How do you assess today’s meeting with the President? - The upcoming elections are a major issue. The President is right to meet with the political parties to examine the various aspects of this process. - What was your position regarding the proposal for cooperation among the forces of the democratic wing? - I stated clearly from the outset that the Republican Party would make no alliance or agreement with any other entities outside the Right-Wing League. This was our position throughout the entire discussion. - One point in the statement says that the signatory parties will cooperate with their partners, the entities of the Right-Wing League. The others may cooperate among themselves according to their mutual interests. - What were your other objections? - First, the absence of the Association of Former Political Persecutees. The President explained that this association does not comply with its own statute and the legal framework. In my reply, I said that I disagreed with such a conclusion and that the association is entirely legal. • The Republican Party will cooperate with its cooperate among themselves according to their mutual interests. • The spirit of the statement speaks of respecting free elections • Our response was that a coalition can be discussed only after the elections and that, beforehand, we can declare only one thing: under no circumstances will we enter a coalition with the Socialists. We also disagreed with several other proposals to broaden cooperation, which we refused to include in the statement. - Do you think anything has changed in the position of the Republican Party and the Right-Wing League? - Absolutely nothing. Our position has been clearly defined, especially at our second Congress: our main opponent is the Socialist Party, while we are openly in opposition to the Democratic Party, both in its program and in practice. This is fully consistent with the fundamental declaration of the Right-Wing League as well. - The television coverage gives the impression that the 1992 alliance may be repeating itself on a broader scale? - It was made clear at the very start of the meeting that no grouping of forces was being formed. Had that not been the case, we would not have continued the discussion. I repeat, in the strongest terms, that the Republican Party will not make any kind of agreement outside the Right-Wing League. No television manipulation can change this position. and of the democratic-wing political forces coming together to turn back the danger of the Socialists returning to power. This is consistent with the Republican Party’s strategy and the interests of the Nation. - The invitation to various associations and trade unions to attend the meeting gives the impression that the aim was to create a front… - We did not even know who would be attending the meeting. The invitation we received from the Presidency said that the President was inviting us to discuss possible ways and forms of cooperation during and after the election campaign among forces interested in the victory and consolidation of democracy in Albania. One could not fail to respond positively to such an invitation. - Was cooperation after the campaign discussed? - Yes. with the Socialists.

We, the representatives of twelve parties from across the political spectrum, from the right to the centre-left, of two independent trade unions and seven national associations and organizations, welcome this initiative. Conscious of the responsibility that each of us and the forces we represent bear for consolidating democracy and securing its future in Albania; convinced that the upcoming elections will determine not only the fate of the reforms launched after the overthrow of the communist dictatorship, but also Albania’s place in Western Europe and its integration into Euro-Atlantic structures; determined to move Albania forward from the pace of the past and to counter the dangers that the red front poses to the values of democracy as a whole and, in particular, to Albania’s Western orientation, we declare that: We will coordinate our forces and efforts to conduct a worthy, cultured electoral campaign, to ensure free and fair elections, and to encourage the widest possible voter participation, so as to secure a decisive victory for the democratic forces in the May 26 elections and prevent the repetition of Eastern-style scenarios in Albania, historically a Western country. - The possibility remains open of establishing regional cooperation on the basis of mutual interest. - In runoffs, none of these forces will support the red front. Our cooperation for democracy in no way compromises the individuality and independence of the forces we represent, but aims to ensure that each of them assumes greater responsibility for the future of democracy and Albania. Signatures of the meeting participants follow. Interviewed by: L. Dervishi

On April 12, Mr. Godo held a well-attended meeting in the commune of Manza in Durrës. Mr. Godo said that the meeting could also be considered the beginning of the Republican Party’s election campaign. During this campaign, you will hear from those who greet you with a raised fist, the symbol of the dictatorship of the proletariat, as well as those who greet you with two fingers, which means victory. I too greet you with my hand on my heart, inviting you to a calm discussion on a very important matter: Soon we will elect parliament and the government. We must think carefully about how to put in place a government that serves the people and does not become a yoke around their necks. To prevent that, under our circumstances, no party should win a majority and, above all, the way must be opened for the Republican Party and the Right-Wing League to enter Parliament in substantial numbers. Mr. Godo spoke about the very serious threat to the Nation posed by a return of the Socialists to power, explained the points of the Republican Party’s opposition to the Democratic Party, and spent longer discussing the party’s program for the economic development of the country and of the countryside as a whole. Mr. Godo then answered questions from those attending.

Because of a power outage, the entire printing works was unable yesterday afternoon to print the newspaper during the final hours of the night and in sufficient quantity. We apologize to readers for this possible error. This issue is being reprinted as an emergency measure so that it can reach the printing works at an acceptable time.