The purpose of this bank in Albania has been and will be to develop infrastructure, strengthen weak sectors of the economy, support foreign investment, and create financial intermediary institutions. The bank coordinates its activities with international donors, particularly in the fields of telecommunications, energy, transport, industry, and finance. PAGE 2

The American Republican Institute assesses changes to Albania’s electoral law Progress in electoral reform Electoral indecision At their recent meetings and press conferences, the left-wing parties have expressed their positions on whether or not they will participate in the local elections. At a meeting of its leadership held two days ago, the Socialist Party appointed its electoral commission for the local elections, which includes the entire leadership as well as several other members of the Steering Committee. However, although they have begun organizing their election campaign, they do not dare to state their destructive instinct regarding the decision to boycott the local elections. Thus, among other decisions, they also declared their right to boycott the elections if they consider it reasonable. Meanwhile, yesterday, at a meeting of the PAD Assembly, there was talk of organizing the campaign, but once again they reiterated their demands, changed to suit PAD’s preferences. Although the elections have been legally administered—that is, the election law has been approved, the Electoral Commission has been decreed, and so on—the alliance continues to communicate negatively in Albanian politics. Their conditions, reiterated yesterday after being announced a few days earlier at one of their roundtables, are a familiar anomaly in the activity of this very small party, almost as small as Kalakula’s party. PSD Chairman Gjinushi also said at yesterday’s press conference that he supported the conditions set by Polit Q. in order to have normal elections. According to him, this is the reason that could lead to the postponement of the local elections. As can be seen, the architects of the greatest political destruction in Albania—that of May 26—have decided to view a boycott as a recurring option for continuing their alternative of walking away. In a democratic country such as Albania, abandoning institutions as a strategy and seizing power by distancing oneself from it is a utopia. As was also demonstrated in the May 26 elections, their departure creates no rupture in Albania’s democratic life, much less in the continuation of reforms. The Albanian Parliament convened and has so far passed important laws. It has been recognized as legitimate by all international institutions and has continued its national and international work normally, so much so that the normal functioning of such a parliament also entails the normal absence of the Socialists from it. Their indecision now contains elements that have become thoroughly worn out among both Albanian and foreign audiences. Their demands, such as postponing the election date, show that the leadership of these parties includes people who do not take politics or their own parties seriously. A simple calculation of the legal deadlines, together with ordinary attention to such issues, would be enough to dismiss this demand as absurd. Albanians’ attention to another boycott has diminished. It is quite certain that a declaration of an election boycott in the local elections will again win over very few voters, if only because the candidacies are local, bringing the future leaders closer to their voters. Every voter finds it easier to express an opinion on issues that directly concern them than to indulge the political whims of the Socialists or Politists. In the IRI statement published yesterday, it is emphasized that Parliament has approved the law on public gatherings, changes have also been made to the law on local elections, and the President has issued the decree establishing the Electoral Commission. IRI considers these changes an important step taken by the Government of Albania to improve the electoral process and a strong fulfillment of IRI’s recommendations for ensuring a balanced system for administering elections. PAGE 3

In the IRI statement published yesterday, it is emphasized that Parliament has approved the law on public gatherings, changes have also been made to the law on local elections, and the President has issued the decree establishing the Electoral Commission.

Albert Brojka at the Christian Democrat International and at the ECDU meeting in Brussels The purpose of the meeting of the Christian Democrat International was to analyze the work carried out to date by the Political Bureau of this International, as well as to plan the work and budget for its future activities. PAGE 2

Article in the Swiss daily Neue Zürcher Zeitung

Article in the Swiss daily Neue Zurcher Zeitung Now, after three parliamentary elections in Albania, calling for a round table means nothing more and nothing less than depriving a democratically elected parliament of its rights and duties through an extra-parliamentary body. Is the round table supposed to introduce a system of “soviets”? “Rule by one party in Albania” is an article by German Social Democratic MP Albert Pfhul, published in the Swiss newspaper Neue Zurcher Zeitung. An ODIHR observer at the most recent parliamentary elections in Albania, as well as rapporteur on Albania at the Council of Europe from 90 to 95, Pfhul analyzes post-election developments in the country. Neue Zürcher Zeitung. INTERNATIONAL EDITION. Reproduction of the article in German.

Meeting of Interior Minister Shamata with the envoys of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, Mr. Kastaneto and Ms. Zhamara Meeting of Interior Minister Shamata with the envoy of the Parliamentary Assembly of the C E,

Interview with the Minister of Education and Sports, Mr. Edmond Lulja PAGE 9

PAD on the path to breaking up after the elections Yesterday’s meeting also brought to light opposition from a considerable number of PAD members to the alliance with PSD. Poli Q., they say, has only strengthened the reputation of Gjinushi’s left-wingers, who now also receive money from the Socialist International PAGE 3

Meeting of Interior Minister Shamata with the envoy of the Parliamentary Assembly of the C E,

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