We welcome and thank the EU for the support and assistance it granted Albania at the meeting held the day before yesterday in Brussels, as well as at yesterday’s meeting in Rome. Albania belongs to Europe geographically and politically. We are determined to continue on the path of its final opening toward Europe. Your assistance supports the country’s affirmation and integrity within the continent to which it belongs. We particularly thank Italy, as well as all the countries of the Fifteen, which expressed their willingness to send armed units to Albania to protect the transport of aid, as well as advisory missions that will help organize the Albanian police. Determined to remain in Europe and to accept European solutions, we will continue to remain faithful to the political agreement signed on 9 March, aware that this serves the spirit of reconciliation and civil cooperation that Albania truly needs at this moment. We value the position of the Council of Europe and the European Union in recognizing only Albania’s legitimate authorities and accepting political solutions within Albania’s constitutional and legal framework.

In these 5 years of democracy, as never before, the world has helped Albania in every respect: political, economic, legal, military, etc. Albanians, who had dreamed so deeply of democracy, are grateful to all the countries of Europe and to the USA, which have helped us overcome the economic misery into which the 50-year communist dictatorship had driven the country. Even now, at this difficult moment, Albanians, regardless of their party preferences and convictions, are once again aware that the world is standing by us. But the world helps us, and will help us even more, when we Albanians help ourselves. To do this, we must all, without exception, appeal to our reason. The minister, the mayor, the chief of the police station, the director, every administrative official, and all of us as ordinary citizens must appeal to reason. This means that we must not lose our composure, but must reactivate the state administration at every level. Everyone should do their own job with complete efficiency, honesty, and patriotic responsibility. When everyone does their duty, when we all do our duty, we help prevent chaos, enable the government to function, and restore public order. Only in this way can we show the world—which wants and is willing to help us—that we are capable of governing. Only in this way can we refute those ill-intentioned voices claiming that Albanians are incapable of governing. Facts already evident, such as the fall of Rinas Airport and the port of Durrës, the re-establishment of police stations in districts where they were not functioning, and the recovery and increasingly effective operation of local government as a key link in normalizing the situation—all these show that we know how to overcome difficulties, that we know how to govern, and that we know how to offer the world

President Berisha met with Prime Minister Bashkim Fino, Ministers Starova and Vukaj, and the Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs I would like to congratulate you on your successful visit and express my thanks to the Italian government for its commitment to helping Albania. I also express my deep gratitude to the EU and its member states. The President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, met with Prime Minister Bashkim Fino, Ministers Starova and Vukaj, and the Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. President Berisha told Prime Minister Fino, to the EU and its member states, the governments and foreign ministers of this Union, who are addressing the crisis our country is going through in several meetings with great responsibility, deep solidarity, friendly feeling, and a firm determination to help us restore stability in Albania. The political solution,” President Berisha stressed, “that we reached with the EU, we will implement together with the EU. Europe’s helping hand and solidarity toward Albania have, and will always have, the gratitude of all Albanians.” Prime Minister Fino informed President Berisha about the results of the visit, in particular the great commitment of the Italian government, the commitment of the EU and the governments and foreign ministers of its member states to helping Albania, as well as the willingness of several countries to assist with the security problem in Albania and the distribution of humanitarian aid. you have had, President Berisha told Prime Minister Fino, and I the EU— Cooperation under development programs with Albania can continue only when the political situation in the country is stable and it is guaranteed that the projects will be implemented in accordance with their objectives. According to the information available to us, bilateral cooperation projects currently under way have been partially or substantially damaged. More precise inspections and verification of the situation are currently being carried out in the country. The political conditions and prospects of the country will be decisive for future cooperation within the framework of development policy. It is therefore important to uncover the causes that led to the recent unrest and to help Albania, as well as [??] distribution of humanitarian aid. Spranger, Carl-Dieter CSC recent unrest and to help Albania, as well as [??] distribution of humanitarian aid. These [??] have also spread “untruths or half-truths” about President Berisha, a politician friendly to the West public opinion.” Before Germany and the Western countries decide on further measures concerning Albania, it is essential, for the sake of the country’s future and the credibility of the West, to carefully analyze and make known the causes of the most recent events. Bonn, 25.03.1997. Germany’s Minister for Economic Cooperation is Karl-Dieter Spranger, from Chancellor Kohl’s party, who has visited Albania several times. This ministry has contributed to funding many projects, including Rinas Airport, the AJKA Milk Processing Plant, and water supply systems in Kavajë, Kukës, Krujë, Korçë, and many other infrastructure projects.

