Speaking to journalists during a break in the proceedings of the mini-session of deputies from the 39 member countries, being held in Thessaloniki, Fisher rejected the request made by the socialist secretary general Valen to review Albania’s status in the Council of Europe. “We must have more confidence in those who have spent up to 25 years in prison than in those who, for 25 years, prevented others from speaking,” said the president of the deputies of the Council of Europe, a prominent figure of the German right. Page 3

The Central Election Commission announces the results of the first-round vote On 26/5/1996, the first round of elections for deputies to the People’s Assembly of the Republic of Albania was held throughout the country. After examining all the documentation received from the Election Commissions of the 115 constituencies, the Central Election Commission officially announces the following results: Of the 2,204,002 citizens registered on the electoral rolls, 1,963,344 people, or 89%, took part in the voting. At the end of the first round, candidates of the Democratic Party won in 95 constituencies, those of the Socialist Party in 5 constituencies, and those of the Union for Human Rights Party in 2 constituencies. In 10 constituencies, specifically: Constituency 20 Mirditë, 67 Elbasan, 68 Elbasan, 71 Librazhd, 76 Lushnjë, 97 Korçë, 99 Pogradec, 108 Vlorë, 110 Përmet, 111 Gjirokastër, because none of the candidates received more than 50% of the votes, the [runoff] round will be held on Sunday, 2/6/1996. Under paragraph 4 of Article 8 of the law “On Elections to the People’s Assembly of the Republic of Albania,” “the substitute candidate shall be the one who received the highest percentage of votes among the other candidates who took part in the first round of the elections.” The Central Election Commission, having considered the matter, unanimously decided that, because of the numerous irregularities observed from the voting procedures through to the announcement of the results, these results would not be recognized in constituencies number 81 and 82 Fier and 11 Pukë, ordering that the elections be repeated. Candidates of the Socialist Party were also to compete in the second round. Since, by letter no. 187 dated 26/5/1996, the General Steering Committee of the Socialist Party informed the Central Election Commission that it was withdrawing its candidates for deputy and did not recognize the election results, the Commission, citing the announcement of the results, decided not to recognize these results and ordered that the elections be repeated. The Council of Ministers, the Secretariat of Local Government, Local Government Bodies and other bodies charged by law are instructed to take all technical and organizational measures to ensure the orderly conduct of the second round of voting. The Central Commission expresses its confidence that the voting in this round, too, will be entirely free and fair. Read on page 2

. The official election results were announced last night. The Democratic Party controls parliament, thus generally securing what it had sought throughout the campaign: the creation of an opportunity for stable governance for four years. The outcome also averts another possibility of provoking government crises and allows the uninterrupted continuation of reform, avoiding the unserious obstruction of the Albanian opposition. With a stable parliament, the pace of reforms can be regulated and their completion made possible over a stable governing term. This is a great victory for reform in Albania, and the direction of the Albanian economy toward a market economy is finally consolidated, while the country moves toward a capitalism that also incorporates social elements. The Socialists’ withdrawal from the elections does not alter the composition of the parliamentary spectrum. As for their contribution to the adoption and approval of laws, Parliament will not miss them. All the less so when compared with the previous four years, when the Socialist contribution was negative because of their destructiveness and their obstruction of fundamental laws of Albania’s legislative system and of the laws that accompanied economic reform over those four years. Their presence in parliament was in question twice, while for the rest of the time they exercised their right to oppose absolutely. The Democratic Party’s landslide victory at this time also resolves other political crises. The country can therefore calmly continue implementing the reform, without the opposition having the moral right to call for early elections. The fact that they began making this demand as early as 26 May is nothing new. They have called for early elections continuously over the past four years, or, more specifically, every spring, while, strangely enough, they have thought they had made a mistake. They now keep making demands in order to find continuity again. It is entirely possible that, after a few days, they will decide to return to Parliament and once again ask for an end to things, according to a ritual they have already repeated before. The Socialists’ political presence has now been greatly reduced, leaving them in many places as the second Albanian force, while the electorate has shown greater attention to reform and all the other processes accompanying it. It is logical that their attitude toward reform has been a factor that has led to its limited quantitative and qualitative representation in parliament. The phenomenon of lustration (decommunization), after working well in the Albanian economy, in other administrative institutions, in the legal system, in the police and the army, created the conditions for the lustration of parliament. The number of Marxist politicians and officials in the PS parliamentary group does not include any figure of that kind such as Bardhyl Fasko, etc. Albanian voters have sanctioned a reduction in the proportion of cooperative chairmen in parliament, as well as that of Central Committee offices. Meanwhile, qualitative steps have been taken in the composition of the rest of Parliament, leaving out the most successful elements of Albanian reform, those who stand out in particular as advocates of a modernized and European Albania.

