Press release from the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs In the March 1991 elections, which were declared free and fair, the Democratic Party had 12 people killed by the Albanian communist secret police during the campaign, but it did not boycott the elections. Page 2

Yesterday in Strasbourg, the Red Front’s alibi for the manipulated elections in Albania was finally refuted. In the presence of representatives of the Albanian political parties who were in Strasbourg, the representative of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the chair of its observer commission in Albania declared that the elections in Albania had been conducted in accordance with international procedural rules, while the technical irregularities observed during this process had not affected the election results. Despite the left opposition’s expansion into international institutions in an attempt to justify its abandonment of the vote in Albania and its electorate, European public opinion and international institutions such as the OSCE are aware that the electoral process in Albania was regular and that the Democratic Party’s resounding victory is legitimate. This marks the final destruction of communism in Albania and its discrediting in the eyes of Europe as well. Ultimately, the country avoided the isolation that the extreme left was preparing for it by slandering Albanian institutions and the Democratic Party. Yesterday in Strasbourg, too, the leaders of the Red Front, Dokle, Ceka, Gjinushi, did everything they could to sway the opinion of OSCE leaders. They did not even refrain from using thug-like language against the OSCE’s most prominent figures, such as Fisher, Kolumberg, Finsberg, etc., when the organization’s Election Commission chair declared that the elections in Yesterday, the OSCE Parliamentary Committee on Political Affairs met in the Council of Europe to discuss several issues that had arisen concerning the elections in Albania, attended by the leaders of the main Albanian political parties and representatives of the OSCE, as well as the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly observer group in Albania and the Central Commission. Mr. Raoul Uksavar, procedural rules and that the technical irregularities had not affected the election results. He also emphasized and insisted that this was the view of the entire OSCE parliamentary group. the opposition had raised against the elections, saying that he and his group had observed no instance of violence during election day in Albania or during the election campaign. He also added that the election campaign had been conducted in accordance with the law and that the amount of television airtime used was in accordance with the law. Therefore, he

President Berisha offers condolences to Greek President Stefanopulos Mr. President, Please accept my most sincere condolences on the death of former Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou, a historic figure of modern Greece. Mr. President, Please accept my most sincere condolences on the death of former Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou, a historic figure of modern Greece. The Greek people and their friends will long remember Prime Minister Papandreou’s contribution to the consolidation of democracy and the development of his country. Please convey, Mr. President, my condolences also to the family of the deceased.

President Berisha offers condolences to Italian President Skalfaro On the occasion of the natural disaster that struck Northern Italy and caused fatalities, I send to You and, through You, to the families of the victims, my most sincere condolences and those of the Albanian people.

The Council of Europe will continue its support and assistance to Albania. was preparing to impose Strasbourg, too, the chairman of the Red Front, Dokle, Ceka and Gjinushi did everything they could to influence the opinion of the OSCE leadership. They did not even spare thuggish language directed at the OSCE’s most important Chairman of the Electoral Commission declared that the elections in Albania had been regular. From election day onward, using prepared scenarios, they tried to overthrow the democratic system in Albania. They prepared falsified minutes, organized the security groups, and at the same time got ready to announce the election results outside the commissions. The whole thing followed the pattern of a coup d’état, which they would have carried out at the moment of the verification of powers on election day. When all their plans went up in smoke, they abandoned the voting, putting their faith in the Marxist group of observers and in the fanciful testimony of the anti-Albanian Gages, believing they could convince Europe that the elections had been manipulated. But the time of the communists in Europe had passed earlier than it had in Albania. They know and recognize their tricks, just as they have not hesitated to fight this system, which had gripped the East for decades. The elections in Albania could not provide a pretext for the return of communism to this country. That pretext existed only in the leadership of the Socialist Party and its servants in the PAD and PSD. It continues to remain merely a pretext, without any step being taken toward making the return of communism to Albania a reality. In pursuing this aim, they encountered the people’s vote, which was in fact the first to boycott the Albanian communists and their satellites. On the first of July, the new Albanian parliament will convene. It will continue economic reform in Albania. This parliament will also further strengthen the democratic values of Albania and the Albanians. The absence of the communists means the absence of anti-values, which is a blessing for the country. The Council of Europe is disappointed to discuss several issues that arose in connection with the elections in Albania, with the participation of of the OSCE and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly observer group that were in Albania, as well as the Central Election Commission. The meeting began with a presentation by each party leader and representative, and continued with questions from the audience addressed to the leaders of the Albanian political forces and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. According to the reports we have received, the Assembly representative reiterated the Council of Europe’s position on providing further assistance in support of the democratic processes developed so far in Albania, especially in the legislative field and in improving electoral education. One of the ambassadors requested that the next Albanian parliament, which will convene on 1 July 1996, give priority to considering the next steps in Albania’s cooperation with the Council of Europe. Yesterday, when the Political Commission of the Council of Europe met to discuss several issues that had arisen in connection with the elections in Albania, the main representatives of the Albanian parties and representatives of the OSCE, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly observer group that had been in Albania, and the Central Election Commission gathered. cooperation with the Council of Europe. He also added that the electoral that television airtime had been allocated in accordance with the law. He therefore stressed that the process had generally been normal, apart from some technical problems that need to be improved step by step by strengthening institutions and further training the people who will handle electoral procedures in Albania in the future.

Vulgar insults during the debate session of the Council of Europe’s Political Affairs Committee. European parliamentarians protest Ceka’s language. Council of Europe figures are also attacked. Page 3

After the meeting of representatives of the Albanian political parties at the Political Affairs Committee of the Council of Europe, the Chairman of the DP of Albania, Prof. Dr. Tritan Shehu, stated: Page 3

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Has declared support for the Red Front Feeling offended as an Albanian legalist by the unfounded and ill-considered statements of the chairman of the PLL, Guri Durollari, I resign from all my functions as political secretary of the “Legality Movement” party and deputy chairman of the PLL Tirana branch, declares Mr. Shpend Abazi.

The Embassy of Greece announces that on Tuesday, 25.6.1996, from 10:30 to 15:30, a book of condolences for former Prime Minister of Greece Andreas Papandreu, who died on 23.6.1996, will be opened at the Embassy’s premises in Tirana. FROM THE GREEK EMBASSY