U.S. President Bill Clinton appointed Mariza Lino as U.S. ambassador to Albania. Lino has had a distinguished diplomatic career; she served for two years as deputy executive secretary of state and served in Baghdad, Damascus and Rome before being appointed to her new post. Mariza Lino speaks Italian, French, Spanish, Serbo-Croatian and Arabic.

At the invitation of Mr. Alexis Wintoniak, Executive Secretary of EDU (European Democratic Union), a delegation of the Democratic Party of Albania set off for Greece to attend an important meeting of the Union’s Steering Committee. At the invitation of Mr. Alexis Wintoniak, Executive Secretary of EDU (European Democratic Union), a delegation of the Democratic Party of Albania, led by the party’s Secretary for International Relations, Mr. Albert Brojka, set off for Greece to attend an important meeting of the Union’s Steering Committee.

Testing by the Association for Democratic Culture

Anyone who listens to NATO often recalls the reasons and arguments put forward by this powerful military institution, now also a political one. History, although liberal and seeking to enrich itself, cannot forget communism, which forced half of Europe to forget the shared life and history of Europeans. The Cold War is over, but communism has not yet come to an end, having taken refuge in the safeguarding of their future and the European identity of Albanians. Havier Solana came to Albania convinced that the foundations had been laid here for the beginning of a European history, including the concepts of a modern civil society and an army under civilian control, ready to operate according to the modern principles of a Western army. His conviction was political, and he went further still. Solana himself declared 1996 to be the year of Albania’s debate with NATO, which would have to take place on the threshold of NATO membership. But Solana came to Albania and did not meet with the Socialists. This is a clear message to Albanians. Refusing such a meeting, when nothing of the kind happened in the other Eastern countries Solana visited, means that the Socialists are not, in NATO’s eyes either, within the parameters of a political force that can represent a civilised country seeking to join NATO or aspiring to join as soon as possible. Such disregard is a wake-up call for Albanians to be wary of neocommunism, at least as wary as NATO or any other important European organisation is. Albania has its opposition within its own borders. Fortunately, this opposition cannot act out its agenda under the pretext of bringing about its complete correction. Nevertheless, Albania’s opposition, aligned with the Red Front, has managed to demonstrate its opposition to its own country. It did not remain silent in its conduct even when Albania was admitted to the Council of Europe. Although Europe had tested Albanian democracy and recognised it as ready to move closer to European democracy, the Albanian neocommunists did not forget their habit: they acted not as a political opposition, but as opponents of their own country. They did everything possible to prevent Albania’s membership of the Council of Europe, but it went ahead. They also demonstrated their opposition to Albania’s steps towards NATO. In December 1992, they questioned Foreign Minister Alfred Serreqi because, in their view, the Albanian government had taken overly enthusiastic steps in its stance towards NATO and relations with the United States. They demanded that Albania show restraint in its statements about NATO membership and likewise in its relations with the United States. This is the clearest public demonstration of their anti-NATO position, which opposes measures to ensure the country’s security as much as it opposes the resolution of the national question and Albania’s integration into Europe. NATO Secretary General Havier Solana spent two days in Albania. He assured Albanians that the course they had embarked upon was one of democratic governance. He did not meet with the Socialists. This was a piece of advice to them to change course—in other words, to change themselves. Through its mission, NATO expresses its support for democracy in Albania and for President Berisha.

[Chart with the figures 40, 35, 30, 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 0; labels: DP, SP, SDP, PAD, PR, PBDNJ, PPD, PBSD, another party, no party] For some time, the Socialists had been spreading word that a poll favourable to them would soon be released. In fact, yesterday the Association for Democratic Culture conducted a poll among 1,200 people in 40 areas of Albania, selected according to statistical and sociological criteria. As the Socialists kept saying, this was the poll most favourable to them, but even this poll once again showed that the DP and President Berisha are at the top of all the polls. Thus the poll eagerly awaited by the SP once again put the DP in first place, with 38.4% to the question, “Which party do you sympathise with?” Meanwhile, support for the Socialists in their poll was 20.5%, followed by the other parties. What stands out in this poll, too, is that all the parties of the Red Front together do not even come close to the DP, despite the optimistic figures this poll offers them. Another notable figure is the 15.9% who have no preference for any party. And while the “supporters” of the SP are that party’s foot soldiers, the 15.9% of participants are among those who voted for the DP in ’92 and are now indifferent to the parties, because they have reached a certain level of political maturity and may vote only for the DP. The DP’s supremacy becomes clearer in the ranking of Albanian politicians. The leading figure of the DP, President of the Republic Sali Berisha, continues to remain well ahead of opposition politicians at the top of Albanians’ preferences. The opposition’s ongoing and absurd complaints have had the same effect as a drop of black ink in the ocean. These, then, were yesterday’s Republican poll findings. In fact, other polls conducted around the same time show much higher figures for the DP, figures exceeding even those of earlier polls conducted by the American Republican Institute or Eurobarometer. In any case, all these polls show only one thing: Albanians are determined to move forward quickly, convinced that only the DP can secure this progress and the future. E.P

