Notice All PR branches in the districts are informed that, by 20 January 1996, they must bring in subscriptions according to the plan approved at the last meeting of the National Council. Head of Press and Information Neritan Alibali

Berisha lifts visas; Greece fortifies the border P. 5

Twelve “yes” votes have returned to the Republican Party for the declaration on the electoral law. Electoral law: 13 parties sign the joint declaration Once again, the Democratic Party against everyone Twelve “yes” votes have returned to the Republican Party for the declaration on the electoral law. The leaders of the 12 parties, together with the PR, signed the declaration presented by Godo at the round table a few days ago. Only the Democratic Party did not sign. In fact, Tritan Shehu’s missing signature was anticipated as early as the January 9 meeting. There he presented the Democratic Party’s proposals, which differed from the points of the above declaration, such as changing the majority-proportional ratio, unequal financing of parties for the election campaign, and 400 signatures for a candidate. The parties’ joint declaration, as stated in it, seeks to create an atmos- Continued on p. 3

The truth about the Godo-Kalakulla meeting P. 2

At the Civil Registry of Tirana, the most interesting case regarding civil marriage ceremonies has been recorded. Things that do not happen twice Daughter as witness at her parents’ civil marriage ceremony At the Civil Registry of Tirana, the most interesting case regarding civil marriage ceremonies has been recorded. An 18-year-old daughter is serving as a witness to legalize her parents’ marriage. If the couple’s other daughter also turns 18, then the two witnesses will be the parents’ children. The couple has just had their marriage officially registered, although it was actually performed in 1976 and had managed to survive thanks to their move to the city of Shkodër, where they were janissaries and no one asked to see the documents for the ceremony. This time as well, the couple would have escaped the formal registration, but the new voter-registration process organized by Tirana’s municipal authorities upset the peace the spouses had settled into over the years. To avoid the fine, which for them means a large sum, Zh. Krriti and Ndricim Lekadheu went through the ceremony, a full 19 years after their wedding day, setting a record and becoming the first such rare case in Albania. The head of the Tirana Municipal Registry Office, Abdyl Xhaja, says he has put the crown on about 70,000 civil ceremonies over 30 years of work. Ma. Be.

Abortions in Albania over the last five years P. 4

On 11 January 1996, Prime Minister Bujar Bukoshi received Sabri Godo, chairman of the Republican Party and current chairman of the Albanian Right League, at the Representation of the Republic of Kosovo in Tirana. GODO meets BUKOSHI On 11 January 1996, Prime Minister Bujar Bukoshi received Sabri Godo, chairman of the Republican Party and current chairman of the Albanian Right League, at the Representation of the Republic of Kosovo in Tirana. At this meeting, among other things, they discussed current developments concerning Kosovo. It was concluded that the Albanians wherever they may be must engage in much more intensive activity in defense of the nation and, in particular, for a just solution to the Kosovo issue. For his part, Mr. Godo stated: The Republican Party and the Albanian Right League once again confirm their statements that under no circumstances will they give up their demand for the full independence of Kosovo and its right to self-determination. Accepting nominal autonomy under Serbian domination, in any form whatsoever, would leave Kosovo in a colonial condition, contrary to the principles of the European and international charters. Statements about autonomy undermine the Serbo-Montenegrin cause, according to the 1974 constitution, and lead to the denial of the sacred aspirations for freedom and independence of the Kosovars, as well as to the destruction of their efforts toward self-government, embodied in the referendum and the elections from which the Parliament of Kosovo, the President and the Government emerged. We are not against talks between Pristina and Belgrade in the presence of a third party, but the basis of those talks must be the modalities for granting independence to Kosovo, a right already won by all the other peoples of the former Yugoslavia. Diplomatic pressure must be faced. The alleged scenarios for independence are outdated and unfounded. The right of peoples to independence is part of the historical logic of every era. Depriving the Kosovars—who make up 90% of the population on their own land—of this right for reasons of expediency is anti-national and unacceptable. We support the activity of the Government of Kosovo in all states that are willing to do so. We wish this declaration by the LDSH and the Republican Party to be made known to President Rugova, the political forces, and public opinion in Kosovo. Prime Minister Bukoshi on this occasion welcomed the stance and views of the Republican Party and the LDSH, considering them well-founded and highly important for the current moment. Prime Minister Bukoshi and Mr. Godo spoke in a fraternal atmosphere of understanding and also about other developments in Albania and in the nation as a whole. The Republican Party and the Albanian Right League firmly maintain their statements that under no circumstances will they give up their demand for the full independence of Kosovo and its right to self-determination. Republika correspondent