Melo: OK to cooperation with the DP Melo and Shehu: “The path begun on 22 March must continue” Interparty meeting Page 2

The red front, the spies’ front Of the 265 candidates submitted by the Socialist Party to the Verification Commission, sources within the SP say that 35 of them have been rejected as spies or former senior officials of the communist regime. The list of those excluded reaches the party’s upper ranks, starting with its Secretary General Gramoz Ruçi, deputy secretary Zabit Brokaj, party vice-chairman Servet Pëllumbi, party propaganda chief Kastriot Islami, MPs Ndre Legisi, Bashkim Koçi, Moikom Zeqo, the party lawyer Spartak Braho, and others. In other words, the list of 35 accounts for 40 percent of the party leadership or its officials in other SP bodies. Page 3

Poli Q at a press conference Page 3

President Berisha received the deputy chairman of the German PSD parliamentary group . All German political forces support you. President Berisha met briefly with the deputy chairman of the German PSD parliamentary group, Gynter Ferhogen (Günther Verheugen). President Berisha expressed his gratitude for the comprehensive assistance and valuable support of the government, parliament and ... starting from an extremely difficult situation. The democracy you are developing is vibrant and active, and therefore you have our full support for your integration into European structures. All German political forces support Albania’s efforts to build and consolidate the rule-of-law state and market economy, as well as its integration into Europe. He gave particular thanks for the support of the German Social Democratic Party, the Ebert Foundation, and the two German Social Democratic MPs Rojshenbah (Reuschenbach) and Pfuhl. Regarding the upcoming elections, President Berisha declared that representatives of any European political force could come to observe them. The elections will be completely fair and free. He assured that the anti-genocide law is not partisan in character and that the deadlines set by law are more than sufficient for verifying every candidacy and registering a candidate for the elections. Mr. Ferhojgen said that the Germans respect you for everything you have achieved in an extraordinarily short time, developing is vibrant and active, and structures. All German political forces support you and favor comprehensive cooperation with Albania, making it one of the priorities of German policy. Regarding the genocide law, he said that this is an internal matter and it is not for us to intervene. I cannot express any principled objection to it. President Berisha and Mr. Ferhojgen were in complete agreement about the need for, and ways of, reforming the Albanian socialists. Regarding Kosovo, President Berisha and Mr. Ferhojgen both supported making Serbia’s integration conditional on guaranteeing the human and national rights of Albanians in Kosovo. This is a condition not only for resolving the Kosovo issue, which must be achieved through negotiations between Prishtina and Belgrade in the presence of a third party, but also for avoiding conflict and preserving stability in the Balkans.

Yesterday at the Central Electoral Commission Page 3

The Socialist Party and Marx, inseparable “Marx is more relevant than ever today in Albania,” socialist philosophers affirm on the eve of the elections— —“Marx more relevant than ever today in Albania,” socialist philosophers affirm on the eve of the elections— Page 3

Press conference by the EC ambassador in Tirana, Mr. Elio Germano Page 2

. Each of those rejected by the Commission for the Verification of Political Figures also had the option of not appearing before this commission. They cannot be believed to have forgotten their histories of spying on their friends or others, and to have believed that the Commission would allow each of them to continue their disreputable careers. Each had a mirror in which to see themselves, and everyone also had a choice: to leave politics voluntarily, rather than face an examination more difficult than any other—the examination of morality. They had the opportunity, at least for the last time, to bring up from the depths of their conscience, or even their subconscious, the possibility of forgiving themselves instead of facing public shame. Anyone among them who aspired to a political career ought to have had enough respect for politics—or, if that was not the reason, to find another way to go before God with one less sin. They cannot have forgotten their victims. They are remembered. Their insistence on once again imposing the presence of the criminal on their victims is characteristic of the most ordinary, most dangerous people in any society. It is utterly incomprehensible that these people should fail to keep even a little track of the time when they attached themselves to politics, and should fail to understand or notice the changes. They do not understand the moral principles of another society, one fundamentally different from the society in whose darkest institutions they once served. Neither the tears shed before the Commission nor the appeal to Christianity can be justified. Both these things experienced by some of those declared to be spies could have been avoided by them. Mixing their personal drama with the functions of the laws that exclude them from politics is an artificial combination. The law, which had been illegal. Its text is publicly known, and some of them have commented on it hundreds of times. Perhaps, instead of commenting on it, they could have turned to another field, found ways not to come up against it, and thus saved themselves even from public disgrace. The Albanian state has consistently sought to protect people’s moral integrity. It seeks to preserve everyone’s dignity. But a dignified people cannot be protected by politicians who trample on the people’s dignity. There is a deep divide between them. The cleansing of politics is one of the most essential elements in ensuring a country’s secure continuity. Those on the lists of shame have done more than they are accused of, since they have forced the state to say so. Albania does not have as much time to waste as these people on the lists demand of it. Albania gave them time to decide, but even at the last moment they did not respect the people and the country. Nor did they respect their profession; they besmirched it until the legal obligation forced them to leave it publicly. The misfortune is that their number was not small. In the two parties examined so far, a good part of the party leaderships are involved in crime. If one looks at the place they occupy on the political spectrum, as well as their recent legal coordination, one concludes that a political tragedy is being prepared for the country. Albania does not deserve to be led by spies and criminals. It has suffered enough under dictatorship and now needs prosperity. It has endured thousands of hardships and deserves the respect of its people, its politicians, and its leaders.

. Bastard sons within the SP: this list of candidates disqualified under the anti-genocide law has been circulating; we are publishing it in full. 1.Kristaq Tumani (S) 2.Marko Dhamo (S) 3.Gjeto Cutaj (S) 4.Xhevdet Alibali (S) 5.Murat Kaci (S) 6.Rexhep Kerciku (S) 7.Shahin Cela (S) 8.Mefail Bilea (S) 9.Zyhdi Pepa (former M) 10.Mehmet Loci (S) 17.Ylli Bufi (former-M) 18.Shkelqim Cani(former M) 19.Ndre Legisi (S) 20.Fatmir Kumbaro (S) 21.Moikom Zeqo(S) 22.Gramoz Ruçi (S.former M) 23.Spartak Poçi (S) 24.Servet Pëllumbi (S) 25.Sabit Brokaj (Former M) 26.Leontjev Çuçi (former M) 27.Kastriot Islami(Former M) 28.Fehmi Xhema (S) 29.Vladimir Metani (S) 30.Leonidha Gjermeni (S) 31.Mexhit Hajdari (S) 32.Bardhyl Konda (S) 33.Baftjar Malo (S) 34.Fehmi Abdiu (S) 35.Spartak Braho (S) Braho (S) KEY: (S)—spy, witness, or official of the Sigurimi (former-M)—former minister of the dictatorship (former-A)—former member of the Central Committee of the PPSH