Yesterday afternoon at the Presidency, the President of the Republic received the Foreign Minister of the Swiss Confederation, Flavio Koti.

Switzerland considers Albania one of the priority countries in Central and Eastern Europe, said ...

The acceptance a Western measure aimed at distancing maximum effort in support of the pro-Western inclination of Albanian democracy. The victories of left-wing parties in several Eastern European countries have revealed the post-communist Eastern syndrome, which is nonetheless has also been opened by former Albanian communists, whose ideological ambitions and proposed alternatives place them as close as possible to communism. They have declared their support for a policy of renationalization and have neither recognized nor supported reform in Albania. Their non-participation in the country’s democratic developments will necessarily be followed by new political behavior, different from that of democratic governance, if they come to power. Regression is no longer merely a possibility under a socialist government; it has become entrenched in all their opposition behavior, which moves along the boundaries of antagonism toward the democratic values established in the fields of economic and political rights and freedoms over the past four years in Albania. The political organization of the Albanian left, their alignment against the right and against the values that this part of Albanian politics has made available for the future, also bears witness to classic methods for restoring communism. The creation of the Red Front with the most regressive elements of politics aims to create an obscurantist political terrain in order to exclude Albanians’ opportunities for Europeanization. Europe’s declaration that the East is threatened by communism is a conclusion that has not left Albania out of such assessments either. The conference of center-right parties, recorded in history as the group that planned the fall of communism in the East, considers it natural to repeat the successive victories of 1989–90 in order to carry out a general cleansing of Europe of communist ideology. The member parties of this union govern the main countries of Europe, and their vision of a united Europe is identified with that of a Europe without communism or ideologies close to it. Albanians have the opportunity to choose, following this appeal from Paris, from Kohl’s, Chirac’s and Major’s parties, in order to take the next step toward the victory of European awareness over Eastern neo-communist awareness. The existence in Albania of an extreme left wing is a factor that should ensure a European response to the Eastern phenomenon of communist nostalgia. Albanians’ political clarity must be closely linked to individual pragmatism, which can be secured only through the establishment of a series of institutions reflecting Western organization, both in their ideology and in their programs. The acceptance a European value for Albanians that cannot be diluted by the communism implemented and entrenched in the Socialist Party. Albanians must be mindful of values which, in a Europe—even in the case when someone is simply not Kosovar but... Regarding the accusation made against the President of the Republic by Mr. Paskal Milo, after this the President had to carry out the simple duty of calling out that... The Democratic Party government, in its efforts concerning this party’s program, legal efforts and constitutional court rulings to define the PS politically, as well as its own position, has compromised itself and also favored the elevation of its own President in this manner. The President of the Republic has now been accused by a group among his political opponents, including those with a social-democratic orientation, who were condemned for this reason by the PPSH. It should be noted here that neither the Socialist cause nor the Social Democratic Party has ever submitted a request to the Presidency to condemn these figures. We have no knowledge whatsoever of the decoration of these criminals, as Mr. Milo claims. His statement on television is unheard of and proves that this high-ranking figure, instead of speaking about the facts, prefers to defend the Enverist wing of the PS, which he favored under the dictatorship.

Switzerland considers Albania one of the priority countries in Central and Eastern Europe, Swiss Foreign Minister Flavio Cotti said at a press conference in Tirana Switzerland has placed Albania among the priority countries compared with other countries in Central and Eastern Europe, Cotti said, mentioning the assistance Switzerland has provided to Albania in the technical and health sectors, agriculture and information. Cotti, who is also the current chairman of the OSCE, praised Albania’s rapid and effective development toward democracy, the rule of law and a market economy. He added that substantial progress had been made in Albania in just a few years. Regarding the Kosovo issue, Cotti said there could be no lasting stability in the Balkan region without a solution to the Kosovo question. He went on to say that Belgrade’s readmission to international structures, and especially to the OSCE, would be conditional on progress in resolving the Kosovo problem. But, he stressed, the OSCE is a relatively weak organization. Cotti praised the position of Albanian officials, which has facilitated the handling of this problem. Switzerland is one of Albania’s main contributors in the field of technical assistance. So far, through various projects, Switzerland has provided Albania with aid worth 40 million dollars.

The Austrian newspaper “Standart” writes: At the headquarters of the Communist Party, called the Socialists, they declare themselves confident of victory. Spokesman Kastriot Islami: We have formed an alliance with two left-wing parties and are sure we will win these elections. We will not return to the old system. “The market economy and democracy are our goal too.” But unlike the former communist parties of Eastern Europe that have returned to power, the Albanian comrades have distanced themselves very little from the old regime. More state-controlled economy and preserving the “positive achievements” of the past are the aim of the neosocialists, the newspaper goes on to write. “One is sworn into the Communist Party. other left-wing parties and are sure we will win this election.’ There will be no return to the old system. ‘A other former communists who have come back to power in Eastern Europe, the Albanian comrades have distanced themselves only slightly from the old regime di-

The current Albanian government faced major challenges as it sought to build a democratic society and a free-market economy on the ashes of 47 years of communist rule. You have sought to accomplish in this year what it took us 200 years to do in the United States. You have made extraordinary strides in your efforts to build a democratic society and a free-market economy. The work is not finished, and you face other challenges ahead. If you continue with the same determination and dedication to the democratic principles you have demonstrated over the past four years, progress will continue. Democracy is a fragile flower with shallow roots in Albania. It is important that you continue to nurture it.