Yesterday, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of State, James Baker, arrived in our country. This is the first visit to Albania by a senior American official, and it will serve to strengthen the friendship and cooperation between the American and Albanian peoples, as well as between the two countries. At 9:05, the special American aircraft landed on the runway at Rinas Airport. The national flags of the Republic of Albania and the United States had been raised there. To welcome Mr. Baker and his wife, Susan Baker, had come Ylli Bufi, Chairman of the Council of Ministers; Kastriot Islami, Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly; Gramoz Pashko, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Economy; Muhamet Kapllani, Minister of Foreign Affairs; as well as members of the Government, deputies of the People’s Assembly, leaders of political parties, and representatives of trade unions and various institutions, among others. Also present was William Rajson, head of the U.S. delegation for the opening of the American embassy in our country. A large number of local and foreign journalists were also present. A group of children dressed in folk costumes presented bouquets of flowers to Mr. Baker and his wife. U.S. Secretary of State James Baker met and exchanged greetings with the senior officials of our country, who welcomed him to Albania. (ATA) Mr. Secretary of State of the United States! You are the highest-ranking representative of the American people to come to Albania in 45 years. On this occasion, I have the special pleasure, on behalf of the people of Tirana and the Executive Committee of Tirana, to declare Mr. Baker an honorary citizen of Tirana. …the respect that this ancient and small people conveys through you to the American people and the President, George Bush. This manifestation of Albanian generosity and hospitality, unfolding in this historic square, gives this special day your name, Mr. Baker. [Fragment interrupted] …to the European family. Albania is now not only geographically in Europe, but also politically, and soon economically as well. Your visit today, Mr. Baker, is no coincidence; it is a historic event for our people. I feel it my duty, on behalf of this people and the Government I lead, to thank the United States, and you personally, Mr. Baker, for your contribution and warmth… …warmly greets Baker and expresses to him the special pleasure he feels at meeting him. Your arrival in Albania, he told the distinguished representative of the American people, is a historic moment. You are welcomed by the entire Albanian people, as you saw for yourself in the reception given to you today. In my own name and in the name of the Albanian people, I welcome you. You have come to Albania, President Ramiz Alia said, following two notable events: the establishment of diplomatic relations between Albania and the United States and our country’s admission to the CSCE. In both these important events, you and the presi-

Yesterday at noon, President of the Republic of Albania Ramiz Alia received the Secretary of the U.S. Department of State, James Baker, at the Palace of Brigades. Yesterday at noon, President of the Republic of Albania Ramiz Alia received at the Palace of Brigades. President Ramiz Alia greeted Mr. Baker and offered strong support and backing for Albania. After thanking President Ramiz Alia for the kind sentiments he had expressed, Mr. James Baker said that I am ‘hu- President Ramiz Alia spoke to Mr. Baker about the democratic processes taking place in our country. He said that fundamental democratic transformations are being carried out in Albania. Our effort has been, and continues to be, to ensure that all these democratic processes take place prudently, without excesses. Certainly, alongside our achievements, we still have much to do, particularly in the field of human rights, in the transition to a market economy, etc. There are difficulties, of course, but we are not discouraged. We are determined to continue along this path, because it is in the interest of our people. And by proceeding in this way, we trust that we will find the comprehensive support and backing of the United States, as well as of the international community, so that we can overcome the difficulties and open the way for further democratic developments in every sphere. For his part, Mr. Baker addressed President Ramiz Alia: “Allow me to say that I agree with everything you have said, and I welcome the democratic developments in Albania and its admission to the CSCE. I understand the difficulties of moving from one system to another, but I think the steps should be faster. I see how much has been done toward laying the foundations of political freedoms, religious freedoms, economic freedoms, etc. We wish to help you along this difficult path and overcome the difficulties, because I have confidence in the continuity of your reforms. “I,” Mr. Baker continued, “will tell President Bush about the extraordinary welcome I received in Albania, which my wi- President Ramiz Alia said that we will continue along this path, and we thank you for your commitment to helping Albania. We wish to develop relations with the United States in every field. There is a large Albanian community in the United States, and they will surely help Albania’s development and progress. During this meeting, views were also exchanged on international issues, the situation in Yugoslavia, and that of the Albanians in Kosovo and other areas of Yugoslavia. President Ramiz Alia asked (Continued on page 2)

Along the road from Rinas to Tirana, thousands of residents had turned out in every populated area to welcome and greet the U.S. Secretary of State, James Baker. Thousands of people had gathered at the entrance to Tirana, from Lapraka and along «Kongresi i Përmetit» Street. They held American and Albanian flags, giving the distinguished American guest a warm and highly enthusiastic welcome. Meanwhile, more than 100,000 people—workers from enterprises and institutions, young men and women—had gathered in Skënderbej Square. Against the backdrop of the Palace of Culture, a large poster depicting the Statue of Liberty had been placed, with the words «Wellkom, (Welcome)» written beside it in English. At first, Mr. James Baker visited the Et’hem Beu Mosque. At the entrance to the mosque, he was received by its imam, Kadri Hoxha, as well as by Bajram Mehmetaj of the Bektashi World Headquarters. Also among them was the chancellor of the Albanian Orthodox Archbishopric— (Continued on page 2)

