The communists are falling in Strasbourg too Yesterday in Strasbourg the Political Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe met to discuss the implementation of a resolution from a few weeks earlier in Albania. The opposition’s election representative was invited to this meeting. To begin his speech, he once again affirmed that the elections in Albania are fully in line with OSCE criteria according to the Constitutional Court’s decision. He then addressed all the accusations and fabrications of the opposition, supported by concrete facts and documents. After he showed that the opposition’s claim that Albanians have had their identity cards taken away since the first pluralist elections is false, Mr. Fischer intervened in the meeting and asked where the blocked identity cards were. The opposition representative did not answer Mr. Fischer’s question. He continued repeating fabrications. The Council of Europe emphasized that elections and the resolution of issues are the responsibility of the state authorities and the Constitutional Court. As very reliable sources report, the chairman of the socialist parliamentary group of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Mr. Rudolf Bindig, at one point said that the opposition representative was becoming ridiculous. The Albanian deputy of the Democratic Party of Albania, Mr. Xhezair Zaganjori, emphasized that in Albania what the Albanian opposition has opposed and continues to oppose strongly and through terror is taking place, but it cannot stop Albania’s road toward Europe. Also yesterday, at a press conference, senior OSCE representatives in Tirana declared that the elections in Albania are free and fair and that the counting of votes is being carried out correctly. They also refuted the opposition by declaring that there have been no mass irregularities. According to these sources, senior representatives of the OSCE and the Council of Europe said that the Albanian government and its institutions are acting in accordance with the laws and European standards. Meanwhile, the opposition was accused of trying to create an atmosphere of tension and distort the electoral reality. Council of Europe: further aid for Albania

A video interview of the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs In the March 1991 elections, free and fair, the Democratic Party managed to win only 12 seats, even though the Albanian communists again, but it did not boycott the elections. Page 2

ATSH news agency reports from Strasbourg: In the press statement of the representatives of the Council of Europe and the OSCE in Albania, it is stated that the international bodies will continue technical and political assistance to the Albanian institutions. According to the statement, the electoral process has been in line with European standards and has been assessed as an important step toward consolidating democracy in the country. The statement also says that Albania has made notable progress in strengthening the rule of law and democratic institutions, although there is still a need for further work in some areas. Representatives of the international organizations emphasized the importance of political dialogue and respect for the constitutional order.

After the meeting of the representatives of the Albanian political parties in the Political Committee of the Council of Europe, the Chairman of the Democratic Party of Albania Prof. Dr. Tritan Shehu declared: Page 3

In the debate session in the political committee of the Council of Europe, European parliamentarians take the floor for the opposition. The invited personalities of the Council of Europe are attacked. Page 3

Has spoken out in favor of the Red Front Feeling himself completely Albanian legalists from the division and the undivided incited by the PLL Guri Durollari, I resign from all my functions as political secretary of the party “Lëvizja e Legalitetit”, and deputy chairman of the PLL and from Tranz[?] declares Mr. Spahnd Abazi. Page 3

Honourable Mr. President, The raging wave of the masses has killed for decades in Italy. This sudden minjalizim has painfully affected not only the Italian people, but all civilized citizens throughout the world. The Albanian people share this great sorrow with the Italian people. Please accept my most sincere condolences, as well as those of the Albanian people, for the victims and their families. Sali Berisha

The Embassy of the Czech Republic announces that Saturday 30.3.1996 is a national holiday and for this reason the Embassy will be closed to the public on that date. FROM THE CZECH EMBASSY

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