Interview with the chairman of the PDSH, Mr. Tritan Shehu Tomorrow the Assembly of Democratic Youth It seems to me that the combination of the best alternative with the best candidacy is, and will be, the key to our full victory in these local elections PAGE 3

A major artistic concert, messages of life and victory from “PD” Today in the Great Park of Tirana At 10:00 in the Great Park of Tirana, the Democratic Party is organizing a large festive concert, the closing event of the election campaign for the by-elections on 20 October in the communes of Libohovë, Fushë Çidhen, Pult, Kastrat and Klos. Candidates for the commune and municipal councils, as well as for mayors, will also take part in this concert. From 10 to 11 in the morning, on Sunday 22 September 1996, the campaign teams from Tirana are to move in procession from all neighborhoods toward the Great Park. The artistic program will begin at 11:00 and will last until 14:00. Taking part in this concert will be singers from variety shows, the circus, ensembles, the army variety troupe, as well as guests and performers brought especially for this event. The citizens of Tirana and all democrats in the country are invited to this festive concert marking the opening of the election campaign for the by-elections of 20 October.

By Roman Herzog “We cannot close our eyes to the way our common state values are being treated and at the same time remain without condemning those who have violated them, trampling the charges underfoot.” PAGE 9

Europe: A challenge to the Albanian Stalinists OSCE welcomes the measures punishing the boycott Ambassador Gligor says socialists are losers of democracy Albanian socialists have received another and stronger signal from senior representatives of politics in Europe. As will also be seen from the report of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on Albania, and from the statements of senior OSCE representatives, the order and calm in the country, and the start of the boycott of parliamentary life by the PS, are being regarded as unacceptable attacks on the legitimate institutions of democracy. For their part, Albanians are not leaving these irresponsible behaviors, inspired by ultra-Stalinist communists, uncondemned. Thousands of residents of Kukës, Peshkopi and Burrel have openly expressed in recent days their disagreement with the political boycott, which is attempting to block all democratic processes in the country. In an interview for the newspaper “Korrieri”, the American ambassador Marisa Gligor said she considers the destructive behavior of the PS toward the lawful institutions of the Albanian state unacceptable. “The position of the Albanian socialists,” Ms. Gligor said, “is seriously damaging Albania’s image in the world. Albanian citizens and political actors must finally break with the old practices of isolation and political pressure.” She further assessed as positive the government’s recent measures to punish the parliamentary boycott and keep the path of institutional dialogue open. She underlined that boycott is not a democratic tool for winning support, but a sign of inability to cope with political competition in a free society. PAGE 3

PAGE 9 The Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Besnik Mustafaj, met with the Italian Minister of Education, Luigi Berlinguer, and the parliamentarian and MEP on the same trip. The legitimacy of the elections of 26 May is not in question

“KOHA JONË” a field of speculation and slander Lies and speculation with the polytheism PAGE 2

Statement by the government spokesperson Funds for the local elections are ready PAGE 3

PDSH announces candidacies for the local elections of 20 October Candidacies for the Tirana District Council PDSH announces candidacies for the local elections of 20 October Candidates for the Tirana Municipal Council PAGE 2 Candidacies for the Tirana District Council