Thank you very much, free people of Tirana and free Albanian people. I thank you very much for the fantastic, wonderful welcome you have given us, which is proof of Albania’s political, economic and spiritual rebirth. On behalf of President Bush and the American people, I have come among you to tell you that “freedom” produces results. At last you are free to say what you wish; at last you are free to affirm what you wish; at last you are free to choose your leaders; and at last you are free to practice your faith. Albania has decided to join the world of other free nations. Albania has decided to take part in building a free and united Europe. Albanians have decided to join free peoples everywhere. I have just returned from the meeting in Berlin, where we achieved many results, but one of the most important was the acceptance of Albania as a full member of the CSCE. Thank you. We made this decision in response to your request and desire to be part of Europe, and today, here, you can affirm that Albania is part of Europe and that Albania will not be left behind as we build a new Europe. Your admission today once again demonstrates your determination to establish the freedom of a nation, the freedom of a people, and the freedom of every individual among you. But, dear friends, I have not come here to give you lessons on freedom and democracy, because you know better than most other peoples how inhumane totalitarian forms of government are. You know how difficult it is to free yourselves from tyranny, and you know better than most other peoples what it means to be cut off from the rest of the world, because for a whole century, dear friends, an Iron Curtain cruelly divided this continent. But now this Iron Curtain is disappearing, just as the dictators responsible for Europe’s division are disappearing. This happened because the peoples of Europe, representatives of political parties, trade unions and others, were present; delegations accredited in our country were also present. (Continued on page 2) (PHOTO: NIKO XHUFKA)

Yesterday, Prime Minister Ylli Bufi received the Secretary of the U.S. Department of State, Xhejms Bejker, at the Prime Minister’s Office. Prime Minister Ylli Bufi, after once again welcoming him, told Secretary of State Xhejms Bejker: “I consider your visit to be support for Albania at this historic moment, and particularly for the stability of the country.” He also thanked Mr. Xhejms Bejker for his contribution and that of the American government to Albania’s admission to the CSCE. For his part, the Secretary of the Department of State, Xhejms Bejker, said: “Never in my life have I seen a reception like the one in Tirana, and I am deeply moved by it.” “I thank you,” he told the Albanian prime minister, “the government and people of Albania for the strength, vitality, and profound feelings they showed in this reception.” The Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Ylli Bufi, spoke about Albania’s transformation from a country with a totalitarian system into a democratic country where human rights are respected, and from a country with a centralized economy into one with a market economy. He added that the government he leads has a duty to put into practice the new political choice of the various political forces, a choice supported by the great democracies, including the United States. “Our most difficult task,” he stressed, “is to overcome (Continued on page 2)

Yesterday afternoon, the secretary of the American Department of State, Mr. Xhejm(s) Bejker, went to the building where the People’s Assembly holds its sessions. Before entering the main chamber, he met with the presidium of the People’s Assembly. During the meeting, the chairman of the Presidium, Kastrot Isla- …mi informed him about the proceedings of this pluralist assembly. Mr. Xhejms Bejker, accompanied by Kastriot Islami, then entered the main chamber of the Assembly, where he was greeted by the deputies present. Department heads, representatives of political parties and trade unions, and others had also been invited. Also present were senior officials and functionaries of the diplomatic corps accredited in our country. Journalists from press organizations, ATSH and Radio Television, as well as foreign journalists, were also present. The Chairman of the Presidium of the Assembly (Continued on page 2)

Chapter of cooperation No one would have thought just a few months ago that such a senior American representative would visit Albania and receive such a warm welcome…

(PHOTO: NIKO XHUFKA)

(Photo: ATSH)

The development of Albania and the entire process of democratizing the country are irreversible, because this is an objective requirement of development.

Dear Mr. Baker, Sisters and brothers of the capital, fellow countrymen who are with me in spirit and heart, gathered here for this special celebration, Dear Mr. Baker, Sisters and brothers of the capital, fellow countrymen who are with me in spirit and heart, gathered here for this special celebration, On your behalf, here before you, I would like first to welcome Mr. and Mrs. Baker to Albania. More than through kind words, this welcome is expressed in our minds and hearts, filled with trust and generosity; in our faces, today illuminated by the light of hope for the future; and in our eyes, filled with Albanian love and nobility for the American people, into whose history your visit brings you. The people’s powerful greeting at this magnificent gathering is a message of friendship, gratitude and respect that this ancient and small people sends, Bush. This manifestation of Albanian generosity and hos-