Notice On Saturday, 18 January 1997, at 10:00, an expanded meeting of the National Council of the DPA will be held in the hall of the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet, on the topic: “Deepening reform in implementing the DPA programme—a primary duty of our structures.” Members of the DP parliamentary group, secretaries of DP branches, the chairpersons of the FRPD and the DP Women’s Forum, heads of working groups, mayors, district council chairpersons, prefects, commune chairpersons, and the mass media are invited. Invitations may be collected from the DPA Organizing Secretary in Tirana. The Presidium of the DPA

The Council of Ministers freezes the deposits of borrowing foundations A total of 25.5 billion lek belonging to the country’s major borrowers—specifically the “Populli” and “Xhaferri” foundations and the “Gjallica” investment firm—has been definitively frozen in Albanian banks. The Council of Ministers, which met yesterday under the leadership of Prime Minister Aleksandër Meksi, decided to impose the harshest financial sanctions on the borrowing foundations and the deposits they have collected. A statement issued by the Prime Minister’s press office immediately after the meeting says that, in order to avert the consequences, bearing in mind the pyramid-scheme nature of the Sude firm as well as the preliminary findings of the Transparency Commission concerning the other foundations, the Council of Ministers decided to freeze, for the benefit of Albanian citizens, the total sum of 25.5 billion lek deposited by the foundations in state banks, until the Transparency Commission makes a final determination as to whether or not they are pyramid schemes. Also yesterday, the Albanian government requested that the competent authorities prohibit mortgage transactions by firms that are not paying their creditors. This is the most forceful step taken by the Albanian government to avert once and for all the consequences of this phenomenon in Albania and to save people’s savings to the greatest extent possible. On this occasion, the Albanian government expressed its responsibility toward citizens threatened with the loss of their property, which could result from participation in the informal market. S.N.

Crowds gather in the city of Vlora Page 2

Military cooperation with Germany deepens At a meeting between Defence Minister Safet Zhulali and Germany’s ambassador to Albania, Hans Peter Disdorn, they discussed the further development of bilateral relations in the military field. The ambassador handed Minister Zhulali a letter from Germany’s Federal Minister of Defence, Volker Rühe, who positively assessed the cooperation between our two states in the former Yugoslavia. He sends Mr Zhulali his regards, noting “that the Albanian army, within the framework of Germany’s participation in the SFOR troops, will also contribute in the future to providing military guarantees for the consolidation of the peace process.” Alongside announcing the expansion of the staff assigned to the Bundeswehr headquarters, including the staff stationed at our General Staff, Mr Ruhe stressed that Germany’s Federal Ministry of Defence would continue to support Albania’s Armed Forces in the future. He confirmed that he would visit Albania on 9 and 10 April 1997, when further bilateral military cooperation between Albania and Germany would be discussed.

The desperate creditors, who had first decided to occupy the offices of the bankrupt moneylender Maksud Kadëmi, had to contend not only with the loss of their money but also with the irresponsibility of the people now leading what remains of Albania’s very top [sic]. In the morning, having just taken out another loan, they firmly rebuffed their shameless attempts to exploit their plight for propaganda by turning them against the government. Known for their irresponsibility, the group—and the troubled [sic]—were quickly declared unwelcome. The sallow faces of Gjinushi, Mejdani and the thugs accompanying them on their morning tour provoked nothing but disgust among the desperate people, who insisted on driving them away from among them, just as they would cholera. After hearing a few interviews in their news reports, Gjinushi and Mejdani, in their conversation with the moustached and the clean-shaven, slipped away like shadows. A.F.

