THE AUSTRIAN PRESIDENT IN TIRANA During a press conference held yesterday in Tirana, Austrian President Thomas Klestil expressed the view that Austria has not considered Albania an unimportant country. “I am convinced that we have a suitable special ministry for undertaking important steps to integrate Albania into Europe,” said the Austrian president. The two countries, he said, need the development of trade and the encouragement of investment. Albania's revenues can be increased through technology transfers, growth in tourism, etc. We publish the full text of the Austrian president's remarks on page 3. During his stay in Tirana, President Thomas Klestil held meetings with the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, the Speaker of Parliament, Pjetër Arbnori, and Prime Minister Aleksandër Meksi. He assessed that relations between Austria and Albania have made positive progress in recent years and that Austria supports Albania's efforts to draw closer to European structures. The press conference also stressed the importance of economic cooperation, Austrian investment and the promotion of exchanges in various fields.

(page four) (read on page four) Talking today about Kaunas or Klaipeda, two well-known cities of Lithuania, is to recall a grave wound of the Holocaust. In Kaunas, in 1941, in less than 12 hours, nearly 1,700 people were massacred. It is difficult to find their graves. In coastal Klaipeda, in a forest plot called “The Black Swamps,” hundreds of corpses were thrown into mass graves. That same day in Kaunas I learned a “secret” that shocked me: it was not only the Germans of Nazism who committed those crimes, but also some of the locals who collaborated with them. It seemed unbelievable and terrible to me. And precisely here begins the reflection on the way peoples confront their past. In Lithuania I saw that history cannot be written according to the wishes of day-to-day politics. There are wounds that remain and that require moral courage to acknowledge. Presidents may give speeches and promise much, but not everywhere can “there be thousands,” Mr President.

- On the occasion of the visit of the Federal President of Austria, Dr. Thomas Klestil ILIR META: Dear friends! Before the arrival of the Federal President of Austria, Dr. Thomas Klestil, in Albania, the old thesis also emerged that the time has come for Albania to take on its share of responsibility for stability in the region. I think this visit disproves many prejudices, because it shows that Albania is a country with real potential for cooperation and understanding. Today, after the major changes in Europe, no country can remain isolated. On the contrary, each country must find its own path to integrate into the continent's new mechanisms. Austria has been and remains an important partner for Albania. We consider this visit an important moment to open better prospects for cooperation between our two countries, both in the economic field and in the political and cultural spheres. The chairman of the parliamentary commission of the PPSH, Ilir Meta, speaking to the media, assessed the importance of this visit and stressed that Albania needs serious partners, investment and stronger support on its path toward Europe. (Continued on page 2)

“We are convinced that the future of a small country like Albania cannot be built outside the processes of European integration. Austria will do everything possible to ensure that Albania's voice is heard and that its legitimate interests are represented with understanding in the relevant forums. Albania has made major efforts to overcome the difficulties of the transition and to build democratic institutions. These efforts deserve appreciation and support. We believe that cooperation between our countries can be expanded in the fields of economy, culture, education, tourism and other important areas.” (Continued on page 2)

LONDON These days, Fatos Nano, Secretary General of the Socialist Party of Albania, made a visit to Great Britain to take part in the meeting of the Socialist International Council. The two met with the staff of the Socialist International, with the Secretary General, Luis Ayala. The Secretary General of the PPSH Ilir Meta, which lasted two and a half hours and...

Privatization of the Market collapses Telephone communication interrupted 218 kilograms of fine drugs seized on the Apulian coast A tragic incident in Tirana Privatization of the Market collapses Telephone communication interrupted 218 kilograms of fine drugs seized on the Apulian coast MUSA KURTULAJ The Korçë Grain Trade Enterprise will be privatized. [...] In the Kukës district, the interruption of telephone lines has created difficulties for communication. [...] The Italian coast guard announced the seizure of 218 kilograms of narcotic substances on the Apulian coast. [...] A tragic incident was recorded in Tirana [...].