President Berisha received Italian President Scalfaro The Italian government commits to accepting seasonal workers The association agreement with the EU will be concluded by June President of the Republic Sali Berisha received yesterday the President of the Italian Republic, Oscar Luigi Scalfaro. Scalfaro, who paid a one-day visit to Tirana, was welcomed by President Berisha, who described the arrival of the Italian President in our country as a major political and historical event, one that serves Albania’s membership in the great European family. Greeting Mr. Scalfaro with the words “Welcome to Albania, Mr. President,” Berisha said: “Our host finds here old and sincere friends, representatives of a nation which, in the darkest and most difficult moments of its existence, had the support and solidarity of friendly Italy and of all civilized European nations.” In response to this greeting, Italian President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro said that Italy is and will remain at Albania’s side. “Allow me, on behalf of the Italian people, to thank you for you and the Albanian government having made possible the resilience of more than 300,000 Albanian emigrants in Italy,” the Italian President emphasized. He underlined that “Italy considers their presence a meeting point between two peoples with a shared history and culture.” Describing bilateral relations as “excellent” and expressing confidence that they will develop further, the Italian President said that his country's government will commit to accepting seasonal workers from Albania. “I can assure you that we will make every effort to guarantee a humane solution to the Albanian emigration problem and, in this same framework, my country's government will commit to accepting seasonal workers,” Mr. Scalfaro said. He also said that “in June the association agreement with the European Union will become a reality and this agreement will create for Albania all the opportunities to take secure steps toward the European Union.” In this context he stressed the importance for Albania of sustainable socio-economic development and the completion of the transition. “On this arduous road Italy stands by Albania to support it with confidence and conviction,” said Italian President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro. During the conversation with Italian President Scalfaro, President Berisha said that “Albania desires not only the strengthening of relations with Italy, but also their expansion into all fields.” He highlighted cooperation in the economic sphere and in the fight against crime as being of interest to both countries. According to President Berisha, “in the conditions in which Albania is moving at a rapid pace in the process of building democratic institutions, economic development, and final break with its past, the support of our friends and partners is of great importance.” Valuing “the distinguished role of friendly Italy in opening Albania to the world,” President Berisha said that in the future too our country “will consider Italy a friendly country, with which we are and will always be linked by close and fruitful relations in all fields.” Page 3

The U.S. Embassy states: “The socialist leader has the right, like all Albanian citizens, to travel abroad” - Lorta e Islamit dojë holloi [?] “There is no force in the United States that has undertaken to encourage or incite illegal or violent demonstrations in Albania.” This was declared yesterday to the press by the spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in Tirana, rejecting speculation spread by opposition figures, according to which officials of the American Embassy in Tirana were helping finance the violent protests caused by the PS in various cities of the country. “In fact,” the spokesperson said, “the attacks on the United States are carried out in order to divert the attention of Albanians from the real issue behind these protests, which is the political use by the PS leadership of grievances that naturally exist during the difficult period of a complex transition such as Albania’s.” The spokesperson added that the U.S. remains committed to the development of democracy and a free-market economy in Albania. “We hope that the demonstrators and the police will resolve matters peacefully. But we call on the leaders of political parties to use their influence to encourage calm and restraint, both in their actions and in their rhetoric.” Stating that President Clinton and Secretary of State Christopher have regularly emphasized the importance the United States attaches to Albania’s democratic outlook and especially to the elections of 26 May, the spokesperson said that “Any effort to obstruct or discredit these elections runs counter to Albania’s most important interests. The U.S. expects these elections to be free, fair, and peaceful so that Albania may further develop its democratic institutions and free-market economy.” Responding to questions about why the American Embassy was supporting campaign rallies of the Socialist Party, the spokesperson said: “None of these claims is true.” According to him, the U.S. Embassy and the American government have been involved in a multi-year program to build and develop political parties, institutions, and democratic processes in Albania. He added that this program helps the government, political parties, media organizations, citizen groups, and young people increase their participation in public life. “This,” the spokesperson said, “is a completely non-partisan program. We have cooperated with all parties across the Albanian political spectrum.” “If PS officials have taken part in activities sponsored by the U.S., that has happened because of their position and not as a result of their party affiliation,” the spokesperson said. According to him, members and activists of the spokesperson and of the PS have taken part in this program. “In fact,” said the spokesperson for the American Embassy, “officials and activists are invited on the basis of the role and contribution they can make in the upcoming elections. All democratic parties in Albania have taken part in such programs.” Rejecting the insinuations of PS officials that “high-ranking U.S. officials were unfairly favoring the government of Prime Minister Meksi,” the spokesperson said that this kind of favoritism is an absurd term because the U.S. recognizes the government but also maintains relations with opposition parties. For this reason, he underlined that “officials of the U.S. Embassy” will continue to meet with representatives of the Albanian government, but also with opposition leaders. Asked whether instructions had been issued not to grant visas to senior officials of the Socialist Party, the embassy spokesperson replied that “there is no force or policy from Washington that would prevent senior PS officials from traveling to the U.S.” He added that no such rule had been applied in the past to opposition officials either. The spokesperson said that “although visa policies in individual cases are not discussed,” he could say that “senior opposition officials will be considered for visa issuance on the same basis as all other Albanian citizens.”

