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Koha Jonë

E Dielë 26 Maj 1996

Today is the Albanians’ day: “Protect your votes”

The opposition publicly declares: “Fake elections are being prepared and conflict is possible. But we do not want it” Today is the Albanians’ day: “Protect your votes” The opposition publicly declares: “Fake elections are being prepared and conflict is possible. But we do not want it” - The homeland and stability are in danger. We, the voters, without hesitation and with determination, will vote for the overthrow of Berisha’s new dictatorship by means of the vote of the PS, PSD and PAD. - The uncertainty about tomorrow has divided our opposition figures Asllan Kushi in Prague, Ismail Kadare in Paris, Sabri Godo in Tirana, Sali Nivica [?], Luan Hajdaraga and Edi Ceka. The reason for this is the black pact discussed on Saturday’s broadcast for hours, with the invitation, only a few hours before the development of the arrest [?] hours before the result of the arrested [?] Page 3 How will the Albanians wake up tomorrow Today, 26 May, Albanians all over the world will be at a decisive moment for the fate of their country. This season, to put it briefly, Albanians can vote for their future. So, not only the Albanian voting public, but the whole nation, will be with them with all hopes for a clear orientation of the country. This is a day of reckoning for the government, but at the same time also for the opposition. There are many voices saying that it is possible we may have an appeal of the voting and a second vote not in accordance with the conditions to be held in a fair and calm manner. The problem today and during the day that comes from the opposition and intellectual circles that do not belong to it, is that these elections will be watched with the greatest attention both by Albanians who safeguard the interests of the Homeland and by the international community, which sees before it an intervention in the name of peace and the proper functioning of our country. If a civil war were to happen, this would also be a failure of the Albanian political class. In the event that the vote goes in favor of those forces that bring prosperity in Albania, but also control over a new government, then we may have a calm beyond today’s voting. If not, then it will be the forces that want the overthrow of this regime, which at any cost has kept the country in a dead end. Therefore, this is the moment to show the political maturity of Albanians, wherever they are. Only such awareness can protect the lives of Albanian citizens from the villainy of a regime that is falling. If such is the response of the voters and this victory ends calmly, then future Albania will benefit from everything people expect. If the opposite happens, we can expect indifference to the right of the Albanian opposition and this future victory will push things into another context. For the leaderships of PS, PSD and PAD, as well as for hundreds and hundreds of intellectuals, their victory means the establishment of the rule of law. The success will be theirs too. If violence and the torture of power are used, then these days there will be a historical responsibility for what may happen tomorrow. Because it will happen after a period in which the government, through propaganda and violence, weakened democracy in parliament, and took with it the other political forces in order to make them part of the Albanian people. This decision must be a lesson for all the country’s forces. The opposition calls on Albanians: “Protect your votes”.
Asllan Kushi Ismail Kadare Sabri Godo Luan Hajdaraga Edi Ceka Pragë Paris Tiranë Shqipëri

Last night, a few hours before voting, all the opposition representatives gathered