Interview with Mr. Abdyl Xhaja, Minister of Mineral and Energy Resources 1997 is the year of privatization of the national energy sector. We have approved the full legal framework in Parliament, the Energy Law and the Law on Privatization of the Energy Sector, on the basis of which we have also made the initial preparations. The main objectives will be to carry out the necessary restructuring and privatization processes; increase production efficiency through the rehabilitation of existing electricity-generation resources and negotiations for new ones; intensify efforts to reduce non-technical losses in the grid; rehabilitate existing networks and build new ones; strengthen and modernize system management; and meet the country's ever-growing needs for electricity continuously, with high quality and at low cost. Page 3

In January, Stefanopullos is expected to sign the legalization of immigrants The year of consolidating institutions In January, Stefanopullos is expected to sign the legalization of immigrants Here is the long-awaited decree The year of consolidating institutions The year we have just left behind was a historic year for Albanians. Through their free vote, Albanians definitively broke with the past and firmly committed themselves to democracy, the market economy, and the integration of the country into Europe and the Euro-Atlantic structures. The Democratic Party, with the platform it presented to the Albanian electorate, won the elections for central and local government by a wide margin. The Albanians entrusted their future, and Albania in the 2000s—modern Albania, fully integrated into Europe—to this political force, which overthrew the most brutal dictatorship in postwar European history and set the country on the path of profound reforms. Naturally, the victory of the Democratic Party was a victory for all Albanians, a victory for our nation, a victory for the prospect and hope of a normal, civilized life, a life alongside other nations that, in principle, uphold the values of modernity. The electorate's landslide vote for the Democratic Party, and the trust it demonstrated through its free vote, mean that Albanian democrats bear an extraordinary responsibility for the definitive institutionalization of democracy, reform, rapid economic growth, integration into Europe, and the prosperity of our nation. Everything in Albania up to the year 2000 depends entirely on how capable the Democratic Party Government is of implementing its ambitious program. And this program is extremely broad; it encompasses all the most important development projects. But for the implementation of this program, to which Albanians entrusted their future, institutional consolidation is of paramount importance. A state without solid and functional institutions cannot be a state governed by law; it cannot fulfill its mission. In the year that has just passed, profound institutional reform was carried out. Parliament passed laws of European standard that enable institutions to function appropriately. Nevertheless, over the past four years not all the mechanisms of the state have functioned as they should. This is reflected in the negative phenomena observed and the shortcomings identified, which were in any case unavoidable during the rapid transition that took place and the profound transformations that occurred within an extremely short period. But now, after four years, correcting these defects has become an imperative. Further institutional consolidation and the proper functioning of the rule of law are sine qua non conditions for correcting these defects. Albania now has the relevant legislation to establish institutions of European standard. The concept of institutions in a democratic state and the importance of their functioning in accordance with the laws are also now clear. But the ability of the people who lead these institutions, or work in them—their mindset, competence, and professional conscience—is significantly out of step with what the law itself guarantees to institutions. Time moves very quickly in Albania, and keeping pace with it is no small problem, one that is not manageable for everyone. That is precisely why these institutions' personnel must be continually renewed, with professionalism as the principal criterion. Otherwise, we will have aging institutions, unable to respond to the dynamics of our life. TIRANA — A presidential decree, expected to be announced during January, will mark the beginning of the procedure for legalizing foreign immigrants in Greece and integrating them into society, with the same rights as Greek workers, Greek Labor Minister Miltiadhis Papajanu said, according to BBC radio. Under the decree, every non-EU foreign national who lives and works in Greece, or wishes to find employment there, must report to the nearest employment office within three months of the decree taking effect. They must provide that office with their full identity details, their specialty, their home address, their employer's address, and their request for employment, specifying the sector in which they believe they can find work. Page 2

TIRANA — A presidential decree, expected to be announced during January, will mark the beginning of the procedure for legalizing foreign immigrants in Greece and integrating them into society, with the same rights as Greek workers, Greek Labor Minister Miltiadhis Papajanu said, according to BBC radio.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Shehu comments on Milutinoviç's letter Asked by journalists to comment on the letter from the Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia-Montenegro), Mr. Milutinoviç, addressed to the Danish Foreign Minister Nils Peterson, as the new OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Mr. Ylli Shehu said that Gonzales' immediate enthusiasm for the return of the OSCE's long-term missions to Kosovo and the fulfillment of the other requests set out in documents approved by the OSCE—Mr. Shehu further commented—are the fundamental issues on which Belgrade must reflect and inform the international community.

Yesterday, a special meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council was held in Vienna to discuss the report of the personal envoy of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Flavio Cotti, in Belgrade. The personal envoy, former Spanish Prime Minister Felipe Gonzales, presented a report after returning from Belgrade. It describes the situation in which the local elections in Serbia were held, and draws conclusions and makes relevant recommendations. At this meeting, the OSCE participating States, after hearing the envoy, Mr. Gonzales, and the Spanish ambassador Deskajar, discussed the report at length. The prevailing view in the discussions was that Mr. Gonzales' findings are valuable and that his recommendations should be implemented immediately and in full by the Serbian authorities. Other speakers also stressed that, under the circumstances, the OSCE decisions on the situation of Albanians in Kosovo must be implemented. The OSCE did not consider it appropriate either to invite a representative of Belgrade to this meeting to explain Mr. Gonzales' report, as Belgrade had expected and hoped, and as some supporter of Belgrade may also have wished; nor did it consider it appropriate to begin a dialogue process in the Permanent Council, which would prejudge the status that remains unresolved by this Organization. The Permanent Council also took note of the letter from Minister Milutinoviç, sent to Danish Minister Nils Petersen in his capacity as Chairperson-in-Office. Regarding this letter Mr. Gonzales’s points were valid and that the recommendations he presented should be implemented immediately and fully by the Belgrade authorities. They include recognition of the results of the local elections of November 17. The meeting also discussed the relations of the FRY (Serbia and Montenegro) with the OSCE. Although the views of the states on this point differ, the prevailing view at the meeting was that it is much too early to review this country’s status in the organization. This should happen once that country has fulfilled its obligations arising from the implementation of the OSCE’s principles, norms, standards and decisions, which must be put into practice. would prejudge the status currently undervalued the letter from Minister Milutinoviç, addressed to Danish Minister Nils Petersen, as the current Chairperson. Several delegations responded to this letter, but the general view was that it would be examined. At the end of the meeting, the Danish Chairmanship presented its conclusions, which state that the OSCE approves the recommendations in the Gonzales report and calls for their immediate and full implementation. The Chairmanship—not the OSCE—is ready to continue the dialogue and propose further assistance for the purposes of democratization, freedom of the press, the independence of the judiciary and improvements to the electoral system.

Chairman Arbnori welcomes Demaçi’s election as head of the Parliamentary Party Page 2

The Albanian government is ready for the final phase of privatization The necessary legal framework has been prepared for the transfer into private ownership of mines, banks, water supply and telecommunications Page 2

Rapid development of economic relations with Italy According to the Italian Economic Center, the approximately 110 million dollars invested so far in Albania by Italian entrepreneurs will be joined by many more new investments Page 2

Municipal Council approves the first 150 names for the loan A good number of this group of homeless people will have the opportunity to draw the loan in the first days of this month Page 2

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