The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs declares: Regarding a report published in recent days in the newspaper “Corriere della sera” and subsequently carried by the BBC, about a reduction in Italian aid to Albania, Dr. Beatrice Bussi, the expert on Albania at Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told our embassy in Rome that “this is a case of journalists misinterpreting the information provided by this ministry.” According to her, there has been no reduction in the amount allocated to Albania. Dr. Bussi added that the Italian-Albanian Joint Commission is expected to meet in Rome soon. The Albanian ambassador to Italy, Pandeli Pasko, also met with the Italian deputy foreign minister, Piero Fasino. The ministry’s press statement after the meeting said: “The Italian government will support Tirana’s efforts on the path toward ever-greater democratization of political and economic life in Albania.”

Interview with Prime Minister Aleksandër Meksi about the situation in the country The second phase will involve returning the money obtained from all the properties confiscated from the founders of the foundations, the foundations’ property and the managers who directly took part in this fraudulent activity. Lists of these are being drawn up, and the assets will be sold at auction, while their value will be distributed to each depositor in these foundations according to their respective contributions. Of course, this cannot be done by the 5th; it may take a little longer, but not very long. In other words, the day when the complete list is announced and the assets are auctioned will be very soon. These include offices, homes, cars and other items, and the proceeds will likewise be distributed to the creditors. Page 3

For some time now, several political parties that the Albanian electorate excluded from political life, others that excluded themselves, as well as certain individuals whose talent is demonstrated by posing in newspapers, have been choosing a Stalinist boycott as their alternative and trying to bring disgrace upon the incumbents. This grouping of groups and different tendencies scattered across the two election campaigns, however much it is trumpeted as a broad front of parties, forces and individuals, is essentially nothing other than a desperate attempt to resurrect once again the Red Front, which failed in last year’s parliamentary and local elections. The moment the left-wing political forces have chosen as opportune for regrouping and making themselves look numerous is, in its entirety, also the essence of their whole purpose. The demagoguery accompanying their statements, as well as the people chosen to represent the former Albanian communist left, arouses not even the slightest curiosity among even the least informed and least politically interested Albanians. The failure of the efforts after the 26 May elections to present to international public opinion all the parties across Albania’s political spectrum as opposed to the political reality that the elections produced was the answer former Albanian communists and their allies received for their miserable calculations involving the activation of neo-communists like Kallakulla or certain other opportunists and deranged people. The West made it clear to the former communists that politics is, first and foremost, participation in legal institutions such as Parliament, but the Albanian socialists did not deign to heed the West’s warnings and suggestions. Not only that, but after the latest Council of Europe Resolution, the socialists attacked Europe and its institutions in an irresponsible and unscrupulous manner. Apparently, the fact that even a political nonentity like Kurt Kola has joined them in the same trench makes the former communists feel strong and confident enough to oppose anyone who disagrees with their anti-PD and anti-government policy. It is understandable that the so-called Forum is nothing more than a badly fallen servant of the PS; its allies must conceal their political aims and objectives, which are intended to hinder the development and Western orientation of Albanian democracy. The “Three Musketeers” chosen as the Forum’s vanguard, with squad commander Kurt Kola, move no one and, still less, constitute a political force. The failure of such contrived efforts has already produced its results in the May and October elections. Even today, with the proclamation of the so-called Forum, it is easy to understand what future it will have, with forces and people who think the country is in the situation of the League of Prizren or the Second World War. This extreme expression of despair by minds made sick by failure and defeat brings them nothing but ridicule, wherever they may gather and whomever they may put forward on the podium. Ferdinand Xhaferi, Public Relations Secretary of the PD, after returning from an EDU meeting in Rome Support for the Democratic Party “The important thing is not to give up on democratic reforms, not to turn back” Page 3

The rapporteur of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, speaking to “Deutsche Welle” radio The rapporteur of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Mr. Dumeni Kolumberg, expressed concern and regret over the wave of violence in the recent events in Albania in an interview with “Deutsche Welle” radio. Europe, he noted, but everything there ended without violent acts. “I do not believe this will call the government’s work into question or lead to demands for its resignation,” added Mr. Kolumberg, who expressed confidence in the Albanian authorities’ ability to calm the situation using the means of a democratic state and praised the measures taken by the government to resolve the situation that had arisen. Drawing a clear distinction between the events of recent days and the general situation in the country, Mr. Kolumberg said that Albania had recorded significant successes compared with “the catastrophic initial situation when the systems of government were being established.” He regarded the harmonization of the new constitution as an important task, emphasizing the view of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe that it should be drafted by a parliamentary commission in which all political forces, including the opposition, should take part, so that the constitution could receive the broadest possible support.

