. The national question is an issue that concerns all Albanians: political forces, prominent figures, individuals, citizens. They have every right to become involved and express their opinions. Elected representatives, when they seek the vote of an oppressed people, must carefully weigh all the honors and consequences of that vote. Kosovo deserves the parliament for which it voted. The establishment of Parliament is an extraordinarily important development in Kosovo’s political life, as is the establishment of all the other institutions. I am convinced that a democratic Kosovo and a democratic Serbia will make increasingly reasonable, non-totalitarian decisions. The best parliamentarians and local government officials in the entire history of the country’s governance In these developments, I want to emphasize that, on the political front, the most important achievements have been the new parliamentary and local elections and the victory of democracy in these elections. In the life and history of a democracy, whether it is one day old or several years old, elections and popular consultations are high points, regarded by all sides—the winners and the losers—as victories first and foremost for democracy. But for our young democracy, with its many inherited and unpleasant problems, the elections were extraordinarily successful and important. With their free vote, in a manner I would call plebiscitary, Albanians—unlike the majority of former communist countries—voted for their future, deciding not to turn back, but to move toward the new century with greater dignity and prosperity, along the path of democracy and the country’s integration into Europe. The Albanian elections, and the problems created not necessarily on 26 May, received their most dignified response on 20 October, magnificently renewing and reaffirming the same pattern of results expressing the people’s will in these elections. In this year’s elections, almost all local and central government in Albania was renewed, with the election of the new parliament and local administrations, undoubtedly history of the country’s governance. On 1 July of this year, the new pluralist Albanian parliament convened; on 12 July, the new pluralist Albanian government was formed, with four parties—a coalition of four parties involving capable and dedicated intellectuals and politicians. For the first time, four women were appointed to an Albanian cabinet; for the first time, such a cabinet included the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Culture. During this year, Albania pursued a very active foreign policy, exchanging international visits and making extraordinary high-level visits to several international forums and summits, among which I consider the Lisbon Summit the most important. Dozens of meetings were held at these forums and summits with heads of state and government and leaders of international institutions. At these meetings, the special appreciation for Albania’s achievements and the strong determination to advance and further develop cooperation and friendship with Albania were reaffirmed, both with friendly countries and with international institutions. Good relations with neighbors Relations with neighboring countries have made great progress. A particularly important achievement is the normalization of relations with Greece, which, we are pleased to note, are moving forward and developing along a path of understanding and friendship. During 1996, Albania signed around 30 agreements and conventions with various countries and international institutions. Albania took important steps toward consolidating its integration into Europe. Cooperation with the Council of Europe, the EU and NATO has reached new levels. This year, the issue of Kosovo has taken on new dimensions. We have supported, and will fully support, a just and peaceful solution to the Kosovo question. Through the direct involvement of Albanian diplomacy and major international political organizations, the UN and the OSCE addressed the Kosovo question in their key documents at the Lisbon Summit. On the legislative front, after giving its vote of confidence to the new government, the new Albanian parliament has been actively engaged in approving new conventions, agreements and laws. During this year, this parliament passed 64 new laws, which make a real contribution to consolidating democracy and the economy in Albania. Parliament’s approval of the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Convention against Torture are two important events in the history of Albanian democracy. Parliament also passed the law on bank privatization and, in recent days, concluded its work by approving the anti-crime and anti-corruption package. I have considered this a very important event for democracy and the rule of law in Albania. We are a small nation; we must prevent great evils. This package imposes the appropriate legal penalties for serious crimes, particularly drug traffickers, those individuals who have decided to become rich by poisoning and psychologically and physically destroying our children and young people. Once again, before the law takes effect, I wish to make clear to these individuals that they should not forget that wealth built on crime costs more than the crime itself, and that there is no more heinous crime than deliberately and cold-bloodedly poisoning other people’s children in order to enrich oneself. Rapid economic growth On the economic front, 1996 can be considered the year in which rapid economic growth was consolidated and reforms deepened. During this year, Albania recorded double-digit economic growth. It is now widely accepted that Albania is a country of rapid economic growth and that it has the highest economic growth rate in Europe. This is the clearest evidence of the soundness and success of the Democratic Party’s and the government’s program, as