President Berisha in Berat, Lushnje, Elbasan and Librazhd Berat European social democrats wish the Democratic Party victory while the PS has remained completely isolated, pinning its hopes on Cuba and North Korea. Elbasan Berat Elbasan

The messages were written for Berisha and Shehu Mazhar Trankçi brought yesterday from the village of Vreshtas in the Korça district to the PDSH rally and Mr. Berisha a string of hand-made cords with the words "Successes and Victory PDSH". The 74-year-old, who is counted among the politically persecuted for the 20 years of communist hell, placed the row of greeting cords in front of the PDSH tribune in the central square of Tirana. In the name of hundreds of peasants from Vreshtas, he has sent 70 personalized greetings and congratulations, each made with 26 cotton threads. In his creations measuring 70 centimeters in width and 2 meters in length, he has written the names of the PDSH parliamentary candidates as well as greetings for President Berisha, the Chairman of the PDSH, and for Prime Minister Meksi. At the age of 74, for 26 May, he has embroidered with cotton threads the message: "The persons who activate PS, associates of the former Sigurimi and ordinary criminals. Strategy of terrorization, Strategy of the PS campaign The red terrorists will pay dearly the red terrorists will pay dearly". Page 4

The observation mission of the Council of Europe and the EP delegation have confirmed that the conduct of the elections in Albania is in line with European standards

Yesterday at 24.05.96 at 19.00, the closing rally of the PDSH election campaign was held in the "Skënderbej" center. Thousands of citizens from all over the country, as well as many citizens from Tirana, filled the square. At this rally, before hundreds of thousands of people, speeches were given by PDSH leaders, Prime Minister Aleksandër Meksi, the chairman of PDSH, Sali Berisha, and PDSH parliamentary candidates. Margarit Trajtak brought yesterday to Tirana the joy of the house of free and fair elections, of brotherhood and unity in their political struggle for PDSH. "Today, on 26 May, Albanians and the democratic world will follow with interest the development of the parliamentary and presidential elections. Albania has been moving for 5 years toward democratic reforms and a market economy, thus becoming the most prominent and successful laboratory in our region for building the rule of law and the market economy." In these five years, said Trajtak, Albania has won the respect of civilized countries. There are 140 states that have recognized the Republic of Albania. The countries of G7 plus 1, mainly the countries of the European Union, have, since 2000, seen Albania as their partner in the direction of European integration processes. Residents from all neighborhoods and cities of the country, democrats and non-democrats alike, were today passing before the giant tribune, giving a grand and majestic tone to the closing of the PDSH campaign. The central square of the capital, where 4 years ago the head of today's opposition, Fatos Nano, without any particular merit, was brought in a wheelchair to stage the final electoral spectacle of the socialists, was packed full of people and banners bearing patriotic, democratic and combative slogans. Young men and women, men and women, workers and peasants, students and intellectuals, veterans of democracy and politically persecuted people, arrived from Elbasan and Korça, Vlora and Fieri, Gjirokastra, Lezha, Dibra, Tropoja, Kruja, Berati, etc., and continuously cheered in support of PDSH. On the tribune were representatives of center-right parties, party chairmen as well as foreign diplomats. After the anthem of the flag was sung, PDSH leaders also presented the party's parliamentary candidates. Then the floor was taken by the Chairman of the Democratic Party, Mr. Sali Berisha. Marin Mema, with his familiar voice, announced: "President Berisha on the tribune!" written by ordinary people as an appreciation of his political figure. At the beginning of his speech, Berisha stressed that he had come to greet an important victory of the 26 May victory. Referring to 26 May as the day of triumph, he said that all democrats would win it. "Honorable Mr. Meksi, honored chairmen of allied and friendly parties, honored leaders of the Democratic Party, honored candidates, ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters, I greet you warmly and thank you for this magnificent reception, for this giant and enthusiastic manifestation with which you are sending the message of victory not only to Albania, but to all Europe. You made Albania free and democratic. With your courage, ideals and work you are building market Albania, European Albania." Berisha continued by describing the European right as one of the main pillars of Europe's progress and prosperity, and said that center-right forces, like freedom and the market, are today increasingly powerful and successful ideas and movements. He emphasized that this victory that is coming and belongs to the entire Albanian people will unite the country that was forcibly divided by the Stalinist left. "Today the leftists before us are colorless. After Fatos Nano's yesterday pilaf, his supporters came here today to meet, perhaps for the first time, Albania's first democratic chairman." On the other hand, he said that the successes affecting the country are not due to chance, but are the result of the will and dedication of Albanian citizens. "Albanians live in a country of 28 thousand square kilometers, but in an economy of hundreds and thousands of square kilometers. This is the Albania we are building." Speaking about the fairness of the elections, Berisha declared that the government and institutions would guarantee standards. He mentioned that the process would be observed by international observers and that Albania had entered a new stage in relations with Europe. He called on citizens to vote responsibly and maintain calm. The speech was interrupted several times by the applause and cheers of the crowd. ARTA SAVA

Strategy of terrorization, Strategy of the PS campaign The red terrorists will pay heavily. People who activate PS, associates of the former Sigurimi and common criminals Strategy of terrorization, Strategy of the PS campaign The red terrorists will pay heavily. Page 4