The Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Pjetër Arbnori, has sent invitations to European and international institutions, as well as to the national parliaments of many democratic countries around the world, to observe the Local Government elections, which will be held in Albania on 20 October 1996. In a letter sent to the President of the Council of Europe Assembly, Ms Leni Fisher, Mr Arbnori asks her for the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to cooperate with the Central Election Commission in coordinating the monitoring of local government elections in Albania. Invitations have also been sent to the European Parliament, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, and the Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities.

The party of the swamp The reformist chairman once again under the presidium’s scrutiny At a moment of candour, Fatos Nano describes his party as a party of swamp and filth. This was also how he defined the chairman-versus-presidium manoeuvre in the debate with his party’s presidium, which began some time ago. Despite this session, the truth is on the side of the party chairman, who finally managed to fully grasp the life of his party. Nevertheless, none of those who heard Nano’s description intend to let its chairman experience life outside the swamp; indeed, they find such a bias impossible. It took the chief reptile of this swamp years to understand this. The slogans portraying his party as the party of unity and of Albania’s social-democratic future have now come to an end. Now, even in the eyes of its chairman, it is the most wretched party, utterly out of step with political and economic developments in Albania, just as its own chairman had envisaged during the days of his conversion. How could it not be a swamp when the party has retained Marxism and Marx at the heart of its programme, and was built and is kept alive according to the practices of the former State Security service? How could it not be a swamp when, throughout its history, it has changed its name three times? The history of its conversions is now more ridiculous than its leader’s descriptions. From the Communist Party it became the Party of Labour, and four years ago the Socialist Party. How could it not be a swamp when, during the years of democracy, it engaged in a campaign of slander against reform and democratic developments in Albania? The slander and struggle reached their peak when the chief reptile of this swamp issued the monstrous call to dismantle democratic values. How could it not be a swamp when, as it seeks victory in elections, this party conducts its campaign with the utmost ferocity and irresponsibility? Its anti-democratic slogans incited civil conflict, which was openly expressed more than once at Socialist Party rallies. While almost the entire campaign was based on the promise to release Fatos Nano from prison—an unconstitutional act—the party still celebrates Enver Hoxha, whom its chairman called father no more than four years ago. If Nano is to be commended for his realistic assessment of the PS, it must not be forgotten that he is the principal author of this swamp. During the five years he has led the Socialist Party, he built a network that operates entirely on the model of the Communist Party, while its structures functioned according to Stalinist principles, in which the boss does everything. He managed to stifle the spirit of debate in the party and, while he was in prison, carried out schemes that even dictatorial regimes would envy: he placed in leadership positions all those implicated by their past, so that he could direct them easily and, through them, usurp the rest of the party. Only recently, he managed to thwart reformist tendencies within the party by favouring his own clan. Fatos Nano created the entrenchment of cliques in the party and turned its movement into a movement of interests, to secure the chairs. The swampification of the Socialist Party is a natural achievement of Nano, backed by all its anti-democratic conduct in Albania’s developments. Offended also by Chairman Nano’s realistic examination of the swamp-like state of the PS, the presidium has united around the need to adopt a tough stance towards him. The two new deputy chairmen and the other people on the presidium know very well that, after Pëllumbi and Dokle, Nano the cynic’s whip will soon lash their backs too. They will be more convincing to one another and to public opinion if they conceal their attacks on the chairman under the guise of defending the party or the two older deputy chairmen. For everyone in the PS, it is important to shut up the unhinged chairman, because if he is left alone, who knows what he might do next. If resentment fuels resentment, or if “the sea turns into yogurt,” the unexpected may also happen. While Nano and his people are expected to be expelled at the next congress, the enraged presidium may try to impose disciplinary measures on the chairman. In the party bequeathed to the socialists, a reprimand recorded in a document was a very severe measure against a member, and expulsion followed immediately afterward.

Offended also by Chairman Nano’s realistic examination of the swamp-like state of the PS, the presidium has united around the need to adopt a tough stance towards him.

French Prime Minister Zhyne congratulates Meksi on his re-election Page 3

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as Chairman of the Democratic Party, Prof. Dr. Tritan Shehu, leaves today for a working visit to the Republic of Ireland, the country currently holding the Presidency The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as Chairman of the Democratic Party, Prof. Dr. Tritan Shehu, leaves today for a working visit to the Republic of Ireland, the country currently holding the rotating Presidency of the Council of Ministers of the European Union. During the visit, Mr Shehu and the delegation he leads will meet with senior figures in Irish political life.

The Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Vacllav Klaus, has sent an invitation to senior Albanian state officials to attend the proceedings of the second Forum of the European Union and the Countries of Central and Eastern Europe, which will be held on 12–13 September in Prague. The Forum’s central theme will be the Information Society, and three topics will be presented for discussion: information, telecommunications, and the role of industry, technology and education in an information society, etc. The Forum’s proceedings will be attended by distinguished figures from European politics and economics.

Interview with the spokesperson of the Ministry of Justice, Mr. Agim Neza - How many Albanian prisoners are serving their sentences in Greek prisons? Are there any? - There are 700 Albanian prisoners serving their sentences in Greek prisons. This was confirmed through a letter from the Secretary General of the Ministry of Justice in an interview with the BBC. Of these 700 prisoners, around 120 are minors. Our Ministry of Justice’s position is that the Greeks should extradite them as soon as possible, so they can serve their sentences, and that these minors be transferred and be with their families.

PD after the decree announcing the elections of October 20 Besnik Gjongcaj, Secretary General of PDSH May 26 confirmed once again, in the most unequivocal way, that the Democratic Party has the support of the majority of Albanians. What is most important at this moment is that this victory constitutes the most favorable precedent, giving the Democratic Party great opportunities against all the other political forces to enter and win the campaign for local government. Page 6

- Nearly 400 million lek in VAT revenue in 20 days, - Page 2

The FRPD central leadership discusses its presentation in the local elections Political and cultural messages will convey the future of youth

Let us work together Page 3

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DR. ALBINA KARAMITRO, PD MP DR. ALBINA KARAMITRO PD MP 1. Formalization of the market in accordance with the legal system in force 2. Developing the level of coordination between management of the domestic budget deficit and monetary policy 3. Advancing the process of bank privatization from a policy of their complete rehabilitation 4. Objectives for developing the newly created capital market in the country Page 6