Rome approves Italian government funding for major forest management and feeder-road projects On 26 July 1996, the Steering Committee of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs approved grant funding of USD 11 million and USD 19 million, respectively, for the important Forest Management and Feeder Roads projects. The projects in question support implementation of the Government’s medium-term programme and will have a particular impact on the priority development of rural areas. In this way, Rome joins the World Bank in giving a significant boost to strengthening agriculture in Albania. Implementation of the projects will begin quickly, since all the necessary structures for carrying them out have already been established.

The multi-year cooperation programme for 1996–’99 and the 1996 operational programme are approved The 1996–’99 Multi-Year Cooperation Programme includes a grant of ECU 140 million (USD 175 million), to be allocated to Albania to provide comprehensive support for the Government’s economic programme and the country’s integration into the European Community. According to an official announcement from Brussels, on 26 July 1996 the Management Committee of the PHARE Programme (a European Union assistance programme for the countries of Central and Eastern Europe) reviewed and approved the 1996–’99 Multi-Year Cooperation Programme and the 1996 Operational Programme for Albania. environmental protection, etc. Further support will also be provided for the continued development of the justice system, civil society, the legislative framework, the administration and public agencies, etc., with the aim of giving the country a European dimension in all these areas. The 1996 Operational Programme, which breaks down and details the 1996–’99 Multi-Year Cooperation Programme for the current year, amounts to ECU 33 million (USD 41.25 million) and takes the form of the following projects: - Improvement of infrastructure - Bringing Albanian legislation into line with European legislation; (0.8 MECU) - Support for strengthening the management capacity of the public administration in the field of investment; (1.7 MECU) - Modernisation of the statistics system; (1 MECU) - Improvement of the justice system at all levels; (2.8 MECU) - Support for water supply and environmental protection issues (1.5 MECU) Approval of the 1996–’99 Multi-Year Cooperation Programme the form of the following projects: - Improvement of transport infrastructure (17 MECU) - Assistance for agricultural development (1.7 MECU) - Support for higher education and vocational education and training; (4 MECU) and - Modernisation of Albanian customs; (2.5 MECU) The European Union’s cooperation with Albania is undoubtedly support for implementing the democratic Government’s reform programme and, at the same time, a powerful impetus for advancing Albania’s integration into Europe. The Multiannual Cooperation Programme 1996–’99 includes a grant of 140 million ECU (175 million USD), European Community. The development of the productive base (agriculture, transport, the private sector, the financial sector, etc.) and the development of natural and human resources (education, health,

If the second phase of the second congress of the Socialist Party is held, the Party of Labour of Albania, under its changed name, will bring its own cycle to a close, setting its history in order—a history of successive failures and crises. After the phase of defeat in March, the Socialists have now for some time been preparing for the second phase, which will end with this party being identified as a political formation excluded from the lives of Albanians, if only because of its repeated boycotts. The preparations for the second phase revealed the PS’s distorted political strength and its electoral decline, its continual lack of alternatives, and its conception of political struggle as a way of avoiding it. The Socialist Party itself declared that it had been reduced to a party without hope or prospects, ostensibly to justify an indifferent electorate, while also confirming the rapid loss of its electorate. In almost every case, PS conferences in the districts were held with half the delegates in attendance, while a considerable section of the PS ranks openly demonstrated the lack of confidence among those local segments led by PS candidates. PS candidacies. This is only the final act of this party. Its history, which began with the war crimes in which hundreds and hundreds of fighters were shot in the back, continued with unprecedented genocide against all Albanians who felt differently from communism and the criminals who controlled the dictatorial regime. Their anti-democratic and anti-Albanian record extended right up to the heights of this year. Their withdrawal from the elections and their sabotage of them constituted their latest act against democracy and the aspirations of Albanians for it. This was also their final attempt to undermine the Albanian democratic state. The period following the parliamentary elections revealed this party’s many shortcomings in democratic elements needed to confront an entire party in Albania. It also exposed major deficiencies in internal party debate, which could have ensured a fresh start for the party or initiated even a superficial reform. Everything that began as an internal reform ended as a clan war, in which the entire anti-democratic contribution of the party’s components was represented. Neither side confirmed any inclination to conduct an honest self-analysis; they simply sought Stalinist-style elimination, without even taking into account the other members who were allowed to distance themselves from the party. Under both internal and external pressure, they declared that they would break with Marx, Enver and Ramiz. But it is all demagoguery. They condemned Marx but kept the Marxists among them. They cursed Enver but preserved the Enverists; they spoke of breaking with Ramiz, but the Ramizists remained untouchable within the PS. They themselves have only overturned the dead and burned them. Whatever of them may remain alive has stayed in the same forms, with the same words and the same aims, within the Socialist Party as well. This is the only real break at its second congress.

Shehu received Mr Hainc Shvarc Yesterday, the chairman of the Democratic Party received Mr Hainc Shvarc (Heinz Schwarz), representative of the “Konrad Adenauer” Foundation, at the party headquarters, in connection with the organisation of a series of seminars in various districts of Albania. The topics in this series will cover a range of local government issues, such as “Media and municipal politics”, “Local finance”, “Municipal politics and economic requirements”, “Municipal politics at the European level”, etc. During the meeting, Mr Shvarc stressed that the local elections law is a good law, which in fact favoured the opposition in 1992. Mr Shehu, for his part, thanked his guest from Germany and welcomed the initiative of the Adenauer Foundation, expressing his wish to deepen and strengthen this cooperation. The meeting took place in a friendly and warm atmosphere.

On the eve of the great clash between the socialist factions The move made by the socialists of both factions away from the status quo of their “swamp” is nevertheless smaller than the steps Berisha had suggested to them several months ago. Their declaration that they will condemn the era of Enver Hoxha is simply hypocrisy when, at the same time, young FRESH members are being driven out of the party as unwanted. Marks’s departure from the Socialist Party makes no sense, given that an old, dogmatic Marxist stands at the head of the anti-motionists, while the real leader of the motionists is the leader of the boycott and political irresponsibility.

Minister of Health warns of extreme measures against doctors who take bribes Page 2

From the fourth day of the 18th Seminar on Albanian Language, Literature and Culture Page 5

In the SP, only the process of divisions is taking place Kastriot Islami, Sabit Brokaj, Ylli Bufi, Maqo Lakrori, Fatmir Kumbaro, Dhimitër Agolli and some other latecomer who is hurrying to line up alongside Nano are the people who, unfortunately, bring to mind the last of the dictators Albanian people endured Page 3

FLUTURA HASKO Chairwoman of LDG Page 3

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Coming soon: Tirana–Durrës 30 minutes Page 6