Europe appeals to the Albanians... I cannot see within communism a genuine chance for pluralism. I cannot consider social democrats and social-democratic parties enemies, but politically, we are in opposition. It is one thing to talk to people about social democrats, and another to talk about communist ideas to people who support the communist idea, who, I think, cannot build a pluralist future, a truly pluralist country.

The Socialists begin to lose in Durrës Namik Dokle: - If Europe doesn’t want us once, we don’t want it twice - We cannot condemn the past. It cannot be changed A socialist deputy: - I agree with Berisha on the genocide law. This law can cleanse the Socialist Party of spies Page 3

Interview with the Chairman of the PDSH, Prof. Dr. Tritan Shehu A new victory for the Democratic Party, a new mandate to govern, will ensure a certain victory for the democratic forces, for those forces that support the genuine development of democracy in Albania and oppose the return of former communism to power. May 26 will be a day that will once again affirm the will of the Albanians to continue the reforms, to ... -Mr. Dokle has historically been someone distinguished by negativity, tending to deny anything positive and attack anything good that does not serve the PS’s diabolical policy of returning to power. Dokle’s statement is not at all concerning because, however the commission had been formed, Dokle and his party would have found a reason to be dissatisfied. But with these complaints they are doing nothing other than justifying the defeat they will suffer in the May 26 elections. With this statement, Dokle or the PS leadership is seeking to condition public opinion with such things, which are not at all realistic. The composition of the commission is entirely normal, in accordance with the requirements of the law, with all political forces represented on the central commission in proportion to their positions. No one is denied the right to be present in accordance with the law at this ... - On Wednesday, President Sali Berisha announced May 26 as the date of the elections. He also announced the Central Election Commission. What is your comment? - It is a decree issued within the proper timeframe, setting a date that is consistent with the conditions for holding the elections and ensures broad participation by the population. All the stages are being observed, such as the announcement of the Central Election Commission and the division of electoral districts. All of this is within the legal deadlines. So we are proceeding normally through the pre-campaign stages toward election day. This course ensures calm for a peaceful election campaign and fair elections. What is your conviction about the result of the May 26 elections? - May 26 will secure the path toward the development of the market economy and integration into Europe. This is clear because the Democratic Party has fulfilled the promises it made in its March 22 election platform. We have a very optimistic alternative that ensures the continuation of the process of ensuring reforms, so we are entering the election with confidence. The support we received from European and Albanian political forces was also demonstrated at the PD National Assembly, which took place a few days ago. They guarantee our victory in the May 26 elections. - In a statement in Thursday’s “ZP,” Namik Dokle claims that the list for the Central Election Commission was manipulated; he says that a ratio of 8 commission members from the PD and 9 from the opposition parties is unfair. How do you comment on this statement? ... will be a day that will once again establish [part cut off]. It is entirely normal and within the requirements of the law, under which all political forces are represented on the Central Commission according to their position. No one is ever denied the right to be represented on this commission in accordance with the law. But Mr. Dokle is deliberately getting his sums wrong. He counts the state representatives, or the state side, which the law provides for, as representatives of the Democratic Party. This is where he is mistaken. In this way, Dokle is making another attempt to confuse public opinion, create tensions, and increase social tensions on the eve of the elections. This is a familiar strategy and tactic of the Socialist Party. It all stems from their tradition as a party of extremism, tension, crime and violence; they cannot break away from this strategy. Thus, the unrest over the electoral districts and the Central Election Commission serves this purpose as well. Interviewed by: MENTOR SHEHU

From the Austrian News Agency and the leading Austrian newspaper “Die Presse” Berisha, a guarantee of further democratic progress. The Democratic Party has been admitted as a full member of the European Democratic Union at the meeting of the Union of Christian Democratic and Conservative Parties in Paris. Alois Mok also clearly addressed Ibrahim Rugova, the Leader of the Albanians of Kosovo, who was present at the congress, during his speech. He expressed his hope that conflict would not break out in the tense province of Kosovo. Parliamentary elections will be held in Albania between May 26 and June 2. In the first elections in Albania, in 1992, the Democrats won an absolute majority. The current elections will not produce such a result, but the Democrats are nevertheless expected to win a majority. A coalition with the Republicans would be possible if they pass the four-percent threshold. Austria’s former Foreign Minister and Chairman of the European Democratic Union, Alois Mok, has highly praised political and economic progress in Albania. At the opening of the Democratic Party Congress in Tirana, he expressed his conviction that Communism would not return in Albania. Alois Mok described the Democratic Party of President Sali

