President Berisha received the OSCE parliamentary delegation The President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, received the OSCE parliamentary delegation, consisting of two Irish MPs, Mr. Lawlar and Courtney, and confirmed to them his determination to respect to the very end the will of the people, expressed freely in the elections to the People’s Assembly. The observers from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly confirmed to President Berisha that, based on their observations, the Albanian authorities had acted properly and the elections had proceeded normally.

Press conference by the Chairman of the DP, Prof. Dr. Tritan Shehu Yesterday, at a meeting with journalists, the chairman of the DPA, Mr. Tritan Shehu, and the DPA secretary for international relations, Mr. Albert Brojka, confirmed that the partial elections of 16 June had proceeded normally and that the DP had won in all the constituencies. In his press statement, Mr. Shehu said that yesterday the full cycle of political elections in our country came to an end, following the rerun in 17 constituencies pursuant to the President’s decree, based on the decision of the Central Electoral Commission. And yesterday, during the rerun in the second round, the “Red Front” called on its electorate to boycott the elections and withdrew from voting. The DP and other parties took part in these elections. There were also around 30 foreign observers and many journalists, Mr. Shehu continued. He went on to say that the main characteristics of yesterday were proper voting and respect for the rules, but above all voter participation, despite the calls ... a moderate left, but one thing is certain: all the conditions for such a thing have not been created. The final destruction of communism on 26 May makes this an urgent necessity. Question: Since the DP took part and also won all 17 constituencies on 16 June, does this mean that the DP will not form a coalition government? Answer: Even in these repeated elections, there were several factors that compelled us to fight for a complete victory; we must be realistic and open with you. First, there was the legal decision of the Central Electoral Commission that the elections would be a rerun of 26 May, that is, under those conditions and not as new elections. Second, the main aim was ... the DP and other parties took part. main characteristic of yesterday was simply proper conduct despite calls for a boycott. All these things were confirmed by all the observers. According to our data, an average of 68% of the electorate as a whole participated in the voting in the 17 constituencies, that is, around 18% less than on 26 May, a figure corresponding to the part of the electorate that boycotted the elections, namely the Red Front electorate. The DP won all 17 constituencies, with results ranging from 61% to 78%. These figures, and those from the second round, which are similar, confirm the validity of the first-round voting on 26 May. Our victory clearly showed the right-wing and progressive orientation of the Albanian people, and their determination not to turn back on the path of development. It also showed that Albanian communism received its final blow, confronting the Albanian left with the absolute need to renew itself and build a new, moderate socialist political force, far from the far left. This victory increased the DP’s responsibilities, not only toward its electorate but toward the entire Albanian people, to justify the great confidence placed in it in a plebiscitary manner, Mr. Shehu concluded. For his part, Mr. Brojka added that he had had the opportunity to attend a meeting of the European Christian Democratic Union in Malta, where the agenda included, among other matters, the elections of 26 May in Albania. On that occasion, both the ECDU President and the meeting adopted a four-point resolution, once again confirming the results of 26 May, results that have by now become known through the information itself. The press conference continued with questions from journalists. Question: Mr. Shehu, in your statement you mentioned the need to renew the Albanian left. What can you say about that? Answer: As on 22 March, this time too the Albanians showed that they are against left-wing extremism, against communism; they support the democratic alternative for development, the progressive path of development. On the other hand, I want to tell you that the defeat suffered by the leaders of the PS was deliberate: they sabotaged the formation of the Socialist Party parliamentary group, fearing that this new group, in Parliament and without their presence, would break away from the conservative leadership of the PS and, thanks to the authority a member of parliament gains in Parliament, create a moderate socialist force. That, it seems to me, is the main reason the compromised socialist leaders sabotaged the formation of the PS parliamentary group. Some of the leaders needed the political blockade; on the other hand, it also teaches the moderate part of the PS—a part that truly believes in the ideals of European socialism—a lesson: they should make the final decision to separate the worthy figures from the conservatives and create a moderate left-wing political force, as is reasonably demanded of an Albanian political force. When will they do this? We cannot know. Perhaps it will take time; it will not be an easy path. In an interview Dokle gave to “ZP,” when asked when they would hold the Party congress, he said, “We have declared that we will hold the congress after the elections. But the elections have not ended yet,” Dokle says. So who knows when the next elections will be held; perhaps they will be postponed indefinitely, along with the PS Congress’s second set of celebrations. Of course, we cannot say exactly when it will be held. Our victory showed the progressive orientation of the Albanians

OSCE observers state: - The only complaint from some voters (PS supporters) was that their party had boycotted the elections

Voice of America correspondent Illirian Agolli spoke with Mr. DENIEL MEKEDEMS, representative of the British Helsinki Group. Mr. Mekedems was in the country for these repeated elections in 17 constituencies, representing the British Helsinki Group for Human Rights. He also observed the first rounds of the parliamentary elections in Albania on 26 May and 2 June. He says that, overall, he saw many polling stations where commissions were applying the rules and citizens were voting calmly. “We,” says Mr. Mekedems, “met many commission members as well as ordinary voters, including Democratic voters and opposition Socialist voters, or supporters ... correction at the highest level of the errors of the first round. Mr. Mekedems said he had met many Socialist opposition supporters and Social Democrats yesterday who had openly expressed their disappointment that their parties were not participating in the electoral process. “Nevertheless,” Mr. Mekedems added, “they were all voting, and this shows the sense of responsibility they feel as law-abiding citizens. “Ultimately, it can be stated,” he said, “that the elections in Albania across the three electoral contests were held entirely” …many polling stations where he had seen commissions enforcing the rules and citizens as well as ordinary voters, including Democratic voters and Socialist opposition voters, or supporters of the Republicans and other parties, and all of them told us their views: that all the rules were being followed at their polling stations in their districts and that they were voting calmly.” The representative of the British Helsinki Group said that yesterday’s voting differed to some extent from that of May 26. In all 17 districts where the elections were repeated yesterday, during the first round the Central Electoral Commission said that there had been violations—but, Mr. Mekedems said, yesterday’s process was an and this shows the responsibility they feel as proper citizens.” Ultimately, he said, it can be stated that the elections in Albania in the three electoral contests were conducted fully in accordance with Albanian laws, freely and fairly. Overall, they were not marred by the number of irregularities observed in the first round of the elections. At the conclusion of the two rounds of elections, the British Helsinki Group for Human Rights published a full report on its observations of the elections in Albania, while it will publish another report on the repeat elections in the 17 electoral districts, according to Mr. Mekedems, in about a week.

