President Berisha received Assistant Secretary of State Rudolf Perina President Berisha and Mr. Perina discussed the situation in Kosovo. Mr. Perina stressed that the United States is deeply concerned about recent developments in Kosovo and is determined to contribute to resolving this important problem for peace and stability in the Balkans. President Berisha, expressing his concern about the situation in Kosovo, stressed that recent developments there are attempts by Serbian extremist groups to radicalize the situation. President Berisha thanked the US government for its interest in and support for the Kosovo issue, and asked Mr. Perina to convey to President Clinton and Secretary of State Kristofer his concerns about developments in Kosovo. He reiterated Albania’s position that the start of negotiations in the presence of a third party is an indispensable condition for a peaceful resolution of the Kosovo problem. Assistant Secretary of State Perina congratulated President Berisha on Albania’s great progress over these four years. President Berisha briefed him extensively on the political situation in the country and the campaign ahead of the elections, expressing his conviction that these elections will be free and fair and that the DP will win.

President of the Republic Sali Berisha meets residents of the city of Vlora . The season of socialism, oppression and depersonalization is over. The DP promises Vlora that it will turn it into a major tourist center of Albania, from Narta to its borders with Saranda, with hotels, resorts and tourist marinas, from which Vlora and all Albania will benefit. The DP pledges to completely renew the infrastructure of Vlora and its villages, and to rebuild roads, ports, airports and water-supply systems. Vlora will be a free zone, a major economic center for Albania’s development. Vlora will double its number of students, and Ismail Qemali University will become one of Albania’s strongest university centers. The people of Vlora will benefit from seasonal migration to Italy and Greece. Yesterday at midday, at the Flamurtari stadium in the city of Vlora, President of the Republic Sali Berisha took part in a large public rally. Also present were Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Construction and Tourism Dashamir Shehi, prefect Bahri Shënaj, Chairman of the district council Agim Kadiu, Mayor Elham Sharra, etc. Also present was the chairman of the parliamentary group of the Union for the Republic Party, which supports ... [text continues outside the frame] ... were four years of paradise, but the best years of our lives. Years in which we experienced spiritual and intellectual fulfillment, the joy of being free people, of being free Albanians. We learned that freedom is a right, that it works for everyone; therefore, let us turn our free elections into our celebration of freedom, into our construction of the freedom we have won. The season of socialism was, for Albanians, a season of poverty, ration cards and coupons, food rationing and long queues. The first four years of the spring of ... [text cut off] ... traditional in Europe. The Red Front has no friends, President Berisha stressed, and therefore every vote for it is a vote for Albania’s isolation. Its friends are the enemies of freedom, of Albanians and of the Albanian nation; they are those who sought to partition Albania not in 1912 or 1918, but four years ago, in the 1990s. Turning to the Democratic Party’s program, President Berisha said that it promises Vlora, first, to Narta to its border Vlora and all Albania will benefit. ... [text continues outside the frame] ... overcoming them through our immediate decision for prosperity and rapid economic growth, employment, security for all, friendship and cooperation, a just resolution of our national question, and Albania’s full integration into Europe. Everyone wins with us, President Berisha stressed; Vlora wins with us, all Albania wins with us. Mr. Pericard addressed those present and said, among other things: I want to express my respect and gratitude ... [text cut off] all Albania. Michel Pericard, chairman of the parliamentary group of Jacques Chirac’s Union for the Republic Party, has pledged the full support France gives the DP for victory in the May 26 elections. Present yesterday at two DP election rallies in Vlora and Tirana, the chairman of the parliamentary group of the DP in Albania conveyed messages not only from France but also from Europe. Through them, Albanians are urged to choose at the polls the alternative that over these four years has secured Albania an honored name in the democratic world and given Albanians freedom and the opportunity to enjoy its fruits. “I am here to express my admiration for the changes the DP has brought about over these four years,” Pericard said yesterday. “This is not paradise, but you are building it and you must not turn back.” You have a stage to complete: Albania’s full integration into Europe. Believe me, with the DP and Berisha you will move toward Europe much faster. I express my admiration for President Berisha. He is an outstanding statesman in Europe, and when you have him with you, victory is certain. “This is the message Pericard conveyed to Albanians yesterday about the support the DP enjoys in Europe, while highlighting the importance Albania’s elections have for Europe. ‘On May 26, all Europe, France and Chirac will have their eyes on Albania,’ Pericard stressed. ‘Do not disappoint them.’”

President of the Republic Sali Berisha received Elisabet Gerher, Federal Minister for Education and Culture of the Republic of Austria. President Berisha expressed his gratitude for the support and cooperation with Albanian institutions, assuring her that this is a contribution to the friendship and cooperation between our two countries. Mrs. Gerher congratulated President Berisha on Albania’s ongoing and significant achievements over these four years and expressed her conviction that cooperation with Albania is taking concrete shape through many projects, including in education, culture and tourism. She wished President Berisha victory in the upcoming elections and assured him that she would continue making personal efforts as a friend and supporter of Albania.

