President Berisha congratulated President Jelsin on his victory The President of the Republic, Mr. Sali Berisha, congratulated President Jelsin on his well-deserved victory. Berisha described it as a victory that not only guarantees Russia’s development on the road to democracy and a market economy, but also constitutes an important factor for all of Europe and the democratic forces.

The responsibility of victory The Democratic Party’s victory in the May 26 elections is, at the same time, a responsibility commensurate with the scale of that victory. The Democratic Party is now preparing to form the new government. It is essential to bear in mind the great achievement of May 26 so that the new government, which represents the electoral parameters the party used during the campaign, is also suited to further expanding the success of reforms in Albania. If the victory is the Democratic Party’s merit, the consequences of the victory are national. In this sense, the conduct of the new government bodies serves the national interest. This is all the more evident because the campaign’s main slogan was not partisan, but embraced major national interests. “With us, everyone wins” means that everyone has a share in the victory of May 26, including those who voted against the DP. What matters is that Albanians’ attitude toward the future is universal and progressive. If four years ago the issue was a beginning, now it is a matter of continuing further. The experience gained provides a basis for assessing the quality of the new government. It is precisely here that the attention of the DP bodies presenting their leadership alternatives must be focused, both in politics and in the technical processes of reform. If the victory was decisive, the Democratic Party also has a larger field of operation. It must justify the good votes cast by Albanians in an even more exemplary way. A great victory brings great scrutiny. Consequently, the margin for tolerance is smaller. Under no circumstances should the possibility arise for anyone to think that victory in a democracy benefits only the winner. If the Democratic Party won, this means that the continuation of democratic processes in Albania won; the possibility of [continuity?] and movement won, as did Albania’s peace. The identification with the right path and the chosen course won, just as Albania did. Identifying a party’s victory with a national victory is entirely justified if we consider the Democratic Party’s main competitors in this electoral battle. But the pursuit of victory is ongoing. In a country like ours, where democracy is a work in progress and other elements of well-being are still being built, the word “winner” must be used with great care and respect. People have asked the DP for new and rational governance, while also expecting the maximum improvement in their daily lives. The convergence of people’s interests with the aims of governance is a test already passed over the past four years. Now the focus must be on the quality of governance and the oversight of achievements. This means that everything must proceed through the positive consequences of May 26, and no one should feel economically disadvantaged. It must be understood that the “Red Front’s” alternatives were alternatives rooted in past passions and reminiscences, whereas the Democrats’ alternatives reflected the modernization of Albanian life and its preparation for the next century. A group of “first-rate” intellectuals founded yesterday, in one of the laboratories of the Department of Physics at the Faculty of Natural Sciences, the newest party to emerge from the far-left political spectrum. The new party, founded on the basis of an order sent by the imprisoned leader Fatos Nano, is intended to be a reserve nest for the Socialist chairman, ensconced in Bënçë, who has meanwhile decided to enter a battle for life or death with the leadership of the Socialist Party. The new party will also be an active nucleus that supports Nano in his persistent struggle to remain at the head of the Socialist Party. Sources close to Nano’s new party have confirmed to RD that the group of initiators consists of prominent socialist intellectuals and other distinguished figures of the Scientific and Technological Revolution, recalling Çeka’s PAD. Among the first signatories of the party’s founding act are intellectuals educated in the West, and to a lesser extent in Russia, Serbia and… Kamëz, such as Kastriot Islami, Rexhep Mejdani, Lekë Gjiknuri, Hulusi Hako, Razi Brahimi, Koço Bihiku, Neshat Tozaj, Kiço Blushi, Martin Leka and Gavrosh Levonja. Somewhat taken aback by Nano’s order, the initiators have settled for drawing up a very modest, minimal program. The first point, though exceedingly servile, calls for Fatos Nano’s swift release from prison, while the second point define[n?] that the party will orient itself toward the most distinguished intellectuals who have not yet joined Çeka’s party. The source close to the new party also says that Nikollë Lesi has been entrusted with the role of head of propaganda and political information. Nikoll Lesi will also be the spokesperson for the newly established party. Meanwhile, the new chief Lesi announced yesterday, in a statement without an official stamp, that the new party had also received its first written congratulatory message, from the [at]heist Moikom (Mollotov) Zego. After wishing Nano’s people success in occupying the boundless spaces of the left, he asks them to set aside membership card No. 007 for him, because he will grab it soon.

