Yesterday President Berisha decreed amendments to the law on local government elections. The decree was issued only a few hours after these amendments were also approved by the People’s Assembly. Amendments to the law on local elections had been the subject of debate at several roundtables of political parties. They, just like those set out in the new election law, reflect the convergence of proposals put forward by opposition parties and are fully consistent with the recommendations of the Council of Europe concerning the conduct of local government elections under free, fair and democratic conditions.

Statement by the DP spokesperson The decision of the left-wing opposition to request that the elections be postponed is, in practice, a decision to boycott the elections. After the non-existent par[?], this decision has now also been embraced by the Socialist Party, which appears to be completely unable to cope with an election campaign. As is known, the election date was set by the PS, and the demand to postpone it is a lack of seriousness and an expression of the party’s deep[?] crisis. I believe that the period until 20 October is sufficient [for] all the necessary election procedures, and the request is simply an excuse for the left’s boycott.

Yesterday in the People’s Assembly The law amending the law on elections for local government bodies was approved in principle, article by article and in its entirety, by a majority of votes. The law’s approval gave legal form to some of the decisions reached at the parties’ meeting with the President and corrected some of the shortcomings of the previous law, also identified by ODHIR, concerning the composition of commissions, the genocide law, the voting process, the format of ballot papers and the counting of votes. PAGE 3

. A roundtable convened yesterday, attended by the Socialists, Pol Q and several other satellite parties, decided to boycott the local elections. For this unscrupulous political act, they set several conditions that are untenable both politically and institutionally. The invention of such conditions does not at all demonstrate their commitment to Albanian politics, but rather the negativity they carry because of their inferiority in this political arena. The deep leadership crisis, the crisis of confidence, and the certainty that they would lose badly drove the Socialists, on the very day that all the conditions set at the parties’ roundtable had been met, to decide on a boycott. Also yesterday, the Albanian Parliament approved amendments to the law on local elections, thereby achieving a full reflection of all the demands that had emerged from debates and discussions among the political parties. The Socialists themselves had also expressed support for meeting the conditions concerning the proposals made to amend the local election law. Ruka was one of the leaders of the Socialist delegation at the parties’ roundtable held at the Presidency, and called the proposals put forward by his party fulfilled. These are the same proposals that were also reflected in Parliament yesterday. Thus, the genocide law was amended, while many other technical issues, or those relating to various institutions, were accommodated in the new law. After the PS lost credibility because of its boycott on 26 May, it was naturally expected that its participation in the local elections would be beyond question. It is clear that, amid the deep crisis this party is now experiencing and its decline, for any Socialist in a leadership position, whether younger or older, it would be very difficult to face the others. This fact and this same situation within the PS are among the certain causes of the boycott announced yesterday by the withdrawal roundtable. No one in this party, now disfigured and without any reason to remain standing, wants to take responsibility for the certain defeat in the 20 October elections. The Socialists’ coalition with the most discredited forces in Albanian politics is a historical creation for them, since they have no other possibility than to sink into the apathetic condition that has prevailed in these parties, multiplying without any constructive reflection, from the time of their creation until today. The Socialists have finally sunk to the level of their allies.

The law amending the law on elections for local government bodies was approved in principle, article by article and in its entirety, by a majority of votes. The law’s approval gave legal form to some of the decisions reached at

“Albania” celebrates the 100th anniversary of its founding and the first anniversary of its return The President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, also took part [The event marked] the magazine “Albania” by Konica and the first anniversary of the publication of the newspaper of the same name, calling it a notable event in the history of Albanian culture. Berisha called Konica one of the most intelligent Albanians of all time, a champion of freedom and a magician of the Albanian language, while describing his magazine “Albania” as a monument to Albanian civilization and culture. Berisha also praised the contribution of the newspaper “Albania,” founded a year earlier as the successor to Faik Konica’s testament. It remains faithful to Western civilization and preserves the critical spirit of its founder, Berisha said of the newspaper. In his view, “Albania” remains a serious, sincere newspaper, open to intellectuals. In greeting “Albania” on its anniversary, Berisha took the opportunity to express his appreciation for the entire Albanian press in recent years. The Albanian press, which over these four years has become a powerful parliament of free speech, Berisha said, has made and continues to make a very great contribution to the development and protection of the values of democracy. In his view, it is precisely in its outspoken opposition that its great merit and undeniable contribution to Albanian democracy lie. In congratulating the Albania newspaper team today, Berisha concluded, I wish to congratulate all journalists and all publishers, whether present here or not, for their valuable work and the contribution they make to consolidating democracy and its values. The director of the newspaper “Albania,” Rakipi, thanked those present for attending the celebration of the founding of one of the monuments to Albanian values and culture. Your presence here, he said, is a great tribute to Albanian culture and its magnificent heritage. In 1942 Faik Konica, a man of the Albanian word and of genius talent, died in America with a testament in his pocket, for our homeland, Albania. Part of the testament is also the continuation of the magazine Albania, which he founded 100 years ago, said R[?], emphasizing that the idea of A[n?] and the unsurpassed master Konuk[s?] remains a testament. A year ago, a group of journalists thought of setting up and launching the newspaper “Albania,” the familiar title of his magazine. Rakipi, who has been… [the text is unclear] continues to uphold that idea. According to him, in one year at the Albania newsroom, many people and many ideas have come together. For Rakipi, it is a source of pride to observe, after one year, the contribution made by the small newspaper “Albania” among the whole Albanian press, in civic, political[?] and cultural communication.

Interview with Mr Ali Spahia PAGE 3

The PD chairman comments on the draft law on local elections The chairman of the Democratic Party, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tritan Shehu, spoke to the press immediately after the approval of the law on local elections, regarding one of the provisions of the draft law on local elections: a sentence of up to 9 years in prison for members of election commissions if they abandon their duties, as happened on May 26. Following the amendments made in Parliament, the law provides for sentences of up to 3 years. Mr. Shehu first noted that, at the meeting of the parties with the president, no one objected to penalties under an article intended to prevent the abandonment of election commissions, which would cause serious disruptions to the voting process and could undoubtedly create tendencies toward destabilization in the country. Thus, the purpose of all the amendments to the new law is, on the one hand, to ensure full transparency in the voting and vote-counting process and, on the other, to block any tendency whose purpose is to disrupt and obstruct the voting process—in other words, tendencies that run counter to the wishes and will of the Albanian people themselves.

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The Greek Ambassador to Albania presented his credentials to President Berisha Yesterday, the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, received the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Greece to the Republic of Albania, Mr. Costandin Prevend[e]rakis, who presented his credentials. At the meeting, President Berisha praised the currently very good relations with Greece, which not only strengthen the friendship between our two peoples but are also of positive importance for our entire region. “I truly see a brilliant future for cooperation between our two countries,” said President Berisha. The ambassador emphasized the important role of the Treaty of Friendship between the two countries, noting that good relations with Albania are a strategic goal for Greece. He congratulated Albania on the visible results in its development, expressed appreciation, and voiced solidarity with the progress of democracy in our country. The ceremony was also attended by the Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tritan Shehu.