Prime Minister Meksi’s speech at a meeting with residents of Tirana The DP fights and commits itself to advancing economic reform in Albania, perfecting the rule of law, integrating more fully into Europe, and serving as a factor for stability and peace in the Balkans Page 3

President of the Republic Sali Berisha meets with residents of the cities of Korçë and Maliq BERISHA: In its forthcoming program, the DP promises Korçë the complete reconstruction of its infrastructure—its roads, water supply systems, and electricity supply. It promises investments, the sugar industry, and other food industries. It promises to turn Korçë into a powerful university center for the southeastern part of the country and to double the number of students at Korçë University. The DP promises the farmers of Korçë and all Albania that their produce will be bought at world prices, and that this year we will raise the grain procurement price by 25 percent, and it will always be higher than the world procurement price for it... MISHEL PERIKARD: There is no reason to go back. Is there any reason to return to the shadows, to the hell you lived in before? You have a great opportunity, because at the head of your state you have a statesman, an undisputed figure in Albania and throughout Europe, President Sali Berisha. With Berisha, Albania can move toward Europe faster and better. On 26 May, Europe will look toward Albania. It must not be disappointed... Their produce will be bought at world prices, and world procurement price for it. We are proud of the farmers of Korçë and all Albania. In four years, they managed to feed Albania as never before in its history. We are grateful to them, guarantee their property rights, and tell them: the future, the victory of democracy. With us, Albania wins. With us, everyone wins. With us, Korçë wins—Berisha concluded. Then Mr. Mishel Perikard greeted those present. “It is a powerful emotion for a Frenchman to be here today,” said the distinguished friend from France. “Many historical and other kinds of ties connect France with this city. I am happy to come here today to ‘Rifolk’, Redon Makashi, Mimoza Selimi, including the young singer from Kosovo, Erzana Berisha, daughter of the well-known singer Agron Berisha. And undoubtedly one of the wonders of this concert was also the pair of dancers Saraçi-Kërtëshi, trained in choreography by Kozeta Bakiu, performing a virtuoso dance on the green field, after a podium performance—a pair that conveyed the message: Everyone dances with us! With us, everyone dances…” In the morning, dozens of cars bearing flags and the blue symbols of the PD had gathered in Pݙtushë, on the border separating Korçë from Pogradec, to welcome President Sali Berisha, as part of a public rally held at midday in the “Skënderbeu” Stadium. Also present at the rally were the Prefect, Pjerin Kiri; the Chairman of the District Council, Vladimir Babo; the Mayor, Gjergji Gjinko; and Messrs. Robert Çeku, Rexhep Bregu, Koço Bode, Kleri Kasimati, Selim Belortaja and Bujar Isak—PD parliamentary candidates in the district of Korçë’s six electoral constituencies, and others. Also present was the chairman of the parliamentary group of the Union for the Republic Party, which is supported by French President Zhak Shirak, Mr. Mishel Perikard. The first to address the gathering was the chairman of the PD branch in the district of Korçë, Bujar Isak, who once again stressed that Korçë and its people, as a city and a people with a Western outlook, would vote for the PD on May 26 and for its platform; they would vote for progress, security and prosperity. The Korçë of their hopes, he said, could be realized only through the PD’s electoral program, through its vision of an Albania worthy of the great European family... Taking the floor at the rally, President Berisha greeted the citizens of Korçë wherever they might be, in Korçë—the cradle of our civilization, the cradle of the symbol of Albanian progress—and urged them to vote blue on May 26, to vote in faith in the future, to vote for what we have accomplished, and to vote for the clear vision of the year 2000. “Let us, with our vote on May 26,” Berisha said, “honor the freedom-loving traditions of the Albanians; on this day of voting, let us honor the roots of our Western civilization; let us honor the titanic struggle of Albanian youth against the harshest dictatorship Europe has known; let us honor our democratic aspirations. Let us vote together for the pace of our prosperity, rapid economic growth, jobs for the unemployed, security of property, the education of Albanian youth, the dignity of the individual, and Albania’s integration into Europe. With us, everyone wins. With us, Korçë wins; with us, Albania wins... “I say to those who want to consolidate the freedoms they have won: vote for the PD, because it not only overthrew the dictatorship but, four years later, has proved in history’s great test that it is the party of freedoms, the party of human rights, the party of the free spirit, the party of free enterprise... To those who want their property guaranteed, and to those who want to become property owners,” Berisha continued, “I invite you to vote for the PD, because it is the party of private property. Over these four years, the PD has provided for more than 800,000 Albanian families in the villages and cities of Albania. It guarantees that all Albanians can become owners, that we can turn them into proprietors and shareholders in their own wealth and in Albania’s... “Let us hope that the future will be ours,” Berisha went on. “Those who want to turn hope into reality, I invite to vote for the PD and its program, while those who doubt that this is possible, I invite to pause for a moment and compare the present—our freedom, property, prosperity and integration, which we have gained over these four years. I am convinced that those who are finally persuaded will cast their vote for us, for the PD, for Albania in the year 2000. “Albania enters these elections as a country of stability,” Berisha continued, “a country of freedom, a country of democracy. In its forthcoming program, the PD promises Korçë a complete reconstruction of its infrastructure—its roads and water-supply systems—and a reliable supply of electricity. It promises investment in Korçë’s Korçë into a powerful university center of [unclear], and to increase the number of students at the University of Korçë. The PD promises the farmers of Korçë and all Albania education for with us, Albania wins...” wealth and in Albania’s... “The history of the individual, the history of the city, the history of the country and the nation are an uninterrupted journey,” Berisha stressed. “Let us remember that, together with us, with each of us, our freedom travels; our property travels; our dignity and prosperity travel; our friendships travel. Therefore, I invite you all, with our free vote, to keep open the gates we have opened, to keep open the road to Europe. Let us not allow our clock to turn back. I urge the people of Korçë not to let Korçë—the beauty of Albania—be marked by Albanian socialism! “On your behalf,” President Berisha told the people of Korçë at the end, “I wish to thank our distinguished friend from France, Mr. Mishel Perikard, representative of the great country of democracy, who is here in Korçë today to honor your city, its traditions, and the friendship that binds your city and Albania to France. He comes as a representative of President Zhak Shirak to celebrate with us the victory of the Union for the Republic Party, the party founded by General De Gol, which led to Zhak Shirak’s victory and brought our full support to my democratic friends, the Democratic Party of Albania. You cannot fail to recognize what Albania has achieved over these four years under President Sali Berisha. There is no reason to go backward. the hell you lived through before? You must continue along the road you have begun. Because you have a great opportunity: an undisputed figure in Albania and throughout Europe, your better and faster. On May 26, Europe will move toward Albania. It must not be disappointed... “Vizioni 2000” then took to the green field of the “Skënderbeu” Stadium, leading the 13th [unclear] of an Albania. This brilliant concert, conceived and produced by the Democratic Party Youth Forum, brought before the Korçë audience some of the best-known names in recent years of the performing arts, including Ardit Gjebrea, Aleksandër Gjoka, and dozens of [unclear] from the group... Albania!... Albania!... Yes, in the afternoon, at 4:30 p.m., President of the Republic Sali Berisha went to the town of Maliq, where he met thousands of its residents and people from the surrounding villages of this municipality. He was accompanied by the Mayor of Korçë, Gjergji Gjinko, as well as by PD parliamentary candidates in the district of Korçë, Messrs. Rexhep Bregu, Selim Belortaja, Koço Bode, Kleri Kasimati and Bujar Isak. the Union for the Republic Party, the envoy of French President Zhak Shirak, Mr. Mishel Perikard. After the opening remarks by the chairman of the PD section in Maliq, Behar Lumani, and amid frenzied chants of “With us, everyone wins” and “Our votes are for you,” President of the Republic Sali Berisha greeted the residents. “I assure you,” Berisha said, “that the PD and its government will work tirelessly to turn Maliq and Korçë into one of Albania’s strongest economic centers. I guarantee the citizens of Maliq that they—and they alone—will decide Albania’s sugar policy...” Continued on page 3

