Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Prof. Dr. Tritan Shehu, in Strasbourg Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Prof. Dr. Tritan Shehu, in Strasbourg Council of Europe foreign ministers meet From Strasbourg, Shehu will travel to Graz, Austria, where the foreign ministers of the Central European countries will meet Yesterday, the 99th session of the Committee of Foreign Ministers of the member states of the Council of Europe began its work in Strasbourg, France, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced. The Albanian delegation at this important event is headed by the Tritan Shehu. From here, the head of Albanian diplomacy will travel to Graz, Austria, where he will take part in the meeting of the foreign ministers of the Central European countries.

After the terrorist act. President Berisha goes to the scene and visits the injured in hospital — The likely lead is red extremist terrorism; this is the strongest possibility. I am convinced that the law-enforcement forces and the Albanian justice system will clarify everything once and for all, and that the terrorists will face the full severity of Albanian law and receive the punishment they deserve. The act was organized and premeditated, and comes after the stance taken by the Albanian justice system in the interest of consolidating the rule of law, regarding crime and acts that gravely affected citizens’ lives in the past, in violation of all the laws of that time.” “The state must address all the problems this ugly terrorist act has caused families. It aims to kill children in their sleep, innocent people. The powerful explosion in the first minutes of yesterday began for those who were still awake or who were woken by the chilling echo that spread as far as Yesterday, it soon became clear what had happened. Throughout the day, crowds of people came and went along the road leading to Avni Square once and for all, and and receive the punishment they deserve. The act It can be said that the act was carried out by specialized criminal forces, and the structures of the former Albanian secret police are of this kind, certain segments of these structures, tasked with repairing the damage. Shortly before the President arrived, Interior Minister Shamata said in an interview on TV: The powerful explosion in the first minutes of yesterday, heard by those who were still awake or awakened by the reverberating blast that spread as far as the capital’s outlying neighborhoods, brought back memories of the destructive roar of “VEFA.” The difference was that the first happened during the day, the second in the middle of the night. The first took place at a time when the number of passersby was approaching its peak, thus increasing the “chances” of killing as many people as possible. The second happened while the residents of a high-rise apartment building were asleep, so in this case too the “chances” of killing as many people as possible were being maximized. The perpetrators of both these crimes knew their monstrous consequences. They could not have failed to know that ordinary, innocent people would become the principal targets of their criminal blindness. And if no one was killed this time, that was a matter of chance, as if Providence had bestowed a gift. You become convinced of this if you go to [...] Yesterday, it quickly people came and went along the street leading to “Avni Rustemi” Square, opposite the six-story apartment building. The sight before one’s eyes is truly shocking. Such an explosion in the building, [which was] barbarically torn open, with walls collapsed, wires and cables hanging in the air. As the law-enforcement forces try to regulate traffic and police whistles are heard constantly, nervous agitation can easily be read on passersby’s faces. What is before their eyes is a catastrophe. A catastrophe that had been foretold to the very end. At around 14:00, the President of the Republic arrived at the scene. Mr. Sali Berisha was met by government members, residents of the damaged building, citizens, engineers and technicians assigned to repair the damage. Shortly before the President’s arrival, Interior Minister Shamata said in a television interview: “We are currently examining the most likely lines of inquiry, while also ruling out those that have not stood up to the truth. One thing cannot be ruled out: the fact that the terrorist act took place a few hours after the anti-genocide trial.” President Berisha, accompanied by local authorities, viewed the serious consequences of the attack, which speak for themselves. “The state must address all the problems this heinous terrorist act has caused for the families; it seeks to kill children in their sleep, innocent people,” the President said. “The other line of inquiry is red extremist terrorism; this is a strong Albanian justice system will finally clarify everything, and that the terrorists will face the full force act was organized and premeditated, and comes after the position taken by the Albanian justice system in the interests of consolidating the rule of law, [and] addressing crime and offenses of all the laws of that time.” The act was carried out by specialized criminal forces “Do you see a connection between today’s attack and other events of this kind, and their perpetrators?” This is a question put to the President. “The connection remains to be proven, of course, through investigations by the law-enforcement forces and the prosecutor’s office. But what can be said is such as the structures of the former Albanian secret police, certain segments of those structures, which were precisely giving an account yesterday for the heinous and monstrous crime they committed against the Albanian people. These are also crimes against humanity. Once again, I want to assure citizens of the full determination of all Albanian state institutions to stand firm and unwavering against crime, and to give terrorists what they deserve: the harshest punishment under Albanian law.” Everything must be compensated by the state Very close to the scene of the crime, the local authorities, pointing out