President Berisha received the Bavarian State Secretary for the Interior, Mr. Regensburger President Berisha received the Bavarian State Secretary for the Interior, Mr. Herman Regensburger. President Berisha expressed his wish to State Secretary Regensburger that he convey his best thanks to the Minister ... [We are] determined and open to fighting every kind of illegal trafficking, to reducing the scope and opportunity for crime. We consider the establishment of joint commissions between Bavaria and Albania in these fields very important. For his part, the Federal State Secretary for Economic Affairs and Chairman of the Christian Social Union Party, Mr. Teo Vajgel, was among the first to send warm congratulations on the Democratic Party’s historic victory in the fair and free elections of May 26. President Berisha expressed his gratitude for Prime Minister Shtoibel’s interest in strengthening friendship and expanding cooperation between Albania and Bavaria in all fields. President Berisha praised State Secretary Regensburger’s visit for establishing cooperation in the fight against crime, training police personnel, exchanging information and providing equipment. He said that Albania in these fields very important. For his part, State Secretary Regensburger, noting the low level of crime in the country, praised the commitment and effectiveness of a new democratic police force. He expressed his readiness to make cooperation concrete in all areas of the fight against crime. Regarding the May 26 elections, the President stressed that they were free and fair, and that the limited irregularities were corrected decisively by our side. State Secretary Regensburger congratulated President Berisha on the correct conduct of the May 26 elections and noted that in Germany too, where there is a long democratic tradition, when irregularities of this kind are found, elections are repeated in the places where they were observed.

Interview given to the BBC by Comrade Servet Pëllumbi A party chairman cannot place himself above the party and its structures and demand radical changes. Whether changes should be radical or not must be decided through the party structures, and above all by the party congress. He has the right to make proposals; he has the right to put forward candidates, to say who should and should not be included, just as we others have that right, as does the congress’s representation, and as do the delegates. Portrait of Servet Pëllumbi

Interview with As.Prof. Margarita Qirko, Deputy Chair of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly Alongside Mr. Arbnori, a woman, As/ Prof. Margarita Qirko, will serve on the Presidium of the People’s Assembly for the next four years. Coming from the elite of Albanian science, Ms. Qirko’s appointment seems connected with the overall emancipation of Albanian politics. Her willingness to engage in this direct communication with readers reflects her regard and commitment toward the electorate. Portrait of Margarita Qirko

The case files of nine former senior officials of the PPSH and the communist state have arrived at the court

After the motion by the imprisoned leader of the Socialists Nano calculated that by changing almost nothing, only a few names that had become tarnished in recent years, he could keep his power in the party intact, while at the same time making an investment in declaring the price of incriminating his party paid—a price linked more to some of them, but just as much to his own name PAGE 3

According to Reuter I welcome Jelcin’s victory because it shows that nostalgia for communism is fading, SHEHU declared. In a comment by the Rojter news agency, written by Entoni Barker, which reports the reactions of Eastern European leaders to President Jelcin’s election victory, a section is also devoted to Albania. The author of the comment mentions the words of Bulgarian President Zhelev, who declared: Following the inspiring victory of democratic forces in the parliamentary elections in Albania and Mongolia, the triumph of democracy in the Russian presidential elections is a good omen. The author goes on to write: His (Zhelev’s) comments were echoed by Tritan Shehu, leader of Albania’s anti-communist Democratic Party. communism is fading, Shehu declared. Shehu’s statement was listed alongside statements by Polish President Kvasnjevski, Czech President Havel, Bulgarian President Zhelev, and Romanian President Iliesku.