The Democratic Party yesterday responded positively to an official request from the Socialist Party, which invited the DP to hold bilateral dialogue following the Council of Europe resolution calling for a round table of all Albanian political parties. DP Chairman Tritan Shehu said that he had accepted the invitation, which calls for a bilateral meeting next Tuesday. However, he added that the DP had offered the SP 13 July (10 a.m.) as the date for talks between the two parties, because of the intensive work involved in forming the new government. Shehu said his party had always been in favor of dialogue and that SP leaders had rejected the request for dialogue several times. Page 2

. To strengthen the spirit of tolerance and mutual understanding, believing more in democracy and in one another, was the main message that the President of the Republic, Mr. Sali Berisha, addressed to the newly elected members of the DP parliamentary group. He assured the opposition and the left-wing electorate that he would condemn every extremist tendency directed against them. The meeting was held yesterday at around 2 p.m. at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana. In addition to the DP parliamentary group, members of the DP National Council, journalists from the press and other media were present. President Berisha was accompanied by DP Chairman Mr. Tritan Shehu, parliamentary group chairman Mr. Ali Spahia (DP deputy chairman), Mr. Fatos Bejo, secretary-general of the parliamentary group, while Prime Minister Aleksandër Meksi was also present. Delivering his message to the newly elected MPs and other DP representatives, Mr. Berisha noted: “More than ever before, we have entered a time of great understanding,” meaning that, for the Albanian President and the DP, dialogue with the electorate takes on extraordinary importance. In reviewing the elections of 26 May, as well as those of 2 and 16 June, the Albanian head of state stressed to the MPs that we must thank the Albanian electorate for its massive participation in the vote. “This was the best response to those who started the boycott and are continuing it.” Berisha went on to stress: “We express our full respect for the left- or right-wing electorate that voted for other parties,” and we must convey to them the unwavering message that the vote is free and must be respected, including votes that differ from ours. For the DP, he stressed, votes for and against are two branches of the tree of freedom. President Berisha, while guiding the DP’s future work towards strengthening dialogue with the electorate, also focused on several developments in the country following the 26 May elections. He condemned every negative and extremist tendency towards the left-wing electorate. He stated explicitly: “Let us condemn and denounce without hesitation all extremist acts by particular individuals against activists, supporters and members of the SP.” Mr. Berisha also condemned the terror spread by the leaders of the red front against SP members and supporters through the unreal fear of “being dismissed from work, facing higher taxes, etc.” “In Albania,” Mr. Berisha continued, dismissed from their job because of their political convictions.” Mr. Berisha concluded yesterday’s meeting by reiterating: the ones who planned to plunge Albania into crisis.” The DP, meanwhile, will work through dialogue to achieve the participation of Albanian voters in democratic processes. M. BUÇPAPAJ

Yesterday, at the Army Cultural Center, the Albania–USA Friendship Association and the Directorate of the Central Army Hospital organized a commemorative session on the 220th anniversary of the proclamation of the independence of the USA. Yesterday, at the Army Cultural Center, the Albania–USA Friendship Association and the Directorate of the Central Army Hospital organized a the independence of the USA. In addition to members of the association, hospital and army officials, and representatives of the American statue center, those present included Deputy Minister of Defense Alfred Moisiu and the U.S. Military Attaché in Tirana. In his greetings, on behalf of the Minister of Defense, Mr. Moisiu wished the USA a happy Independence Day, recalling the traditional friendly relations between the Albanian and American peoples and focusing particularly on the unconditional political, diplomatic, economic and military assistance provided by the United States after the victory of democracy in Albania. The program included four papers prepared by Dr. of Sciences Elmaz Eltari, Lt. Col. Dr. Nuredin Malaj, Lt. Col. Dr. Gramoz Hodo, and Dr. Bardhi Guçe and Dr. Vilson Ruci (co-authors). Dr. Elmaz Eltari described the role played by the USA today as “guarantors of peace and progress everywhere in the world.” The event continued with a video film showing scenes from joint Albanian-American military exercises held in recent years. RD CORRESPONDENT

Alive in the SP Page 3 After boycotting their electorate, the electoral commissions, the legitimate institutions of the democratic state and Europe’s recommendations, the leaders of the SP are now boycotting one another as well.

