Message from President Scalfaro to President Berisha You have worked to strengthen the friendship and cooperation between our two countries and peoples Message from President Scalfaro to President Berisha Italy will continue to support Albania You have worked to strengthen the friendship and cooperation between our two countries and peoples The President of the Italian Republic, Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, sent a message to President Berisha in which, among other things, he writes: “Once again, we have been able to see that the bonds of friendship between our two countries are deep and numerous, and that they foster cooperation in every field, in support of peace, progress, and the consolidation of the values of democracy, which should unite all the peoples of Europe and the Mediterranean. I am pleased and confident that the friendship between Italy and Albania will continue to grow richer with new impetus. I assure you that Italy will continue to support Albania in its process of consolidating democratic institutions and economic and social development, as well as on its path toward full integration into the great European family. As recognition of the tireless work you have carried out to strengthen friendship and cooperation between our two countries and peoples, I am pleased to award you the Grand Cordon of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, the highest honor provided for heads of state, our friends.”

“When I saw the SP candidates, I became convinced that the DP would win all 19 of Tirana’s constituencies” The head of the Tirana DP, Mr. Albert Brojka, is confident of victories in the capital. confident of victories in the capital. “I am convinced that all 19 DP candidates for the capital will win,” Brojka also declared, recalling that the capital’s residents have always been strong supporters of the DP, as in the parliamentary elections of 31 March 1991, in which Alia lost to an intellectual unknown in politics, Franko Kroqi. The same was true in the elections of 22 March 1992, in the local government elections, and most recently in the constitutional referendum. “It is not only the victories achieved in the capital over these five years, but also all the surveys conducted by Eurobarometer, the American Republican Institute, etc., that show you the DP is far ahead of the SP in Tirana,” Brojka said; in his view, all these facts together confirm the reality that the DP will win throughout the capital. Seven Professors of Science, four assistants, proficient in 40 foreign languages, will be the DP’s protagonists in the 26 May elections in the capital; they will face only the SP’s twelve candidates and Polit Q’s enigmatic “kusun.” “We have the most distinguished candidates,” Brojka stressed—people with clean records and reputations, whom the people have appreciated and love, and for whom they will vote. The candidates put forward by the DP for the capital have expertise in the fields of economics, medicine, agriculture, science, energy, the arts, sport, etc., and many years’ experience in their fields. Knowing the democrats’ dominant strength in the capital, the SP has put forward only twelve candidates, while the other constituencies remain enigmatic; four of these constituencies have been offered to Polit Q. Three of these vacant constituencies are within the city, and one covers the villages of Prezë, Vorë, and Kashar. “The SP is confident of its victory in the capital,” Brojka emphasized—therefore, it has offered these constituencies to Polit O. one includes the villages of Prezë, Vorë, and Kasharrit. “The SP is sure of its defeat in the capital,” Brojka emphasized, “so it has offered constituencies to its allies.” According to Brojka, the DP’s victory in these constituencies is certain, since the party’s candidates are inevitably tainted by this party’s past.” The head of the Tirana DP, Brojka, had stated in the press a few days earlier that the DP had secured at least 16 candidates in the capital. “But,” he emphasized, the DP would win all 19 of Tirana’s constituencies.” BLEDI KASMI

Today the Democratic Party’s election campaign opens “Tomorrow is born today”—this will be the motto of the grand celebration marking the opening of the Party’s election campaign on 27 April. The best-known Albanian artists, along with artists from the USA, France, England, Kosovo, and Macedonia, will take part in the show organized by the Democratic Party at the National Stadium in Tirana. “With us, everyone wins,” so all those who look toward the future will come together on Saturday, 27 April, at 6:00 p.m. at the National Stadium in Tirana.

Letter from President Berisha addressed to Prof. Romano Prodi The President of the Republic has sent a letter to Prof. Romano Prodi congratulating him on his victory in the recent elections. Among other things, he writes: “I wish to assure you of my determination that we work together to consolidate cooperation and friendship between our two countries and peoples.” President Berisha also wished Prof. Prodi success in forming his government and expressed his desire to welcome him to Albania soon.

- The routine response of the secretaries of - D’Alema’s secretaries’ routine response to Ruci is based on Scalfaro’s high honor for Berisha Page 3

Dozens of archaeological objects and millions in funds disappeared from the Archaeological Institute when Ceka was its director Page 3

Forced to give up the area The city of Elbasan does not want Neritan Ceka. The neighborhoods where he had put forward his candidacy protested against his being chosen in their neighborhood. Thus, the PAD leader was forced to withdraw his candidacy in the Kala neighborhood of Elbasan and move it somewhere else. His opponent from the DP was Engjell Dakli, who would undoubtedly sink Ceka. But that was not the only reason. It is the same electorate that refused to speak with Ceka five years ago, when he legalized his act of collaboration with Ramiz Alia. They threw him out of the hall where the meeting was to be held, calling him a communist. For the second time, Ceka is experiencing loneliness in Namazgja. Some time ago, the PAD leader revived his old alliance with the former communist President. He has joined the Red Front together with the social democrats and the socialists. This has once again reminded the people of Elbasan that they are facing a communist, only now a little older and more ruthless than five years ago. The above-mentioned area had been abandoned by the socialists, while the area he has now chosen is full of them. It is said that he has asked the socialists to give up the area for him again. Although Ceka meets the requirements to run for the socialists, it is believed they will not do him a favor twice. The Red Front is once again at odds.