Address by President Berisha on the occasion of awarding His Excellency Monsignor Ivan Dias the “Mother Teresa” Order Yesterday, President Berisha awarded His Excellency Monsignor Ivan Dias the “Mother Teresa” Order. Government and local-government officials attended the ceremony held on this occasion. Taking the floor, President Berisha said that this award ceremony was being held to honor His Excellency Monsignor Ivan Dias, the representative of the Holy See in Albania, on the occasion of his departure from Albania. Monsignor Ivan Dias came to our country as a true missionary of the centuries-old friendship and cooperation linking the Holy See with Albania, as a representative of His Holiness Pope John Paul II, a great and distinguished friend of the Albanian nation and of all peoples who had belonged to a communist regime, and made an essential contribution to rebuilding Albania’s great religious and divine values. Today he is leaving as a friend who loved Albania and the Albanians, and whom they will always love. Monsignor Ivan Dias came to Albania during its transition from a totalitarian system to a democratic one, at a time when the Albanian opposition was confronting Europe’s harshest postwar dictatorship, while Albania and the Albanians were experiencing the great tragedy of the destructive material and spiritual consequences of Marxist doctrine, which nearly 30 years earlier had burned down churches, mosques and tekkes throughout Albania and imposed state atheism. His Holiness Pope John Paul II, the Holy See and their representative in Albania openly and unwaveringly supported the democratic forces in their efforts to overthrow communism. For Pope Wojtyla, who had prayed for years for the Albanians and for nations suffering under the communist yoke, and for the Holy See and Apostolic Nuncio Ivan Dias, communism was incompatible with true human and divine values. After the victory of the democratic forces, the Vatican, the Holy Father and His representative, the Apostolic Nuncio, have been and remain major supporters of our efforts to build the rule of law and a market economy, and to integrate the country into Europe. Monsignor Ivan Dias, you came to Albania during a period of true national renaissance. During His historic visit to Albania, the Holy Father consecrated the Cathedral of Shkodra—which the atheist regime had turned into a sports hall—and ordained the first Albanian bishops, including Monsignor Frano Ilia, who 25 years earlier, on that same day, had been sentenced to death for defending his faith. He said that he had experienced a day of true resurrection in Albania. And you, His representative in Albania, experienced years of the true resurrection of a nation. In this resurrection, especially in the revival of its spiritual infrastructure, you made a valuable contribution for which Albanians will always be grateful to you. During these years, the Albanian Church not only was reborn, but also experienced the greatest events in its entire existence: the visit of His Holiness Pope John Paul II to Albania in 1993, a historic event in the friendly relations between Albania and the Vatican. Albania was the first country in the Balkans to be visited by His Holiness Pope John Paul II. But during this period the Albanian Church also had its first Cardinal, a true martyr of all Christendom, its Prince, who through his resistance to communism brought honor to the Albanian nation, Christianity and all those who believe throughout the world. During these years, hundreds and thousands of Albanian families, villages, schools, clinics and sick people were generously helped by “Caritas,” and I take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to the Holy See and to all the missionaries who organized and carried out this effort and assistance. You are leaving Albania in these days, a country where today the great religious faiths coexist in one heart; in the heart of one nation, they coexist in exemplary harmony, understanding and tolerance. It is my particular pleasure to award you today the Golden “Mother Teresa” Order, named for this living saintly Albanian woman, who made the Albanian nation known in your country and great nation, and brought our two peoples closer together. May God bless you!

The second phase will involve returning the money obtained from all the properties confiscated from the founders of the foundations, the foundations’ property and the managers who directly took part in this fraudulent activity.

Letter from a group of “Gjallica” creditors to the Prime Minister Lenders should become shareholders The legal route does not help us reach the future in which we can recover what we have lost Page 2