MESSAGE OF CONGRATULATIONS FROM PRESIDENT CLINTON TO THE ALBANIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY President Clinton sends a message of congratulations to the Albanian-American community on the occasion of the 85th anniversary of Albania’s independence, in which it is stated that, throughout the very difficult years of Albania’s communist isolation, Albanian-Americans contributed to keeping the struggle for freedom alive and to preserving strong ties between our nations. Since 1991, the United States has worked vigorously to consolidate Albania’s fragile democracy and market economy. America remains committed to helping Albania on its path toward joining the family of democratic countries. America is closely connected with Albania in the former Yugoslavia and, particularly in Kosovo, they are still fighting for their rights. The United States supports the human rights of all peoples and is working to help the Albanians of Kosovo win the rights they deserve. The United States is committed to reconciliation, community and homeland, and helps toward a better future for us all, the letter from President Clinton says.

Berisha insults Vlora again. Yes, he did that too. On Flag Day, when they are all proud of having made this country. . Yes, he did that too. On Flag Day, when they are all proud of having made this country. Berisha once again expressed his unquenchable anger toward the people of Vlora, with all the measures of this year, those of June, which finally toppled him from power. He said he would not go to them. He said they had desecrated Flag Square with the Serbian tricolour. He said they were loyal to Enver because they celebrate 29 November as Liberation Day. Nobody knows why Berisha, and Berisha’s [sic], are reminded by history of the Serbs. Nine months ago, in February, he sent 5,000 military personnel and civilians to Vlora to kill the people of Vlora. They could not do it. The people of Vlora, as they have done whenever they were attacked, took them prisoner. To everyone’s amazement, the shocking testimonies filled the press. “The soldiers were at the Prefecture; they did not speak Albanian, they spoke Serbian,” Vlora women testified. That alone should have been enough to stop Berisha from returning to arguments about Serbs. Especially when it comes to Vlora. The southern port city is the cradle of Albanian patriotism. If you want to learn Albania’s history, you must go to Vlora. There are the descendants of those who made the country, the descendants of those who created this independent state. More than anywhere else, Albanian is spoken in Vlora. The Albanian who was President cannot bring himself to change his mind, change his behavior, and apologize to these people of Vlora. After a headline in a newspaper yesterday morning, every normal person expected Berisha to go to Vlora and offer a full apology. But he did not. He took the easy way out: he cursed, cursed, cursed. But whom? Those who gild the pride of the Lab people. Those before whom, in sorrow and in joy, an entire Albania has bowed. Nevertheless, Berisha had to behave this way, so that he would be remembered in the collective memory of Albanians as the consistent symbol of this country’s division. That is why he was absent from Vlora, absent from Tirana, absent—having excluded himself—from all of Albania. To his own misfortune and shame. So Berisha’s party is far too small to divide this country. Far too small to spoil this country’s joy. Far too small to freeze the smiles of Albanians. So small that it chokes on its own anger.

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THE 85TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PROCLAMATION OF ALBANIA’S INDEPENDENCE IS CELEBRATED WITH GREAT SPLENDOR Page 2 Medioni and Qosja together in Vlora

TODAY, 29 NOVEMBER — 53RD ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIBERATION OF THE HOMELAND Everlasting honor and gratitude to all those who gave their lives in the war for the liberation of the homeland, to all those who placed Albania among the victors in the worldwide anti-fascist coalition Pages 3–4