42 days have passed since February 25, the day President Alia decreed multiparty elections for the People's Assembly, 38 years after the farce of the last pluralist elections in Albania. Yesterday the curtain fell. The free vote of Albanians, ours and that of our children, sealed the fate of our Albania. The votes were counted. As it appears, the Party of Labour will have the majority in the next parliament, because the rural electorate voted massively for the PPSH. Nevertheless, in many polling stations the candidates of the Democratic Forum, of the Democratic Party of Albania and of Omonia won. This partial victory of the Albanian opposition is also the first victory of the opposition in the history of Albania. It shows at the same time the determination of the most vital part of Albanian society to carry forward democratic processes and to overthrow the dictatorship. We have lost the present, but we have gained Albania's future. Now the question is: Why was the vote like this? Why did such a large part of the Albanian electorate vote in the countryside for the Party of Labour? The vote for it in the countryside should not be considered support for its platform, but rather a vote conditioned by other factors that influenced this electoral behavior. For 45 years in a row the communist dictatorship transformed our country into a gigantic cooperative, with the state as the only master. All peasants have not benefited either from the agrarian non-reforms of recent years, which left land in their use, nor from the cooperative properties. The state has remained master of everything, especially of the land. These factors also influenced their vote. The Party of Labour, as the beys once did, took care to show them that if the opposition came to power, the land they use would be taken away from them. During this campaign it took care to remind peasants every day that the opposition would take their land, livestock and everything else. Threatened in this way, most of the peasantry was forced to vote for the Party of Labour. Of course this does not justify their vote. The entire Albanian people are responsible for their vote, but it is known that for the most backward part of the country, such as the peasantry, this pressure was greater. Unfortunately, there were also other factors that influenced the victory of the PPSH. President Alia addressed the nation every day on television, while the opposition was given very little time. Albanian television and radio were entirely under communist control. This meant that PPSH propaganda was much greater. Above all, administrative power at every level gave very great assistance to the Party of Labour. All this meant that a good part of voters viewed the opposition with suspicion and voted for the PPSH. And if any undecided or frightened voter oriented his vote with preference for the opposition, then the counting commissions came into action. This is how part of the results can be explained, which in different polling stations are often absurd. Nevertheless, the main conclusion is that Albanians won the free vote. Although manipulated and frightened, they voted. This is a great historical victory. However partial it may be, the victory of the opposition is a good beginning for Albanian democracy.

The box that must now be tested is this: how many times have I taken the road? And the city? with sea and brave? jogj? there is to? mountains? q? votes? For three days? we? the first? victory? The PDSH election campaign was an agitation for civility. Our voters understood it. The voters of the PDSH are the most civilized part of the Albanian electorate. But the rest of the electorate? After this prolonged moratorium, jogj? q? of? government? and? neigh? to? feel? near? for? t? g?rd? all? Vote? with? for? ? is? in? government? But? our? popul? is? utterly? h?jt? and? for? free? vote? A? should? it? again? bring out into the street? and? calm? citizens? Our city? won? Despite? pressure? and? fear? free? people? gave? a great? example? This? is? a moral? victory? of? Albania? (Continues on page 4)

The U.S. and several states? VKP for? the holding of free and fair elections? DJEFTA? - On 8 April? The United States have expressed? and? that? the elections in Albania have developed well? In a statement by the Department of State it is said? that the Albanian authorities? must? guarantee? the democratic process? and respect? the free vote? Also? concern? is expressed? about reports? on irregularities? and administrative pressure? against the opposition? The United States value? the high participation? of the Albanian people? in the voting? and underscore? the importance? of a pluralist parliament? for the country's future? (Continues on page 3)

IN SHSHTA? THERE HAVE BEEN INTIMIDATION THAT DUKAN? IN THE MIDDLE OF BOJOTZIES Kës? se? the election? of Shkodra? had? to? stand? during? the demonstrations? and that? the citizens? have been threatened? and prevented? from expressing? their opinion? The news reports? that the American senator? Denis De Konsini? has expressed concern? over the violence? against demonstrators? in Shkodër? and over the efforts? of the authorities? to obstruct the opposition? He called? for the results? to reflect? the free will? of the Albanian people?

We sent? and? for? in? rez? of reception? Tirana? this? letter? writes? that? Italian and Greek TV and radio? are reporting? that the Democratic Party has won in the country's cities? and that this is a success for the opposition? At the headquarters of the Democratic Party? supporters and foreign journalists? who are following developments after the elections? have gathered? In its premises? there is an atmosphere of enthusiasm? and anticipation? for the final results?

Profession Name, father's name, surname BERAT 1. Abdi Hysen Berisha Engineer 2. Ahmet Ahmet Osja Professor 3. Arben Hysen Imami Civil engineer 4. Arben Ismail Trisuli Electrical engineer 5. Bardhyl Hysen Demiraj Doctor 6. Bashkim Ismail Fino Lawyer 7. Bujar Vebi Leskaj Engineer 8. Sali Ram Kelmendi Chemical engineer 9. Sali Ram Berisha Cardiologist 10. Ylli Sali Vejsiu Doctor 11. Zef Shpëtim Brozi Lawyer 12. Ylber Haxhi Dervishi Agronomist (Continues on page 2) Profession Name, father's name, surname TIRANË 1. Sokol Ylli Balla Engineer 2. Jozef Bani Mirakaj Engineer 3. Genc Musa Ruli Engineer 4. Gramoz Pashko Economist 5. Ilir Hysen Alimehmeti Doctor 6. Kastriot Gjin Shehdadi Economist 7. Luan Hasan Bregasi Mechanical engineer 8. Ndrek? Jak? Merizi Teacher

The door of the Democratic Party was never closed to the citizens of Tirana. The electoral headquarters of the Democratic Forum, composed of representatives of the Democratic Party, the Human Rights Forum, the Republican Party and the Association of Politically Persecuted Persons, was ready to provide explanations for any problem that arose during the election campaign. The door of the Democratic Party was not closed either on Saturday after the announcement of the electoral silence, or on Sunday of the elections. Hundreds of people came in and out of these premises until late at night. In the early hours of yesterday evening, with the arrival of the first results that brought victory for the opposition, hundreds of citizens came to the headquarters of the Democratic Party. There was no disturbance, no rupture? planti? nor? anything? of? such? kind? We clarify? that? the person? who? is carrying out? such? activity? acts? in his own name? and does not represent? either? the Democratic Party? or? the electoral headquarters? of the Democratic Forum? RD Correspondent

On Sunday 7 April 22? electoral constituencies? will go? to runoff? Among the better-known candidates? who will face each other again? are also several representatives? of the opposition? and of the PPSH? (Continues on page 2)