President Berisha at the World Economic Forum in Salisburg From President Berisha’s speech in Salisburg The President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, who at the beginning of his speech thanked those present for their interest in the developments of this part of Europe, emphasized that his speech would focus on several key issues of Albanian democracy in the making. He described it as “an extraordinary experience” of the Albanians’ life in freedom under the dictatorial regime, as well as one of “a profound and rapid transformation” in the years of won freedom. At the outset he identified five key moments in the reforms undertaken: first, the destruction of the old structures; second, the rapid economic liberalization; third, the establishment of the rule of law; fourth, the creation of an attractive environment for foreign capital; and fifth, Albania’s integration into international structures. He further noted that the victory of democracy and the free market in Albania is a great achievement of Albanian citizens. “We have moved,” the President said, “from a system in which human beings were stripped of every freedom, to a system in which the individual enjoys full rights and the economy is open to competition.” Speaking about the challenges, President Berisha said that the transition has also brought difficulties, but the country has shown an extraordinary capacity to adapt to reforms and to preserve stability. He stressed that the success of the reforms depends on strengthening institutions, on the fight against corruption, and on cooperation with international partners. He then turned to the importance of privatization as a fundamental engine of economic growth and underlined the need to attract foreign investment. According to him, Albania has entered a new stage of development in which private enterprise, the free market and individual initiative will play a decisive role. President Berisha also emphasized that peace and stability in the region are essential conditions for economic development. He spoke about relations with neighboring countries, about opening up to Europe, and about Albania’s commitment to democratic standards. At the conclusion of his speech, President Berisha expressed optimism about the country’s future and said that Albania will move forward resolutely on the path of reforms, the market economy and European integration.