PS against the European left Fasino meets with the leader of FRESSH One of the leading figures of the European left, who arrived in Albania yesterday on an official visit, urged the PS leadership during their meeting to take part in parliamentary proceedings and begin a dialogue with the DP on this issue. The socialists’ response was negative, [unclear] the supervision of the structures by the leader of the European left. Fasino, co-chair of the Socialist International for Eastern and Central Europe and the number two of the Italian PDS, has come to Albania for the second time. He repeated to the Albanian socialists the requests previously made by other European left leaders, but, as on earlier occasions, their leaders did not heed them. K. Islamil, a member of the PS Presidium and the person responsible for the meetings, stated that his invitation would not be accepted to begin a dialogue with the DP about taking part in the proceedings of the Albanian parliament. Immediately after meeting the current PS leaders, Fasino held a meeting at his residence with I. Meta, the leader of FRESSH, who enjoys a good reputation among the European left. The youth organization he leads is affiliated with the Eurosocialist International. Fasino held meetings with the country’s main political forces. Unlike his meetings with them, the European left leader met with two PS representatives, also taking into account the numerous problems within that party. After rejecting the request made by the co-chair of the Socialist International, the PS leaders did not hesitate to attack FRESSH chairman Meta over his recent political positions. “He enjoys a very good reputation among young people on the European left,” a source within FRESSH said, asking not to be named. The current PS Presidium’s repeated refusal of the European left’s requests to take part in parliamentary proceedings and begin a dialogue with the DP has left the PS isolated from the European left. Meanwhile, the latter seem to be very clear that conducting a dialogue with the PS is quite difficult. B. KASMI

Italy’s Deputy Secretary for Foreign Relations Piero Fasino in Tirana President Berisha received Italy’s Deputy Secretary for Foreign Relations Piero Fasino Italy’s Deputy Secretary for Foreign Relations Piero Fasino in Tirana Italy considers relations with Albania essential and a priority President Berisha received Italy’s Deputy Secretary for Foreign Relations Piero Fasino Yesterday, President of the Republic Sali Berisha and Italy’s Deputy Secretary for Foreign Relations Piero Fasino held a special meeting to discuss further strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries. During the meeting, both sides expressed satisfaction with the steady and growing development of friendship and cooperation between our two peoples and countries. President Berisha expressed his gratitude for the substantial assistance and important support Italy has provided to Albania in every respect. President Berisha and Deputy Foreign Secretary Fasino expressed their shared determination to complete the legal framework for cooperation in all fields. Fasino assured President Berisha that Italy considers relations with Albania essential and a priority and will continue to support all of Albania’s efforts to integrate into Europe. Regarding the situation in the region, the two interlocutors assessed the democratic movement in Belgrade as a significant and positive development. President Berisha, expressing concern about the situation in Kosovo, stressed that Kosovo remains a Balkan crisis within this set of problems. “While opposing the changing of borders by force,” he said, “we have supported and will continue to support all the peaceful efforts of Albanians in Kosovo to regain their human and national freedoms and rights. Albania will not accept the anti-Albanian racism that has unfortunately existed. It has not regarded, and does not regard, Kosovo as a card in Milošević’s hands, because it is first and foremost an Albanian issue.” For his part, Deputy Secretary for Foreign Relations Fasino stressed that Italy is following with concern the grave situation of Albanians in Kosovo and is fully committed to resolving Kosovo’s problems. Piero Fasino, one of the leading figures of the Italian PDS, the Democratic Party of the Left, who holds the post of Deputy Secretary for Foreign Relations in the Italian government following the Olive Tree Coalition’s victory in Italy, made a several-hour visit to Tirana yesterday. Upon arriving at Rinas Airport, Fasino told media representatives: “We have come to Albania to continue bilateral cooperation and to learn more about the current political situation in the country.” On this occasion, Piero Fasino described the latest local elections held in Albania in May of last year as “an important step towards resolving problems between the political forces” and “a precondition for establishing a spirit of dialogue between them.” “Only through dialogue,” Fasino said, “can the opposition manage to take part in parliament.” This is Piero Fasino’s second visit to Albania. He first came last year, when he held the post of head of international relations in his party. During that visit he met with the main leaders of Albania’s political parties, and also received them at his headquarters in Rome. At Rinas Airport, Piero Fasino was welcomed by Deputy Foreign Minister Arjan Starova and representatives of the ministry. Italy’s Ambassador to Tirana, Paolo Foresti, was also present. For his part, Deputy Secretary for Foreign Relations Fasino stressed that Italy is following with concern the grave situation of Albanians in Kosovo and is fully committed to resolving Kosovo’s problems.

Italy’s Deputy Secretary for Foreign Relations meets representatives of Albanian political parties Page 3