"Any objections to the electoral law? That is normal," says the PD leader, Shehu, unfazed by the opposition's harsh criticism. "The far left has opposed all the laws presented in parliament," Shehu said yesterday at the press conference. "Imami's calls to boycott the elections are pointless. Even if the Alliance enters them or does not enter them, it is doomed. And Gjinushi, now that he is covered by the genocide law, wants to condemn the whole party." Such was the defense by the Secretary General at yesterday's press conference, attended by journalists, many of Shehu's supporters, and even ministers. Shehu responded to the accusations made by opposition politicians in the press by also referring to European experiences.

Dr. Çerçiz Mingomataj General Secretary of PRSH Dr. Çerçiz Mingomataj General Secretary of PRSH It has only been a few days since the Republican Party put its shortened program into circulation. It is no coincidence that this fundamental document of the Republicans presents its alternatives to the people and clearly expresses how they would lead the country if the electorate entrusted them with such a major responsibility. The revised Republican program, developed according to the exact criteria of conservatives, shows the political maturity of the party, demonstrates the timely vision of Europe, and sends the Albanian electorate a clear message that PRSH is aware of the responsibility it is prepared to assume for the state or its segments and to provide adequate solutions. The pillars of this program are those that the Republicans have laid before the electorate throughout their existence: the national question, the free market economy and the individual's free private initiative, which gives him personality and prosperity, the complex problems of property ownership and how these would be resolved in the created chaos; the necessity of a functioning rule-of-law state in which people genuinely feel equal before the law, but not equal in ownership; the Republican vision of the vital need for political pluralism at this stage of the country's democratic development and its stance that is strict and unwavering toward corruption, organized prostitution, kidnapping, serious diseases and other things that are appearing in Albania and seriously endangering the nation and its future. There is no doubt that the modern conservatism set out by the Republican Party cannot speak warmly to all Albanians at this moment, but a little reasoning away from coldness and without partisan priorities would shake even the skeptical "magic," because the world developed and continues to develop toward its peaks through conservative viewpoints which, in the end, preserve the vitality of the nation, its secure future and the tendency Continued on p.4

p.6

p.5

Mr. Godo takes part in the PR branch meeting On 25 January 1996, Mr. Sabri Godo took part in the meeting of the PR branch steering committee in Elbasan. The chairman of this branch, Mr. Arben Burburia, reported on the work carried out during 1995 and on the tasks set for 1996. Among other things, he said that 80% of last year's work plan had been implemented. In 10 of the 12 municipalities in the Elbasan district, the subordinate branches are functioning regularly. In 1995, the party's activity extended to almost 112 villages of Elbasan, in 85 of which republican sections operate. Mr. Burburia then reported on the preparations being made for the election campaign. The branch's electoral commission and working groups in each municipality have been set up. After this, members of the branch steering committee spoke about various problems with a view to improving the party's work. Elbasan is one of the most important centers in the country, therefore we must attach special importance to it, - said Mr. Sabri Godo at the beginning of his speech. We must work- Continued on p.3

Things happen only once He had it fixed in his head that death was something that could be experienced several times. In fact, for some time he had believed in this fixation that death is not something final. He had also shared this idea with many acquaintances. But he was not satisfied with merely forming the idea; he experimented on his own body, He locked himself inside the house, took a concrete grape-pick style implement that had a pointed iron tip 40 cm long, and, after aiming the iron point at his throat, drove it in hard. There his breath ended and he was injured so badly that he was skeletal, but he was unable to tell it ... The घटना occurred in the village of Urakë in Mat, yesterday morning, when the 20-year-old D. H. ended his life in this way. The law-enforcement authorities have fully confirmed that we are dealing with a suicide in order to test a dangerous fixation that cost him his life P.Masha

Pay attention to the names of forums and associations In the mass media, the names of associations such as “Kuvendi i Intelektualëve Shqiptarë”, “Këshilli i Intelektualëve”, “Forumi Kombëtar i Intelektualëve Shqiptarë për Gjenocidin” etc. are used from time to time, confusing these names with that of the “Forum of Albanian Intellectuals” (FISH), founded in 1992. We ask the mass media to use the names of each association accurately when describing their activities. Chairman Prof. Dr. Pandeli Cina

Greece At our two border points of Kapshtica and Kakavija, 400 migrants returned yesterday, bringing the number of those returned over the last three days to 1,500. Along with these 1,500 migrants, two dead people were also returned who, according to the accompanying documents, are listed as having died of natural causes. But the new thing about the return of Albanian migrants is that this time they were caught by the Greek police special forces that began work in recent days. The special forces, trained for six months in the border strip with Albania, earn for every migrant caught at the border Continued on p.3

EVERYONE TO THE POLLS ALL THE VOTES ... FOR ME Bumçi EVERYONE TO THE POLLS ALL THE VOTES ... FOR ME

All branches are informed that the meetings scheduled in the PR executive committee[?] are canceled until further notice