Your well-deserved reelection is joyful news for all friends of the USA The President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, sent a congratulatory telegram to the President of America, Bill Clinton, in which he writes: Your well-deserved reelection as President of the USA is joyful news not only for your nation, but for all your many sincere friends and those of the USA throughout the world. By voting for you yesterday, the great American nation voted for the major achievements the USA made during the past years under your leadership, in economic growth and the reduction of unemployment and crime, and for your and the USA’s contribution to peace, cooperation and stability in the Balkans, Europe and the world. It also voted voted for the leading role of the USA in the new century. On this occasion, I send you my warmest greetings. Albanians have found in you and your country a great and sincere friend. They have appreciated, and continue to appreciate, the great assistance you and your government have given them in their great efforts for freedom, democracy and integration. Once again, I wish to express my conviction that Albania’s friendship and cooperation with the USA is, for us, a key factor in consolidating democracy and the market economy and integrating the country into Euro-Atlantic institutions. The President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, sent a congratulatory telegram to the President of America, Bill Clinton.

Editorial Yesterday’s terrorist act is firmly rooted in the avenues of political terrorist crime. It was carried out against a chief judge precisely on the day he had handed down severe sentences against red criminals who had committed genocide during the dictatorship, while also fully violating the laws of that period. The explosion was also so large and caused such damage that it rules out any ordinary motive directed against a particular person. Whichever way last night’s act is viewed, it was organized and carried out according to a scheme very much like the one perpetrated only 200 metres away several months ago, which caused four deaths and around 30 injuries. Fortunately, there were no fatalities last night, although the destruction was extensive. Schemes of this kind, carried out according to scenarios devised by the former State Security, are directed against people in general, not only against those directly targeted by terrorist acts. They are aimed at democracy and public tranquillity, while in particular they are especially [unclear] the eventual death of the organizers of these acts. Terror in a free and democratic state, where people do not feel oppressed and abused, is only a sign that the old communist and anti-democratic forces are making one last attempt, following the dictatorial model, to sow fear and insecurity among people. The political revenge of these forces has been unleashed against innocent people for several months. The explosion at the nine-storey building, the killing of Kaloshi, and other crimes, joined by last night’s, are at the limits of what can be tolerated. The remnants of the old regime, the former State Security, must be stopped once and for all in their criminal course. Democracy, as a system of free people, also creates greater opportunities for terrorist elements to carry out their crimes for a while. But only for a short time. The democratic part of today’s order in Albania has been a limit of tolerance, giving them time to atone for their sins and reform, or at least remain silent. They have accepted none of the opportunities offered by the democratic order. This is why the rule of law must act against them with all its severity, once and for all establishing a boundary against the fear instilled by the totalitarians still among us, survivors of the harsh communist era. The Interior Minister has suggested that the crime may have been committed by unyielding members of the “Revenge for Justice” gang. Yesterday’s crime against one of the heads of the Albanian courts shows that the part still outside the reach of the police is continuing its inhuman, antihistorical, terrorist and criminal activity. It is the duty of the police and its other branches to neutralize and dismantle this remnant of the dictatorship and crime as soon as possible. Albanians need security and tranquillity. What they think about these people was shown in this year’s elections, through which they once and for all removed its remnants from politics.

The US elections are over — Clinton 50%, Doll 42%, Perrot 8% — Republicans retain their majority in the Senate and Congress PAGE 3

telegram to the President of the Russian Federation, Boris Jelcin, on the successful completion of his heart operation, in which, among other things, he writes: I extend my sincere wishes to you following the difficult ordeal you have undergone, and wish you the speediest possible recovery, for the good of your people and your country. I also hope that your presence and personal contribution to various issues of international politics will continue to be as significant and fruitful as before in achieving the objectives set by the international community. I take this opportunity to once again express my conviction that the further strengthening of relations between our two countries will serve the interests of both our peoples.

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