It seems that Albania's road to Europe is long and full of obstacles. This was seen once again during the meetings that the Albanian President, Sali Berisha, held today at the headquarters of the European Union with the President of the European Commission, Jacques Santer, and the European Union Commissioner responsible for relations with Eastern European countries, Hans van den Broek, meetings that were preceded by a protocol visit the Albanian President paid to NATO headquarters in Brussels, where he met the Secretary-General of this organization, Willy Claes. Berisha Claes Santer If in the coming elections the Socialist Party comes to power, will the European Union's attitude toward Albania change? “For us it is important that the elections be free and democratic. We will respect the will of the Albanian people.” Thus declared on behalf of the European Commission Mr. Lecter, spokesman for this Commission. read on page 3

Mr. Kostas Skandalidis - Secretary of the PASOK Central Committee Dear friend, On behalf of the General Executive Committee of the Socialist Party of Albania, I would like to convey my best wishes on your election as Secretary of the PASOK Central Committee. On this occasion I express my confidence in the continued further cooperation of our two parties, also for the strengthening of relations between our two countries and stability in the region. Yours sincerely, Servet Pellumbi Deputy Chairman of the Socialist Party of Albania

PS Deputy Chairman Ilir Meta met yesterday, at their request, with the chargé d'affaires of the British Embassy in Belgrade, Mr. Ivor Roberts, after his recent visit to Kosovo, and with the chargé d'affaires of the British Embassy in Tirana, Mr. David Slinn. During the meeting, views were exchanged on the latest developments in the Balkan region and especially on the problem of the Albanians living in their ancestral lands in the former Yugoslavia, especially the problem of Kosovo. The diplomats from Great Britain expressed the concern of the British government over finding a fair solution to the Kosovo problem. An expression of this concern is also the intensification of the activity of British diplomacy for a fair solution to this problem. PS Deputy Chairman Ilir Meta informed the British diplomats about the PSSH's vision for solving the Kosovo issue. He emphasized the idea that the Kosovo issue needs to be placed on the agenda of efforts to resolve the Yugoslav crisis, that without resolving it, peace in the former Yugoslavia and in the Balkans will be at risk, that in solving the Kosovo issue one must bear in mind that the Albanians are in their own lands and have had political and educational institutions and, through democratic and peaceful means, have expressed their political will. Mr. Ilir Meta stressed that the Kosovo issue cannot in any way be reduced to a matter of implementing fundamental freedoms and human rights. The Socialist Party has defended and continues to defend the idea that the solution to the Kosovo issue must take into account the political will of the Albanians, the principle of self-determination, the principle of not forcibly changing borders, and the course of European democratic developments. Also present at the meeting was a member of the PS KPD, Dr. Vasillaq Kureta. Spokesman of the Socialist Party

"The Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation" is signed and military and economic agreements read on page 3

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