Exclusive interview for Albanian TV with artist Sabato Ernisto Page 2

The PAD branch in Malësi e Madhe is dissolved Page 3

Berisha and Scalfaro greet each other in Brigadave Page 2

On Sunday, 21 April 1996, at nine o'clock, at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana, the 27th National Congress of the D.P. With the participation also of the heads of the PD branches

The communist abbreviations are expiring. Transitional Albania is doing everything to bring to life, one by one, all those anti-Albanian interests extending from official Athens to certain media outlets in Western countries. The state of the communists is once again showing its true face. This unprecedented situation, which today has become a real epidemic for the electoral corps and not only for it, is being continuously fed by the Greek political opposition, which on the eve of the elections and after them tries to use these grievances as electoral capital. These are clear aspects of a huge attempt to destabilize the country. The opposition, especially its leaders, are not only the instigators but also the main organizers of this wave. It is enough to recall their latest declarations, the violent protests, attacks on the police, violations of constitutional order, and the orientation toward dark scenarios.

Gjinushi and Pëllumbi met with the electorate According to official data, the number of Italian workers in Albania reaches 2,000 people in various forms. Faced with a situation almost identical to that of Albanian emigration in Italy, the authorities of the neighboring country are concerned about the recent events. The Italian government states that its official representatives, Ambassador Paolo Foresti and senior officials from the Foreign and Interior Ministries, are closely following the situation in Albania. Recently, according to an Italian government document made public yesterday by the “Ansa” agency, it is said that “we have established the direct link between the violent protests in Albania and criminal gangs operating on both shores of the Adriatic.” In a meeting with the media, Italian Foreign Minister Suzana Anjeli said that “the situation will be kept under control,” while making clear that official Rome “will intervene through institutional channels,” calling on the opposition “to respect the rules of the democratic game and the result of the previous elections.” The Italian Interior Minister accused figures from the Albanian opposition of links to illegal trafficking, suggesting that destabilization of the country could directly affect migratory flows toward Italy. According to the government document, Italy is determined to cooperate with the Albanian authorities to prevent illegal crossings and strengthen control in Adriatic ports.

From 24 April to 3 May 1996, Tirana Internacional Hotel, in cooperation with the Embassy of Switzerland in Tirana and the Office of Writing[?], organizes in the Borja and Akrema Shisurti [?], organizes in the Borja and Akrema restaurant. Swiss Promotion Week During this day a variety of traditional dishes and wines will be served, a wide range of meals and especially music and songs by a Swiss folklore group will also be included. We welcome you to fill our from 24 April until this special event. Invitations. “Tirana Internacional Hotel”