- The President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, also attends the inauguration ceremony - The Tirana Stock Exchange becomes a member of the European Stock Exchange The country with the world’s most centralised economy is opening its first stock exchange today, and this marks a very great achievement for Albania and for the market as a whole. Yesterday, the inauguration ceremony of the first Albanian stock exchange was held at the Bank of Albania. The President of the Republic, Mr. Sali Berisha, also attended the ceremony. In his remarks, the Governor of the Bank of Albania described the opening of the stock exchange in Albania as a historic event, not only for the Albanian financial market but for the entire Albanian economy and nation. Mr. Luniku described the Stock Exchange as a composite indicator of the fact that the Albanian economy has fully embarked on the path of a market economy. Mr. Luniku then also emphasised the advantages of the capital market and the stock exchange as a natural, rather than administrative, step. President of the Republic of Albania, Mr. Sali Berisha: Honourable Governor, Deputy Prime Minister, other dignitaries and ambassadors, ladies and gentlemen. We are living through a historic moment, not only for Albania but also for everyone present here, quite apart from what begins on this day. The country with the world’s most centralised economy is opening its first stock exchange today, and this marks an achievement—I would say a very great one—for Albania and for the market as a whole. On this occasion, I would like to congratulate you most warmly. First, I would like to thank the team, the Governor and the Bank’s staff for their highly dedicated work, which is being brought to fruition today with the opening of this newest institution, the first, but perhaps the most important. I would like to express my warm thanks to everyone who worked and provided valuable assistance in opening our stock exchange. The Stock Exchange is a result of the major political, economic and legislative developments and changes that have taken place in Albania over the past four years. It is evidence of Albania’s political stability, which inspires growing confidence among businesspeople and Continued on page 3

Businesspeople threatened: Death to those who don’t pay for the Socialists Page 3

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A few days ago, PAD published a poster featuring photographs of its leaders and the caption: “PAD, the ideal right-wingers—the people of yesterday.” In light of the latest facts, all Albanians know that PAD is Ramiz Alia’s party and that its members are former State Security informers. Page 3

Solana praises Albania’s participation in the Partnership for Peace programme NATO Secretary General Havier Solana praised Albania for its active participation in the Partnership for Peace programme and promised to intensify the alliance’s ties with the country. During contacts at the end of his two-day visit to Albania, Mr. Solana described this Balkan country as one of the most advanced in its cooperation with NATO structures. The Partnership for Peace programme represents cooperation and partnership with each European country, but does not provide participating countries with security guarantees. Discussions between NATO Secretary General Havier Solana, President Sali Berisha and other Albanian dignitaries focused on Albania’s aspirations to become a NATO member. During his current tour of Eastern European countries, Mr. Solana reiterated NATO’s plans for enlargement, but said that no decision was expected before December regarding the timetable or the countries that would be admitted to the alliance. Yesterday, NATO Secretary General Havier Solana held a meeting with representatives of the North Atlantic Association. Also yesterday, Mr. Solana departed from Tirana. The talks in Tirana also addressed the situation of Albanians in Kosovo. Bulgaria is Mr. Solana’s next stop; he will conclude his tour with a visit to Romania. During this tour, the NATO Secretary General also visited the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia. NATO Secretary General Havier Solana praises Albania for its active participation in the Partnership for Peace programme

YEAR VI OF PUBLICATION No. 98 (1242) FRIDAY 3 May 1996 PRICE 10 LEKË 1,000 Italian lire 200 drachmas

Today, 3 May 1996, at 6:30 p.m., at the “Asllan Rusi” Sports Palace, the Tirana branch of the Democratic Party is holding a meeting with its electorate, attended by the gentlemen Today, 3 May 1996, at 6:30 p.m., at the “Asllan Rusi” Sports Palace, the Tirana branch of the Democratic Party is holding a meeting with its electorate, attended by: 1. Tritan Shehu—Chairman of the Albanian Democratic Party 2. Aleksandër Meksi—Prime Minister 3. Michel Picard—Chairman of the Parliamentary Group of Chirac’s Rally for the Republic party