Announcement from the Ministry of the Interior In Rrogozhinë: After Ilir Meta insulted the President and the Government, those attending the meeting left the hall Announcement from the Ministry of the Interior Police avert another incident provoked by the SP In Rrogozhinë: After Ilir Meta insulted the President and the Government, those attending the meeting left the hall Yesterday afternoon at 16:00, the SP held a meeting with residents of the area at the cinema in the town of Rrogozhinë, which was also attended by parliamentary candidate Ilir Meta. During the meeting, in his speech, Ilir Meta began insulting the Government and the President of the Republic, thus provoking another incident, as some of the people at the meeting reacted against his insulting remarks. At the end of the meeting, many supporters had gathered outside the hall. Despite the provocations by Ilir Meta inside the hall, the police prevented a possible confrontation by dispersing without incident the people gathered outside and those who had attended the meeting. This is the second time Ilir Meta has tried to provoke the police for no reason; the police will be guided in their actions solely by the law. In view of such actions by certain elements who want to disrupt public order and the peace of citizens, we repeat once again that the Police will be unwavering in upholding the law and will remain calm, regardless of provocations by certain people and political entities. Once again, the Ministry of the Interior calls on political forces to respect the laws and norms of the rule-of-law state, so that the election campaign may be conducted solely in accordance with the law.

Kavajë Police Station refutes: Page 3

“ZP” promotes SP rallies using photos of DP rallies Page 3

Burreli – The man accused by the SP, Alfred Haxhiu, speaks

Today at 9:00 at the Palace of Congresses, the Chairman of the DPA, Prof. Dr. Tritan Shehu, and Mr. Michel Pericard, Chairman of the Parliamentary Group of Jacques Chirac’s Rally for the Republic Party, will hold a press conference.