Statement by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development ...violent, looting, and exchanges. The press release states that “the recent events were not a spontaneous popular uprising, but a planned coup. This coup unfolded according to a predetermined scenario.” Foreign intelligence services, the mafia, and wealthy foreign individuals also took part in it. In addition, “falsehoods or half-truths have been spread” about President Berisha, a pro-Western politician who seeks to link his country with Western Europe, “in order to discredit him among the population and before Western public opinion.” Before a decision is made in Germany and in Western countries about Spranger. Carl-Dieter CSU

VATICAN CITY, 25 March /AFP/—Pope John Paul II assured Albanian Prime Minister Bashkim Fino on Tuesday of “the cooperation of the local Church and of his personal commitment with international organizations, with the aim of overcoming Albania’s difficulties,” the Vatican spokesman announced. The Albanian prime minister had a conversation lasting about half an hour with the Pope, whom he “informed about developments in the dramatic situation in his country.” Furthermore, on Tuesday the Pope appointed Archbishop Xhon Bulaitis, currently the Holy See’s representative in Korea and Mongolia, as Apostolic Nuncio in Tirana. Pending the arrival of the new nuncio in Albania, John Paul II sent nuncio Agustino Marceto to Tirana. He was tasked with “encouraging and supporting the action undertaken by the bishops, priests, and all members of the country’s Catholic Church in favor of reconciliation and peace,” the Vatican stated. “The Pontiff,” the Vatican spokesman noted, “has already expressed his deep concern many times over the difficult situation facing Albania and has called on the European Community to intervene effectively, so that the dramatic events of these past few days do not irreparably compromise what has been built with great effort in recent years.”

The shortcomings and weaknesses of growth cannot overshadow its contribution to date. Address by the Chairman of the PDSH, Mr. Tritan Shehu Enver Hoxha, y. [??] Page 3 SHIK Chairman Bashkim Gazidede in parliament on the situation that has arisen A plan to partition Albania is being implemented The information I presented to parliament serves the platform of national reconciliation and raising citizens’ awareness of the danger facing the country

Statement by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Burns’s statements appear to be based on inaccurate information or disinformation Tirana, March 24, 1997. Commenting on the statement by U.S. State Department spokesperson Nicholas Burns, dated March 20, 1997, which says that “after President Berisha returned from his official visit to Washington (September 1995), people whom the President disliked, who did not support the political system in question, and journalists were arrested in Albania.” Statement by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs No arrests or convictions have been made in Albania of politicians or journalists as political opponents Mr. Burns’s statements appear to be based on inaccurate information or disinformation Tirana, March 24, 1997. Commenting on the statement by U.S. State Department spokesperson Nicholas Burns, dated March 20, 1997, which says that “after President Berisha returned from his official visit to Washington (September 1995), people whom the President disliked, who did not support the political system in question, and journalists were arrested in Albania,” the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms that politicians, journalists, or citizens in general for the reasons expressed in the State Department spokesperson’s statement. or disinformation. Albania has been and remains an open country. No government, institution, or Western organization, including the diplomatic corps accredited in Albania, non-governmental organizations, or human rights groups, appears to have made similar allegations to those in spokesperson Burns’s statements.

Spranger, Carl-Dieter CSC

Facts already evident, such as the reopening the world opportunities to help us. For the world to help us, we must help ourselves. Let us give one another messages of mutual understanding. Let us rekindle hope wherever it may have temporarily been lost. Let us say NO to panic and confusion. Let us say YES to brotherhood for the sake of Albania. The ICRC appeal for nearly 10 million dollars was launched on 17 March to cover the programs and activities of the ICRC and the Albanian Red Cross, with support from the member societies of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Since violence broke out in Albania several weeks ago, the ICRC and the Federation have worked together to ensure that food and medicine reach as quickly as possible those Albanians most in need. The funds received in response to the appeal will provide food and medical supplies for hospitals, orphanages, and nursing homes; food parcels and hygiene kits for the 10% of the overall population most in need; water and sanitation services; and assistance to the Albanian Red Cross in strengthening its capacity. While tens of thousands of firearms are being used without restraint, another priority for the ICRC is to discuss protection issues with whoever is in charge of any area and to make humanitarian principles clear. This contribution of 1 million dollars is being provided to meet immediate needs. The United States will monitor the situation closely and assess whether further funding is needed. U.S. Department of State Office of the Spokesperson 24 March, 1997 USIS Tirana, 26 March, 1997