well as of the strength of Albanians’ free enterprise. Salaries for public-sector employees increased by 30 percent. This event represents an important step toward a real improvement in the standard of living of employees in Albania. The value-added tax system was implemented at a rate of 12.5, lower than the value-added tax rate elsewhere in Europe. This is a genuine achievement in the fiscal field. The prices of wheat and bread were liberalized. The Albanian farmer now sells all his products at market value, without any state control over the prices of agricultural products. Customs duties were reduced across the board. We have pledged to keep taxes low and are determined to keep our promises. A strategy for bank privatization has been prepared, and compensation of former owners with plots of land on the coast has begun. The number of telephone lines was increased by around 60 percent; the cellular system was introduced and now extends from Shkodra to Vlora. Around 2,000 small enterprises and 47 joint-stock companies were privatized, at a total value many times greater than that of the 1995 privatizations. Exports increased by 20 percent. The issue of the gold inherited from the Second World War was resolved, and I am pleased to express my thanks to Her Majesty’s Government and the Tripartite Commission for the understanding they showed. There has been a major increase in foreign investment. Nearly 80 million dollars have been invested in the oil sector alone. Another very important investment is the one in Rinas Airport, with the generous assistance of the German government; there have also been significant investments, supported by the generous assistance of the Italian government, in roads, water supply systems, telecommunications and many other fields. There have been undeniable achievements in maintaining public order, identifying criminals and uncovering criminal organizations, such as the organization “Hakamraja e drejtësisë së popullit,” as well as solving many other crimes. Crime fell by 16 percent this year, and murders fell by 3 percent. The army has continued to deepen its overall reform. Albania took part in the IFOR and SFOR forces in Bosnia; in Bize, some of the largest joint exercises within the framework of PFP were held, with around 13 countries participating. A series of joint exercises were also held with friendly countries, including the United States, Germany, Turkey, Greece and others. …single-digit inflation, further resolution of the Kosovo question, important decisions on the Constitution, and Albania’s further integration into Europe. Culture, entertainment and all genres of art reached new qualitative levels and an international scale through the organization of Miss Europe and the international chamber music festival. Albanian films and theater competed successfully in some of the world’s most prestigious competitions. Painting and literature achieved very important results. The latest festival was further evidence of the achievements of Albanian entertainment. In 1996, the welfare state in Albania acquired new dimensions. Agricultural land taxes for 1994–96 were forgiven. Relative to all other sectors, the education budget is among the highest. We are among the countries that spend the most on education relative to other sectors worldwide. This year, the number of students increased by 25 percent. Albania established the National Labour Council and acceded to three conventions of the International Labour Organization. The statutes for the Disabled, Orphans and Blind were approved. But 1996 also had undesirable and negative phenomena. Among the main ones, I would mention attacks by organized crime. Although crime has declined, its level of organization has also increased. The boycott of the vote count on 26 May was an unprecedented event in the history of European democracy, which is why we were also compelled to pass an anti-boycott law; it proved effective. Inflation rose from 7 to 16 percent. But I believe this increase resulted from several inflationary measures: liberalization of the price of bread, implementation of VAT, the discontinuation of food aid from abroad, etc. Another undesirable phenomenon was the increase in the budget deficit as a result of tax evasion, and not increased spending. The coming year will be a year of consolidating democracy and self-governing institutions, enforcing the law and successfully fighting crime, double-digit economic growth, mass privatization, on the Constitution, and Albania’s further integration into Europe. Then President Berisha answered questions from journalists. Adem Goxhaj, “Radio Tirana”: I will begin with the Kosovo question. Albania’s official policy has consistently spoken out in support of the Kosovo question, and according to your press conference, you have been in agreement on the peaceful path to resolving the Kosovo question and on all the steps taken so far. Meanwhile, voices are being heard advocating other ways of resolving the Kosovo question, including in the Albanian press. Ismail Kadare, in an interview that the official media gave extensive publicity, said that almost nothing had been done in Kosovo and called for factors, for people, who should have done and should do more. What would be the mother country’s message to Kosovo? Who are these people who have done everything? To be continued on page 3. and its growth, mass privatization, on the Constitution, and Albania’s further integration into Europe.

YEAR VI OF PUBLICATION No. 304 (1527) SATURDAY 28 December 1996 PRICE 20 LEKE 1000 Italian lire 200 drachmas

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tritan Shehu will hold a press conference today, 28 December, at 11:00, at the Palace of Congresses.

Minister of the Interior Halit Shamata will hold a press conference on Sunday, 29 December 1996, at 12:00, in the hall of the relevant ministry.