Expanded meeting of the National Council of the DP The President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, takes part Expanded meeting of the National Council of the DP The Democratic Party presents its program for the local elections The President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, takes part P. 2

Prime Minister Meksi launches the Government Program in Parliament The Democratic Government, formed as a result of the elections of 26 May, presents itself before you with its program, with which it aims to move rapidly toward the complete reform of the Albanian economy and the development of a market economy, while maintaining the same rapid pace of economic growth and growth in the prosperity of Albanians. This major objective of ours will finally lift Albania out of poverty and integrate it into Europe with dignity. Today’s tasks are much greater than those we took on and fulfilled four years ago, because a secure institutional and legal, macroeconomic stability has been ensured, as well as

Fatos Nano finally acknowledges the bitter truths. Gripped by the total crisis his party is experiencing, he lays the truths bare with admirable courage. The leader of the largest opposition party states in his own words that the party’s highest bodies are filled with mediocrities, petty-minded “sinners,” cowards who fear debate and alternative thinking, incorrigible vain people, people who try to survive not because of their brains but because of their epaulettes. This is perhaps the harshest political vocabulary that an Albanian politician has used about his own party, and perhaps a rare case in the world of a party leader using such language about his own party. This vocabulary, perhaps worthy of the pages of opposing newspapers, including the pages of our newspaper, or of some analysis by the leaders of our party, has been reproduced in its entirety in the pages of the message that the Socialist leader himself sends to party members against its bodies. Speculation cannot, in any case, provide a convincing answer, either to the idea of a Jagojë or to that of a prime-ministerial shadow. The most reasonable explanation for this vocabulary is the genuine, sublime hour that Fatos Nano is going through: his despair over the situation into which the largest opposition party has degraded. And it is precisely in these moments of despair that Nano is trying to rise up and change something, even if he has to walk along the path offered by his political opponents. His message, which has caused bewilderment among his opponents, now tightly packed within the party, constitutes a rare political precedent, a challenge and, at the same time, a candid acknowledgment of the situation the largest opposition party is going through. We cannot applaud this candour; we are champions of the truth. There comes a moment when everyone must at least be honest with themselves. Left almost alone, without the bodies of his supporters, Fatos Nano is trying to win the support of his members against the party bodies. That is their internal affair, but it cannot fail to be reflected in the Albanian political arena as an unprecedented precedent. A leader’s rebellion against the party’s bodies, and the use, in a moment of candour, of political language that newspapers—often very professionally—have not yet used against him, should nevertheless be welcomed as the courage to introduce a leader’s candour into politics. At such a delicate moment for the Socialist Party, only a point of reference of this kind, such an autopsy, can guarantee the causes of political debate. A party that, as Nano says, is full of mediocrities, vain and petty-minded people, is full of fear of the free vote and competition, of people who fear “epaulettes”; that is, in a party with so much “epaulette” instead of brains, Nano’s candour is a great “gravel pit” for keeping the debate alive, the only way to keep the debate alive. This debate will reach its peak at the Socialists’ upcoming Congress, and perhaps for this very reason it is not yet possible to know which of these categories Mr Nano falls into (perhaps none of them). What we can do today is simply to applaud him in this hour of sublime truth.

The Democratic Government, formed as a result of the elections of 26 May, presents itself before you with its program, with which it aims to move rapidly toward the complete reform of the Albanian economy and the development of a market economy, while maintaining the same rapid pace of economic growth and growth in the prosperity of Albanians.

