President Berisha received President Rugova Kosovo—a fundamental problem in the Balkan crisis The two presidents warmly welcome the active protests of Belgrade’s students, as well as those of the democratic forces in Serbia. They believe this movement is directed against Milosheviç’s dictatorship, which inflicts its most brutal repression on the Albanians of Kosovo, and deserves support. Presidents Berisha and Rugova emphasize that the democratization of Serbia through democratic and peaceful means is an important positive development not only for Serbia, but also a direct and real contribution to peace and stability in the region. Kosovo. The awarding of the title “Doctor honoris causa” by the University of Paris is a sign of recognition and high esteem from the French world for the fundamental role of Mr. Rugova and the entire people of Kosovo in preventing conflict in the region. the region. Furthermore, both presidents believe that the main and extremely important item on the agenda of the OSCE delegation is the implementation by Belgrade of all OSCE decisions and resolutions, and, in particular, those concerning the problem of Kosovo, as the fundamental problem of the Balkan crisis. Yesterday, the President of the Republic of Albania, Sali Berisha, met with the President of the Republic of Kosovo, Ibrahim Rugova, the Press and Information Office at the Presidency of the Republic announced. The two presidents thanked the US government and the United States, and regarded as very important the meetings Mr. Rugova held with Secretary of State Kristofer, congressmen and senior officials of the US administration; they considered these meetings a consolidation of the United States’ commitment and interest in resolving the problem of Kosovo. The two presidents highly valued Mr. Rugova’s talks at the Élysée Palace and at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and considered France’s and the European Union’s involvement in resolving the Kosovo issue essential. Letter from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tritan Shehu

Germano: ’96—a positive balance in relations with Albania Within the first three months of next year, the ambassador said, the Committee will propose to the Council the approval of an amendment for a new cooperation agreement between Albania and the European Union

Hajdari—a commander without soldiers Hajdari’s evidence can be used only to establish a new parallel trade union, not to oust Xheka . Yesterday’s ruling by the Tirana Court dismissed Hajdari’s lawsuit and upheld Xheka’s decision.

The President of the Republic officially declared his support for government and the United States and congressmen and senior officials of the US administration, and considered them resolving the problem of Élysée France’s and the European Union’s involvement essential in resolving the issue of problem of the Balkan crisis. My country has reservations about sending a mission to Belgrade with such haste, without analyzing in detail all the possible implications that may arise. Without going into the procedural aspects of sending the Chairperson’s Personal Representatives, reporter and fact-finding missions—as the Chairperson’s only options, which, according to OSCE documents, I would like to inform you that we could approve the dispatch of a mission or delegation to Belgrade only if its mandate or terms of reference automatically included the unconditional return of the long-term missions to Kosovo, Sandžak and Vojvodina, pursuant to Resolution No. 855 of 9 August 1993, as well as the necessary efforts to establish dialogue between Belgrade and Prishtina in the presence of a third party. A Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson in Kosovo would serve the purpose of resolving the problem there

Yesterday, Palestinian Authority President Jaser Arafat ended his visit to Albania. At Rinas Airport, the Palestinian leader was seen off by President of the Republic Sali Berisha, ministers, members of parliament, etc. Also at the airport were the Palestinian delegation in Tirana. Ali Kuculla. Arafat is continuing his European tour in Italy, where he will meet leaders and the Pope. As part of this tour, Arafat is expected to visit Austria as well as Albania.

Last night President Berisha received the Mayor of Athens, Mr. Dimitris Avramopoulos. President Berisha said he valued cooperation between our two municipalities as a very important factor making a direct contribution to friendship and cooperation between our two countries and peoples. He pointed out the very good and frank atmosphere in which relations between our two countries are developing and expressed his confidence in their future. The decentralization policy of the Albanian Government, President Berisha said, is not only the fastest way to develop the important plan for friendship and cooperation at the local-government level. He assured Mr. Avramopoulos and Brojka that they would have his full support in developing cooperation between the two capitals. Mr. Avramopoulos, thanking President Berisha for his support, told him that our ancient peoples, whom history has placed side by side, must know how to do more for one another. Mr. Brojka and I are determined to make use of every opportunity to expand and deepen cooperation between our two municipalities. We hope soon to crown our efforts with the conclusion of the Cooperation Treaty, which will open a new prospect for Athens and Tirana.

When the Socialists called the year that is coming to an end a bad year, it was quite significant. No one but them could create such a feeling about this year. No one but them could experience a period of 365 days so negatively and, moreover, regard it as a lost year, wasted in every respect. No one but them could call this year an exclusionary year. The sadness that the end of this year stirred in these people is natural. They have a bleak balance sheet for themselves, but one that is quite natural for other Albanians who are neither members of the Socialist leadership, nor fanatical participants in its propaganda, nor part of the now physically dispersed segments of the bloc that remain united at the top of the Socialist Party. Their despair is so great that they have no reason to view this year with even the slightest degree of optimism. For them, the balance sheet is final. To their misfortune and the good fortune of Albanians. This year they suffered the great defeat of May 26, another defeat on October 20, and held a two-stage congress that brought about the monopolization of the party by the people of former Communist president Alia. They have suffered defeat after defeat, and the year was bad for all the bad things that lived and operated in this country. It was bad for the Socialists because they were used ineffectively in a society alien to them, just as it was a good year for all the rest of the Albanians. 1996 was a good year. This year, Albanians got rid of bad socialism in the two votes held during the year. It was a good year for many Socialists because they left the party they had belonged to and voted for the DP or joined that party. It was a good year for the majority of Albanian Socialists because they understood that the party they had chosen belonged to others, to the interests of others who had enslaved them for decades. It was a good year for people in general because, from this year onward, they have almost completely excluded communism from the Albanian political spectrum and thus brought politics into harmony with the country’s capitalist developments. The Socialists feel that things are going badly. That reflects the level of their feelings, and there is no reason for them to use this feeling—which is more a truth about them—to clothe the history of other Albanians over the years. Nor is there any reason for them to take their bitterness so far as to try to turn the joyful end of the year into a moment of despair, even in the slightest. Without trying to change how they feel about the year that is almost over, the Socialist should also be warned about next year, which they may quite rightly call a bad year even before it begins. S.N.

Italian Interior Ministry denies BBC report He has made no statements to the media concerning the agreement signed between Italy and Albania. TIRANA — The press office of the Italian Ministry of the Interior denies the information provided by BBC radio concerning statements or interviews given by Minister Xhorxho Napolitano after his visit to Albania, the Press and Information Directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports. “Since returning from this visit,” the office’s statement says, “Minister Napolitano has not made any statements to the media concerning the agreement signed between Italy and Albania, and in particular has not given the BBC any interview on this matter.”

Last night at the Palace of Congresses PAGE 5