The CEC asks the OSCE for evidence supporting the ODIHR report The Central Electoral Commission asks the OSCE for evidence supporting the ODIHR report Last weekend, the Central Electoral Commission invited the OSCE institutions that observed the parliamentary elections in Albania to establish the necessary dialogue and discuss the conclusions and observations set out in the report of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). In telegrams, the chairman of this commission, Edmir Kapidani, invites ODIHR Director Audrey Glover and Ambassador Raymund Kunz, head of the OSCE delegation, to come to Albania or, if that is not possible, to receive a CEC group in Vienna and Warsaw. Kapidani writes to Ambassador Kunz that we are ready to be transparent and, so that we can be convincing, we invite Director Glover and a group of ODIHR experts to come to Albania for an open discussion. Kapidani draws the attention of both OSCE officials to specific chapters of the ODIHR report, such as the first chapter, “Conclusions and Observations,” requesting accurate and detailed information to substantiate the assertions made in its assessment of the elections of 26 May and 2 June. The lack of arguments and evidence that could lend credibility to the ODIHR observers’ report became apparent last week during the review continued on page 3 …urgently in such a matter. Question: Since the PD took part and also won the 17 districts on June 16, does this mean that the PD will not form a government coalition? elections would be a rerun of May 26, Second, the main aim in these elections was to win, because we can win at any time and in any district in Albania, whoever we faced, whether the PS or any other political force, because that is the geography of our electorate, and we can win the majoritarian vote in every district. But this time something else mattered: participation mattered, because the socialists called on their electorate to boycott at all costs. In these circumstances, a possible withdrawal by us in some districts would certainly have brought a significant drop in voter turnout in those districts; that is only natural. They would have used this to say, “Look, this is our electorate that boycotted!” They would have exploited it for manipulation, especially internationally. We showed them that this is your electorate; the mathematics are simple: these districts had only 18% fewer voters on average than on May 26. Let us assume that all of those were everyone else; there cannot be more than that—this is their electorate. With this number of voters, under a majoritarian law, they cannot win in any district. How many did they win under the majoritarian system in ’92? Under the majoritarian system they won only 4 districts in ’92, then they got the proportional representation seats. The law has changed this time. But that does not mean, however, that we are not ready for a coalition. We had two-thirds of Parliament and nevertheless formed a coalition with the other parties, because we consider a coalition a form of cooperation and a democratic instrument. I want to say that we are open to coalitions, even though we have an overwhelming majority in Parliament, and we will work in that direction. This is our democratic concept of governance, and we do not shy away from coalitions. Indeed, we will explore the possibility of expanding this coalition with Albania’s centre and right-wing forces. Then, soon, we will have local elections, which are another broad field for political cooperation, where many more agreements can be made with other political forces. We will be entirely open in this regard. Question: What parallels can you draw, Mr. Shehu, between the elections in Albania and those in Russia? Answer: The Albanian communists wanted to repeat the events that took place repeatedly in Russia. Do not forget that the events in Albania during the coup attempt against Gorbachev in Russia were parallel. The revival of the Albanian communist extremists in those days, their hope of winning again—they had those hopes once more, and their hopes were rekindled whenever red winds blew in Moscow. It is understandable: they have common interests, while Albania belongs to the West. This is irrefutably demonstrated by the Albanians’ vote in these elections. This vote showed that the Albanians’ vote of March 22 was no accident, but a deep conviction in opening the country up, in support, and in the path toward Europe, toward the West. Question: Mr. Shehu, in an interview given to “Koha Jonë,” Rexhina Nano, the wife of Fatos Nano, claims that she is the one who has directed the PS up to now. How do you comment on this? Answer: In fact, the PS is not run according to democratic principles; it is a party that is based on sects and conspiracy. That is the truth about it. It resembles a sect built on conspiracy. Truly Byzantine things happen in this party. How can a party be run by someone who has no mandate? Continued on page 2

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The spokesperson for the President of the Republic, commenting on the fabrication published in the leaflet of the red fundamentalists, “Zëri i Popullit,” about an alleged meeting between President Berisha and their spiritual ally Fidel Kastro in Istanbul, states that during his stay at the UN Conference Habitat II, the President of the Republic did not meet with Chairman Kastro, nor with any head of state or prime minister, apart from those about whom the Albanian public had been informed. Such disinformation, the spokesperson for the President of the Republic stresses, best expresses the immorality of the red fundamentalists. EDITOR’S NOTE: We are publishing the full comment by the Spokesperson of the President of the Republic concerning the previous issue, which was printed with errors for technical reasons. We apologize to our readers for this mistake.

Let us build a Democratic Albania By ALEKSANDER MEKSI Page 3