President Berisha welcomed the Rugova–Christopher meeting President Berisha welcomed President Rugova’s meeting with Secretary of State Christopher as a very important event in Kosovo’s friendly relations with the United States and as clear evidence of the United States’ interest in and unwavering support for resolving the Kosovo issue.

President Berisha received German personalities He pointed out that Albania and President Berisha have made many great friends in Germany. Yesterday at midday, the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, received Hans Stercken, former chairman of the Bundestag Foreign Affairs Committee, accompanied by the German personality Rudolf Decker. President Berisha and Mr. Stercken expressed satisfaction with the high level of friendship and cooperation between our two peoples and countries. Mr. Stercken, after conveying President Herzog’s greetings to President Berisha, praised the profound changes and the rapid pace of Albania’s development on the path of reforms. He pointed out that Albania and President Berisha have made many great friends in Germany. The two interlocutors also focused on recent developments in the Balkans. Messrs. Stercken and Decker praised Albania’s important role as a factor of peace and stability in this troubled region. President Berisha told the German friends that peace and stability in the Balkans are currently threatened by a federation led by Milosevic, which is based on violence, oppression, and discrimination of one nation against another. He stressed that unfortunately violence is clearly returning to the international community as a major explosive danger within the federation itself, and likewise the grave situation in Kosovo.

Remarks by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tritan Shehu at the Conference of the Albanian Atlantic Association We believe that the Alliance’s expansion in the Balkans not only extends the security zone into a normal space, but is also a very important contribution to establishing solid foundations for long-term security. PAGE 3

Yesterday at the second international conference “The Balkans after the Dayton agreement” PAGE 3 ALBANIAN ATLANTIC ASSOCIATION SECOND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE THE BALKANS AFTER THE DAYTON AGREEMENT 12-13 DECEMBER 1996 THE BALKANS AFTER THE DAYTON ACC[?] TIRANA, 13 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER

An understanding is reached with the students. Officers who exceeded their powers are suspended The university rector, Ilir Bozgo, said that “the police intervention is condemnable. At the same time, I think the event has been blown up by certain press organs.” PAGE 2 Student Artan Merkaj, who was arrested by the police, when asked whether he had been mistreated, replied: “Absolutely not. Only clarification was requested for this event and after that I was released.”

The President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, received yesterday the “Shqiponja” boxing team of the Republican Guard. According to the official announcement from the press and information office near the President of the Republic, President Berisha congratulated the “Shqiponja” boxing team for its outstanding results and for winning the “Democracy” Republic Cup. He praised this as a new achievement after the team’s dignified participation in the “Golden Glove” Championship in Belgrade, where one of the boxers also won the gold medal. Coach Hamid Uka and all the members of the team thanked President Berisha for his assessment and expressed their commitment to dedication and high results in this manly sport.

With the director of the 1996 Song Festival, Osman Mula PAGE 5

International Conference of Central and Eastern European countries PAGE 3 War, corruption and organized crime Justice Minister Peçi, present at the conference, stressed the necessity of fighting corruption, especially in customs, tender boards, and against implicated judges and prosecutors.

The album “1” by singer Parashqevi Simaku