President Berisha receives a group of journalists Yesterday, the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, received at a special meeting a group of journalists—representatives of journalists’ associations and chief editors of Albanian newspapers. At the meeting, the journalists expressed to President Berisha their serious concern about the mistreatment of journalist Bardhok Lalasi by a group of people, and about the unfavorable climate that exists toward them and their writings. They also complained about the lack of willingness on the part of official institutions to provide the necessary information, which they are ready to make public. President Berisha, for his part, told the journalists present that the press is the parliament of free speech and that he values the role it has played and continues to play in our democratic society. He invited them to criticize, without any hesitation, the institutions and the government, phenomena or occurrences, and anything they believe deserves criticism. President Berisha assured them that journalists have had, and will continue to have, the full support of [unclear text] in fulfilling their mission. Certain issues concerning journalists’ status and code of conduct should be the subject of discussion by journalists’ associations. Regarding the journalists who were mistreated, President Berisha emphasized that the Tirana prosecutor’s office is conducting an independent investigation into those responsible for this ugly incident. President Berisha also stated: “I wish to express my conviction that no journalist or citizen should be mistreated; we have stood, and will continue to stand, unwaveringly against any mistreatment.”

The Democratic Party, taking into consideration the assessments made by international observers regarding several electoral zones, has deemed it important to repeat the elections in some areas. This does not mean that the Democratic Party does not expect to win again in these areas, since it is convinced that, despite the postponement of some of its candidates’ [unclear], it has been and remains within the bounds of certainty. It will remain concerned if the majority is [unclear] the repetition of the loss for the Socialists, the Alliance members and the Social Democrats—the entire Red Front. And yesterday afternoon they went on hunger strike. A time-limited warning of three days sounds strange, but even that would be enough for them to reflect and accept their defeat. Despite the crisis they will create over these three days, they will not be able to spare themselves the great harm they have planned for Albania: the destabilization and destruction of the rule-of-law state established in Albania, built, needless to say, without a single gram of their contribution. Their aim—to avoid defeat and their own destruction through the political falsehoods they are serving up to their electorate and Europe—does not mean that communism has a future in Albania. The Democratic Party’s sweeping victory has marked its end once and for all. Albanians cast their votes against the oppressors of fifty years, and this verdict cannot be questioned or undone except by winning with even greater strength, something that will once again be confirmed in those areas where the elections are repeated. Bringing people out into the streets, even if in very small numbers, is an ugly provocation of the desire for peace, as well as a sign of the objectivity of this defeat for the former communist camp in Albania. At the same time, their anarchy and hunger strike revolve around the abnormal core of the Red Front’s efforts to destabilize the country. They are nothing other than the utmost that the former communists and former Sigurimi can do against state order in Albania. If in the country what is known appears as an immoral tendency to win at any cost and to… [unclear] beyond the utmost that former communists and the Sigurimi can do against state order in Albania. If it may appear in the country as an immoral tendency to win at any cost, even by a gram, in foreign opinion it will create the impression of a tribal society within the communist camp, rather than of [unclear]. The [unclear] of the identity of left-wing politicians cannot be conveyed and placed in the ranks of those they are trying to destroy at any cost. When they failed to challenge the people and their electorate by drawing them into demonstrations and clashes with the police, they chose themselves to express their passivity. This is the last form of publicity they are trying to give themselves. After this comes division. They too will suffer losses. This is [unclear] their fate now in Albania: there is no room for a victory of the old order. To come out means elections in Albania. It is important that these elections take place peacefully and outside the atmosphere of the Socialists, without their dissolute political morality. People will once again be conscious that communism in Albania must be struck down again. It needs to be struck continuously until it no longer has the possibility of claiming that it still exists in this country.

