Van den Broek begins meetings in Tirana Foreign Policy Commissioner Hans Van den Broek arrived in Tirana yesterday for a two-day visit, as part of a tour that has begun in the Balkans. At Rinas Airport, the senior commissioner told journalists that he was in the Albanian capital “to discuss relations between Albania and the European Union, to hear from the leaders responsible for these relations in the country, and to discuss the prospects for strengthening our cooperation. Although it is a short visit, I am sure it will be fruitful,” Van den Broek said. Foreign Minister Tritan Shehu, commenting on the visit by the EU’s senior commissioner, said that it “contributes to the further strengthening of Albania’s relations with the European Union.” A packed schedule of meetings filled the EU official’s stay in Tirana. Albania’s relations with the EU grew closer in December 1992 with the signing of the Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement, as well as the adoption of a joint declaration on political dialogue between them. During 1991–95, under the PHARE Programme, which the EU runs for the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, Albania received aid amounting to nearly 400 million ECU, thereby ranking first among these states in aid per capita. Experts monitoring implementation of this programme in Tirana consider the effective assistance Albania has received in absorbing the aid allocated to it a success. Only economic reasons—since its economic indicators are weaker than those of the former communist countries of the East—still keep Albania from signing an association agreement with the European Union.

President Berisha received the EU Commissioner for Foreign Policy, Mr Hans Van den Broek Europe supports Albania EU Commissioner for Foreign Policy Hans Van den Broek met yesterday with the most senior figures in Albanian politics. Thus, the tale of the danger of re-isolation and of Europe and the EU cooling their relations with official Tirana, concocted by the parties of the far left and repeated almost every day in the pages of those parties’ newspapers and the “independents” who depend on Bënçë, can no longer be taken seriously even by the most naïve people, let alone minors. The EU’s senior commissioner said yesterday, at his meeting with the President of the Republic, that the EU is interested in intensifying relations with Albania. His statement is a direct challenge to all the exhausting efforts made by the leaders of the Red Front to damage the good image Albania has established with the most prestigious European institutions. Those who wanted to present their own defeat as Albania’s defeat can now have no hope whatsoever of support. The cynical and absurd lies and fabrications against their own country and the democratic institutions of the Albanian state can no longer be entered in any European official’s notebook. Van den Broek came to Tirana, and President Berisha assured him that we would use the mandate of 26 May to consolidate democracy and its values in Albania and to speed up market-economy reforms. Berisha told the EU’s senior commissioner that our main priority remains Albania’s integration into Europe. Despite the wishes of the conservative leaders of the far-left parties, prime ministers and ministers from many European countries sent greetings and congratulations to their Albanian counterparts. Despite the perverse wishes of those Albanian politicians who, when they saw that the electorate had boycotted them, went on to boycott the election commissions, and hours before the process was finished… “Your visit is a very important event in relations between Albania and the EU,” President Berisha said, welcoming Commissioner Van den Broek. “Alongside our gratitude for the great assistance and solidarity that the EU has shown and continues to show Albania, I wish to assure you that we will use your decision to disburse the second tranche of payments, just as I appreciate Albania’s inclusion in the Cross Border, Interreg, Phare and other programmes. Albania is determined to make its contribution and welcomes all regional projects.” “Local elections will be held in Albania in the next two or three months,” President Berisha continued. “We are taking all the necessary measures to ensure that they are [Euro-Atlantic].” He said that the EU conducts its relations with Albania in a spirit of partnership and is interested in intensifying them. Van den Broek especially praised President Berisha’s contribution to democratic processes and said that he was aware that President Berisha had done a great deal for his country and for democratic processes in every field, including politics and the economy. “This country has shown what it is capable of doing in these four years,” Van den Broek said, reiterating the readiness of the EU countries to deepen and broaden this cooperation in the future. The EU, judging the reforms in Albania to be highly successful, is determined to continue supporting the country. Albania will therefore continue to benefit from EU financial programmes such as Phare. The EU will release to Albania the second tranche of balance-of-payments support. By the end of the year, we aim for the Commission to submit to the EU Council of Ministers a draft mandate for a new agreement with Albania. Regarding the debate on the EU’s eastward enlargement, Commissioner Van den Broek assured President Berisha that Albania would not be forgotten. President Berisha and Commissioner Van den Broek also emphasized the importance of the local elections and cooperation to ensure their successful conduct. Regarding the issue of Kosovo, Commissioner Van den Broek said that there could be no normalization and integration of the former Yugoslavia without an acceptable solution to this problem. …market. Berisha told the EU High Despite the wishes of conservative leaders of are sending their congratulations and greetings Albanian politicians who, after seeing that the electorate had boycotted them, carried out a boycott of the electoral commissions before voting had even ended. Many senior European officials continue to come to Albania, congratulate it on its well-deserved victory, and promise to further intensify relations with Albania. They are arranging new agreements and continuing to pursue the cooperation that has been initiated. All European institutions, including the EU, are resolute and are unequivocally giving Albania their full support. This is also the spirit of yesterday’s statement by the EU High Commissioner, who described Albania’s consolidation of the rule of law, its achievements in developing a market economy, and its integration into Euro-Atlantic organizations as remarkable progress. Van den Broek said that, recognizing the reforms in Albania as highly successful, the EU is determined to continue supporting it. Thus, the bombastic claims by “ZP” and “KJ” about an alleged new isolation or exclusion of Albania can now be understood as delusions of political fantasists who in reality represent not a segment of the electorate, but dozens of individuals nostalgic for the past and Enverism. Through High Commissioner Van den Broek, the EU declares that Albania will continue to benefit from its programs, such as Phare, etc. balance-of-payments support, worth 25 million dollars. A new agreement between Albania and the EU is expected at the end of the year. Thus, Europe is firmly resolved to support Albania in its reform initiatives aimed at consolidating democratic institutions and developing a market economy. President Berisha welcoming Commissioner Van den Broek. “Along with the warm thanks I wish to express to the EU for the great assistance and solidarity it has shown and continues to show toward the mandate of May 26 accelerate market-economy reforms. Our main priority remains Albania’s integration into Europe. In this context, we are determined to adapt and consolidate our legislation in line with European laws, agreements, and conventions. We have also been, and remain, determined to contribute to understanding, cooperation, and stability in our region. This policy stems both from our national interests and from our Western European vocation. We wish to thank the Council of Ministers and the EU Commission for their readiness to advance Albania’s institutional ties with the EU. We want to assure you,” President Berisha emphasized, “that we will make every effort to meet the criteria of the Association Agreement, so that it becomes a near-term reality on our path toward integration into Europe. I also greatly appreciate Albania’s inclusion in the Cross Border, Intereg, Phare, etc. programs. Albania is determined to contribute as much as possible to all regional projects. “Over the next two to three months, local elections will be held in Albania,” President Berisha continued. “We are taking every measure to ensure that they are free and fair and to prevent irregularities as much as possible, even minor ones. Rest assured that through laws and other procedures we will prevent the effects of imported tricks, such as the boycott of vote counting on election day, and attempts to manipulate the electoral process in Albania, to … its sovereignty. Regarding the issue of Kosovo, President Berisha emphasized: ‘The signing of the Dayton Agreement and the EU’s recognition of the former Yugoslavia make it extremely imperative to place the resolution of the Kosovo issue on the agenda and to resolve this issue in accordance with full respect for the freedoms and rights of Albanians in Kosovo.’ For his part, Commissioner Van den Broek congratulated Albania on the remarkable progress in consolidating the rule of law and the market economy, establishing macroeconomic stability, and achieving integration into European organizations. Regarding Kosovo, Commissioner Van den Broek stated that there will an acceptable resolution of this issue.”