Remarks by President Berisha delivered at the National Council of the PDSH The local elections are the most important political event of this year after the elections of 26 May. In these elections, the DP is entering determined to seek another decisive and well-deserved victory in the history of democracy. With this, it aims to broaden citizens’ participation in power and governance, improve local government, correct the serious mistakes and shortcomings of local government over the past four years, and, on the other hand, mark a progressive dynamic in Albania’s electoral process. As the leading political force, the political force in which people have the greatest confidence, the Democratic Party undoubtedly gives us advantages and a very significant edge. Just as we put forward some of the best candidates in the elections of 26 May, this factor will also favour our chances and make it possible for us to present to Albanians the most outstanding men and women, young men and young women of local communities, for them to vote for. In selecting candidates, we must bear in mind that renewal remains our constant motto if we are to be a party of the future. By renewal, we do not seek to change one person; through renewal, we seek to remain a party of the future at all times. In fact, a five-year-old party that renewed 72% of its leadership structures in the last 18 months demonstrated vitality and extraordinary vigour. This was one of the fundamental factors behind the continuing confidence in the DP. So, while denying no one their merits and contribution, we must harmonize those merits and contributions with the Albanian electorate’s indisputable demand, a constant demand for renewal. We must correct the unacceptable proportions in local government. If around 24% or more worthy women representatives and young women were elected to the Albanian Parliament, these proportions must continue in local government too. Outstanding and dedicated intellectuals, capable and talented experts exist today in every commune, every locality, every municipality, every district and everywhere. As part of the renewal process, we will take this ratio into account; it is very important. I think that in this process we should also consider lowering the age of local officials. I am not saying that we should exclude the generations, but lowering the age would be a great advantage for us and would make these structures more dynamic. We should select experts, specialists, intellectuals, honest people everywhere—in every village and every commune—dedicated people known for their honesty, virtues and character. This is the sure road to victory. Second, if in the program for the legislative elections we had set major national objectives, these elections too will have major national objectives, but those major national objectives will not determine our victory. Our victory in these elections will be determined by the local program for each commune and each municipality. Let us study together what each commune needs most and promise what we can deliver. We are a powerful political force; we have proved and continue to prove that we can endure and win, but, on the other hand, we are open to coalitions. In what sense? First, in terms of balances, regardless of the position we adopt, we will support those parties whose programs we consider close to ours. There are several very important issues concerning the improvement of the electoral process. We must conceive of the electoral process as one of the very important processes for the development of democracy. We must set orchestration aside and work intensively and seriously on improvement, because this is a dynamic process of vital importance to the functioning of democracy in Albania. On this basis, we should implement the recommendations of the Council of Europe and the OSCE, which we believe genuinely serve the electoral process. Take, for example, the permanent commission. Countries with developed democracies have permanent commissions. We will establish them immediately. At first, we cannot claim that we can form a commission of non-partisan people, because the truth is that at this stage political passions among individuals are normal and acceptable. What I suggest is that we establish a permanent partisan commission with figures put forward by the parties. I consider this absolutely necessary. absolutely necessary. This will ensure that the commission has official responsibility not only for carrying out a few formalities for 20 days or during the final month, but also official responsibility for overseeing the continuous improvement of the electoral process and electoral culture in all these respects. The law will establish sanctions to prevent boycotts—not political boycotts, but boycotts of the counting. According to some experts, in the history of elections this Byzantine trap has occurred only once, while others say it cannot happen. In that case, the law will establish the commissioner’s responsibility so that commissioners can no longer withdraw from the elections without facing specific legal sanctions. Because in this way the Stalinist forces could replace the theory of permanent revolution with a boycott of the count. This is a modern form, a new variant of the proletarian revolution, which we will oppose. Anyone who wants to may take part in the elections; anyone who wants to may not. This applies to every political force. But a commissioner appointed by law and paid for the job will not be allowed to leave without clear legal sanctions. Another issue I will raise here with you is the question of the files. As a political force, we have been staunchly in favour of opening files only for senior politicians. This is the truth. I agree with the law on vetting public figures and the anti-genocide law. But one clause concerning the vetting of public figures conflicts with our principle. If we say that the files law is a law for closing files, then, in practice, opening files on commune councillors turns it into the opposite of what we say. Because we would be required to open 40,000 files. I propose, and believe, that we should ask Parliament to remove this. It clearly and openly conflicts with our principle of closing the files. Our principle has been to open files for senior politicians. An important issue for us is decentralization. We must aim to decentralize powers to local government. What might be considered centralization is the requirement to enforce the laws, whereas decentralization of local government powers and financial decentralization are extremely important for implementing development programs. A local election campaign is more difficult than a general election campaign. This is because general messages have a more limited effect than local messages. It is very important that the houses [unclear in source] be dynamic, so they can put forward as many candidates as possible and organize debate. Every opportunity exists for a second, decisive victory. Whether we achieve this victory will depend on how hard we work for it. We are a party of unwavering confidence. The left is undergoing a process that I would consider positive—and I do consider it positive: reform, as it emphasizes the liberation of Albania. They will need to struggle for a long time to wash away their Enverism and Stalinism. But it is still a positive process. Because we cannot fail to welcome the denunciation of E. Hoxha, Marxism, statism in the economy, and all the other efforts; they are efforts that unquestionably move in a positive direction. I regret the way the press presents this as clan rivalries or attempts to break one another’s wings, at a time when I see serious efforts by the main opposition force, the PS, to emerge and break away from the past. Of course, this gives us an undeniable advantage, but we cannot base our election campaign on our opponent’s difficulties. No, our election campaign will be based above all on our constructive alternative. So, confident of a decisive and well-deserved victory, let us not waste a single day, from today until the day of the local elections, so that we can achieve the victory we deserve, the victory the DP deserves at the local level too.

Legal, macroeconomic stability has been ensured, as has foreign aid and support; the economy is at a much higher stage of development and growing at a very good pace. We have controlled the budget deficit and inflation, have many more capable people, and enjoy the support of the overwhelming majority of Albanians. In other words, we have an Albania that is politically stable. The government drew up this program in keeping with the continuity of reform and with the aim of moving closer to Europe as quickly as possible, so as to become part of it at the beginning of the 21st century. PAGE 3 PD - PS after the leaders’ meeting: dialogue at expert level The agenda for the talks is set PAGE 2 The agenda for talks between PD and PS has been set, while important technical issues have been addressed. The experts will meet again on Wednesday, while the leaderships of both parties will meet soon.