— A message from the most magnificent rally in the history of our capital — 20 March 1992. 3:30 p.m. The magnificent, enthusiastic relay of democracy, which began at the “Qemal Stafa” National Stadium in Tirana a month ago, after lifting five hundred thousand hearts in Korçë, Gjirokastër, Vlorë, Berat, Tropojë, Përmet, Lezhë, Mat, Krujë, Patos, Kavajë, Kukës, Fushë - Arrëz, Shkodër, Dibër, Rrëshen, came back to Tirana. This time to “Skënderbej” Square. You hear many people asking: How many people could have gathered? Some confidently put the figure at 100 thousand, others at 150 thousand. However, in this case, exact numbers are not very important to us. Above all, let us take in the enthusiasm and unwavering confidence of the participants in victory. In Yugoslavia and everywhere, we will never stop fighting to realize our national ideals, for the unification of Albanians. I also want to assure all those who will not vote for us that we will respect them as brothers. Mr. Sali Berisha ended his speech with the calls: LONG LIVE ALBANIA! LONG LIVE DEMOCRACY! LONG LIVE THE ALBANIAN PEOPLE! LONG LIVE EUROPE! After the NATIONAL ANTHEM, Mr. Eduart Selami, Mr. Selaudin Bekteshi, Mr. Azem Hajdari, etc., took the floor. From this magnificent, enthusiastic rally, Tirana sent all of Albania and the world the long-awaited message of the democratic opposition’s victory on 22 March. But only 48 hours separate us from that day. That is extraordinarily little when we consider the 50 years we have endured under the communist dictatorship. Let us all wait for 23 March, when we will flood the squares to celebrate our great historic victory. XHEVAT MUSTAFA …the question: How many people might have gathered? Some confidently put the figure at 100,000, others even at 150,000. Nevertheless, in this case exactness does not matter much to us. Above all, what overwhelms you is the enthusiasm and unshakable confidence of those present in the historic victory of the PD and the opposition over communism. 4 p.m. Now Skanderbeg Square has taken on the appearance of a sea at high tide. When the chairman of the PD, Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha, the PD secretary Eduard Selami, the PD deputy chairmen Azem Hajdari, Arben Imami, Gramoz Pashko, and its other leaders appear on the platform, powerful waves of applause, ovations, banners and flags rise at once. The rally was opened with a short speech by the chairman of the PD’s Tirana branch, Prof. Dr. Ylli Vejsiu. When he announces that Mr. Sali Berisha will address the participants, the people’s enthusiasm reaches its highest point. For almost a year and a half, his name and image have entered deep into the hearts of the overwhelming majority of the people of Tirana, of all Albania, and of hundreds of thousands of Albanians in the diaspora or living abroad. Mr. Berisha began his speech by addressing all those present with the question: I believe we all agree that we should shout, “Happy victory!” The mighty popular chorus answered with the full force of its voices: VICTORY! VICTORY! The Democratic Party—Mr. Berisha continued—comes before you today convinced that it is in complete harmony with your dreams, desires and aspirations. Our motto is: “DEMOCRACY AND PEACE! PEACE AND DEMOCRACY.” On this great day, all of Albania’s eyes are on you, democratic people of Tirana. With your minds, your struggle, your efforts, and those of all Albanians, you are liberating Albania from the communist occupation. The Democratic Party guarantees you human rights, a truly democratic society, the shaking off of class divisions, social peace, unity and brotherhood among people. In your name, I wish to address those who have not yet decided whom to give their vote to: join us, vote for the Democrats. They are not communists; they are Albanians. MAY GOD BLESS THEM! In your name, I give our brothers who live their…

— the long-awaited day. For a long time we have been moving toward this day, sometimes pulling back and sometimes lending one another a hand. For a long time we have worked and fought for this day, sometimes attacking and sometimes retreating. Otherwise, it would not have come. This day has always existed within us, sometimes as a dream and a desire, sometimes as a prayer for the dead and a powerful call. Otherwise, it would not have come. It came precisely because we wanted it so much, because we yearned for it to the point of pain. Otherwise, it would have been a distant day after tomorrow. But it came. It is only a few hours away. It is only until tomorrow. So let us all rejoice together in the long-awaited day of freedom and democracy. Tomorrow — the end of dictatorship. The victory of democracy will mark the end of dictatorship. Dictatorship is always cruel. But now it resembles a wounded tiger. For some time, the dictatorship in Albania has been wounded a little more each day, and so it has become more savage with every passing day. …ser. For the first time, we can decide our future ourselves, without any obligation, without any oppression or inhibitions. For the first time, we will vote for true democracy. The PP always said that we were voting for democracy, for the greatest happiness… …new, marching alongside its sisters in Europe and the world. That is why we are waiting for it impatiently, even though it is very near. It is only as far away as tomorrow. Let us all rejoice together in this day. MEHILL TANUSHI Tomorrow — the long-awaited day. It has become savage precisely because it has suffered mortal wounds, and so it swallows its fury within itself. Tomorrow it will perish as a tiger can perish, but it will not die, because it has people who have souls, and if you cut them all off, the same will sprout again. So beware, good people, of this cancerous disease. Do not believe it even when it speaks with an angel’s voice! Tomorrow — victory for democracy. Often the fate of our people depends on someone else, on a meeting, on a decision, but never before on a great popular assembly such as the one that will take place tomorrow. For the first time, we will true democracy. The PP always told us in the world. It tells us the same thing now, having put on the skin of the SP. But it no longer has the power to rouse us. The people have now escaped its clutches. The people now know that a tiger is a tiger even when it speaks with an angel’s voice. So tomorrow will no longer be yesterday. Tomorrow — security for thousands of tomorrows. 22 March will be the most significant day for this people. The day when the fate of thousands of days to come will be sealed. From tomorrow onward, we will be masters of ourselves and of our labor and sweat. From tomorrow onward, Albania will gradually put on its new clothes, day by day, running TANUSHI

