PR, ready for the battle of October 20 The Republican Party is putting the final touches to its candidates to send them to Mezin’s Commission. Deputy chairman Mediu confirmed yesterday that the PR’s proposals for mayors were being prepared, to be sent immediately afterward to the Commission for the Verification of Figures. “Preparation of the mayoral candidates is nearly complete,” Mediu said, “and we will send them to the Commission as soon as we have finished.” Yesterday, a heated debate was held at the Tirana branch concerning the candidacy for mayor of the capital, a position that is important for Mezin’s list of candidates. Two days ago, the SP refused to submit its proposals without first learning about the various legal amendments. “We will wait for the electoral law,” Kastriot Islami said, “for the amendment to the anti-genocide law and the Government’s decision on the country’s administrative division for these elections.” According to the Socialists, Mezin’s “ultimatum” to submit 47 candidates promptly had been premeditated. Also, according to an opinion expressed in the press, the chief inspector’s call was prompted by the fact that if the Socialists submit their proposals, if they do not see the matter that way. “We will submit our candidates without waiting for the laws to be amended,” Mediu stated. “We made our proposals at the meeting with the President, where several amendments to various laws were approved by consensus. Now we will see when the law goes to Parliament; there, through our representatives, we will make further comments.” Mediu considers the Socialists’ wish to wait normal, saying that everyone makes their own plans. As for the other demands from the left for guarantees of … we have finished.” Thus, at the Tirana branch, a heated debate was held concerning the candidacy for mayor of the capital; the leading position at this level, and still no final candidate has been chosen. Thus, the Republicans think differently from the Social-… … candidates, fact that if the Socialists submit their proposals, should they be dissatisfied, they will find it difficult to abandon the elections because the opposition would call that action a boycott. But the PR deputy chairman appears

For the first time yesterday, the “kings of internment” admitted that they had done such a thing For five hours straight at the Tirana District Court, four genocidists, including the defendant Agron Tafa, and it is the first time at the District Court and the Court of Appeal that a

Yesterday, the First Albanian Peacekeeping Company set off for Zadar, Croatia, to take part as part of IFOR. Yesterday, the First Albanian Peacekeeping Company set off for Zadar, Croatia, to take part as part of IFOR (International Forces), led by NATO, in implementing the Dayton Agreement in the former Yugoslavia. President Sali Berisha welcomed the first peacekeeping company yesterday morning at a ceremony organized for the occasion at the Army Cultural Center in Tirana. “Such a small military unit has taken on such a great mission,” President Sali Berisha said, addressing the Albanian company unit. The Albanian peacekeeping company, consisting of 83 soldiers and officers, will operate within the German peacekeeping troops, as part of the multinational force (IFOR), led by NATO, in Bosnia, to carry out the “Joint Endeavour” mission. President Berisha told the peacekeepers that the mission they had undertaken was a great symbol of Albania’s efforts for peace and stability and for integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures. “This mission is a great and powerful symbol of the friendly ties that today unite Albania and Germany, the Albanian army and the Bundeswehr,” Berisha said, expressing his gratitude to the German government for the considerable assistance it had provided in training the Albanian peacekeepers. Berisha expressed his conviction that the Albanian company would honourably carry out its assigned duties and demonstrate the finest virtues, qualities and traditions of the Albanian army. President Berisha said that the mission of the Albanian peacekeeping company was also a symbol of friendship between Albania and Croatia, the Albanian nation and the Croatian nation. “Your deployment in Croatia is a deployment to a friendly country and nation,” Berisha told the soldiers. In his address, General Sheme Kosova, Chief of the General Staff of the Albanian army, said that this was the first time in the history of Albania and democracy that Albania had provided assistance for maintaining and establishing peace. “The Albanian army and we are proud that we have managed to become capable of making our contribution to peace in the Balkans,” General Kosova said. Alongside official representatives, the ceremony was attended by Minister of Defence Safet Zhulali, Minister of Foreign Affairs Tritan Shehu, Minister of the Interior Halit Shamata and Minister of Finance Ritvan Bode, among others. The families of the soldiers and officers of the peacekeeping platoon also attended. Continued on p. 4

For five hours straight at the Tirana District Court, four genocidists “handed over” their entire arsenal of internments, which they held in their possession, in response to the accusation of crimes against humanity. genocidists “handed over” their entire arsenal of internments, which they held in their possession, in response to the accusation of crimes against humanity. Yesterday’s hearing was the fifth in this trial. It began with defendant Idajet Beqiri’s explanations of the entire content of the indictment and continued with defendants Sulejman Abazi and Agron Tafa, and defendant Lenka Çuko. Unlike the three trials that have concluded, the defendants in this trial are more objective in their assessment of the charges. “I signed orders for the internment and deportation of Albanian citizens for political revenge. I make no claim as to the truth or accuracy of the number of report-proposals signed by my hand, and the prosecution has accurate information about my signatures, but I emphasize that I made all these report-proposals for internment in full accordance with my duty and position.” This was the essence of defendant Agron Tafa’s explanations, and the Court of Appeal that a person accused of genocide has made such a realistic statement. Although three trials have been held, and about 17 former senior officials have been found guilty, until yesterday no one had admitted to having interned citizens. The defendant Agron Tafa went on to clarify: “I am a victim of the laws of the time, and of the orders and instructions of the government and the Ministry of the Interior of the former dictatorship.” Agron Tafa, former head of the Internal Affairs Branch in several districts of the country, as well as former director and deputy minister of the Interior, concluded his explanations with the words: “I pray to God that innocent people will never again be sentenced.” The exact opposite happened with defendant Idajet Beqiri. “I think that the court, as an organ of Justice, will allow me to perform my duty Continued on p. 3

On September 11, 1996, at 12:00, the chairmen of the PR district branches of Berat, Delvinë, Sarandë, Devoll, Peshkopi, Gramsh, Gjirokastër, Kolonjë, Kuçovë, Librazhd and Mirditë are to report to the Central Headquarters. They are to bring all the documentation, with nothing missing, in accordance with the requirements of the Electoral Department. The Executive Board