GODO speaks after returning from the Council of Europe “The CoE resolution places an obligation on the Albanian Parliament and Government to address the problems here attentively.” The chairman of the Republican Party, Sabri Godo, returned with this impression yesterday afternoon from Strasbourg. “I believe that the Council of Europe treated the issue of the elections in Albania with the seriousness it deserved,” Godo said immediately after returning from the European capital, “and, as those with experience of the CoE say, this was the first time something like this had happened at the CoE. The fact that the discussion about Albania was unprecedented at the Council of Europe should make us think carefully and examine the problems thoroughly, because we have thus been put to the test. If we show goodwill in correcting our mistakes,” the PR chairman stressed, “then the spirit of cooperation with Europe will return. Otherwise, our relations with it would be called into question.” What do you think about the parties’ round table, you who know a thing or two about round tables? “I think dialogue can take place at the table or through debates in Parliament. But this time it is up to the DP and the President of the Republic to organize the round table and not remain confined to calls for dialogue. The issue now is for all the parties to show their goodwill in organizing dialogue, and we have a responsibility in this.” It seems the Council of Europe accepted the Republican Party’s formula. How do you see this? “I find it quite positive. We in a On page 2

The aim was to show the electorate that the CoE resolution was in their favor Yesterday afternoon, at the sports field in the “Ali Demi” neighborhood, around 1,050 activists from the PS and several other parties, mainly left-wing, held a rally to protest the violations committed on May 26, but also to show their electorate that the Council of Europe resolution on the elections in Albania was in their favor. At a long panel where, besides well-known PS figures such as Servet Pëllumbi and Gramoz Ruçi, were Preç Zogaj of the PAD, Skënder Gjinushi of the PSD, Namik Hoti of the PE, and Lufter Xhuveli of the PA, the Socialists called for the political parties’ round table to begin today. Also, amid a song sung by a group of activists, “Enough of captivity, oh wretched Albania,” Servet Pëllumbi took the floor and accused the DP of stealing the votes on May 26. Pëllumbi said that the PS and the left-wing opposition had left the elections five hours before they ended and therefore could not know whom the people really wanted. He also called for dialogue with the Albanian authorities. “We want dialogue because Europe has also called for it in its messages.” It seems the Socialists have now understood that dialogue is the mechanism of democracy. At the rally, the Socialist activists chanted many slogans against the government and President Sali Berisha. All the rally participants, most of whom were elderly, repeated the demand, “Don’t go to Parliament.” Some of them confirmed that they were making this demand because they had heard that the Eurosocialists would go to Parliament. Skënder Gjinushi and Preç Zogaj also spoke at the rally on behalf of their parties and confirmed that they were allies of the PS. “Six years ago I was with the DP, and so was PAD leader Zogaj, but times have changed. Now I am with the PS.” After an hour, the Socialists and activists from the other parties left peacefully. B. Malo. “REPUBLIKA” office, “Sami Frashëri” Street, near “Petro Nini Luarasi” High School, Tirana, Account No. BTK 986 /110 Tel/Fax 259 88

The Socialists boycott the invitation of the

boycott the president’s invitation p. 2 The first graduate journalists are coming p. 6 FOGST IS PREPARING FOR THE WORST p. 8