Prime Minister Meksi and Deputy Prime Minister Shehu bring the round-table consultations with ten political forces to a close, concerning the formation of the new government Shehu: The government now being shaped will be a government of high economic development, strong privatization of the economy, and the further affirmation of Albania in international structures. At yesterday’s meeting with the ten political forces, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Tritan Shehu said that most of the requests presented there are feasible and that the majority can be fulfilled. As for the new government, he said it will continue with structural changes, macroeconomic stabilization, the refinement of the market economy, as well as privatization across all sectors. During the meeting with the political parties, it was concluded that the new government being formed should also be supported by the parliamentary right-wing parties. The programme of the new government was then made public. In any case, the government will also include a representative of the PSD, while Petrit Kalakula was appointed to the post of deputy prime minister. The new government was presented to President Berisha by Deputy Prime Minister Shehu. The Executive Presidium of the PD, having considered the problems raised regarding the structure and composition of the government, stated as follows: Given the fact that the chairman of the PBD, Dr. Neritan Ceka, requested of the President of the Republic that, before receiving the mandate to form the coalition government, a political consultative meeting of all right-wing groupings be held, the Executive Presidium of the Democratic Party decided to organize such a meeting. Therefore, in this meeting with the political partners of the majority coalition, Makoj proposes the following agenda: 1) The requests and recommendations of the political groupings regarding the government programme. 2) The structure and composition of the government. The General Steering Committee has put forward the following proposals for the composition of the government: Tritan Shehu, deputy prime minister and minister for Foreign Affairs Arben Malaj, minister of Finance Maksim Cikuli, minister of Agriculture and Food Sali Shehu, minister of Defense Maksim Gjinushi, minister of Internal Affairs Arian Starova, minister of Public Works, Transport and Tourism Arben Imami, minister of Institutional Reform and Relations with Parliament Albert Brojka, minister of Health and Environmental Protection Genc Pollo, minister of Education and Culture Arjan Vasjari, minister of Labor, Emigration and Social Welfare Ylli Vejsiu, minister of Justice Admiral Kudret Çela, minister of Public Order Musa Ulqini, minister of State for Relations with Parliament and government spokesperson Xhelil Gjoni, secretary general of the Council of Ministers As for the Republicans, Deputy Prime Minister Shehu declared that those representatives who have been officially presented as such have been invited there, as far as possible, but if they are represented institutionally, they are included in the coalition. Regarding a right-wing recomposition with a centrist core, he said that this was under review. When asked by journalists whether the government would be long-lasting or short-term, he said that it depends on the stability of the coalition and on the parliamentary majority. For their part, representatives of the parties expressed a series of suggestions and remarks about the programme, structure and composition of the government. Sali Shehi, representative of the Conservative Party, said there are many objections to the structure presented by the government, but the problems with the right-wing forces require serious commitment and longevity of the coalition. He also said that the structure presented by the government is simple and should be treated as a draft in which further adjustments can still be made. The representative of the PBDNJ, Vasil Melo, said that the post of deputy prime minister should be created for minority issues and added that the stability of the governing coalition must be resolved within the day, since real allies must also have governmental responsibility. Skënder Gjinushi, representative of the PSD, said that the government should once again carefully review its structure and better define the sectors of the institutions so that there are no parallel actions. He added that the country and the government must break away from the syndrome of “crisis”. As for the spirit and relations within the coalition, Mr. Gjinushi said care must be taken to avoid overt or implied forms of discrimination, because these compromise not only the coalition but also democratic processes. The representative of the PSL, Mr. Idajet Beqiri, said that the coalition should discuss a rational and realistic programme with priority given to economic development and Albania’s integration into Europe. He expressed the view that the structure of the government lacks institutional sense. He proposes the creation of special institutions for institutional reform, foreign investment, minority issues, relations with the Assembly and others, because according to him, in an economy with limited potential, care must be taken when increasing the size of the government structure. The chairman of the Democratic Alliance Party, Neritan Ceka, said that in the position the country is in, politics had the duty to take into account the fact that Albania is at a very important moment and, as a result, the creation of as broad a coalition as possible was necessary. He insisted that institutional reform and relations with Parliament should have a separate ministry and not be included in the Ministry of Justice. The chairman of the Christian Democratic Party, Zef Bushati, asked that the coalition not be merely for getting through this phase, but continue beyond it as well. Bushati stressed that the new government must feel itself to be representative of the political values of the right-wing groupings as well as the interests of their electorate. Regarding the ranking of ministries in the structure of the new government, the head of the PDK, Nard Ndoka, said that it is essential to create separate institutions for Privatization, Regions and Local Government, and Foreign Relations. Apolon Baçe, chairman of the PL, said it must be borne in mind that failure to resolve possible coalition problems would compromise not only the structure of the government but also democratic processes. He expressed the view that institutions should be divided according to functions and not only according to sectors. The representative of the National Front Party, Niko Borriçi, said that the government must also pay attention to issues of national unification and to creating favorable conditions for solving the National Question. Meanwhile, the chairman of the party Ora e Shqipërisë, Niko Sadri, said that the coalition should be based on the values and political principles of the right. He added that the new government should have been able to distance itself from certain left-wing influences. The representative of the party Mendimi i Djathtë Liberal, Petraq Milos, said that the government should be a synthesis of conservative, liberal and social-democratic values, while preserving the dominance of right-wing forces. Prime Minister Aleksandër Meksi, speaking to journalists after the meeting, said that the initial consultations with the political parties were useful, while some of the suggestions made at this meeting would be taken into account. He said it would be a right-wing government that would continue the path of the reforms undertaken. Meksi also said that the government would be a government of privatizations and of Albania’s integration into Europe. The left-wing parties had been invited to a consultative meeting with the chairman of the Social Democratic Party, Skënder Gjinushi, but they refused to take part, justifying themselves by saying that they do not belong to this political side.

Nano takes revenge and resigns - Majko laments his carelessness in order to defend the chairman’s ideas. - Brokaj fails in his efforts to take Rugji’s place PAGE 3

PAGE 3 Farewell by fax from Nigeria Rugji resigns “... given the current political situation I consider it reasonable to publicly declare to public opinion MY RESIGNATION from everything... The socialist Paris is unjustly of the European social-democratic ideal of our Party.” -0234 ... is not a luxury! Traps

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