Në VOTIME! FLUTURON BARDHËSIA, PAQJA, GEZIMI, BOLLEK'U QETËSIA, LARTËSOHET DINJITETI, VELLazëria, AEROHET LUMTURIA, BASHKIM-ARDHMERIA! NXIJNË TE KULLOT, ANKTHI, GËNDESHTRA, KAPOSI, PABESIA, MASHTRIMI, PERÇARJA, HAJDUTËRIA PA MBI E SHOKE GJITHUSHI I BRAKTIS ZVARITENQESHARAK KRONIKE PS P.S NANO MILO SHI HË! HORTI [firmë karikaturisti e palexueshme]

The DP calls for the elimination of subsidies in the economy. The SP calls for keeping them, that is, for an economy in ruins. The DP calls for the complete liberalization of the economy. The SP calls for state control of the economy, a precondition for a dictatorship of a new kind, because in a centrally directed economy, those in charge live well. The DP calls for the return of homes to their owners. The SP-PP does not mention this at all in its program because it considers them its own property. The DP calls for, and undertakes, repayment of the debt. The SP-PP, which created this debt, does not mention it at all, as if the people owed it. The DP seeks to build a free-market economy. The SP seeks to build (destroy) a market economy with a social dimension, Chinese-style. The DP seeks to build what Europe has built today. The SP seeks to build what no one has built to this day. Experiment after experiment. Let us vote for what we can see and touch, for Europe. Let us set aside utopian communist-socialist dreams.

The Democratic Party calls on all its members and supporters to intensify their electoral activities over these remaining three days in every village, every home, every neighborhood and every city. It asks its branches, sections and parliamentary candidates to take comprehensive measures for strict and rigorous monitoring of polling stations on election day. They must multiply this monitoring by sending their observers to every polling station. They must remain at the polling stations without leaving until voting and the counting of votes have been completed. PD activists must also stay around the polling stations to prevent any breach of electoral regularity. Members of the polling-station commissions and observers are to receive a signed and stamped copy of the minutes recording the voting results. Documents containing the voting results must be accompanied along the way by PD activists or people appointed by them. Likewise, the PD calls on all young men and women, and everyone who has not obtained an identity card or passport, to insist on obtaining, in the absence of these documents, a birth certificate issued by the civil-status offices and to vote with it. We call on young men serving in the military, if they lack a military booklet or identity card, to insist with their commands that they be issued a certificate with a photograph. Every citizen should also check whether their name has been entered on the voter lists. We must not forget that every failure to vote is a vote for the Socialists; it is a loss for democracy. In such cases there is no room for hesitation. Everyone must fight for as decisive a victory as possible and reduce the PS results as much as possible. The PD also urges its activists and supporters to take urgent measures to light the polling stations, since the social-communists will surely use their machinations and manipulations to create darkness while the votes are being counted. They should be equipped with candles and lanterns, or other means, so that the lighting is adequate. The Democratic Party denounces the lies spread by the Socialists among Albanian refugees, through their people in our embassies, claiming that if the opposition wins and democracy is established in Albania, the host countries will send them back to Albania. The PD assures you that the election results and the victory of democracy will have no negative effect whatsoever on their emigrant status. The PD calls on all Albanian intellectuals, who during these three decisive days for Albania must embark on a good, balanced, calm and honest electoral campaign, to explain once again to the Albanian people the importance of the March 22 vote, which will be a vote for democracy. The PD calls on its members and supporters to await the March 22 result calmly and joyfully; it will be a victory. The PD will recognize the election result and will do everything possible, regardless of any kind of manipulation or any kind of trap intended to disrupt the political climate. PROF. DR. SALI BERISHA CHAIRMAN OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY Tirana, 19.3.1992.