Michel Pericard: . Europe has landed in Albania. Just three weeks before Albanians go to the polls, they are seeing the support that democratic Europe is giving the DP. Union for the Republic Party, has assured the DP of France’s full support two DP election meetings in ... [text cut off] Union for the Republic, which supports French President Jacques Chirac, Mr. Mishel Perikard. The rally, attended by more than 20,000 people, was opened by the chairman of the DP branch for the district, Adhurim Musaraj, who said, among other things, that the Democratic Party would win the upcoming elections because it was the party that had transformed Albania over the past four years into a country of freedom and success, and because it was the political force with clear alternatives for Albania’s future. President Berisha then spoke, greeting the people of Vlora and welcoming the enthusiastic presence at the rally of Mr. Perikard, representative of the great friend of the Albanian people, French President Jacques Chirac. On May 26, President Berisha stressed, Vlora of our free Flag, Vlora of the unparalleled struggles and efforts for the freedom and dignity of Albanians, democratic Vlora, Vlora—the capital of our history—will vote for the Democratic Party; it will vote for prosperity, employment, ownership, the success of free enterprise, President Berisha called on voters in Vlora and throughout Albania to honestly compare the present with where we were four years ago, because, he stressed, only in this way can we better understand what we have experienced and properly appreciate what we have achieved. Four years ago, President Berisha continued, the season of socialism—the season of oppression, depersonalization and persecution—ended for us Albanians. And Albania entered the independence of democracy. These ... increased per-capita income and put Albania at the forefront of economic growth in Europe. Socialism brings only poverty and unemployment, and its front has no ideals but clans, President Berisha continued. Therefore, he said, I invite you to vote for the candidates of the Democratic Party, because its program guarantees several times greater economic growth, employment for the unemployed and Albanian youth, security of property and faster ownership for you, and the success of your businesses. For Albania and Albanians, the season of socialism was the season of our greatest isolation and loneliness, our separation from the West and estrangement from all our allies and friends ... free people, called and being free people, and long queues. The first four years of democracy’s dawn were not a boulevard strewn with flowers for us, but together we went from being Europe’s most collectivized people to being owners and capable entrepreneurs; we went from long queues to a full marketplace. We increased fourfold ... The enemies of Albanians and the Albanian nation are those who sought to partition Albania in 1912 or 1918, or to Narta to its border Vlora and all Albania will benefit. Second, water-supply systems. Third, for Albania’s development. Fourth, University will become Albania’s strongest university center. Fifth, Italy and Greece. Continuing, President Berisha called on the people of Vlora and all Albanians to turn the May 26 elections, with their free vote, into a celebration of the success we have achieved, a celebration of our profound democratic convictions and commitment to Albanian democracy, and of building through the difficulties that ... Those present were greeted by Mr. Perikard, who said, among other things: I want to express my deep respect and gratitude for your presence here today with Mr. Berisha, who is a great statesman. His reach and influence now extend beyond Albania’s borders and are felt throughout Europe. I, he said, belong to a Democratic Party that was born alongside General De Gaulle and today supports Jacques Chirac. I lead the deputies of the Union for the Republic, and Albania is the only distant country I have wanted to visit to express our support for the Democratic Party. All the French people who visit Albania have been amazed by the achievements of the Democratic Party and President Berisha over these four years. One stage remains before Albania can join Europe, and this will be possible only if the Democratic Party wins the upcoming elections. After that, Europe’s prosperity will benefit this people and Albania greatly. That is what it means to have the great good fortune of having a president like Berisha in leadership. The magnificent rally of the people of Vlora was brought to a close amid great enthusiasm by the festive concert “Vizion 2000,” organized by the Democratic Party Youth Forum, with the participation of leading artists from the capital and professional and amateur groups from the Vlora district. During the two-hour concert, those present applauded at length and cheered the well-known singers Aleksandër Gjoka, Ardit Gjebrea, Francesk Radi, Mimoza Selimi, the group Ritfolk and singer Redon Makashi, as well as the youth ballet troupe, directed by Kozeta Bakaut. The talented Vlora parodists also created delightful moments in this festive setting.

“We do not want socialism” Enthusiasm among voters in Tirana’s zones 50–54 and confidence among DP leaders about victory in the May 26 elections, as Europe arrives in Albania with clear messages for Albanian voters: Albania must continue along the path it has begun, and for this the Democrats’ victory in the elections is essential.

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Candidates for parliament, Ferdinand Xhaferi and Genc Juka, are introduced Page 4