1.
GV: Albanian leader Enver Hoxha along road in crowd. (2 SHOTS)
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2.
SV & TOP SHOT: Hosha and crowd under tree.
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3.
GV: Newsmen in national costume chanting.
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4.
CU: Hoxha.
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5.
GV PAN: Crowds.
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6.
GV & CU: Hoxha walking through town meeting villagers. (7 SHOTS)
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Initials JS/0020



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Albania's leader, Mr. Enver Hoxha, has spoken of closer ties with Greece. He hinted at this during a tour of rural areas in Albania.

SYNOPSIS: Mr. Hoxha ??? one of the political veterans of the Communist world, made an extended visit to several of Albania's rural areas. In the village of the Gjirokaster district in the far south, he praised the region's Greek settlers. Gjirokaster is near the Greek border, and the district has a large Greek minority. Speaking about relations between the two countries, Mr. Hoxha said they had shared a common enemy, the Turks earlier this century, and had shed blood together on the battlefield. Albania was under Turkish rule for more than four hundred years until it declared its independence in 1912. Mr. Hoxha's remarks of friendship toward Greece follow the cooling of relations between Albani and China, which were formerly close allies. For more than a year, Albania has been pursuing a policy of self-reliance, outside both the Soviet and Chinese power blocs. Mr. Hoxha said Greece favoured improved relations with Albania, and he approved of this. He said the two countries were neighbours, and the Greek people knew they suffer no harm from closer ties with Albania.