The EU erupts in support of deepening relations with Albania The Red Front continues to lose Within the framework of implementing this agreement, these days Albanian delegation talks are being held in Brussels with the delegation of the Rome Treaty on signing the agreement and extending the period for which it will remain in force. From these talks, it has been agreed that the Albanian side will submit a framework reform project, for which the Albanian side also has the approval of international institutions. As part of these talks for the continuation and strengthening of relations, the signing will be carried out by both sides in an official ceremony to be held in Tirana. The American Department and the Italian and German governments, through their positions and the media, have made it clear to the opposition that destabilizing the political situation in Albania cannot be viewed without a condemnation and a firm stance from the European Union and the international community. After this clique, which destabilized Albania to hinder this success and to darken the outcome of these talks, efforts are being made by the far right and other forces to create incidents and portray the situation in Albania as severe. Their campaign of petitions and slanderous statements in the name of the opposition, even using students, has achieved nothing except to reveal their political failure. Their voice has found no support either in foreign circles or in Western chanceries, which have assessed the positive developments in the country and the Albanian government’s commitment to democratic reforms. This is a new blow to the Red Front, which has sought at any cost to damage the country’s image. The European Union has expressed support for continuing cooperation with Albania and has considered unjustified the efforts to artificially increase political tension. The old voice of communist propaganda cannot smother the success of a country that is advancing on the path of reform and European integration. At the center of the opposition demonstrations have often been portraits of Enver Hoxha.

Conference for the Italian press agencies, the parliamentary secretary in the Abruzzo regional state, Mr. Mariagio, and three representatives of the Christian Democratic Party of Italy on page 2.

For three days, the Speaker of the People’s Assembly, Ylber Amoni, headed the Albanian parliamentary delegation to Budapest, the capital of Hungary. He will take part in the conference of the presidents of Europe’s parliaments. This conference is being held in Budapest, the capital of Hungary, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the parliament of that country. The Speaker of the People’s Assembly, Ylber Amoni, will return on 9 March 1996. The general rapporteur of the conference will be the Speaker of the Austrian Parliament, Heinz Fischer, while the secretary-general of the conference will be Mr Kallio. The conference will address issues of parliamentarism, representation, and relations between parliaments and European institutions. (From ATSH)

“The letters” are calling on more people to take part in the demonstration of 6 March. In the last four weeks, Albania has been engulfed in a permanent demonstration against the Government. Instead of calming the situation and cooperating, some of the opposition leaders are inciting hatred and clashes. They have even gone so far as not wanting the President of Italy, Mr Scalfaro, to be given to Mr Berisha, for the fact that a few hours earlier he had held a meeting. (v. b.) (R.Gaz. “ZP” dt. 6.3.1996)

“Musa Dobrovo[a?], the police and the prosecutor have specially prepared it will continue to make a noise...”

Gaishtsheimer on strengthening cooperation in all fields The chairman of the Party of the Union for Human Rights, Vasil Melo, paid a visit yesterday to the President of Austria, Thomas Klestil, with whom he discussed strengthening cooperation between the two countries in all fields. During the meeting, the Austrian ambassador to our country, Wolfgang [?] Gaishtsheimer, presented Mr Berisha with Austria’s projects for financing and supporting foreign investment in Albania. The Albanian president expressed his desire and readiness to expand economic and cultural cooperation, and conveyed his greetings to his Austrian counterpart.