Nestor Thereska, Chairperson; Pëllumb Çela, Deputy Chairperson; and Fiqiri Kupe, Secretary President Berisha decreed yesterday the establishment of the Permanent Central Electoral Commission. By decree no. 1579, dated 13 August 1996, “On the Establishment of the Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Albania,” the president also specified the people who would represent each party, in accordance with their request, on this commission. According to the decree, the Permanent Central Electoral Commission will have 17 members. Its leadership (the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and Secretary) is proposed by the Council of Ministers. The Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the Commission’s members are divided equally between the political parties in government (the governing coalition) and the opposition, in accordance with the results of the elections for local government bodies. A special article of this decree provides for changes in the balance among the parties, depending on the results of the local elections and the political position of the respective parties (government or opposition). Also yesterday, by decree no. 1580, dated 13 August 1996, “On the Appointment and on the basis of 19 political forces and the results of the most recent local elections, the President of the Republic appointed the following members to the Commission: 1. For the Democratic Party Ëva Karagozji Hysen Osmani Paskal Xhallufe Arben Xhiku 2. For the Republican Party Shkëlqim Barushi 3. For the Christian Democratic Party Marenglen Gjonaj 4. For the Social Democratic Union Party Behar Gjoka Among the Commission members representing the parties, up to 15 days before election day, the President of the Republic allocated 4 seats on the Central Commission to the Socialist Party, 1 seat to the Social Democratic Party and 1 seat to the Agrarian Party. Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the President of the Republic has asked the opposition parties—the Union for Human Rights Party, the Balli Kombëtar Party, the National Unity Party and the Legality Movement Party—to propose additional candidates for the Central Electoral Commission, since these parties are entitled to have members on this Commission if the Party the Council of Ministers. The Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson must come from university academic circles, while the duties of Secretary are carried out by the head of the Directorate for the Organization of Elections and Referendums in the Secretariat of State for Local Government. The remaining places are filled by three members, one representative for each parliamentary party (government or opposition). 4. For the Social Democratic Party: Behar Gjoka Among the Commission members representing opposition parties, the President of the Republic appointed Jorgji Villaho for the Union for Human Rights Party. In accordance with decree no. 1 579, dated 13 August 1996, which allows political parties to propose members of the Republic’s Central Electoral Commission, by decree no. 1 580, dated 13 August 1996, “On the Appointment he appointed the leadership and members of the permanent electoral commission. Nestor Thereska, Chairperson; Pëllumb Cela, Deputy Chairperson; and Fiqiri Kupe, Secretary. Taking into account the proposals received by the Presidency from the Party of the Union and the Legality Movement, [they are asked] to the Socialist Party, the Social Democratic Party or the Agrarian Party, for one reason or another, do not wish to be represented on the Central Electoral Commission. A.N

Extended meeting of the Steering Committee with the chairpersons of several PR branches in the districts Under the leadership of Deputy Chairperson Fatmir Mediu, the day before yesterday, in the morning, the PR Steering Committee called in the chairpersons of several PR branches in the districts to report. First, the branch chairpersons briefed the meeting on the situation in their districts and on the work carried out so far to select and identify Republican candidates for the 20 October elections. The speakers then expressed concern about the proper conduct of the elections and called for guarantees that the violations observed on 26 May would not be repeated. They also asked to be informed about the changes to be made to the electoral law for local elections, or to the way electoral commissions are established, etc. Deputy Chairperson Mediu provided explanations on all these matters. Among other things, he said that the PR must mobilize fully in order to achieve good results. Any delay works to our detriment, and any idea of assigning the Central Office responsibility for the work and results of the grassroots must be opposed. The meeting decided that, within August, the branches would submit to the Central Office complete lists of candidates for all local government structures. By the end of August, meetings of the district branches’ Steering Committees will be held, attended by delegates from the central office, at which the candidates will be reviewed and ratified and the supporting documentation required by law will be submitted. Today, the meeting of the PR Steering Committee continues with the chairpersons of the other PR branches in the districts.

Thanks to VEFA Holding Company, thousands of admirers attended the concert by the famous group from the USA, LA Bouche. Among those present at the concert were also prominent figures from the country. Photo: Felix Blani

Regarding the article dated 13 August in the newspaper “Poli Qëndres,” Mr. Godode declares: “I have not given any interview to journalist Platon Nesturi. In response to his request by telephone, I told him that I had nothing to say and that I considered my debate with Mr. Mingomataj closed with the interview in “Gazeta Shqiptare”. Everything the journalist writes in the article, including the alleged meeting with Dolli in the USA and other things, consists of interpretations made by him.”

IRI invites parties to the roundtable F. 2