The logic of the argument is being distorted in the PD p.3

Young people under the heel of the market p.4

Things expected from the PS conference Attacks against the laws and Kadare The creation of a reformed PS is expected For about 50 minutes the Socialist leaders Pellumbi and Dokle spoke about a mixed market economy, implying the creation of cooperative-type companies. Regarding the creation of a reformed PS, which is expected to be dealt with by the Ministry of Justice, Pellumbi explains that it is completely true that it will be approved that day, and moreover that we do not know it to be any of the five. The PS will serve Albania’s future if it comes to power, with “social moderates” who will change many things in the country, creating, according to Dokle, “economic stability and a power effect” completely different from the present one. In response to the question of what they think of Kadare’s statement that “the PS should in no way come to power,” Pellumbi declared that Kadare is not as brilliant in politics as he is in literature and sees things from the “Eiffel Tower.” (continues on p.3)

Visas for Greeks are abolished Greek diplomacy yesterday shortened the list of requirements that Albania must fulfill. Yesterday, President of the Republic Sali Berisha signed a decree abolishing visas for Greek citizens entering Albania. From today, Greek citizens and villagers may cross the Albanian border without a visa. The decree introducing visas for Greek citizens was signed in the summer of 1994, after a tense climate between the two countries, following the April '94 massacre in which a Greek commando entered Albanian territory and killed two Albanian officers and wounded 7 soldiers. Relations between the two countries worsened with the arrest of five Albanian citizens of Greek origin accused of espionage in the summer of '94. After the release of the five Greek spies and the renewed visit of the Greek Archbishop Janullatos, now a few smaller demands still need to be met. Greek schools need to be opened in the cities of Sh- Continues on p.2

The 14-party meeting on the electoral law An important step toward resolving key issues At the table of the 14 parties on 9 January, convened by the Republican Party to review the progress of the electoral law, Mr. Godo, opening the meeting, said that in the absence of the law and of clearly defined campaign rules, we are in an atmosphere of suspicion and uncertainty. Mr. Godo proposed discussing the main issues summarized in 7 points: 1. To request that Parliament examine the law by 25 January, in line with the two statements issued by the 13 parties. 2. Acceptance of the 4% threshold is a positive step. The acceptance of the majority-proportional ratio under the existing law should be confirmed. 3. By 31 January, the 15-day election period should be announced. 4. It should be declared whether the local elections will be held separately and the time frame for holding them should be announced. 5. Electoral districts should be announced if changes are to be made because of demographic shifts. 6. Parties and the Commission should discuss, within the People’s Assembly, television airtime for parties fielding candidates in one quarter of the districts, without leaving out the smaller parties. 7. Equal financing across districts, with confirmation of the collection of 400 signatures. An advance in March. Mr. Godo’s proposal was welcomed by those present. Each person expressed the view of the party he represented, also making some suggestions. After a two-hour discussion, Mr. Godo presented a draft declaration. Most participants were ready to sign the declaration, but on Mr. Laco’s proposal it was decided that the parties should first review the declaration in their leadership bodies and submit any comments within three days. The Democratic Party, represented by Messrs. Shehu and Dostim, initially declared that it had not yet examined the electoral law from its own standpoint, something it would do soon, taking into account the demands of the 13 parties as well. The 9 January round table was an important and successful step because it brought up for resolution the key issues that concern the parties, both regarding the electoral law and the campaign. It is expected that within three days the parties will sign the declaration, setting the next meeting for 25 January. But it is unlikely that the Democratic Party will put its signature to it. In his statements, Mr. Tritan Shehu conveyed the Democratic Party’s good will to test dialogue and the demands of other political forces, but if, in the drafting of the law, any imposition emerges, especially concerning the majority-proportional ratio, then the conflict between the PD and the other political forces will be open.

The Central Electoral Commission of PRSH is created For the organization and direction of the 1996 election campaigns, the Steering Committee of P.R.SH., at its meeting of 16 January 1996, after discussing the material presented by the Chairman of P.R.SH., Mr. Sabri Godo, decided: To establish the Central Electoral Commission of P.R.SH., composed of: 1) Sabri Godo ........ Chairman 2) Fatmir Mediu ...... Vice-chairman 3) Çerçiz Mingomataj, Vice- 4) Arian Madhi ........ Member 5) Ismail Male.......... 6) Neritan Alibali 7) Gjoek Beci 8) Lutfi Dervishi 9) Maksim Begeja The decision to create this Commission came as a concrete implementation of the decision of the Party’s National Council at the end of December last year. At this meeting, the concrete duties and the organization of the work of the Commission as a whole and of each member in particular were also defined, not only through the division of work areas with the relevant groups, but also through the technical and tactical preparation of the campaign, the organization of propaganda, the administration of political and economic resources, etc. “However,” says the member of the Party Steering Committee and head of the electoral sector Arian Madhi, “this should not be considered as the opening of the campaign by P.R.SH. We are still in the pre-electoral campaign, and one of the Commission’s current tasks is precisely to prepare the Party to enter the ‘campaign’ with dignity.” Republika correspondent

With Abaz Ermenji, the chairman of Balli Kombëtar p.5

Dokle is serious even when he lies At yesterday’s press conference, which the two vice-chairmen of the PS, Pellumbi and Dokle, gave at their headquarters in Tirana, journalists asked for their comment on the incidents that the socialist local authorities of Kuçova and the municipality of Lumas in Berat have provoked to the detriment of PR activities. Irritated by the fact that this question was asked immediately after the “complaint” about (continues on p.3)

After the Kurds, the Egyptians Four Egyptians have been detained by the Albanian border police. They were trying to make their way west through Albania. For the 4 Egyptians, the success of this long journey from Egypt ended with Rinas becoming their bad-luck stop. They were caught with forged documents and taken to Police Station No. 2 in Tirana. In this way, trafficking of clandestine migrants from the Middle East, which intensified extraordinarily at the end of November 1995, especially with the Kurds, is being curbed. The Istanbul-Rinas air route has thus become the cheapest path for this clandestine migration. I.Z