Page 5 PD announces it will not recognize the election results. Leonard Demi captured in Saranda. The opposition: Berisha will not change his name Elections - Very close, very far Although, in the last hours before the ballot boxes close, party names have begun to circulate here and there, given the rugged Albanian terrain it will be impossible to say in advance who the winner will be. On 29 June, Albanians will cure many of the problems of the last 7 years by putting their seal on a decree issued by Sali Berisha. From some circles it is said that there is a “Mxili[?] scenario”. In an atmosphere still heated, with people becoming victims of revenge, for most parties the vote rests on shaky ground. Observers have been sent because vote-rigging and threats against voters have been documented throughout the country. According to the preliminary report of the observers’ mission, these objections cast doubt on the process. The ongoing climate of fear and insecurity, still unhealed by the collapse of the pyramid schemes, remains a decisive factor. On the other hand, the reactions of various political groups and the presence of armed forces in some areas also make the outcome unclear. Voters should keep in mind what they seek to achieve with their vote. There are at least three possibilities: first, the definitive liberation from the period of Sali Berisha’s rule; second, avoiding a return to violence and arbitrariness; third, finding a path toward stability and reconstruction. Faced with these possibilities, the electorate has the duty to carefully weigh whom it will entrust with the mandate. The climate of civil war has left deep marks on the country. The armed conflict that erupted after the pyramid-fund crisis brought casualties, looting, displacement, and profound economic and moral losses. Against this backdrop, the elections of 29 June are more than a contest between parties; they are a referendum on how Albania will be governed after this collective trauma. If the vote is manipulated, the country risks falling back into crisis. If it is respected, a window of hope may open. Therefore, the battle over counting, transparency, and acceptance of the result will be just as important as election day itself. Socialist rally yesterday afternoon in the capital

Elections - Very close, very far Although, in the last hours before the ballot boxes close, party names have begun to circulate here and there, given the rugged Albanian terrain it will be impossible to say in advance who the winner will be. On 29 June, Albanians will cure many of the problems of the last 7 years by putting their seal on a decree issued by Sali Berisha. From some circles it is said that there is a “Mxili[?] scenario”. To calm the heavily burdened and greatly discredited situation of recent weeks and to guarantee freedom of movement, doubts were raised that the circles which will take part in government will be forced to respect the rules so as not to end up in the caricature of dictatorship. Meanwhile, votes have arrived from those who complain about the injustices of governance. Observers from the Council of Europe have been sent. It is likely that under pressure from the organizers parliament will calm down, will not incite strikes, will not drive things to the “siren” of Mzini[?]. On the other hand, some believe the outcome will be so close that it will leave almost everything pending. This is because documentary statisticians, on the basis of observers’ data, have identified throughout the country a pronounced dependence on the climate of insecurity, given the breakdown of order and the weakening of trust in institutions. Perceptions of the intervention of armed structures in some regions have also been included. These options will also be joined by the issue of the legitimacy of the result. On the other hand, the previous government still weighs on the political climate, and voters find it difficult to cope with the pressure of the campaign. In this context, the elections of 29 June are seen as a decisive moment to get out of the dead end of the crisis. The conflict and its consequences have worn down citizens’ patience. For this reason, election day is expected to mark not only competition among parties, but also a test of the political class’s ability to restore normality. If the process is perceived as manipulated, the risk of destabilization will increase. Conversely, if minimum standards are respected, then the country may begin a new institutional chapter.

“ALBA” report: She suspected I had AIDS The city’s UNESCO prostitute at the highest price Page 8

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TODAY KOHA JONË WITH 24 PAGES Price 30 lekë REUTERS photo