Deputy Foreign Minister Arjan Starova on the priorities of Albanian diplomacy According to Starova, Albania’s opening toward the West, the beginning of integration into Euro-Atlantic structures, broad discussion of the Kosovo issue in international forums, and the thorough reform of diplomatic structures have been the priorities of this policy

November 28—the crowning event in national history Address by President Berisha delivered on the occasion of the national holiday Today, in Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, the Diaspora, and everywhere in the world, we celebrate our national day together, and I take particular pleasure in greeting you today, as well as all my compatriots wherever they may be, and inviting them to offer one another heartfelt good wishes. Happy national holiday! Today, November 28, we Albanians and our friends everywhere in the world celebrate and honor the rebirth of our ancient state, the crowning event in our national history throughout the Albanian lands. It began life anew as the legitimate heir of the state of Arbër, one of the most developed states in our region at the beginning of this millennium, and as the direct successor of Skanderbeg’s state, which over the centuries became the symbol and fortress of Albanian resistance and of Western Europe. In battles of a scale that would later be recognized in its siege, it succeeded in defending Albania and all of Western Europe from Eastern invasions for 25 years. Thus, November 28, 1912, was the rebirth and continuation of Arbër and Krujë, the uprisings of the Tanzimat, the Leagues of Prizren and Peja; it was the crowning of the unceasing work of Skanderbeg and Ismail Qemali, of all the great leaders, brave Albanian captains and soldiers, legendary tribunes and unconquered insurgents; of the courage of political and cultural thought, of letters, and of the faith of the Albanian nation throughout the ages; a new culmination of the titanic efforts of the Albanians and their sacrifices for freedom, identity and integrity, culture, language, writing, identity, statehood, faith, and their flag. The Albanians’ colossal uprisings at the beginning of this century, in which Kosovo and the other Albanian lands played a part, were uprisings that, in their scale, would repeat in another form the great battles of Skanderbeg. The Albanian state of 1912 did not begin its political life as an unexpected phenomenon in our lands, in the Balkan Peninsula, or on our continent. The Albanian state of ’12 came as the awakening of a state that over centuries and millennia had known ebbs and flows, periods of flourishing and prolonged lethargy along the course of national history. This magnificent act of the era, for which the Albanian people had waited and fought for centuries, through all the ages that had passed, was a moment of great joy and an important milestone in Albania’s history. The re-establishment of the Albanian state in 1912 did not come as a gift, nor as a matter of desire or circumstantial will, but as the fruit of the Albanian freedom-loving movement’s titanic, centuries-long efforts and the martyrdom of tens of thousands of patriots.

Decision by DP Chairman Tritan Shehu Pursuant to Article 30 of the DP Statute, as its chairman I exercise my powers and decide to remove Mr. Azem Hajdari as a member of the DP National Council. This decision is made for several reasons: 1. Mr. Hajdari has fully exercised the DP’s right to interfere in the internal affairs of Albania’s trade unions and manipulate them. This is contrary to our democratic principles of their complete independence. 2. On the other hand, it is unacceptable for a member of the National Council to call for a strike against the Democratic Government. 3. The DP considers denigrating accusations against state and party structures, intended to create an unfounded fog of confusion, unacceptable. 4. Unprincipled attacks on parliamentarians and respected public figures constitute a violation of democratic principles.

DP Chairman Mr. Shehu received the chairwoman of Kosovo’s PSD, Luljeta Pulaj Yesterday, the Chairman of the Democratic Party, Prof. Dr. Tritan Shehu, received the chairwoman of the Social Democratic Party of Kosovo, Ms. Luljeta Pulaj. Speaking in favor of strengthening ties and further expanding cooperation between the two parties, Mr. Shehu highlighted the support that the Albanian Democratic Party has given, gives, and will continue to give to the Kosovo issue and its resolution in accordance with international documents, just as it acted in the case of all the other peoples of the former Yugoslavia. Mr. Shehu emphasized the Democratic Party’s permanent demand that the free will of the Albanian population to exercise self-determination be respected in accordance with international provisions and rights, while pursuing a peaceful path to resolving problems. He assured the Kosovo Social Democrat chairwoman that the Albanian Democratic Party would insist on improving rights to the standards established by international law and on increasing the international presence in Kosovo. For her part, Ms. Pulaj thanked Mr. Shehu for the policy pursued by the Democratic Party and expressed her own desire to expand cooperation between Albanian political forces.

Albania’s historic events commemorated - Yesterday, wreaths of honor were laid at the National Martyrs’ Cemetery on behalf of President Berisha, the President of the Republic of Kosovo, Rugova, the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Defense, the Tirana Municipality, the District Council, the Prefecture, etc. - President Berisha visited the family of the distinguished patriot, nationalist, and writer Lasgush Poradeci, as well as the family of martyr Ramazan Jaran On the occasion of the 84th anniversary of the declaration of Independence and the 52nd anniversary of the Liberation of our Albania, tributes were paid and flower wreaths were laid at the National Martyrs’ Cemetery in the capital. Veterans, members and relatives of martyrs’ families, military personnel, representatives of political parties, and members of parliament were present. At 10:00, the head of the National Martyrs’ Cemetery, together with the President of the Republic, Mr. Sali Berisha, the President of the Republic of Kosovo, Mr. Ibrahim Rugova, the Speaker of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Mr. Pjetër Arbnori, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Mr. Aleksandër Meksi, the Mayor of Tirana, Mr. Albert Brojka, and other officials, [text unclear] and Mr. Zani Francovi. Among them was the former French Foreign Minister. Tributes were also paid on behalf of the martyrs’ families and by representatives of the Democratic Party, the Albanian Democratic Prosperity Party of Macedonia, the Organization of United War Veterans, the Associations of War Disabled, and the Organization of Political Veterans and Democratic Veterans. Later, President Berisha visited the family of the distinguished patriot, nationalist, and writer Lasgush Poradeci, where he praised the merits of his poetry and prose, and also the family of martyr Ramazan Jaran, [text unclear] at the Peza Conference, who was the only one not to sign that conference’s resolution concerning the national flag, calling them “standard-bearers of today’s democracy.”

500 million dollars devoted to construction in 1992–1995 Population movements and demographic growth are considered indicators of the luxury emerging in particular areas of Tirana 500 million dollars devoted to construction in 1992–1995 A new architectural vision focuses on the capital Population movements and demographic growth are considered indicators of the luxury emerging in particular areas of Tirana

Commemorative plaque at the place where Mitrush Kuteli lived The time has come for Kuteli, condemned to such long oblivion, to take his rightful place in Albanian literature and in the nation’s memory alike

The marathon congress of the PLL concludes PAGE 3