— Meetings of Mr. Sabri Godo — These days, the Chairman of the Albanian Republican Party, Mr. Sabri Godo, took part in meetings of the branch councils in the districts of Berat, Skrapar and Kuçovë. At these meetings he sought to learn how these branches were working to prepare the ground for the forthcoming local elections, present the ARP’s electoral platform, and select the most honest, capable and hardworking candidates for local government. Despite the difficult conditions facing these branches, the lack of resources and the failure of transport services, good work has been done to present to the electorate the choices the Republican Party offers for the normal functioning of local government. Especially in Berat, alongside the reorganization of the Republican Party branch, following that period of apathy and ineffectiveness, it was proposed that we vote for the Socialist Party. This would be a new catastrophe that could befall the country. The ARP Chairman, Mr. SABRI GODO, also emphasized the great importance of polling committees and the care that branch steering committee members must take in appointing capable and conscientious people to these committees. If around 140,000 votes were invalid in the first elections, this concerns not only the election results, but also the disservice done to our voters. Therefore, care must be taken not to repeat the mistakes that were observed. At these meetings, the members of the Kuçovë steering committee rightly openly criticized the ARP Chairman for not being closer to them and for not helping consolidate this ARP branch. At the meeting with Skrapar Republicans, Mr. GODO also noted and remarked that every opportunity exists for the ARP branch here to broaden its reach, not to be inferior to other political forces, and to fight the passivity evident in the work of the steering committee. Skrapar’s Republicans must understand that the future belongs to republicanism, and that Skrapar is a place with a long-standing democratic republican inclination. Mr. SABRI GODO went on to say that we are going into the July 26 elections without an alliance with other parties, but we will support the association «Property Restitution with Justice», the association of jurists and the association of the five political sequestrated, and we will discuss support for political groupings that share our ideas on particular issues. Mr. GODO explained to those present that the ARP supports small and medium-sized property owners as well as the large property owners of the future, but this does not necessarily mean that we are a party representing a particular class. Through our program, we will fight for every Albanian to be an owner. The ARP has its own clear program, distinct from the program of every other party, and will fight without compromise against anything that harms democracy. At these meetings, the ARP Chairman also addressed other issues connected with economic reform, the removal of the 80-percent [measure] and price liberalization, unemployment and the lack of public order, etc., and set out the ARP’s position on these issues. Correspondent of «Republika»

THE ARP IN THE LOCAL ELECTIONS The elections for local government bodies, following the elections for central government bodies, are THE SECOND GREAT OCCASION on which our people will directly express their decision and determination concerning the country’s fate and the path it has embarked upon; whether or not to continue along it; the pace of departure from the tragic past; the depth and breadth of that departure; and the projects they most favor for building the future. The votes of July 26 will be an important indicator of the maturity of the political forces and the voters themselves in this test of history. The maturity shown in the March 22 elections is now being tested to determine whether it was a conscious decision based on deep convictions to break away from communism, and not one prompted by communism, nor driven by [—]. The local government elections RETAIN the dimension of the central government elections: communism (socialism), with communism as their foundation, or democracy and European society as the norm and foundation. THE MARCH 22 ELECTIONS WILL LOSE THEIR MEANING as a break with communism if the Socialists, thrown out through the door (central government), are given the chance to come in through the window (local government). CREATING THE OPPORTUNITY TO SET LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGAINST CENTRAL GOVERNMENT IS THE SP’S MAIN GOAL IN THESE ELECTIONS. The local government elections, sharing with the March 22 elections an anticommunist dimension ... now test to break away from communism, and not a light-minded impulse in the style of «let’s give it a try without communism», as those who lost power portray it. The people are not an impulsive youngster, driven by a thirst for adventures and experiments in the style of «let’s try it and see what happens»; therefore, their decision was not a historical accident (coincidence), but a historic decision to leave socialism and change the social system. THE POSSIBILITY OF SETTING LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGAINST CENTRAL GOVERNMENT IS THE PS’S MAIN OBJECTIVE IN THESE ELECTIONS. Local government elections, while sharing with the March 22 elections an anti-communist dimension, DIFFER FROM THEM IN THE IMPORTANCE ATTACHED TO THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE OF THE ALTERNATIVE they consider most suitable for fulfilling their aspirations for a more prosperous life, well-being and freedom—something that was not very important in the March 22 elections, when the decisive factor was the plebiscitary breakaway (and spe- (Continued on page 4)

— AFTER THIS INCIDENT, HE WOULD NEVER EVEN THINK OF RETURNING TO ALBANIA TO INVEST — That morning an Italian friend of mine lost his passport and, for this reason, had to go to his airport to sort out the problem. The Italian Embassy, for obtaining [unclear] quickly in accordance with the agreements, sent a representative to the police. That is exactly how the attempts to file the report began. It was Mr. Giovannino Marco. At 9:30 my friend reported to the Tirana Police Directorate, where he was told he had to go to Police Station No. 1 (behind the Ministry of Foreign Affairs). At 10:00 we reported to Station No. 1, explaining that the plane to Italy was leaving at 11:00 and that Mr. Marco was alarmed because his [relative?] had been in an accident. The police considered the matter (Nesti and his colleagues) and reacted to this fact, but in reality they continued with their usual bureaucratic routine and its Marxist-Leninist ways. At 10:20 a policeman appeared, took down the particulars and information about the incident, and then was nowhere to be seen. When we kept returning, at 10:50 we were told to go to the Directorate, where they told us we had to go back again. At 11:00 the duty officer put him in front of Mr. Marco, and we had to clarify the passport signature, etc. A police chief wrote something again, presenting us with ... At 11:45 Mr. Giovannico was informed that the next plane was leaving at 12:30. We went to the Ministry of Health to type up a report, and only at 12:30 did the chief agree to sign it. But that was not the end of it, because we were told to go to the Directorate to have it stamped, where once again we noticed that something was wrong. It is clear to me that during all our moving around, the Directorate and Station “1” did not communicate by telephone about the problem. Everything had to start all over again. At this point one of the group members, who is a European parliamentarian, asked to speak urgently with the Ministry of Public Order, and within 30 seconds everything was ready. The Italian Embassy immediately completed the documentation. At 16:30 Mr. Giovannico took the next flight, which had been booked for him, because his brother had died at 17:45. After this incident, it would not even occur to him to return to Albania to invest. I am sure Europe is no longer foolish, and as long as such things happen in Albania, orchestrated at other levels, this country will remain a country of the Fourth World.