On 26/5/1996, the first round of elections for deputies to the People’s Assembly of the Republic of Albania was held throughout the country.

Statement by the President of the Republic I wish to emphasize that the situation in Albania is calm and stability is assured. I call on all Albanian citizens to respond to every provocation with dignity and calm, and on the opposition to respect the rules of democracy. I assure you that its seats in the next parliament will always remain reserved for all those who deserved, and will deserve in the second round, the free vote of the people. I call on opposition candidates to take part in the voting in the runoff constituencies, and on all voters to participate in the second round. I wish to assure you that the elections will be conducted in accordance with the law. All human freedoms and rights are, and will remain, guaranteed in Albania, including the right to [text incomplete]. But I believe that calls to occupy the streets and squares, accompanied by the slogans “our votes are bullets for you” and “we will hang you,” are the calls of the most savage [text unclear] in Europe, which suffered its final defeat in the free elections of 26 May and have nothing in common with a democratic society. In Albania, every citizen, group or political force may protest. Albania has not restricted and does not restrict demonstrations. Yesterday’s protests in “Skënderbej” Square were not in accordance with the law, and I condemn them. I commend the police for enforcing the law, just as I have asked the prosecutor’s office to conduct an investigation into any possible abuses and to make the appropriate decision in accordance with the law. Albanian democracy is now more secure than ever in its history. On 26 May, it received its great popular blessing through the free vote of the Albanian people, the blessing of God. In crisis and without any hope are Enver Hoxha’s former secret police, as well as the “friends” of the Albanian terrorists who helped them and tried, especially most recently, to bring to power in Albania elements who had undertaken state killings and would have ordered the killing of young Albanians. Albanians voted for democracy, for their place in Europe.

No SP supporter has been killed or injured Regarding a report issued today by a foreign news agency, the Ministry of the Interior clarifies that: No member or supporter of the Socialist Party was killed or injured during the election campaign. The report by Kastriot Islami concerning the killing of Eduart Kullolli is politically motivated speculation. The victim was neither a member nor a supporter of the SP. The killing occurred during a quarrel over other personal matters. Following reports containing speculation about the killing of Eduard Kullolli, the Ministry of the Interior announces that: The police authorities of Police Station No. 1 have clarified the circumstances of the killing and identified its perpetrator. Initial investigations show that: The perpetrator is Artan Ferdi Hasani, 24, resident of Tirana, previously convicted once of robbery and sentenced to 9 months. The killing took place on Rruga e Elbasanit over a trivial matter. We emphasize that the perpetrator and the victim had known each other previously while serving their sentences. The perpetrator had returned from Italy and, during a quarrel at a bar near the former Elbasan sleeve factory, while intoxicated, committed the act of killing. Spokesperson for the Ministry of the Interior EUGEN BECI

The chairman of the Democratic Party, Tritan Shehu, received a congratulatory telegram from the political adviser to French President Chirac, Mr Pierre Lelush.

The political secretary of the Italian Christian Democrats, Ferdinando Casini, said in a telephone conversation with the chairman of the Democratic Party, Mr Shehu, and it was agreed that the Christian Democrats would send their representatives to the second round of the elections.

Concerns about the elections are an expression of the Socialists’ great nervousness Statement by the secretary-general of the Austrian People’s Party, a conservative party Albanian Socialists are trying to create unrest France calls for an exemplary second round Britain expresses regret over the opposition’s withdrawal Page 2