Statement of the PDSh Presidency Consistent support for national reconciliation and the Fino government The PDSh Presidency asks the General Prosecutor's Office to prepare the legal case of Sali Azhaj in accordance with the law and with due care The PDSh Presidency met today and analyzed the serious and complicated situation in which our country finds itself and continues to be held after the events of 1 March 1997. Today Albania stands at a very dangerous crossroads where, instead of building and consolidating democratic institutions and the smooth functioning of the economy, the country is in a complete crisis and may be irreversibly ruined by the destabilizing plan of the red extreme in its implementation on a dramatic scale. The PDSh Presidency considers that the main responsibility for developments so far lies with the leader of the Albanian socialists, Fatos Nano. His statements, both inside and outside the country as chairman of the PS and not as its deputy, belong to a state-irreponsible man who, for fanatic party interests, incites the far left to overthrow the constitutional order, destabilize the country, paralyze the state and spark civil war. The PDSh Presidency condemns with the deepest contempt the provocateur Fatos Nano and his mafia group for the act of kidnapping and inhuman lynching of the outstanding student and PDSh activist, Mr. Jemin Gjana. The PDSh Presidency strongly condemns the shooting death of engineer Sadri Riza, secretary of the PD branch in Durrës, as a grave act against the PDSh statute. The PDSh Presidency strongly condemns Edi Rama's demands for the cleansing of the public administration of all democrats, as well as his calls for the liquidation of the heads of institutions. As stated above, the PDSh denounces the efforts of the opponents of the unity of Albanians to dismember Albania. In particular, it condemns the dangerous game of the left to turn the South into anarchy for the purpose of creating an autonomous republic. The PDSh Presidency asks the General Prosecutor's Office, in accordance with the law and with due care, to prepare the legal case of Sali Azhaj. PDSh The PDSh Presidency invites all honest Albanian citizens, without political or party distinctions, to cooperate with the prime minister of National Reconciliation and the coalition government that has approved the program for restoring order and public peace, collecting weapons, punishing terrorism and drug trafficking, and in particular for reorganizing and fully activating the state administration at all levels. PDSh The PDSh Presidency also asks all citizens, teachers, doctors, nurses, workers in various services and the state not to submit under any circumstances to the pressure and threats of criminal organizations and to create groups of new investors. Your presence is the message of intermediaries and the revitalization of Albania's economic life TIRANA, 28 MARCH/ATSH/.- Prime Minister Fino declared at the meeting with the diplomatic corps that, with the establishment of order and normality in the country, Albania will become “an attractive destination for foreign and domestic investment.” Describing the diplomatic corps as “honoured friends of Albania,” Fino said that “the country needs your continued presence and your financial and moral support.” He requested continued support for the government’s goals of restoring order and public peace, for economic activity and Albania’s economic stabilization, with the aim of gradually replacing the criminal economy. Fino considered the presence of the ambassadors and the diplomatic corps “a warm message of solidarity, encouragement and support for all Albanians and potential foreign investors to have confidence and invest in Albania.” He added that this government will create “a favorable climate for foreign investors” by being a government based on “the people’s vote and the standards of Western democracies.” The head of the OSCE observer mission in the country, former Austrian prime minister Franz Vranitzky, assured the diplomatic community and international financial organizations of the Albanian democracy’s support by the Fino government. He asked for understanding and the goodwill of all Albanians for the country, in this difficult time. Franz Vranitzky said that “panic must be avoided and people must return to their workplaces” and that “the words and deeds of the government must be respected.” page 3

President Berisha received the head of the EU mission, Ambassador d’Asembourg He informed once again that the European Union strongly supports the platform of the Government of National Reconciliation and demanded that right-wing and left-wing extremists hand over all weapons to the state. Regarding recent developments in Albania, the EU representative reaffirmed understanding and closeness with the legitimate government and the political authority in Tirana of National Reconciliation He requested continued financial and macroeconomic support. Regarding recent developments in Albania, the EU representative reaffirmed understanding and closeness with the legitimate government and the political authority of the Albanian state. He stated that the legitimate government has the right and authority to impose order and law throughout its country, gaining and securing the support of citizens to assist Albania in dealing with such a situation. He also assessed that in order to assist Albania in dealing with such a situation, macroeconomic reform is essential. At the end of the meeting, the President of the Republic of Albania, Sali Berisha, and the head of the EU mission in Tirana, Ambassador d’Asembourg, declared the conversation constructive and useful. The European Union platform is the same as the solution to the serious Albanian crisis and the gradual renewal of order and institutions throughout the country. Part of the solution is to renounce all forms of extremism, political manipulation and “committees” without constitutional basis. He said that the European Union does not recognize these local committees and that any solution must go through legitimate institutions. He also stressed the importance of returning administration, schools and economic life to normal functioning. The discussion also underlined the need to coordinate international aid and strengthen the rule of law. President Berisha stressed that right-wing and left-wing extremists must hand over their weapons and accept a political solution within the framework of the Albanian state. At the end, support for the Government of National Reconciliation was reiterated. President Berisha's meeting with the EU representative

The force is thought to number around 2,500 at the start, possibly reaching 5,000 later. It will remain in Albania until after the general elections scheduled for June page 3

Interview with PDSh chairman Tritan Shehu given to the BBC “The Democratic Party, with all its structures, is trying, is trying so that the government can establish authority throughout Albania, restore order, and for this it is essential that anti-criminal and anti-terrorist activity be much stronger. We believe that the gangs commanded by the far left are acting to carry out demands that Albania has now gone through[?]” page 3

President Berisha received the U.S. ambassador in Tirana The U.S. ambassador in Tirana, Marisa Lino, said that the United States fully supports the restoration of public order and the administration and functioning of all institutions. She said that Albanian citizens must feel safe and that the market economy must be restored. page 3

In the statements President Berisha said that the United States fully supports the restoration of public order and the administration and functioning of all institutions. He said they support Albania in building democracy and a market economy.

Albright states: “We think this is an operation that requires support and authorization from an international point of view, from one point of view and from another point of view” WASHINGTON, 28 March/AFP/.- The United States will not send troops to Albania “at this moment,” State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns said yesterday. “We consider the restoration of public order in Albania through the Government of National Reconciliation to be an urgent necessity,” the spokesman said. “The government is an appropriate forum for organizing fair elections and restoring calm,” he added. According to him, the “multinational force” expected to be sent to Albania must have “international support” and “clear authorization from the United Nations”. page 3

group of foreign investors TIRANA, 28 MARCH/ATSH/.- The prime minister of the Government of National Reconciliation, Mr. Bashkim Fino, has highly praised the role of ambassadors and foreign representatives in restoring order and public peace in Albania. Prime Minister Fino said that diplomatic representatives are a moral and financial support for the country in this difficult time. He added that his government will work to create a favorable climate for foreign and domestic investment and for the return of economic life. page 3

Arbnori meets with the leadership of the General League of Trade Unions of Albania page 3