The spokesperson for Austrian Chancellor Frac Vranitcki, Mr Karl Kramer, told the Austrian Press Agency (APA), on Vranitcki’s behalf, that Austria categorically rules out the possibility of intervention or mediation in connection with the alleged manipulations in the 26 May elections. Austria rejects the request by the leaders of the Albanian opposition for support from the Austrian Federal Chancellery. This statement follows a letter Vranitcki received from the leaders of the Albanian opposition parties, the Social Democratic Party (PSD), Skënder Gjinushi, and the Democratic Alliance (PAD), Neritan Ceka, requesting the Austrian Chancellor’s mediation regarding these manipulations.

Two days before the by-elections, the OSCE released the report by its long- and short-term observers on the elections held on 26 May and 2 June in Albania. The report has been eagerly awaited by the left-wing opposition, but its findings do not call into question the assessment of the parliamentary elections and do not in any way call for them to be held again. The technical recommendations are relevant to the future and appropriate for a country building democracy after a communist dictatorship; ultimately, they call for respect for the verdict of the Albanian people, who definitively blocked the return of the communists to Albania by voting for the continuation of reforms and the preservation and consolidation of the institutions of democracy and the rule of law. The OSCE observers’ report, recognized by important international political institutions as authoritative in assessing elections in Albania, has prompted various reactions across the political spectrum. While the left makes no secret of its dissatisfaction at finding no support anywhere in the report for its position calling for the elections to be repeated in all 115 electoral zones, the Democrats receive the clear message that the electoral process—despite some shortcomings understandable in a fragile democracy such as Albania’s—is moving in the right direction. Meanwhile, some Democrats express dissatisfaction with the way certain OSCE representatives have assessed the electoral process. The publication in the day’s press of a scandal, revealing that around 30 percent of the people employed by the OSCE to observe the elections in Albania belonged to Marxist-Leninist groups that had previously served the Socialist Party, has diminished voters’ willingness to trust all assessments of the electoral process. Nevertheless, despite these criticisms, nowhere can one find an OSCE request to repeat the elections in Albania, leaving the left-wing extremists—who still insist, in European terms, on finding Asian solutions to the crisis they are systematically trying to provoke in their own country—completely isolated. The greetings from the United States and the European Union regarding the Albanian authorities’ decision to allow elections to be repeated in 17 zones where violations of the electoral law had been established remain extremely important in assessing the electoral process in Albania. State Department spokesperson Nikolas Burns, praising the official position of Tirana on holding the by-elections as a step in the right direction, had reiterated his country’s commitment to good relations with Albania. Together with the EU statement, the remarks made before the OSCE report were seen as opening the way to swift recognition of the election results, to the dismay of the left-wing opposition, which had sought to portray them to the public as manipulated.

Sali Berisha has led the country since 1992, succeeding Ramiz Alia, the last communist president. The victory of Berisha’s Democratic Party in the May–June elections confirmed the defeat of the Communist Party.

EUCD Secretary General, Mr Klaus Welle, congratulates the Democratic Party on its excellent election victory Congratulations on the Democratic Party’s excellent victory in the legislative elections are arriving from the offices of the European Christian Democratic Union. The EUCD Secretary General, Mr Klaus Welle, in a message addressed to chairman Tritan Shehu, expresses his clear support for the winner of the Albanian legislative elections. “With this message, I wish to convey to you, on behalf of all the Christian Democrats of Europe and in my own name, my warmest congratulations on the excellent result your party achieved in the legislative elections.” In his message, the Secretary General of Europe’s Christian Democrats describes the Democratic Party’s victory as an “excellent victory”, thanks to which “Albania is finally opening up to true democracy and to the European Union”. “My best wishes for complete success in carrying out this important and difficult task,” concludes Mr Klaus Welle’s message. Since the spring of ’95, the Democratic Party has been the only party in Albania with full membership status in the European Democratic Union of Christian Democrats. Together with the European Democratic Union, where the DP also enjoys full membership, it forms part of the most powerful political groupings in Europe. The same party as French President Chirac, German Chancellor Kohl, British Prime Minister Major, Spanish Prime Minister Aznar, Austria’s People’s Party of Deputy Chancellor Shussel, and the Greek “New Democracy” party. The EUCD Secretary General, Welle, had already congratulated the party on its victory at their Third Congress, held in April this year, where he declared: “We are here to set Europe’s example; it is up to all Albanians to become an example for it on 26 May and show Europe that they love it.” And Albanians demonstrated their wisdom in understanding the surest and most correct path towards Europe, and in the accuracy of the elections, in keeping with the language? of European politics.

