Press conference of the Chairman of PD, Prof. Dr. Tritan Shehu Communism has received the final blow Yesterday, at the meeting with journalists, the Chairman of PDSH, Mr. Tritan Shehu, together with the secretary for international relations of PDSH, Mr. Albert Brojka, confirmed that the elections were normal and that they are freeing and bringing Albania closer to the West, but also the fault of the opposition. In a statement on 16 June. The media that were present also on the political scene. The new victory of PDSH has made it clear that the orientation of the Albanians is that in the entire election process of 26 March the order and democratic rule have been respected. In the media it was assessed that these elections Mr. Shehu responded by stressing that this victory was complete. At the meeting with journalists he emphasized also the fact of their clear position by the people. According to him, on 22 March we won 85 mandates and, including the 9 mandates won in the areas where the 16 June elections were held, this number rose to 94. Every opposition force has declared that the elections were not free. Mr. Shehu said that these elections were completely free and that the only incident in them was the one in zone 26, where such an act was committed by an opposition commissioner. Regarding the historical importance of these elections, the Chairman of PDSH said that in these elections the Albanians have shown that they have broken away from their communist past. “The Albanians voted for the future, voted for European integration and dealt the final blow to communism,” he said. He further said that this result was a clear response to those forces that had wanted to create instability in the country. Mr. Shehu emphasized that the electoral process has been in accordance with the law and that the government will continue reforms. He praised the support of the electorate for PDSH and said that the opposition should reflect on this result. At the conference it was also stated that Albania will move faster toward European institutions and that this victory should be seen as a confirmation of the country’s Western choice.

President Berisha received the OSBE parliamentary delegation The will of the people Confirmation of the will respected to the end President of the Republic Sali Berisha received yesterday the OSBE parliamentary delegation. The latest developments and the parliamentary election process in Albania were at the center of the discussion. At the meeting, President Berisha emphasized that the elections constitute a confirmation of the country’s democratic orientation and of the will of Albanian citizens. He stated that the Albanian institutions will guarantee until the end the respect of the free vote and of the result emerging from the elections. The OSBE parliamentary delegation was informed about the progress of the process and expressed interest in political stability and the continuation of democratic reforms. During the meeting, the importance of cooperation with international bodies was also emphasized.

Let us remain in a Democratic Albania Page 3 By ALEKSANDËR MEKSI Let us build a Democratic Albania

KOZ criticizes OSBE over the arguments for the ODIHR report the central administration and government officials in the ODIHR report read in public opinion. leaders of ODIHR. Our request that this is unfair and generalizing. Representatives of the election committee, experts and heads of institutions have called for an open debate on the assessments made in the report. According to them, the remarks must be based on facts and not on political conclusions. In this context it was stressed that the electoral process had isolated problems, but not such as to undermine the overall result. OSBE and ODIHR were asked to hear the arguments of the Albanian side.

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Observers of European political forces confirm the correctness of the elections Page 2

MAIN NOTE The political statements of the SHKAZESE spokesperson of “Aleanca” about the confiscations, after 17 June. Could it be that we are dealing with red renaissance enthusiasts.