The Italian President, Scalfaro, received President Berisha Scalfaro: It is time for a third visit to your country The President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, had a meeting yesterday with the President of the Italian Republic, Oscar Luigi Scalfaro. The President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, together with the President of the Italian Republic on the occasion of the FAO summit, was received by the President of the Italian Republic, Oscar Luigi Scalfaro. The meeting was also attended by the Albanian Foreign Minister, Tritan Shehu. The Italian President, Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, expressed to President Berisha his pleasure at being in his country. He said that Italy wishes to have very good and close relations with Albania in all fields. "It is time for a third visit to your country," said Scalfaro, with the understanding of a friendly country, and also of the governments in Albania. President Berisha said that these impressive developments confirm that Albania-Italy relations are progressing well and are an expression of the commitment and determination of the two governments and the two peoples. President Berisha thanked his counterpart for the all-round support he has given to our country over the last few years. He stressed that it was necessary for these relations to continue. For his part, President Scalfaro assessed that Albania is a country that must be able to move forward and consolidate its positions, considering the result of the referendum on the Constitution as a positive process. Meanwhile, at the world FAO summit, the position and proposals of the Albanian delegation are being followed with great attention.

The World Bank announces in its report Around 350 projects for improving the infrastructure of rural areas in Albania; 6,000 small loans for Albanian farmers, which so far have been repaid at a rate of 100 percent. The World Bank (WB) has described the microcredit project implemented in Albania as one of the most successful projects in the world and perhaps unique in all the countries where this bank has carried out such activity. Sali Berisha, who took part in the FAO summit, mentioned this in his speech. Around 350 projects for improving the infrastructure of rural areas in Albania, 6,000 small loans for Albanian farmers, which so far have been repaid at a rate of 100 percent. In this year since the beginning of 1995, the World Bank stated in its report that the Albanian government is committed to implementing sustainable macroeconomic policies and structural reforms. The WB report notes that the improvement of market-oriented policy and the stabilization of the economy boosted annual economic growth from minus 7 percent to 9 percent, since 1993. The compensation of investments and the high level of domestic savings has led to a strong increase in output and consumption and in the standard of living. The report states that the private economy has grown significantly with the privatization of land in most state farms and agriculture, trade enterprises, small and medium-sized industrial enterprises and services. Albania's total gross domestic product has grown considerably and its growth has been accompanied by low inflation. According to the report, the level of poverty has fallen and is expected to fall further. The report also mentions that Albania has taken a series of measures for rural development.

Speech by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Prof. Dr. Tritan Shehu at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna PAGE 3

Prime Minister Meksi on Albania-EIB relations October 22 was a fruitful day in Albania-EIB relations. The Vice President of the European Investment Bank, Kristian Dutoi, stated yesterday in Brussels that the EIB has provided continuous financial support for the Albanian economy. In a press release issued on this occasion in the Belgian capital, the European official said that through the loans made available to this country, the Bank aims to help the country's progress toward a market economy. Assessing the achievements and the Bank's longstanding support for Albania, Prime Minister Meksi underlined the Albanian government's interest in very close relations with the EIB. He praised the contribution of this bank to the further development of the economy in Albania. The head of the Albanian government invited the Vice President of the EIB to take part in the World Conference of Foreign Investors, which he will organize in December in Tirana. The Vice President of the European Investment Bank, Kristian Dutoi, said that the bank will take part in this conference and emphasized that it will support efforts to increase foreign investment in Albania. Dutoi stressed that through Albanian loans of 60 million ECU, the EIB has helped modernize the country's infrastructure. He said that in recent years many EIB projects in Albania have been successfully carried out in the public and private sectors as well as in agriculture. The Vice President of the EIB underlined that in order to achieve faster development of the Albanian economy, further reforms are also needed, such as improving the public administration, the financial system, the institutional framework and the conditions for foreign investment. Prime Minister Meksi and the delegation DENVIC

As our correspondent in Warsaw reports, the Polish senior military official, Tadeush Vilecki, Chief of the General Staff of the Polish army, yesterday assessed military relations with Albania as very important. During the meeting with Albania's Minister of Defense, Sefet Zhulali, Vilecki said that Poland will attach great importance to the implementation of the agreement on bilateral military cooperation, as well as joint exercises and other activities with Albania. Vilecki also said that Poland will give special attention to cooperation with Albania within the framework of international organizations. Zhulali expressed our country's government's appreciation for the positive role played by the Polish army and the Polish state for peace and stability in the region. He assessed that the exchange of experience, contacts and joint exercises can serve as a very good example. Zhulali also raised the need for further deepening reform and modernizing the Albanian Armed Forces. E L A S A N I

He will take part in the World FAO Summit "Let the Republic of Albania be given the opportunity, as well as not only Albania but all the countries of the region, to increase agricultural production so that they can emerge as quickly as possible from the clutches of hunger." The President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, left yesterday in the early morning hours for the world FAO summit, which will begin today in Rome. Accompanying President Berisha to this summit is the Minister of Agriculture, Aleksandër Meksi.

Superman: "It is clear that nationalism is being launched..." [?] Superman to Ceku President ??? with great cooperation. The 12th summit of KEI officials in ??? certainty. Their participation ??? with generosity. "It is clear that this Albanian supremacism is linked to the Serbian propaganda effort to label every positive development in Albania as a threat". EL