The PDSH chairman holds meetings in electoral zones 81 and 82, in the municipalities of Libofshe, Topoj, Patos and Sheqisht Libofsha shows how people evolve and change, how they move away from regression and seek to embrace progress, look to the future and forget the past. What is happening here, and what has happened, shows that all of Albania is democratic, that the Albanian people aspire to a better life, aspire for everyone to live and earn through their own hard work, and aspire to live better, for themselves and their children, in the future. Yesterday, in Fier’s electoral zones 81 and 82, PDSH chairman Tritan Shehu held meetings with voters ahead of the by-elections scheduled for 16 June ’96. The slogans raised by participants at these meetings, such as “The DP has won,” “Vasil Ndreko has won,” or “Vision has won and will win again,” were signs of dissatisfaction with the repetition of elections in these zones. At the same time, however, they expressed confidence that the DP would win again in these zones, beyond any doubt. Mr Shehu held his first and second meetings in the municipality of Libofsha

The leaders of Poli Q, in deep despair over their deserved defeat on 26 May and the vacancies in Brussels and Athens, and disillusioned by Austrian Chancellor Vranicki’s firm negative reply, have finally, according to well-informed sources, accepted that they may take part in the 16 June by-elections in 17 zones. Nevertheless, still tilting at windmills, they agree to enter the elections on condition that the election date is postponed and international monitors arrive. By this gesture, they show that they resemble a drowning man trying to save himself by clinging to a straw. But this is a completely desperate effort, since they have been discredited not only within the country but also throughout Europe. Unlike Poli Q, the other half of the Red Front—that is, the Socialist Party’s far-left wing—through Pëllumbi issues the Enverist pledge: “We will not surrender.” In other words, the PS insists on a complete rerun of the elections, an option despised by the United States of America and Europe. The Red Front has especially split, and this means, more than anything, that its defeat was deserved. It also means that the DP’s victory would inevitably lead to the final collapse of the Red Front.

After attending the plenary session at the meeting of the UN’s Second Conference on Housing and Human Settlements, President Berisha returned to his homeland yesterday. Taking part in the Habitat II plenary session alongside 11 other heads of state, President Berisha expressed his pleasure that, after 50 years of isolation, Albania was participating in this important world conference. At the hotel, this figure is over a billion, while it is projected that after the year 2000, two-thirds of the world’s population will live in cities. Figures such as these make adequate housing for all and the development of human settlements the central themes of Habitat II, in the context of their rapid urbanization. Unlike what was discussed at Habitat I, held 20 years ago in Vancouver, Canada, the second conference on human settlements affirmed that the world’s challenge today is its cities and their development—not only by governments, but also in partnership with non-governmental organizations, which will help resolve these problems. Reflecting on the housing situation Albania inherited after 50 years of communism, President Berisha said that housing for families of former political persecuted people and those living on the properties of former owners is now an acute problem in Albania, which the government is trying to solve. So too is the other problem: the large-scale movement of the population from rural areas to cities. Housing needs were expressed by around 30% of the population seeking to improve their living conditions. Although there is not yet an adequate traditional housing market in Albania, thousands of families live in overcrowded homes or in housing of inadequate quality. Albania, Berisha said, is now at the stage of major economic development projects and at the same time needs investment and technical assistance to formulate strategic development policies. More than 30 minutes after the plenary session, President Berisha met with UN Secretary-General Boutros Ghali. Dr Butros Ghali congratulated President Berisha and wished him success in consolidating democracy and promoting the country’s prosperity. In his remarks, President Berisha stressed that Albania is a stable country and that democracy in Albania will continue to consolidate. The election campaign and election day on 26 May saw minor disturbances and irregularities, but they were entirely within the standards of an election campaign and election day, Berisha said. The boycott of the elections just three hours before the polls closed is unprecedented in the entire history of boycotts. But this had no effect on voter turnout, which reached over 89%. I, Berisha stressed, following the electoral commission’s recommendation, designated 17 zones for re-elections, but unfortunately the communists continue their boycott. Today, individual boycotters or groups are trying through a boycott to hold democracy, stability and, why not, Albania’s sovereignty hostage, something that cannot happen. I want to stress that the guarantors of democracy, stability and Albania’s sovereignty are the Albanians, who, with a plebiscitary vote, endorsed democracy and their achievements and gave communism its final answer. The Kosovo issue was another important point of the Berisha–Ghali meeting. The situation in Kosovo, Berisha said, is grave, and a sense of despair has arisen after Dayton and the European Union’s recognition of Yugoslavia. It is essential, Berisha continued, to establish dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade in the presence of a third party, but unfortunately no progress has yet been made in this regard. On Wednesday, President Berisha held separate meetings with Israeli President Vajzman, whom Berisha invited to visit Albania. President Vajzman accepted the invitation. At this meeting, and at other meetings with Romanian President Iliesku and Bulgarian President Zhelev, they discussed bilateral relations, their further development and intensification, as well as the election results in Albania. Wednesday evening ended with a dinner hosted by Turkish President Demirel for the heads of state participating in Habitat II. At a meeting during dinner between Berisha and Polish President Kvasnjevski, they discussed strengthening bilateral relations and the situation in the region. President Kvasnjevski accepted Berisha’s invitation to make a visit to Albania in the near future. Meanwhile, one of the English-language daily newspapers, “Turkish Daily Nuz,” carried the headline: “Berisha says: ‘The Communists no longer have a chance to turn the world around’,” and published an exclusive interview with President Berisha. Yesterday’s programme included a meeting between President Berisha and Turkish President Demirel. Berisha thanked his host for the excellent organization of the Habitat II conference. He expressed satisfaction with the very positive progress of relations between our two countries in all fields and emphasized Albania’s interest in attracting investment from Turkey’s private sector to Albania. President Berisha returned to his homeland.

NATIONAL LIBRARY TIRANA Albania demonstrates stability

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