The Americans issue their final warning. The OSCE is mediating contacts with the center

Every people deserves the government it has over its head Today, the propaganda politics of the election campaign is obliged to take a break. The overworked, hoarse throats from which only a few off-key notes emerged are no use for anything; they will no longer echo across the rally grounds, where bodies reeking of sweat and worn down by oppression tried to demonstrate their devotion and the strength of their game before the other players. The rally organizers, professional participants, or rally-goers, the bus and car drivers, and all kinds of bodyguards, guards, spies, and who knows how many types of trades connected with this business will no longer be at work. The employees of Albanian television and radio will also get some rest, as will those of the various newspapers, together with the people who paste up and write slogans and posters. A break. Quiet. Politicians, too, will rest; their wives will make them take another shower with good-smelling shampoo to remove the strong smell of the crowd, and prepare baking-soda gargles to get their throats back in shape, or make them swallow a fresh egg bought from the villagers. Albanians, too, will have some peace: they will not see on screen faces they have come to love to the point of hating, while fearing that the loudspeakers might split from the screaming. Unfortunately, this is like the calm of the ocean before the storm. Some Albanians, and almost all the foreigners here, will have enough work to drown in. They will prepare, order, distribute, take care of, and monitor everything connected with tomorrow. These are thousands of people whose general duty is to ensure that the Albanians still in Albania express their will on behalf of everyone, wherever they may be. Thousands of commissions and tens of thousands of commissioners bear responsibility for this country’s future. No one should bear the stain of shame by failing to use the opportunity they are given; no one should toy with the blood shed for these days, or take on the sin of those who have gone before, against those who will come after. From the last polling-station commissioner to the chairman of the CEC, they must not put their own seal on things as those who had this responsibility in the previous elections did. Besides answering to history, these people must answer to the law, just as one day they will answer before God. Whatever the people’s verdict may be, that is their business. Every people deserves the government it has asked for. Depending on what it chooses, it can go to war or to peace. Peace has many forms. War has only one: killing. If we want peace, we must fight for every vote courageously, without batting an eye, without giving the bandits a single millimeter of ground. If we want war, let us be cowards and let things slide; let us be indifferent and merciful. In these years we have understood who wants war and who wants peace. Those born from the mouths of guns will end up in the mouths of guns. But they take the innocent with them, too. It seems that today the politicians are taking a break, but their fantasies and ambitions are flying, weaving hundreds of plans to seize power. Today they are [balukojnë], removing, gathering, [shumëllojshmëritë]. Today they act according to their predictions, with ominous threats from enemies and resentment, according to their predictions. For them, until Monday there are only numbers of voters casting ballots and hundreds of votes. Nevertheless, the task will be for the politicians, God willing, to begin being politicians less, and for the government not to be far away.

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Lushnja one day after the tragedy. Names of the injured p. 8 Lushnja one day after the tragedy. Names of the injured p. 8

Starting at 15:00 on Saturday, 28.06.1997, and until 8:00 on Monday, 30.06.1997, an uninterrupted information service will be available at the Central Headquarters. 1. Branches are to provide continuous and accurate information about the progress of the elections and any irregularities, while also keeping the relevant documentation. 2. They are to report the results. Telephone numbers: 325-11, 230-90, 250-88