Italy and Austria officially request the deployment of a protection force BRUSSELS, 25 March /AFP/ The states of the European Union were unable yesterday in Brussels to agree on sending humanitarian aid to Albania, accompanied by a protection force with the security deemed necessary and requested by Italy. “The EU can simultaneously send humanitarian aid, mainly food and medicine, to Albania, and a security force to protect the distribution of aid, but on a voluntary basis and not under a common command,” said Dutch Foreign Minister Hans van Mierlo, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the union. “We strongly desire joint action, but it must be understood that not all European Union countries share the same view,” he added. Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini formally submitted yesterday to the European Union the request for the deployment of a protection force to escort aid to Albania. Austrian Foreign Minister Wolfgang Schüssel has made a proposal in the same direction. “We are very close to finding a common position,” German Minister of State for Europe Werner Hoyer said confidently before the meeting began. But several European states, among them France and Belgium, expressed reservations. In the text finally approved, the Foreign Ministers of the Fifteen leave each member state free to decide individually on sending security forces to accompany humanitarian aid in Albania. The text also expresses support for the OSCE’s request that member countries contribute to observing elections in Albania. A spokesperson for the Dutch presidency declared that the European Union will support international efforts to stabilize the situation in Albania and to create the conditions for the return of order.

Among democrats, it is clear that at these critical moments there are those who have not only been caught off guard by the sudden developments in the country’s situation, but who have always expressed concern about the worsening of the situation day by day. However, this has mainly stemmed from the misinformation that was being spread deliberately by the left-wing media. From conversations with the membership base throughout Albania, it was very clear that its orientation could also be in favor of changing the form of government and respecting different personalities, but always as a means of solving the crisis and not as a long-term aspiration. Democrats are not slaves to forms, nor to names. The time has come to move calmly and maturely toward resolving the crisis as soon as possible. Compromise should not be considered weakness. On the contrary, it is a sign of political maturity. The mature positions and statements made by representatives of the opposition regarding the desire to overcome the deadlock, as well as the presentation of principles in these days’ platforms, which have supported public opinion in the need to overcome the crisis and to accept the continuity of the state and its constitutional forms, without plunging the country into complete chaos, have increasingly made the need for consensus felt in public opinion. Therefore, today the task is that, under this moral pressure, all intellectual and political potential should be gathered so that the country can be given the most acceptable solution. Precisely along these lines, the meeting with representatives of the right-wing coalition should be seen, as well as the need for the temporary administration to reflect on the issue of the broadest possible political representation. Just as in the past, and just as today, no one can claim to hold the only solution. For some time now, the truth has been fragmented. And only by recognizing this truth can we build a common path out of the crisis. In the climate that has been created, any kind of rigidity, any victorious rhetoric, any a priori exclusion of the other, only prolongs the crisis. Transparency, responsibility and sincerity are needed. If these are lacking, national reconciliation will remain only a slogan. But if they exist, Albania can also overcome this severe test.

President Berisha received Mr. George Miku, special envoy of the President and Government of Romania The President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, yesterday received the special envoy of the President and Government of Romania, Mr. Ambassador Aleksandru Duda, who handed President Berisha a message from the Romanian president, Emil Constantinescu. The message expressed the deep concern of the Romanian president over the situation in Albania and the will to help resolve it. At the meeting, President Berisha stressed that resolving the situation in Albania in accordance with democratic principles, the constitution and legal institutions is a necessary condition for implementing the platform of reconciliation and good governance. He appreciated Romania’s support for Albania’s stability and its efforts within the framework of regional cooperation.

TIRANA, 25 March /ATSH/ The President of the Republic, Mr. Sali Berisha, yesterday decreed and appointed the new members of the Constitutional Court, Mr. Xhezair Zaganjori and Mr. Theodhori Sollaku, who took the oath before the President of the Republic. The ceremony took place at the Presidency. In his speech, the President stressed the role of the Constitutional Court in guaranteeing the implementation of the Constitution and in protecting citizens' rights.

Prodi and Frino sign: Agreement for patrols in the Adriatic ROME, 25 MARCH /NJA/ - An Italian-Albanian agreement on the movement of aircraft and naval vessels of the military forces of the two countries has just come into force. It was signed during a ceremony held at the Italian Ministry of Defense by representatives of the two countries. The agreement concerns the control of search-and-rescue operations and patrols of the sea and airspace off the Albanian coast. This agreement comes at a time when the flow of ships and boats trying to cross the Adriatic has increased significantly. It provides for the exchange of operational information and coordination of patrol actions.

The European mission ready to fly - Dini declares elections Page 3 An EU delegation will leave for Albania to examine what missions? to guarantee assistance, whose work will be ensured by an international protection force

TIRANA, 25 MARCH/ATSH/ - At the proposal of the Ministry of Finance, the Council of Ministers has taken several measures regarding the administration of monetary donations from natural persons, legal entities and non-governmental organizations for social assistance to families and individuals affected by the crisis. The donations will be collected in special bank accounts and will be administered by the relevant state structures. According to the decision, part of the funds will be used for immediate assistance, while the rest will be used to meet medium-term needs.

40 tons of French humanitarian aid arrived in Tirana TIRANA, 25 March /ATSH/ - A military transport aircraft of the French Air Force landed today at Rinas airport, where 40 tons of humanitarian aid destined for the population of southern Albania were unloaded. The Romanian Army flotilla has arrived in Vlorë with 700 tons of grain, 95,000 bottles of water, 4,600 food packages, 80 tents, medical and chemical aid. Evokja? The local government must be respected by the government of the day Page 3 The protection of the constitutional order, and the functioning of local government, are priorities Page 3