DECLARATION The Democratic Party’s assembly and its National Council, meeting today at the party’s central headquarters, analyzed and assessed with deep concern the country’s economic, political and social crisis and concluded that the only way to save Albania from collapse is to replace the coalition government as soon as possible with a broad-based democratic political stability government that would take responsibility for governing the country until free and general elections by 23 February 1992. One year earlier, the current leaders of PSH[?] organized and successfully carried out a secret coup d’état that set aside not only the previous government headed by Mr. Çarçani, but also the parliament that emerged from the rigged elections of 31 March 1991. The PD supported that action at the time not only as a means of removing the monist government and an illegitimate parliament, but also as an instrument for bringing about the removal of the monist past from political life. A democratic revolution without property destruction or physical victims made it possible for the first time in half a century to have a government at the head of the executive that included figures from the genuine anti-communist and anti-monist opposition. Likewise, by accepting the opposition’s conditions in the coalition agreement, a great hope was created that the communist nomenklatura had been removed from political power and the basic principles of the rule-of-law state restored. But the premises on which the PD based its support for the coalition government were not fulfilled. Instead of free elections being prepared in an atmosphere of calm and security, the country was plunged into the deepest chaos and insecurity. Instead of the revolution of hunger and despair being halted, it grew to such proportions that no one can say what will happen tomorrow. Instead of the state apparatus being purged of those who denied the people’s free will in the past, instead of the main economic and political reforms being implemented that would have enabled Albania’s integration into the market economy, the communist nomenklatura and the structures of dictatorship were legalized, as in no other country of the former East. Finally, instead of the outlines of a true democracy becoming clearer every day, they have faded. The opposition’s right to be an alternative for the country’s future has been massively violated. TVSH has been turned into a controlled propaganda organ. Violations of the law and human rights by the Ministry of Internal Affairs have remained a frightening daily occurrence. By dint of evasions, tactics of the moment and political folly, we have arrived on this last day of 1991 with a shattered economy, empty warehouses, hungry and embittered trade unions, and political and civic organizations that are losing patience and demanding a solution. Otherwise, 1992 may become the year of the unreasonable postponement of elections and, as a result, the year of confrontation among political forces, with unpredictable consequences for the country’s further destiny. Given this situation, we consider the organization of free and general elections by 23 February 1992 to be a historical necessity, a solution that is the only alternative for avoiding catastrophe and giving the country a lawful government with a parliament elected by the free vote of the people. With the highest responsibility for the fate of the country and of democracy, we declare that this can be achieved only by meeting the following prior demands: - 2/3 of the ministers of this government are to be replaced by non-partisan personalities. - A public security council is to be created, with representatives from all political forces, to exercise control over public order. - All employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and SHIK involved in serious violations of human rights are to be suspended from work and prosecuted. - The chairman of the Central Election Commission is to be replaced by a non-partisan personality. - Necessary control over TVSH is to be established by the political forces and the trade unions, and its compromised leaders are to be dismissed. - The chairman of the Court of Cassation, Mr. Zef Brozi, is to be suspended from activity and prosecuted by the justice authorities. - The chairman of the Constitutional Court, Mr. Rustem Gjata, is to be suspended from activity and prosecuted by the justice authorities. - The chairman of the Tirana Court, Mr. Kristaq Berat[?], is to be suspended from activity and prosecuted by the justice authorities. - SHIK’s activity is to be suspended and a parliamentary investigative commission is to be created to verify its activity from 22 March 1991 to 26 December 1991. - The PD instructs the head of its parliamentary group to withdraw its ministers from the government if by 3 January 1992 these demands are not taken into account. - If the situation does not change by 15 January, if the government’s destabilizing activity continues, the PD will begin preparations to organize a general political and social strike. DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ALBANIA Tirana, 14.12.1991