PDSH chairman Mr. Tritan Shehu in Gjirokastër The chairman of the PDSH, Mr. Tritan Shehu, in Gjirokastër. The democratic state encourages the private economy and individual initiative. The chairman of the Democratic Party of Albania, Tritan Shehu, held a meeting yesterday with businesspeople and entrepreneurs in Gjirokastër. After thanking them for their contribution over the four-year period through their investments and business development, he emphasized that the market economy would continue to receive support from small and medium-sized entrepreneurs in the future. Referring to the failed socialist planned economy, Mr. Shehu emphasized that it produced an industry over 50 years that did nothing but turn the so-called gigantic projects into unprofitable enterprises. The role of medium-sized entrepreneurs will be important, with their participation in privatization through vouchers and other shares. Addressing the concept of the social state, he rejected the opinion being spread by today’s opposition, describing it as a left-wing idea. Mr. Shehu argued with facts that the German CDU was the first to put forward this idea and that its foundations are now found in the advanced economic programs of Europe. “An economically powerful country,” Mr. Shehu said, “also has stronger social protection.” Mr. Shehu then described the mass privatization of the economy as one of the powerful pillars of the DP’s program for the next four years. The privatization of telecommunications, mines, the oil industry, etc., were mentioned in his speech as key objectives for the next four years. According to the opposition’s program, he said, these sectors are precisely regarded as strategic sectors. Mr. Shehu also discussed the role of the state in the Albanian economy in the period ahead, as the opposite of the former state, which turned the individual into a slave. Yesterday Mr. Shehu also held a meeting with residents of the commune of Lunxhëri, at the center of that commune. [The following text appears to be unrelated:] This decision was taken unanimously by the foreign ministers of the member countries, following the recommendation made at the meeting of heads of government held in Warsaw in October 1995. Yesterday’s meeting held only one session, as it will continue today with the full participation of the 15 member states. Yesterday, the EU foreign ministers also discussed the situation in Kosovo and the situation in the Balkans, particularly the situation in Kosovo. Minister Serreqi also met with many of the counterparts present at the reception. Minister Serreqi is scheduled to hold a separate meeting with Foreign Minister Shysel today, before the start of the plenary session.

Congratulations on the May 26 victory Yesterday, the two-day meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Central European Initiative began in Vienna. It was opened by Austrian Vice-Chancellor and Foreign Minister Shyssel. After the opening remarks and customary greetings, the meeting moved to the first item on the agenda: the decision to admit as full members the five associated states—Albania, Bulgaria, Belarus, Romania and Ukraine. The meeting [unclear text] of the 15 member states was received by Austrian Federal President Dr. Thomas Klestil. In his remarks, President Klestil congratulated the five new states that had been unanimously admitted as full members of the Initiative and spoke about the political significance of this organization of Central European states. During the reception, Foreign Minister Serreqi also met and spoke with Austrian President Klestil, who, through Minister Serreqi, congratulated President Berisha on the election results. President Klestil and Minister Serreqi also discussed the situation in the Balkans, and many of the counterparts present at

Central Election Commission: The Central Election Commission reviewed, on the basis of an appeal, the results of the voting in Electoral Zone No. 67 on 30 and 31 May 1996. After a detailed examination of the documentation of the commissions in this zone and of the ballot papers used for voting there, the Central Election Commission found serious irregularities in the ballot papers and in the implementation of the legal voting procedure, and concluded that the irregularities had significantly affected the voting result in this zone. For this reason, the Central Election Commission decided that the elections in Zone No. 67 would be repeated. Voting in the zones for which the Central Election Commission has decided that elections should be repeated will take place on another date, to be determined by decree of the President of the Republic.

Socialist like Castro: “Socialism or death” -Ceka declares he will not leave the hunger strike alive unless they declare him President -Journalist S.Minxhozi in the role of food supplier Page 3

