The US is closely following the parliamentary elections in Albania - Malicious politicians must not obstruct democratic processes - Many former communists were not allowed to run for parliament. Most were from the Socialist Party and were not allowed to run under the new law, and this may be something beneficial for Albania’s future - The US will continue to be engaged in helping further deepen democracy in Albania - If the elections were not successful and negative, dark elements triumphed, or if they tried to emerge victorious and influence the elections, this would naturally dampen the enthusiasm of the US and Europeans to cooperate with Albania Shehu - Worth p. 3

President Berisha meets residents of the districts of Dibër, Bulqizë, Mat and Lushnje -President Berisha once again reaffirmed the DP’s view, which considers corruption its enemy, and that the fight against it will continue without interruption. Therefore, we must not fall prey to the propaganda of the Red Front, the President stressed. President Berisha, continuing his electoral tour, was in Dibër, Bulqizë and Mat on Sunday to present the DP candidates in the elections of 26 May 1996. The meetings in Dibër began in the village of Kastriot with the inauguration of the start of work on the Sofanika water-supply system, which will provide drinking water to 25 villages in Dibër. Berisha said that the democratic state had invested around 1 million 300 thousand dollars in this water-supply system. Dibër, a land of history, this patriotic region persecuted by the communist regime, demonstrated the values of freedom and democracy on Sunday, conveying to President Berisha the message of democracy’s certain victory in the 26 May elections. “Having faith in ourselves, in God and in the future,” Mr. Berisha said. Speaking at this magnificent rally, President Berisha said that Albania was “at the borders of Europe.” After four years, Albania is today a true ally of Europe’s most developed countries and of the US. “These days we signed the seasonal emigration agreement with Greece,” Berisha said, “and soon we will sign such an agreement with Italy. This will benefit Dibër and all of Albania.” corruption its enemy and says Red Front, the President stressed. President Berisha then introduced to the people of Dibër the DP candidates for parliament, Luan Lazimi and Shkëlqim Hoxha, as well as Natasha Shehu, whom he described as capable intellectuals, reformers and people devoted to the ideals of democracy and progress. Speaking at the rally, the candidates for parliament from Dibër expressed their full confidence that the people of Dibër would vote for the DP, “for Albania in the Europe of the 2000s.” After this meeting in Peshkopi, President Berisha met residents of Maqellarë, Shupenzë, etc. At these meetings, he promised residents of these areas that in the next four years the DP would provide subsidies for seeds, chemical fertilizers, livestock breeding improvements, fuel, etc. It would invest in water-supply systems, infrastructure and telephone services in these areas. It would keep the price of wheat unchanged and further increase farmers’ pensions. In Bulqizë too, President Berisha was welcomed by thousands upon thousands of residents of the town and its surrounding areas. The agreement signed a few days ago with one of the largest chrome companies would make it possible, Berisha said at the meeting, to transform the entire face of Bulqizë. Likewise, in the next four-year term, the DP would ease the burden of students for your children, thereby rewarding you for the hard work and sacrifices made over 50 years. In the coming four years, the DP would also pay particular attention to increasing miners’ pensions. President Berisha introduced the two DP parliamentary candidates in the district of Bulqizë, Safet Zhulali and Azem Hajdari. Here in Bulqizë and Martanesh, as in Peshkopi, the parliamentary candidates Safet Zhulali and Azem Hajdari were welcomed; they assured those present that the people of Bulqizë, Martanesh, Orenj, Çermenikë, etc. would say “No” to the destructive alternative of the Socialist Party. At the meetings in Krastë of Martanesh and Klos of Mat, President Berisha was enthusiastically welcomed by thousands upon thousands of people, demonstrating support and certain victory for the DP in the 26 May elections. “We come here proud and with the courage to look one another in the eye,” Berisha told the residents of Klos and the surrounding villages, “because four years ago we promised freedom, property, and integration into Europe, and today we see that we have made these things a reality.” “The miners,” Berisha continued in Krastë of Klos, “will soon become shareholders in the chrome mines.” On the way to the town of Burrel, President Berisha stopped in the village of Kurdalis, where he attended the inauguration of the start of work on the village’s water-supply system, precisely at the place where in 1944 the criminal Shefqet Peçi and his red gang made the dreadful decision that Kurdaria should be burned to ashes, with not one stone left upon another. The same enthusiasm and magnificent welcome for Berisha awaited him in the town of Burrel. “Today, two alternatives stand before you,” Berisha said: “the one of secure prosperity, employment for the free individual, seasonal emigration and Albania’s integration into Europe. But alongside it rises like a shadow from the past the alternative of the Red Front, of those who sing hymns to the victories of former communists in Eastern Europe, forgetting the fact that, unfortunately, Albania has had its misfortune from the East, while it has found happiness and progress in the West. I invite,” Berisha continued, “all the socialists of Mat and all the DP’s critics to vote for the DP, because its program has fulfilled the demands of all Albanians. The 26 May elections,” the President said, “are not elections for the government; they are elections for our national ideals, for the future and consolidation of Albanian democracy.” At the meetings in the town of Burrel, in Klos and Kurdari in the district of Mat, President Berisha also introduced the two parliamentary candidates put forward by the DP, Idriz Xhumara and Jerossllav Alla. Yesterday morning, President Berisha was among the residents of Çerma in the district of Lushnjë. He reaffirmed to the farmers of this area the DP’s aim of purchasing wheat at a higher price than in other European countries. Such a measure, he said, is part of our program to support national agricultural production. Berisha added that the state would also help farmers through subsidies for seeds, seedlings, chemical fertilizers, etc. At his meeting with residents of Dushk, President Berisha emphasized the DP’s alternative, which is not collectivization but broad support for creative initiative. The farmer of Lushnjë, Berisha said, through his work and knowledge, has managed to withstand the difficulties of the transition and to create confidence that, through initiative and private property, people live much better than in a cooperative economy. “The DP goes into the 26 May elections certain of victory over the Red Front,” President Berisha said at the warm meeting with residents of Plugu. “Their alternative for the village is collectivization, the blocking of free initiative,” he said. “Where do you want to go?” Berisha asked the young people who had filled the square in front of the eight-year school “Skënder Libohova” in the town of Lushnjë. “To the West or to the East?” In unison, the crowd shouted, “Freedom, democracy,” the synthesis of which remains the West. Lushnjë, President Berisha went on to say, stands at the forefront of economic growth, thanks to collectivizing work and state plans. “Free initiative and the market economy are our path,” he said, “and on this path we have the support of our great friends in Europe and the US.” Berisha addressed corruption and promised an all-out fight against it. “I guarantee you,” he said, “that only the DP can fight corruption, and that this negative phenomenon cannot be fought by the Red Front. Remember the long queues for a pack of butter, a kilogram of meat, kerosene, people

