Interview with the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Democratic Party, Prof. Dr. Tritan Shehu, given after his return from Great Britain PAGE 3 Shehu with Foreign Secretary Rifkind and Defence Minister Portillo

President Berisha secures students’ support for the DP’s victory It was you, Berisha said, the 250,000 young people who voted for the first time and made the country’s break with communism a reality, thereby dividing Albania’s history. It must be you who, on October 20, with the same commitment and dedication, prove to Albania and Europe that Albanians voted freely on May 26 and continue to remain free citizens in their own country. Yesterday, the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, was once again among students, at the University City of Kamza. The leader of the student movements during the overthrow of the Enverist dictatorship addressed a large audience of students, highlighting the overthrow of the Enverist dictatorship and the establishment of democracy in Albania, as well as the Democratic Party’s continuing efforts for the country’s rapid and secure development along the path of consolidating democracy and continuing market-economy reforms. The students, the most emancipated part of Albanian society, assured President Berisha that they would always remain alongside the democratic forces that want a modern and democratic Albania. The Democratic Party candidate, Albert Brojka, also received the support of thousands of students from all over Albania, who had never before during these days been so close to him in their support. The students assured him in firm and confident voices that they would do so on October 20. The students assured President Berisha that they would all participate and contribute to the DP’s victory, to the triumph of the democratic spirit of Albanians. Brojka expresses the DP’s commitment to Tirana in the year 2000 Yesterday, President Berisha called on thousands of students and lecturers in Kamza, at an election rally, to support and vote for the Democratic Party’s candidacy, the DP, for its alternative and change.

The general elections of May 26 culminated in the plebiscitary victory of Albanian democracy, its once-and-for-all break with its accidental Eastern ties, and the unprecedented defeat of the most extreme communism, Albanian communism. On the other hand, the day of the triumph of the democratic spirit of Albanians culminated in the boycott strategy. The Enverist communists, Berisha said, proved to the country and the world over four years that they are incompatible with the values of the democracy we are building, voting against every law and respecting none of them. The Albanian left, deeply compromised by the past, on May 26, in an act of political blindness, trampled on the trust of its electorate, for which the DP has had and will continue to have unwavering respect. The Enverists who have usurped the Socialist Party, in order to conceal the strategy of destruction and defeat with which they led their party, walked away from the vote count and deluded themselves that in this way they could justify to their electorate the crushing defeat that awaited them. Their calls to occupy squares and streets were calls leading from a violent boycott, to make Albanians bleed with [?]. President Berisha on this occasion praised the popular wisdom of Albanians, their democratic culture and their respect for the free vote, which enabled them to completely thwart the adventurist scenarios of the Stalinists to reinstall violence and the red revolution in Albania. Consequently, Berisha said, the leaders of the Socialist Party identified themselves as bearers of the crime that threatens the freedom of Albanians, and are experiencing the deepest isolation in their history. Therefore, Mr. President, I call on the students and the whole society to inflict on the fascists of the past the deep and final defeat they deserve. In recent days, their candidates, burdened by the PS’s guilt complex and scorched by it, have tended to present themselves as independents. The PS, for its part, feeling completely discredited, is trying to sell us independent candidates. But, Berisha said, if they represent the PS, they are boycotters and there is no… continued on page.

Democrats confident in the contest for Tirana Fagu and Ceka do not sign the request for a TV debate The left-wing candidates for the Tirana Municipality withdrew yesterday from the challenge to face on television the candidate of the right-wing political forces. Fagu and Ceka did not accept Democratic candidate Brojka’s request for a televised debate. Yesterday’s development shows Brojka’s opponents unwilling to confront the left on TV, and their withdrawal demonstrates the insecurity of the DP candidate, who is currently the more certain choice to win in the municipality… [source text unclear]. At a press conference, Brojka expressed his commitment to a televised debate and his request to be ready for a political debate with all sides. Fagu and Ceka have not signed the request for a debate; they have only had a conversation. On this occasion, Brojka asked all citizens to hear the left-wing candidate in a televised debate so they could see who is more capable of governing Tirana. Yesterday, at a meeting with Tirana residents, candidate Brojka refuted every claim and stressed that he was ready for a televised debate with his rivals. Fagu, who did not sign the request for a debate, said he was ready for a televised debate, but did not agree to face Brojka. At yesterday’s televised meeting, Brojka said that the DP candidate for Tirana was ready to face the left-wing candidates. Meanwhile, various analysts have importance in determining the election result. Nevertheless, they are concerned that they will not find it easy to win in one of the TV debates with their opponents. At the press conference, candidate Brojka asked to face the other candidates in the studio, but it did not happen. The leftists have refused to face the public in televised and radio debates; by refusing to appear on TV, the candidates in the Tirana race have made no promises. B.KASMI Albert Brojka, in the free elections of October 20. After thanking them for the continued support they had given the Democratic Party since the birth of democracy, President Berisha said that Kamza University, together with the University of Tirana, had now become the universities of freedom for Albania and the Albanians. Here in Kamza, he said, the hurricane of democracy began, toppling the dictator’s statues and the dictatorship. Brojka is one of the DP’s most effective and dedicated senior leaders. He is one of the most competent ministers in the two DP government cabinets. Tirana deserves worthy, modern governance, and that is why we chose Brojka, Berisha said, to express our commitment to the citizens of Tirana to transform our capital to the level of Western capitals. The Democratic Party, Berisha told those present, is asking for your vote on October 20 so that we can turn it into effective governance, so that Tirana’s development includes better urban planning, different architecture, a normal supply of water and electricity, modern recreational spaces, employment and healthcare. All these will be Mr. Brojka’s priorities. But, Berisha stressed, the students’ cities will be the first priorities, because students deserve them before anyone else. Continuing, Berisha emphasized that in the October 20 elections, following a sphere of important achievements in Albania’s development, there has also been a real boom. During these years of Democratic Party government, Albania completely replaced the old communist laws with new laws. Albania is experiencing a market boom and a construction boom today, and is making strong progress in its process of integration toward Europe. At the same time, he added, in these elections Albanians will demonstrate to themselves, Europe and the whole world their great commitment and dedication to the universal values of democracy and freedom.

Tirana Municipality refutes yesterday’s ZP With his shamelessness and vulgarity, comrade Ulqini declares that he has denounced 22,000 dead voters and 90,000 artificially added to the voter lists. If we were to continue with the calculations of the ridiculous Ulqini (who cannot possibly know Tirana), then we would have had to list 143,151 voters on the voter rolls (255,551-22,000-90,000 = 143,151), whereas the Tirana Municipality had 184,309 voters registered on the rolls for the elections of July 26, 1992. According to the PS and “Zëri i Popullit,” Tirana apparently had 41,158 more voters in 1992 as well. It is clear that no more ridiculous accusation could be made, nor could one find a more unlawful claim. “Zëri i Popullit” says that since 1992 Tirana has supposedly shrunk by at least 41,158 voters. PAGE 3