On 20 November, the regular meeting of the High Patronage Council of the European Cultural Centre was held in Geneva, where the accession of the great Albanian writer Ismail Kadare was also presented. He became the tenth member of the High Patronage Council of the European Cultural Centre, thus representing Albania alongside such European personalities as Catherine Lalumiere, Mario Soares, Leo Tindemans, etc., On 20 November, the regular meeting was held in Geneva, where the accession of the great Albanian writer Ismail Kadare was also presented. He became the tenth Centre, thus representing Albania alongside such European personalities as Catherine Lalumiere, Mario Soares, Leo Tindemans, etc., PAGE 5

Address by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tritan Shehu, at the 17th International Conference on “Politics and Strategy” Albania is clear in implementing reforms Address by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tritan Shehu, at the 17th International Conference on “Politics and Strategy” Albania: Full integration into Euro-Atlantic structures Albania is clear in implementing reforms The message from the Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund, Mishel Kamdesy, to President Berisha announces the conclusion of a new agreement between this international institution and Albania. Price liberalization, the implementation of VAT, and the privatization strategy are also welcomed. Likewise, in the case of bank privatization, the IMF is giving further impetus to carrying out the privatization of the banks, which, as announced, is to begin next month, in order to extend it widely to all strategic sectors of the Albanian economy. Kamdesy himself will also visit Albania, as he states in his message to the President, to learn firsthand about the progress of the Albanian government’s historic initiatives. The IMF’s assessment of what has been done so far in Albania toward the capitalization of the country is an indication of the value created in Albania in recent years in terms of people’s prosperity and the market economy. The program drawn up by the Democratic Party [text continues beyond the photographed area] and implemented by its government for more than four years has thus been considered successful, with even greater emphasis on achieving progress in Albania’s reforms at an even faster pace. The left-wing opposition has not ceased fighting against this program, just as it has tried in every way to sabotage it. Among other things, this is also one of the issues dividing the Albanian socialists and their satellites from reform in Albania. Meanwhile, President Berisha’s meeting the day before yesterday with the IMF delegation also clarified a much-discussed topic, especially by left-wing propaganda and figures from that political camp. The President pointed out to them that major companies in the informal market have substantial investments in highly profitable sectors, such as the food industry, tourism, trade, etc. Parliament has also approved a law concerning transparency in the informal market, while the money Albanians have put there is earned through no ordinary effort. The left’s attempt to portray the phenomenon of Albania’s informal market as an entirely Albanian phenomenon and to use it in the political interests of a particular spectrum has no economic basis or logic whatsoever. Although the activity is entirely private, these companies are receiving attention for significant investments, and the transparency law is also a new method of communication that creates a safer environment for lenders. The reform package in Albania began to be implemented in 1992, and today, after many difficulties, a large part of it has been successfully completed. Maintaining the pace of development and further improving it are further expected to benefit the Albanian economy and bring the reform to completion. The Yugoslav crisis began in Kosovo, and as such it cannot be resolved fully and definitively without a just resolution of the Kosovo issue. The will of peoples must be respected on an equal basis, thereby applying the recognized principle of self-determination. If all the other peoples of the former Yugoslavia benefited from this principle in relation to their future, the same standard must also be applied to the people of Kosovo. I believe that the Albanian people of Kosovo deserve to decide their own future, because they have chosen the most democratic and peaceful path, making a major contribution to stability in the region.

Albania will participate with its own contingent in the UN operation in Zaire PAGE 2 [text continues beyond the photographed area]

Berisha received Rugova Yesterday at midday, the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, received the President of Kosovo, Mr. Ibrahim Rugova. At the meeting, President Berisha and President Rugova discussed developments in Albania and the situation in Kosovo at length. President Rugova also expressed his concern about stability. The two presidents also welcomed the contribution of the Russian Federation and discussed its influence in resolving the Kosovo problem. President Berisha once again praised the achievement of the Education Agreement as a step forward in normalizing the educational life of more than half a million pupils [text continues beyond the photographed area] the results of the 20 October elections, which, he emphasized, affirmed the free will of the Albanians, and congratulated them on the significant progress of reform in Albania. Presidents Berisha and Rugova expressed their deep concern about the situation in Kosovo and confirmed their high regard for the role played and continuing to be played by the US Information Office in Prishtina, as well as for the US Congressional law that makes relations with Belgrade conditional on resolving the Kosovo issue. They described further engagement by the European Union as essential and considered that opening an EU representative or information office in Prishtina would be an important factor. The presidents welcome the contribution of the Russian Federation and the exercise of half a million Albanian pupils. Presidents Berisha and Rugova also stressed that the start of the work of parliament and other institutions in Kosovo constitutes an important factor for stability and contributes to a peaceful resolution of the Kosovo issue. Both presidents considered the implementation of regional projects, the liberalization of the movement of people and goods and of other exchanges, the opening of new border crossings, and cross-border free trade to be of particular importance in this regard. Both presidents consider dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade, and its continuation in the presence of a third party, to be the principal path toward a peaceful resolution of the Kosovo issue.

Xheka and Hajdari face each other Gjonaj: “We will examine the case objectively, regardless of who is facing the charges”

The meeting of the Tirana PS executive committee is postponed The meeting of the executive committee of the Tirana PS branch, which had been scheduled, has been postponed until Friday. “Monday is not a suitable day,” said Musa Ulqini, chairman of the Tirana PS, announcing that the meeting will take place on Friday. At this meeting, the report on the analysis that the Tirana PS has made of the latest local elections must be prepared. PAGE 3

The lawyers: Our clients could not challenge Hoxha On Wednesday, “Antigjenocidi 5” awaits the verdict of the Tirana judges PAGE 2

The annulment of the opposition’s victory in Serbia’s local elections has provoked a harsh reaction from the Serbian opposition and the European Union Milosheviç’s provoked a harsh reaction from the opposition, as well as from EU diplomacy. The opposition, which had won the capital and several other major cities in the local elections, unexpectedly found itself facing Milosheviç’s decision to annul its victory and order the elections to be repeated in the areas where it had won. This decision by Milosheviç provoked harsh reactions from the opposition parties, which called for their supporters to take action as they demonstrated in the streets. Around fifty thousand citizens and students also marched through the streets of Belgrade, demonstrating against Milosheviç and his unchecked authoritarianism. Yesterday, the foreign ministers of the European Union also reacted strongly to Milosheviç. They decided to suspend all trade agreements with what remains of Yugoslavia until the unprecedented act of current Serbian President Milosheviç is clarified. I. B.

PAGE 3 From the government meeting

The capital in the November celebrations PAGE 2