Xhefri Pat - leader of the English Conservative Party, writes to the chairman of the PDSH In a letter sent to the chairman of the PDSH, the leader of the English Conservative Party, Sir Geoffrey Pattie, writes: The Conservative Party of Britain sends you its best wishes for victory in these elections. We are sorry that we cannot be there with you physically, but spiritually we are with you.

Representatives of Forza Italia at the DP headquarters

The DP Secretary for Foreign Relations, Mr. Albert Broyka, and the Organizational Secretary, Mr. Ylli Vejziu, yesterday afternoon received the envoy of Berlusconi’s party, “Forza Italia,” Senator Giuseppe Zamberletti, at the DP headquarters for a special meeting. “If you win, every door is open, whereas if you lose, every door is closed.” This was the main message from one of the countries of the European Union. This message, also conveyed by politicians from Germany, Austria, France, England, the US and Italy, from many different political and governmental levels, demonstrates the historic importance of the results of the 26 May elections for Albania. “Four years ago,” Mr. Zamberletti said, “I had said that I would come to Tirana on 22 March to celebrate the victory with you, and now I am convinced that on 26 May I will come again, and we will all celebrate the victory of the Democratic Party together.” “I was not as optimistic in ’92 as I am now,” Zamberletti said. “It was difficult to change the centralized economy into a market economy in such a short time, because it is easier to move from a market economy to a centralized economy than the other way around. Now we are convinced that you deserve to lead your country into the new century. Do not forget that 26 May is like our own election day. Win the elections so that your country wins!” They then discussed the new opportunities that would arise to increase Italian investment in Albania, Italy’s political support for Albania’s integration into the European Union, etc.

In the photo, people can be seen at a rally; the words “NO TO COMMUNISM” are visible on a banner.

Eminent intellectuals, writers and artists from all over the country speak out Pages 6-7

The “scandal” of the minutes bears the signature of the Socialist Party Page 3