Socialists admit they are unreformed and vengeful Page 3

First, I would like to express my pleasure at your right decision to begin meetings and dialogue with your electorate immediately. Through dialogue, we succeeded for the second time in winning the minds and hearts of the overwhelming majority of Albanians. Now, through dialogue, we must broaden participation at the round table and secure broad support for implementing our electoral program. Therefore, the dialogue we began months ago must continue, now with great intensity throughout Albania. We must show this electorate that, if some of its leaders boycott and do not deign to take part, if they do not obey their orders, not only failing to defend their interests but also failing to count their votes, we will remain entirely open to it, equally attentive and loyal to all its problems and hardships. We are open to and determined to pursue intensive dialogue with it, because for us open dialogue and satisfaction are constant, unchanging features of all our activity. Let the boycotters concern themselves with the boycott, reject invitations to dialogue and continue denouncing their own country; let them cooperate with anti-Albanian extremists and terrorists. We will concern ourselves with one another and engage in dialogue with one another; we will do so more and more, as never before. We have entered a time of great understanding. The DP will commit itself to intensive dialogue with citizens and political forces everywhere—in homes, at work, in villages and cities, in Parliament and outside it. Albania is not experiencing a crisis; those in crisis are the people who planned to plunge Albania into crisis and failed. Our dialogue must consist not only of words but also of deeds: we must denounce and condemn without hesitation every extremist act by particular individuals against SP activists, supporters or members. The boycott leaders have activated the machinery of slander and are continuing a campaign of psychological terror against SP members from morning until night, threatening them that the DP will dismiss them from their jobs, confiscate their property, drown them in insane taxes, and so on. First, you must clarify that the DP is the party of [unclear] and private property, and that, through implementation of its program, Albanians will be employed and become property owners without any distinction based on their political convictions. Second, taxes will be reduced, not increased, for everyone; this has been and remains a constant of the DP’s policy and program. On 1 July, the 12.5% value-added tax came into force, replacing the 15% turnover tax; this means a tax reduction of around 17% compared with the previous level. We are keeping our promises. Third, you must guarantee that no one has been dismissed and no one will be dismissed from their job because of their convictions. As the people say, “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.” It cannot be denied that there may have been some attempted [unclear] against former SP parliamentary candidates. Such incidents have also been reported in the press and have reached me. Any such attempt must be condemned. The DP ran an electoral campaign under the motto “Everyone wins with us.” We must turn this motto into reality for everyone. Today, more than ever, it is the DP’s responsibility to turn tolerance, dialogue and a spirit of understanding into the shared energies of all, regardless of their political convictions, and into the general spirit of our society. This spirit exists; this spirit will guide us; in this spirit we must consolidate our work. the dialogue with your electorate. Through dialogue, we succeeded in winning, for the second time, Now, through dialogue, we must increase their participation the dialogue we began months ago must now continue with great intensity, following our landslide victory. First of all, let us thank the Albanian electorate for its high turnout in the elections of May 26 in the second round and in the elections of June 16. This turnout was the clearest evidence of the strong civic responsibility that Albanians, regardless of their political beliefs, feel for their country and their democracy. This turnout was an excellent response to those who planned the boycott and to those trying to exploit it for atavistic anti-Albanian purposes, in order to trample on Albania’s sovereignty. This turnout also demonstrated the genuine maturity of Albanian democracy and is the best refutation of those who, to justify the boycott they had prepared, and after coming away empty-handed, make themselves ridiculous by imagining nonexistent tensions. We must thank the Albanian electorate which, in a landslide vote, voted for the Democratic Party’s program, voted for reforms and their acceleration, and voted for a policy of peace, stability and the country’s integration into Europe. But at this meeting we must also express our profound gratitude and equal respect to the left- and right-wing opposition electorate that voted for the programs of the other parties. It is especially important to convey to the electorate that boycotted the red boycott our message of appreciation and unwavering respect for their free and different vote. For the Democratic Party, a vote in favor and a different vote are the two branches of freedom; they are two boughs of the tree of freedom, without which that tree would wither. We must thank the Albanian left-wing electorate for completely disregarding the act of boycott and for its dignified and candid, anti-conspiratorial and anti-democratic response, by participating massively in the elections even after Ruçi’s call to abandon them. Through this act, they demonstrated the patriotism and civic spirit of true Albanians, as well as great political maturity. We must warmly thank the left-wing electorate for the contempt it showed for calls to occupy Albania’s streets and squares. showed for calls to occupy Albania’s streets and squares. showed for calls to occupy Albania’s streets and squares. showed for calls to occupy Albania’s streets and squares. showed for calls to occupy Albania’s streets and squares. showed for calls to occupy Albania’s streets and squares. showed for calls to occupy Albania’s streets and squares. showed for calls to occupy Albania’s streets and squares. showed for calls to occupy Albania’s streets and squares. showed for calls to occupy Albania’s streets and squares. showed for calls to occupy Albania’s streets and squares. showed for calls to occupy Albania’s streets and squares. showed for calls to occupy Albania’s streets and squares. showed for calls to occupy Albania’s streets and squares. showed for calls to occupy Albania’s streets and squares. showed for calls to occupy Albania’s streets and squares. showed for calls to occupy Albania’s streets and squares. showed for calls to occupy Albania’s streets and squares. showed for calls to occupy Albania’s streets and squares. showed for calls to occupy Albania’s streets and squares. showed for calls to occupy Albania’s streets and squares. occupy Albania’s streets and squares. showed for calls to occupy Albania’s streets and squares. showed for calls to occupy Albania’s streets and squares. showed for calls to occupy Albania’s streets and squares. showed for calls to occupy Albania’s streets and squares. of true Albanians, as well as great political maturity. But, as the saying goes, “where there’s smoke, there’s fire.” It cannot be ruled out that there may have been some unconsummated attempt against former PS parliamentary candidates. Incidents of this kind me. Any such attempt must be condemned. The DP conducted an electoral campaign under the slogan “Everyone wins with us.” We must turn this slogan for the DP to transform tolerance, dialogue and a spirit of understanding into energies, regardless of people’s political beliefs, exists; this spirit will guide us, and in this spirit we must consolidate it.

The second compromise It is no longer a question of moderation but of clans Page 3

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