Albanian Foreign Minister, guest of Germany The invitation for an official visit to Germany extended by German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel to Albania’s Foreign Minister Tritan Shehu once again demonstrates the high level of relations between the two countries and reflects the attention this powerful European country pays to Albania. Page 2

. ELBASAN — President Sali Berisha continued yesterday in Elbasan the broad public political dialogue on resolving the situation created in Albania after the unprecedented collapse of several foundations and companies established on pyramid schemes. Berisha appealed to civic and national conscience, calling for unity to protect and advance the values of democracy, toward a better and more prosperous future for Albania. “This is only a loss,” the President said as he greeted the thousands upon thousands of citizens of Elbasan who had filled the square in front of the Sports Palace. He invited the cultured citizens of Elbasan and all Albania to show tolerance and understanding toward the latest measures taken by the government and parliament to help families who lost their assets in pyramid investment schemes. Berisha assured them that Albania has great economic potential to overcome the crisis of the pyramid schemes quickly, with technical and economic assistance from the governments of friendly countries and international financial institutions. Responding to a question from the audience, President Berisha assured them that he would soon go to Fier and Vlorë as well. “You know very well,” he said, “that I go everywhere.” Usury, an illegal financial activity I have come here to extend my warm greetings to you, to all the citizens of Elbasan and the residents of this district, to express my sincere solidarity with all my fellow citizens who have lost their money in fraudulent schemes, and also to congratulate you on your restraint and the civilized way in which you, the noble citizens of Elbasan, have dealt with this problem of loss. You did not allow yourselves to be manipulated through your despair and loss, thereby demonstrating the great value of your civic tradition. I therefore take this opportunity to express to you and all the citizens of Elbasan my deep gratitude for your noble conduct, which provides great support to the Albanian Democratic Party at a time when extremists and adventurers are trying, through violence, to seize power or to disfigure and destroy what we have built over the years. I have come to you today to discuss and talk with you, first of all, about the phenomenon of usury. I am here to answer all the questions and address all the issues you may raise, and to present to you the measures and means for overcoming the difficulties created by the collapse of the pyramid schemes. Usury, this illegal financial activity, is undoubtedly the negative side of private enterprise and the abuse of the free initiative and liberty guaranteed by Albania’s Civil Code by some fraudulent charlatans. During the Democratic Party’s time in government, in the past year it turned into a veritable collective fever for profit; had it continued, it would truly have had serious political, economic, moral, and social consequences. This was fueled by a lack of understanding of capitalism and the idea that it was possible to get rich quickly. Poverty on the one hand and rapid economic growth on the other, together with the absence of laws regulating the activities of foundations under free-market conditions—all these factors created acceptance of this entirely private activity. I have said, and repeat, that the responsibility of the Government, Parliament, and President, as well as of all political forces, in government and in opposition, belongs both to those who today are honestly trying to resolve these problems and are taking on their share of responsibility, and to those who built their campaign around the pyramid scheme and have begun setting up party pyramid schemes, manipulating people’s anger. That responsibility lies in their failure to warn of the danger these schemes posed. The government acknowledges its responsibility; the opposition manipulates citizens’ despair But while the political forces were united in their silence about usury—and, truth be told, for four years, given their shared responsibility for that silence, they should have worked closely together to resolve these problems—that did not happen. Now they have adopted completely different positions toward them. power. Communism will not return to Albania. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party, the Government, and Parliament have acknowledged and continue to acknowledge their share of responsibility, and have committed all their efforts to finding emergency and medium-term solutions to the problems caused by usury. In fact, when government officials and parliamentarians from the Democratic Party sounded the alarm about the danger of these schemes in the second half of 1996, the epidemic grew to even greater proportions. Between the verbal warning and the high interest rates announced by the swindlers, people naturally trusted the latter more. Continued on page 3

Gjongecaj: PS is dominated by a boycott mentality Page 4

Statement by Leni Fischer, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe The opposition should return to parliament Statement by Leni Fischer, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe The political crisis in Albania must be brought to an end The opposition should return to parliament

President Berisha talks with the citizens of Elbasan

Today, February 20, at 1:00 p.m., in the square in front of the University, the Democratic Party, Tirana Branch, is organizing the rally: “The Day the Symbols of the Dictatorship Were Torn Down” The rally will feature speeches by the highest-ranking leaders of the Democratic government and the Democratic Party. There will also be comedy by some of the best-known actors in our country, including: Fadil Hasa, Muharrem Hoxha, Vasillaq Vangjeli, Cekja, Met Bega, and others. The citizens of the city of Tirana are invited to attend. Democratic Party Tirana Branch