For the third time before the ballot boxes A time comes when the alternatives clash more than ever, when, amid the mass media, everyone presents the convictions of themselves and of the political grouping to which they belong in their own way. When they clash honestly, the political struggle too is honest; when they go beyond the bounds of honesty, they are merely balloons, released to confuse and obscure what appears as clear as daylight. Ever since it was announced as an alternative for development, the Republican Party has sought—and continues to seek—clean and calm solutions. It calls for and supports a democratic state through other party. In this election campaign too, the Republican Party has defined its own clear and distinctive character, expressed in its electoral platform and in the party’s entire activity, from the center to the grassroots. Recognizing the importance of these elections and the complex situation in which they are taking place, Republicans feel that it is not yet time to respond, nor to wait. Today it has become clear, and is being confirmed, what the ARP has long declared: under the conditions of the unresolved crisis we are experiencing, rule by a single party, state administrative monopolies and the absence of a round table do not lead to democracy. On the contrary, they damage its image. If this was misunderstood and misinterpreted in the general elections, whether because of a lack of proper democratic culture or because it seemed that communism and its [unclear] could be fought even by voting for a single party, everyone now understands that only a pluralist reality can set Albania on the road to Europe. At the same time, it must be understood that the road is long and by no means easy. This is also why the ARP and its members have not promised, and do not promise, things—only what we can do. If the Republicans, who will fight for broader participation in local government, secure it, this means they will govern without excluding others from cooperation and without accepting a monopoly over the new political life. In any case, the republican alternative, with the honesty and wisdom the country needs, represents a real opportunity for the country’s development, today and in the future. It is open to everyone and, moreover, is the only one that ... B. SEJDARASI local. Despite the difficult conditions faced by these branches, the lack of resources and the non-functioning transport system, good work has been done to present voters with the solutions PR offers for the normal functioning of local government. In Berat in particular, alongside the reorganization of the PR branch, following the period of apathy and ineffectiveness that had been observed, the steering committee was fully committed to giving PR a clear profile in this district. Mr. SABRI GODO, speaking at this meeting, praised the good work done so far and asked the steering committee to review once again the lists of candidates to be put forward for local government, so that honest and capable people would be chosen to lead the work in communes, municipalities and beyond. Meanwhile, people must get to know the PR candidates, and the steering committee must work toward this. The PR chairman said that, as a party, we insist on our belief that only pluralist government at the center and at the grassroots will be able to lead the country out of the inevitable crisis. True democracy cannot be understood without true pluralism. We do not believe in a monopoly over the state administration; rather, as true republicans, we will do what a reasonable person does when faced with a crossroads: we will cooperate with everyone to solve the country’s pressing problems. Of course, we must not turn back and

THE JULY 26 ELECTIONS ARE APPROACHING! THE DECISIVE ROLE IN LEADING THE COUNTRY OUT OF THE CRISIS WILL BE PLAYED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WHICH WILL BE ELECTED BY YOUR SECRET BALLOT. VOTER! — IN ASKING FOR YOUR VOTE, WE REMIND YOU THAT REPUBLICAN LEADERS AT THE CENTER AND AT THE GRASSROOTS HAVE ALREADY PROVED THEMSELVES TO BE HONEST PEOPLE WHO WILL NOT TOLERATE CORRUPTION, BRIBERY, NEPOTISM OR DECEPTION.

A PRISON FULL OF INMATES, THE DICTATORSHIP’S SHAME HAVE HEAVY SENTENCES AND AS HONORED PEOPLE WHO WILL NOT TOLERATE CORRUP- TION, BRIBERY, NEPO- TISM OR DECEPTION.

Article 52 The application to register candidates for local councils, commune mayors and municipal mayors shall be submitted to the relevant election commission no later than 15 days before election day. Article 53 Candidates for commune or municipal mayor shall be registered on the basis of the following documents: a) a written application from the relevant electoral subject to register the candidate, containing the candidate’s first name, father’s name, surname and place of residence, and the place of residence (2 copies). b) the candidate’s declaration accepting the nomination (2 copies) c) the candidate’s declaration concerning the assets of their family. Article 54 Candidates for membership of commune, municipal and district councils a) The list of candidates submitted by the electoral subjects and signed by their chairpersons; this list must also contain the other information specified in Article 53 of this law. b) the candidate’s declaration accepting the nomination. Joint lists submitted by two electoral subjects must be signed jointly by their leaders. (Continued on page 4)