Similar forecasts in both countries Forecasts for the results of the general elections to be held in Albania and the Czech Republic are quite similar to one another. In the Czech Republic, according to a poll by the state Institute for Public Opinion Research (IVVM), the number of Czechs who consider themselves politically “right-wing” stands at 43% (according to Reuters). In Albania, the Democratic Party has the support of 41 percent of respondents, according to a poll conducted in December by the American organization “Public Opinion Strategies.” There has been a similar percentage of people who consider themselves left-wing in the two countries for six months. In the Czech Republic, the percentage of those who consider themselves “left-wing” has remained unchanged, at 17%, compared with 18% in April last year. In Albania, according to the American poll, the Socialists have the support of only 19 percent of respondents. General elections in the Czech Republic are scheduled for May 31–June 1, while in Albania they will be held on May 26. L.KARADAKU

The state commission for verifying the backgrounds of politicians yesterday handed the relevant decisions to PAD representatives concerning the list of 35 candidates that this party had submitted to the commission for verification on March 27. But what happened after the decisions were announced regarding the “virginity” of these self-proclaimed, thoroughly liberal-democratic leaders? Some say that one of them, who had long proclaimed himself to be a spy for the former State Security and was known to everyone by his pseudonym “Sfeçia,” was seen crying in the street. (It is not known what motives drove the self-proclaimed spy Preç Zogaj to submit his name to this Commission. Or whether those who ordered him to infiltrate the PD and split it had promised him that they had destroyed his file.) The other emissary of Ramiz Alia and the former State Security, Perikli Teta, also “lost his honor” yesterday. (Indeed, they say that Teta, deeply shaken, was rushed to hospital yesterday and is in intensive care. Apparently his old masters, too, had badly deceived him by promising they would destroy his file.) The young Ridvan Peshkëpia, after carrying out several “valuable” services at the behest of Alia, Ruçi and Nano, shouting not only in the streets but also in Parliament, yesterday demanded, in revenge for his lost honor, that he would activate the guerrilla units initiated by his own commander Ruçi. Quite unlike the group of the aforementioned leaders, the dishonored PAD member qupi, after learning of the certificate attesting to his “virginity,” muttered insults against those who had deceived him by promising they had destroyed his file, and against those who had submitted his name to this commission without asking him. He contented himself with a simple call, without making a fuss. Perhaps he left the fuss to be made by unscrupulous lackeys in the pages of certain newspapers that depend on people with files. There are seven other people from the list of 35 that PAD had submitted for verification who did not show up at all to receive an answer. And the reasons are known... It is reported that after learning about the certificates of their lost honor, the PAD leaders proudly declared that even with these candidates, we have hundreds more whom we will submit to this Commission. So yesterday was the day the PAD leaders lost their honor. ERMAL DIBRA

- On Wednesday, President Sali Berisha announced May 26 as the date of the elections. He also announced the Central Election Commission. What is your comment?

Tomorrow: meeting of the center and right-wing parties Shehu: “We will win the majority, but we will govern in coalitions.” Tomorrow: meeting of the center and right-wing parties “Union for Democracy” moves toward realization Shehu: “We will win the majority, but we will govern in coalitions.” Page 3

Petition by the citizens of Kuçovë against awarding Fatos the title of Honorary Citizen “CIGARJA” and “LUFTETARI” dishonor Kuçovë - Those who held Enverist rallies, nostalgic for “Stalin City,” are trying to rename Kuçovë “Nano City” Page 3 Petition by the citizens of Kuçovë against awarding Fatos the title of Honorary Citizen “CIGARJA” and “LUFTETARI” dishonor Kuçovë The shame remains with the SP - Those who held Enverist rallies, nostalgic for “Stalin City,” are trying to rename Kuçovë “Nano City” Page 3