The 6th anniversary of the Constitution of Kosovo is commemorated 6 years ago, the legitimate assembly of Kosovo, under Serbian military-police occupation, issued and approved in Kaçanik the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo, known as the Kaçanik Constitution. PAGE 2

The new leadership of the PS decided Everything in the service of free elections The round table that the President organized with the political parties created the normal conditions for preparing the local elections. The proposals that emerged from this round table have an important measure: the democratic government’s willingness to cooperate with the Albanian political parties on all the problems that have been raised or may arise during the pre-election period. This willingness has been consistently evident, but cooperation must also be matched by the political parties’ readiness to create a normal environment for resolving disagreements that can be resolved or are capable of being resolved. The Socialist Party welcomed the government’s decision to amend the law on public gatherings, but it should be said that the government has consistently shown the same inclination as in the previous case: to improve Albanian legislation as quickly and effectively as possible. The Socialist opposition’s arrogance of yesterday has begun to subside, and it increasingly feels the need to listen to the democratic forces. The absence of — Fatos Nano failed to take one thing into account: a sense of danger brings the horses together. Instead of blindly obeying Nano, the leadership reacted harshly, even those whom he had considered his most trusted. “We are not children to be fed with Nano’s bottle,” Islami reacted; since the day of his election, he has begun thinking only about his own career. The other members of the leadership shared the same view. They have decided not to commit political harakiri because of the perversities of the imprisoned chairman, who has turned into an incorrigible megalomaniac, to the point that he seems to think the Earth revolves around him. PAGE 3

Statement from the Delegation of the European Commission in Tirana At the initiative of Yves-Thibault de Silguy, the Commissioner responsible for economic, monetary and financial affairs, and as Mr. Hans Van Den Broek indicated during his visit to Albania, the Commission has decided to provide Albania with a sum of 20 million ECU, in the form of aid intended to support the balance of payments and strengthen the country’s reserves. This allocation constitutes the second tranche of macro-financial assistance amounting to 35 million ECU, decided by the Council of Ministers in November 1994, the first part of which was provided in May 1995. The European Union supports efforts to improve Albania’s economy The new Community assistance of 20 million ECU follows the various forms of macroeconomic financial assistance granted to Albania by the European Union since the beginning of 1992, and this country’s transition to a market economy. Following an initial allocation of 70 million ECU in 1992, on 28 November 1994 the Council of Ministers decided to grant Albania new macro-financial assistance, up to a maximum amount of 35 million ECU, to be disbursed in three tranches, on the basis of the implementation of a series of coherent policy measures and economic reforms supported by the IMF under the structural adjustment facility. The first tranche of Community assistance (15 million ECU) was disbursed in May 1995. The decision to… release the second tranche of this assistance was motivated by various factors: the Commission authorized the disbursement of this second tranche in view of the generally positive results recorded by the Albanian economy over the last two years, particularly in the areas of macroeconomic stabilization, reorientation of foreign trade and mass privatization. It also took into account the effective introduction of VAT on 1 July 1996, the continuation of structural reform, as well as the assurance given by the Albanian authorities regarding the adoption of new corrective measures in the budgetary field.

— META: “We have — META: “We have

After the meeting of the political parties PAGE 3 Ruka: “The law on public gatherings is now modern” possible to resolve. The Socialist Party has gatherings, but it should be said that, as in the case mentioned above, the government has consistently shown the same inclination The Socialist opposition’s domineering arrogance to listen to the views of democratic forces. Its reluctance to take part in the country’s democratic processes, as well as the crisis this party is experiencing, has made its involvement in active Albanian political life an immediate necessity. The revision of the anti-genocide law and the law on public gatherings, the improvement of certain technical conditions at polling stations, and the inclusion of Socialist representatives in the leadership of electoral commissions show that the Democratic Party and its government are following the European path and implementing, or moving in parallel with, the recommendations of the Council of Europe. The presence of a European outlook among the forces leading the Albanian state is fortunate for the opposition too, which continues to display a deficit of Western-oriented tendencies. An OSCE/ODIHR delegation was in Albania in recent days. Through meetings with DP and Albanian state leaders, the delegation became more familiar with cases in which bias had appeared in the organization’s report on the May 26 elections. The ODIHR Director said that another report would be prepared, highlighting the shortcomings of the first report. As can also be seen, the credibility of the May 26 elections is being restored to the appropriate level in the eyes of European and wider public opinion, and this is now increasingly being acknowledged even by officials who had contributed to the darkened picture presented in the reports on May 26. The democratic conditions and the government’s efforts to ensure free and fair elections on October 20 are no longer in question. So far, the only issue that remains disputed in the negative assessments is the stance of the left-wing opposition, and primarily that of the Socialists. The Socialists’ declaration that they will not boycott the local elections is merely a reason to understand that the Socialists are unable to maintain their boundaries by staying outside Albanian political activity and working permanently against the institutions. In any case, the Democratic Party favors these parties abandoning the boycott, but this declaration does not undermine its position on the future or its political vision. As has already become clear, the left’s withdrawal from the political elections has not at all hindered the progress and development of the Democratic Party’s programs for continuing reforms and consolidating democracy in the country.

The struggle in the SP continues - META: “We have lost a battle, but not the war” PAGE 3 - After October 20, Nano will have the counterarguments he used against his opponents after May 26

The activities of the DP branches continue Shijak Xhaferri: Renewal and a landslide victory in the local elections Pogradec The DP has the best regional development plan for the future Tepelenë Closer to citizens and their problems Page 3

The Minister of Agriculture and Food received the American ambassador PAGE 2

The Ministry of Health is closely monitoring the polio situation

by BUJAR HOXHA PAGE 6