The Rally for the Republic of France, the Austrian People’s Party, and Italy’s Christian Democratic Union, led by the Secretary General of the European Democratic Union, Mr Aleksis Untoniak, are in Tirana today to celebrate the DP’s victory. In response to the Albanian left-wing press, which has expressed “concern” over the lack of European support for the DP’s victory, the Democratic Europe Mission is in Tirana today. It is the Secretary General of the French National Assembly herself, Mrs Marchon, who arrives in Tirana today at the head of a large French delegation. The Rally for the Republic, the party of President Shirak and Prime Minister Zhype. France thus continues to lead in its support for the Democratic Party’s victory in the May 26 elections—a victory it strongly supported before and throughout the entire election campaign, with the presence of President Shirak’s political adviser, Mr Pier Lesh, and the chairman of the RPR parliamentary group (the Rally for the Republic party), Mr Mishel Perikard. The Albanian people understood their message of victory beyond the frenzied interpretations of the destructive left-wing opposition, and sealed with their vote the great “YES” for the Democratic Party. Also in Tirana today is a delegation of the Austrian People’s Party, the party headed by Vice-Chancellor and Foreign Minister Shusel, who himself came during the election campaign together with parliamentary group chairman Andreas Khol, to declare in Albania the support that the DP and its just government enjoy from Austria. A triangle completed by an Italian delegation. Our neighboring friends are representatives of the Christian Democratic Union, whose support for the DP was expressed through the visit to Albania by Mr Bulionio, the party chairman, together with the parliamentary group chairman, Mr Tatarela. The Albanian Democratic Party is the only Albanian political formation affiliated with the corresponding European organizations, the European Democratic Union and the European Christian Democratic Union, alongside Europe’s best-known and most popular parties. How could its European sister parties not rejoice at its victory, which is at the same time the victory of Albania, of Albania in Europe,

-NATO Secretary General Solana and Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Xholuen confirm and praise Albania’s contribution to peace in Bosnia NATO Secretary General Javier Solana confirmed that the North Atlantic Council had accepted Albania’s request to contribute troops to IFOR in Bosnia. He also invited Minister of Defense Zhulali to attend, on June 14, the meeting of the Defense Ministers of the North Atlantic Cooperation Council. Mr Solana emphasized that Albania would now be able to take part in the planning process at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe. The Allies will work with Albania to bring peace to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Supreme Allied Commander and commander of the U.S. forces in Europe, General Xholuen, expressed to Defense Minister Sefat Zhulali his satisfaction with Albania’s contribution to IFOR through the commitment of a peacekeeping company. Among other things, he stated: “By offering a contribution of forces, Albania has clearly demonstrated its support for achieving peace in Bosnia.” He added: “I know that you are working closely with Germany on the necessary training and preparation, and I welcome your initiative to play an active role in NATO’s current operations.” The Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Xholuen, expressed his conviction to Mr Zhulali that, with the support of Albania and every other contributing country, IFOR would fulfill its mission to restore peace in the world. The confirmation and praise from NATO’s highest-ranking figures for our country’s participation with troops in IFOR speak eloquently of democratic Albania’s firm commitment as a serious partner in further strengthening relations with NATO, as well as of its continued commitment to security, stability, and peace in the region. In preparation for Albania’s participation with troops in IFOR, a German military delegation led by senior military officer Naumann arrived in our country today. Bundeswehr experts will visit our peacekeeping company to learn about its progress to date and will assist in its preparation and cohesion, to enable it to carry out peacekeeping duties within the framework of IFOR in Bosnia.

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At the end of consultations held yesterday among the 15 member states of the European Union, Italy, holding the presidency of the European Union, issued the following statement: 1) The European Union is following with concern and particular attention the development of the electoral situation in Albania, in the circumstances created by the disagreement over the regularity of the voting and the withdrawal of opposition-party candidates. 2) Pending the final OSCE report, and in light of the information presented by ODIHR, the European Union considers it necessary that this decisive part of the elections be conducted in full respect of international standards and principles. 3) The European Union calls on the Albanian government to do everything possible to guarantee the conditions for the orderly conduct of the electoral process—including the repetition, in accordance with the electoral rules in force in Albania, of elections in electoral areas where major irregularities have been observed. 4) At the same time, the European Union—continues the statement of the Italian Presidency—calls on all parties to exercise the utmost responsibility and resume dialogue. 5) The European Union notes that the conduct of the electoral process in accordance with international democratic norms is an essential element for the further development of a positive relationship between the European Union and Albania. European Union statement on the elections in Albania

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