COMRADE RAMIZ ALIA RECEIVED THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS, JAVIER PEREZ DE CUÉLLAR
Yesterday morning, the Chairman of the Presidium of the People's Assembly of the People's Socialist Republic of Albania, Comrade Ramiz Alia, received in an audience Mr. Javier Perez de Cuéllar, Secretary-General of the United Nations, who is on a working visit to our country. During the meeting, Comrade Ramiz Alia expressed to Mr. Javier Perez de Cuéllar his pleasure at the latter's visit to Albania as Secretary-General of the UN. They discussed Albania's relations with the United Nations and with other international institutions, issues related to the establishment of peace and security in the world, etc. During the conversation, views were exchanged on the processes taking place in the world today and the problems facing humanity on the threshold of the third millennium. Comrade Ramiz Alia said that Albania is following with attention and interest the development of events in the world and, in particular, those in Europe, where efforts are being made to find ways to avoid confrontation, to solve problems through understanding and dialogue, and to strengthen cooperation and security, in accordance with the interests of every people and of humanity as a whole. Regarding the developments taking place in the countries of Eastern Europe, Comrade Ramiz Alia said that they are of special interest both to the peoples of those countries themselves and to Europe as a whole and beyond. The nations of those countries have entered into processes of change with the clear aim of creating more suitable conditions for economic and social progress and for strengthening freedom and democracy, but everything must be assessed carefully and maturely, without haste, because freedom, democracy and progress cannot be imported like merchandise. They must be won through the wise and persistent efforts of the peoples themselves. Events must be guided along lines that serve the interests of ordinary people, the increase of their well-being, and not deepen social differences or create unrest and instability. Comrade Ramiz Alia also told the UN Secretary-General that our country is interested in the process of cooperation and integration of European countries developing along normal lines. We consider it important for Europe to rise as a peaceful continent, with free peoples and mutual respect, equal rights, free from system differences, from nuclear weapons bases and from any kind of hegemony. As for our state's relations with neighboring countries, we believe that all possibilities exist to expand these relations in the interest of a better climate of understanding in the Balkans. The Albanian leader stressed that our country's foreign policy remains unchanged: friendly relations with everyone on the basis of equality, mutual respect, non-interference in internal affairs, and mutual benefit. Mr. Javier Perez de Cuéllar said that our country is following developments in Albania with interest and expressed the wish that our country expand its contacts with UN bodies and with other countries. He appreciated the role that Albania can play in the Balkans and in Europe. During the reception, Kosovo and the situation of the Albanians in Yugoslavia were also discussed. Comrade Ramiz Alia pointed out that the Kosovo issue must be resolved politically, through dialogue and by respecting the legitimate rights of the Albanian population there. The conversation took place in a warm and friendly atmosphere.