“We are partners of Albania and will maintain this position”—that was the main message of the conversation held yesterday afternoon by the European Union’s senior Commissioner, Mr Van den Broek, with a delegation of the Democratic Party headed by the party’s Deputy Chairman, Mr Ali Spahia. Stating that the European Union’s aim is to expand and strengthen relations with Albania, Mr Van den Broek stressed the importance for EU countries of Albania’s positive and continued progress the future. In his presentation, Mr Ali Spahia focused on political developments in Albania and on the need for the Democratic Party to remain open to all observers and countries that express an interest in monitoring the October local elections. Thanking the senior European Commissioner, Mr Spahia emphasized the importance the Democratic Party attaches to this cooperation in the interests of the country. Mr Van der Broek said: “We want Albania to develop as quickly and as well as possible.” The meeting was also attended by the Secretary-General, Mr Gjongecaj, and the Secretary for Foreign Relations, Mr Brajko. The meeting was warm and cordial.

“Your visit is a very important event in relations between Albania and the EU,” President Berisha said, welcoming Commissioner Van den Broek.

Statement by representatives of 16 Albanian newspapers The editors and publishers of the country’s leading newspapers met yesterday to discuss the many problems facing the print press. They note with concern that the numerous economic and financial problems, the problems with press distribution, and the high taxes it has to bear are putting the print press in serious difficulty, leading it toward bankruptcy. Following the situation created by the Soros Foundation’s sudden intervention in Albania with $200,000 for the newspaper “Koha Jonë,” the newspapers’ publishers and editors note that: The philanthropic assistance mechanism of Xhorxh Soros is general in nature. The benefits it provides genuinely help consolidate the Open Society. But Soros’s assistance being focused on the case of the newspaper “Koha Jonë” is in flagrant contradiction with the principles of the open society. It sets a highly dangerous precedent for press freedom and tramples all over the free competition that has only recently taken shape in the Albanian press market. In protest against the Soros Foundation in Tirana’s intervention in the press market to create monopolies in the press, the newspapers listed below will use every form of protest. Tomorrow, the newspapers will be published with one blank page. 1. Albania 2. Gazeta Shqiptare 3. Dita Informacion 4. RD 5. Republika 6. Bashkimi 7. Tribuna 8. Balli i Kombit 9. Rilindja 10. Lajmi i Ditës 11. Drita 12. Sindikalisti 13. Liria 14. Sporti 15. Botu Sociademokrate 16. Poli i Qendrës At the same time, the publishers and editors of the above-mentioned newspapers appeal to the Albanian government to give priority consideration to the print press sector so that it can be relieved of taxes and duties. A group has been formed to negotiate with government representatives on all the requests.

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Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Shehu received Mr. Hans Van den Broek PAGE 3