“One thousand lek today so we can give you back 20 times as much after May 26” Page 3

- The “bodyguards” of the SP leaders roam around armed with knives - Those who spread terror with their crimes on city streets in ’91 now stand behind the SP leaders The SP is showing its true face once again in the campaign that has just begun. Packs of long-haired thugs follow the socialist leader, who has come out to show Albanians what their future will be if the SP wins. According to information obtained, according to sources, “RD” reports that the armed “bodyguards” of the socialist leaders are the very same crowd who, in ’91, took over the streets of Albania’s cities, spreading terror through crimes committed in broad daylight. According to this information as well, they roam around Albania armed with cold weapons. It is easy to understand what such gangs might be used for. And what kind of “campaign” the SP’s longhairs might wage is also something that needs no further comment. The SP leaders are the ones who have been shouting themselves hoarse about the supposed tension in the situation caused by those in power, but now the public[?] has become familiar only with their historic cravings for blood and settling scores after May 26. Their strategy is the same one they have followed for 50 years: pressure and threats. Instead of being prepared to offer people alternatives for the future, the SP leaders hope to get votes by intimidating the electorate. The mafia-style methods of collecting money are also part of the SP’s strategy. “Give money to the SP or else, after May 26...” This is how the socialists are trying to win. But the SP leaders must understand that the law applies to the criminals they keep at their backs without waiting for either May 26 or August 26. Albanians will not allow the country to fall once again into the hands of gangs of thugs, as in ’91, and May 26 will mark precisely this determination of the Albanians. There is no longer room in Albania either for ordinary criminals or for political criminals. EDI PALOKA

The ideological distance from election day is a field entirely dominated by the Democratic Party. It has clearly defined its parameters and demonstrated the elements that will establish it as the leader of Albania. Despite the political sabotage being directed at the Albanian state by the socialist camp, the Democratic Party is on the path to victory. The classification, as it was originally made, is a classification of Albania as a country with European parameters and a guarantee of greater prosperity, as well as economic alignment with its Western neighbors. Two days ago, one of the Democratic Party’s leading representatives, Albert Brojka, announced the DP’s objective for the capital. He declared that the Democratic candidates would win the capital’s nineteen constituencies, thus underscoring the undisputed victory, by a large margin, of the DP candidates. The determination to win the capital and the DP’s conviction that it will achieve such a result are clear indicators that the elements of victory are already entirely in this party’s hands. In addition to the undeniable results of the reform, the Democratic Party has set its milestones as guarantees of a different Albania in the coming years, which will shape the country’s new political map. This means securing Europe’s confidence in Albania as an anti-communist country, determined to integrate fully into the Western world. The Albanian economy is underpinned by a clear strategic program that combats the devastation of a ruined country and is now being implemented in an exhausted country. It has clearly determined that maintaining the pace of development and increasing it in some areas will be a priority; for the next phase of reform, unlike the socialists, whose central aim is to review the reforms already undertaken, without defining anything for the future. The Democratic Party’s candidates have now demonstrated their capabilities by taking part in the country’s reform processes, which will help them bring their knowledge and experience into Albania’s legislative institutions. They not only enjoy the electorate’s confidence but are also able to be there for voters and guide them toward prosperity and well-being. The Democratic Party has also shown great understanding of the electorate. Its aspirations to secure well-being for everyone are matched by its inclusive initiative to make use of the alternatives available to all Albanians, by fielding candidates in all 115 of Albania’s constituencies. Thus, the DP has the moral and political resources to satisfy others too—those who have not yet found their place in the years of reform and transformation of the Albanian economy. The Democratic Party has already anticipated the characteristics of the winning party in the elections. The Democratic Party has chosen victory. It has not held back from allowing everyone to take their place on the team and contribute to its victory, with the contribution of every Albanian who has [—]. The 26 May elections are the choice of giving, and there may still be people who are undecided between East and West. The Democratic Party’s victory came to undecided people. West or East. The Democratic Party’s victory came to undecided people, or, as the book says, to those in doubt: it is a victory for both sides of the Albanian people. A democratic victory is by no means only a victory for those who are on the other side of the ladder as such. Albanians weary of life, victory, and entering the next rung as such.