Press conference of the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha Yesterday morning, the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, held a press conference for journalists and representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in our country at the Palace of Congresses. At the opening of the conference, President Berisha said: “First of all, I greet you, and I have come here to reiterate my conviction that yesterday was a very important day in the history of Albanian democracy. Yesterday, for the first time in their history, Albanians were called to a referendum to express their free will, their vote, and their opinions on the draft Constitution. I have considered, and continue to consider, the Constitution one of the major issues facing Albania, the Albanian state, and Albanian democracy. I do not have accurate information to present here. But I want to assure you that, whatever the result, the verdict of the people will be fully respected and that there is an ... , the political forces must establish cooperation, and personally I will always remain deeply committed to Albania having its own Constitution. XHEVDET SHEHU (Voice of America): Mr. President, in your view, during the Referendum campaign, did political conflict between the parties prevail, or did the normal legal reasoning for approving the Constitution prevail? ANSWER: I was deeply involved in this campaign. I do not think I waged a political battle against individuals or parties. I tried with all my strength to help turn the Constitution into a law embraced by Albanians. I do not think that voting against the draft is related only to the draft itself. I do not rule out a flaw in the constitutional principles, but at the same time I do not rule out the influence of many other factors. BRISEIDA MEMA (AFP): What, in your view, are ...

Press conference of the Chairman of the DP, Eduard Selami Yesterday, in one of the rooms of the Palace of Congresses, the DP leader, Mr. Eduard Selami, Secretary General Tritan Shehu, and Deputy Chairman Ali Spahia held a press conference. The focus of the conference was the Referendum held to approve the draft Constitution. “First of all, I would like to express my thoughts,” he said at the beginning of his remarks, “to everyone who contributed to this Referendum campaign and to everyone who supported us, because we considered, and continue to consider, the Referendum an important moment in Albanian democracy, a step forward for democracy in Albania. For us, above all, what matters is the will expressed through the free vote. Therefore, when we put the question to the people in a Referendum, we were not motivated by party interests, but by the still-constant view that Albania needs a Constitution. We will continue our efforts so that Albania has a Constitution as soon as possible, because this is in the interests of developing reform in Albania and of Albania’s integration with the world. We will continue all our work, using all democratic means, so that Albania can have a Constitution as soon as possible. We are open to all objections that serve Albania’s progress, that are ...” Namik Ajazi, “Telenorma”: Mr. Selami, considering the three election campaigns conducted by the DP—the 22 March, 26 July, and this latest one—if the answer is “NO,” where do you see the shortcomings in your work? ANSWER: We think it is entirely normal for the electorate to cast this vote. We undertook a very difficult reform. There was reform in every other former communist country. We have an objective. We still do not think this was a direct vote on the reform; we do not yet know the result, and we think this was about the Referendum. But it should come as no surprise if Albanians, like people in other countries, think the price of reform is too high. There are other alternatives too; that is how democracy works. QUESTION: In an interview with the press, MP Mr. Broka said that President Berisha, the television, and the way this Television presented this election campaign gave us at least a thousand votes. Do you share this view? ANSWER: I do not share this view. I think the campaign was quite fair. The issue does not depend on such things; that is not my impression, because otherwise I would say that their reprisals and their threats of bloodshed helped us just as much. I do not think that is the reason; the reason lies deeper. Hamdi Jupe, newspaper “Zëri i Popullit” QUESTION: A majority “NO” in this vote—do you think it is only ...

RECEPTION AT THE PRESIDENCY Yesterday, President Berisha received a delegation from the Council of Europe, who had come to observe the referendum on the draft Constitution. The delegation consisted of Messrs. Kolumberg, Kehltermans, and Hartland. Yesterday, who had come to observe the referendum on the draft Constitution. The delegation consisted of Messrs. Kolumberg, Kehltermans, and Hartland. “Albania has embarked on a profound political, economic, institutional, and legislative reform and has made significant progress deserving of attention,” President Berisha told the members of the delegation. “We have considered, and continue to consider, the support that the Council of Europe has given and continues to give Albania in implementing this reform, as well as in admitting it as a member of the Council, to be very important.” “On our frequent visits, we have been impressed by the evident results achieved in implementing the reform, for which you are preparing,” Messrs. Kolumberg, Kehltermans, and Hartland said. They stressed that, as before, the Council of Europe would continue to support Albania, confident that it would soon become a member. Noting the consensus reached as a basis, they said they had high hopes of a positive result in this referendum at the Council meeting to be held this Wednesday. Regarding the referendum, President Berisha said that its result was the verdict delivered by the people, and that this verdict must be respected. For his part, he would not stop his efforts to ensure that Albania has its own Constitution as soon as possible, by the most democratic route.

President Berisha received the Minister for Religious Affairs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and adviser to King Fahd, Mr. Abdulla Bin Abdelmohsine Al-Turky. “I wish to express my heartfelt thanks to His Majesty’s government for its great interest in Albania and the valuable assistance it is providing,” President Berisha told the Saudi minister, welcoming him. “We considered the resolution adopted by your government several weeks ago on comprehensive cooperation with Albania to be very important, and we are interested in seeing it put into practice as soon as possible.” For his part, the Saudi minister, thanking him for the warm welcome, said that Albania enjoyed the sympathy of the people of his country and that His Majesty’s government was interested in comprehensive cooperation with Albania. It has already paved the way for this cooperation.

Yesterday afternoon, Prime Minister Aleksander Meksi departed for a visit to Switzerland. A week ago, the Swiss Minister of Economy signed several agreements with our Government in Tirana. Most of the members of the delegation that departed for Switzerland yesterday are from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Meksi considers relations with Switzerland to be very good. Before departing, he said: “Although Switzerland’s assistance is modest in scale compared with that of other European Community countries, it has provided concrete aid and achieved concrete results with Albania. This visit, in terms of general political relations and economic cooperation, aims to strengthen the ties between Albania and Switzerland.” At the meeting with the Swiss minister, they are expected to discuss the current state of political relations and determine how they will develop in the future. Since Switzerland belongs to several international organizations that Albania has not yet joined, Mr. Meksi will ask the Swiss Minister of Foreign Affairs to support us, because Albania needs support, given that it is situated in a troubled region and the Albanian question remains unsettled. The delegation is expected to meet with the Vice President of the Swiss Confederation and the Minister of Economy as well.

Tragic act A PD observer, 35-year-old Mark Gjin Prenga, stabbed to death In the remote area of the commune of Vigu, 45 km from Shkoder, Mark Gjin Prenga, 35, a PD observer, was stabbed to death after leaving the polling station. The incident was confirmed by the police district in Shkoder, sources from the prefecture, and the district branch of the PD. The perpetrators of this crime are two brothers who are fellow villagers of the victim. Sources at the public order police station said that an operational team had immediately gone to the scene to establish the circumstances of the incident and apprehend the perpetrators. ATSH

DATE OF BIRTH: 1956 (PRENGA) He has been involved with the PD since March ’91. Member (Chairman) of the Association of the Politically Persecuted. A prominent activist in the Mnelë Vig area. Participated in all elections held in this area as the PD representative. Politically convicted twice by the communist regime. Committed to the path of democracy. Assigned as an observer in the voting on the Referendum on the Constitution, for the village of Vig. An exemplary parent, courteous and beloved by his friends. The editorial staff of “RD” offers its condolences to his family and expresses its indignation at such heinous crimes. According to our information, there was also a person wounded by firearm in Lushnje, likewise a member of the PD. Meanwhile, there have been incidents in several other areas, which we have not yet been able to confirm. Surely, the Albanian justice system will speak forcefully on all these cases.