Address by the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, on the occasion of his re-election to the office of President of the Republic All united to build our future First of all, I believe I should express my gratitude as President to all of you who, with your votes, expressed your confidence in me for a second term as President. I also wish to thank those who abstained and voted against, because through their votes they conveyed a message that must be taken into account as an element of diversity and pluralism. To be elected President of a country is undoubtedly a peak event in the life of any ordinary person. To be re-elected President of a country is, overall, a [text continues cut off at the lower edge] During these five years, which brought Albania out of its great downward spiral and onto the path of democracy, the path of the market, and the path of openness and integration into Europe, a foundation and level of development and progress have been established that are incomparable with what we had five years ago. Five years ago, misery and famine engulfed the country, whereas today Albania remains the fastest-growing economy in Europe. I base my confidence on my contribution and commitment [text continues cut off at the lower edge] all that we have achieved integration into Europe, and which constitute a foundation and level of development and progress the lower edge] The main, fundamental direction for Albania and the Albanians, today and in their future. I wish to assure you once again that nothing has shaken, and nothing will be able to shake, my determination and faith in the values of democracy and the market. These values are incompatible with intolerance, violence and deception. To decide to destroy those values through violence, or to remain silent in the face of their destruction, is to commit a despicable act for which the nation and history will judge you and will never forgive you. Yesterday, the Albanian Parliament elected Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha President of Albania for another five-year term. Many guests and representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Tirana were present in Parliament for the election of the President. At 10:00, the Albanian Parliament began the procedure for electing the President of the Republic. At the opening of the session, the Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Mr. Arbnori, after presenting the legal basis under the constitutional package for the procedure to elect the President of the Republic, called for the establishment of a commission to oversee the voting process for the presidential candidate. On behalf of a group of DP deputies, Mr. Ali Spahia, chairman of the DP parliamentary group, proposed Ms. Natasha Shehu, Milika Jaho and Mr. Esat Hasani, deputies of the Democratic Party, Mr. Sali Rexhepi of the SP, and Gjon Marka Gjoni of the Republican Party and Esat Hasani as members of this commission. Then Mr. Spahia, on behalf of a group of DP deputies, put forward the candidacy of the incumbent President, Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha, as the sole candidate for a second presidential term. In his speech, Mr. Spahia praised the role President Berisha had played in the country’s democratic processes, the consolidation of democracy, market-economy reforms and the rule of law, and the consistent foreign policy pursued by Albania, and invited the deputies to vote for Mr. Sali Berisha’s candidacy for a second presidential term. Next, Mr. Arbnori called a recess to give the commission time to convene. He explained the voting procedure, which is secret [text continues cut off at the lower edge]. [Text continued from the upper edge:] country is, in general, an exceptional privilege. In truth, I accept this re-election, at a time when genuine violence and communist rebellion are being experienced in some regions of the country, as an exceptional privilege that gives me the opportunity to face these difficulties and, together with you, with Albanians throughout the country and with state institutions, to find just solutions to the problems that have arisen. Today I swore my oath for the second time in this Parliament, convinced and certain, first, that we will overcome the present difficulties and that in the years to come our achievements in every field will be many times greater than those we have accomplished over the past five years. I base this unshakable confidence on God’s help; I base it on all that we have achieved of development and progress on my contribution and commitment, yours and that of all Albanians, to realize our dreams and hopes born during the years of freedom, to consolidate our achievements, to build our future ever faster, and to build a society founded on the universal values of our Western civilization. I base my unshakable confidence on the friendships and friends we have formed during these years in Europe and throughout the world. I am convinced that we will not only quickly overcome the difficulties that have arisen, effectively bring terrorism under full control and restore stability to the country, but also expand and consolidate freedoms and human rights, and the free market as the surest path for the country’s integration into Europe… history will judge you and will never forgive you. I wish to assure Albanians everywhere in the world that Albania, as it has until now, will remain determined to defend their freedoms and rights and to make its essential contribution to a just and peaceful solution, in accordance with international laws and acts, to the major issues that have arisen for the Albanian nation over the past century. In conclusion, I wish to call on all Albanians, all the country’s political forces, all those who unquestionably acknowledge and recognize the progress of these years, as well as all those who are dissatisfied or disheartened today, to unite all our efforts, energies and faith in order to build our better future in the Europe to which we belong. God bless Albania!

An emergency session of the Albanian Parliament was held on Sunday The Albanian Parliament, convened in an emergency session on Sunday, approved the decision to declare a state of emergency in the Republic of Albania in order to deal with the situation that has arisen in the country, for a period lasting until constitutional and public order are restored. “To confront the armed uprising, we have a duty to place all state resources at its disposal said the chairman of the DP parliamentary group, Ali Spahia. The decision was approved after the passage of the law on a state of emergency in cases where public order and constitutional order are seriously threatened. Only the title of this law was amended, since it had not mentioned constitutional order. The law was unanimously approved by the entire Albanian Parliament. Afterwards, Parliament held a minute of silence for the six SHIK officers killed in Vlorë two days earlier. The decision to declare a state of emergency enters into force upon its approval. Parliament also considered the ninth item on the agenda: the law on merging SHIK with the Ministry of Interior and assigning them the task of suppressing armed terrorist gangs. The Order and SHIK Committee, together with the Laws Committee, met to discuss who would head this merger. The committees decided that General Bashkim Gazidede would lead the combined Order and SHIK forces, tasked with confronting the situation and suppressing armed violence. Parliament then approved this law as well. Finally, Parliament called on all the Albanian people and all citizens to distance themselves from violent acts and to enable the state authorities to restore the situation to normal as soon as possible.

Yesterday’s situation in several districts of the country In Gjirokastër, a group of around 100 people went yesterday at about 8:00 to Depo­trol in Gjirokastër, armed with guns and grenades, and looted it. In Kuçovë, Burrel, Shkodër, Malësinë e Madhe, Lushnjë, Elbasan, Gramsh, Durrës, Krujë, Korçë, Përmet, Pukë, Laç and Librazhd, the situation was calm. The situation in Fier was also calm yesterday, and the movement of cars was monitored, especially on the road connecting the city with Vlorë. The situation in Vlorë was also generally calm during the morning hours, although sporadic gunfire was reported. As a result of this uncontrolled shooting, two citizens were killed; so far, we have been able to learn only their names and ages. One was named Luan and was 18, and the other was named Duka and was 40.

…praised the role President Berisha had played in the country’s democratic processes, the consolidation of democracy, market-economy reforms and the rule of law, and the consistent foreign policy pursued by Albania, and invited the deputies to vote for Mr. Sali Berisha’s candidacy for a second presidential term.

Read on pages 2, 3, 4

He explained the voting procedure, which is secret, and that each deputy would vote when their name was called. Under today’s procedure, after the President’s candidacy had been presented, voting would begin, after which a member of the commission would call on the deputies to vote in alphabetical order. After voting closed, the votes would be counted and the result announced. Then the chairman of Parliament would invite the newly elected President to take the oath. After checking the ballot papers, the voting commission determined that 118 deputies had taken part in the vote to elect the President of the Republic. The ballot papers were valid, and 113 deputies voted for the candidate Sali Ram Berisha, nominated by the Democratic Party; one voted against and four abstained. In accordance with Article 23 of the Constitutional Law, the commission declared Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha President of the Republic of Albania for a new five-year term, as he had received more than two-thirds of the votes. Then the Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly invited the newly elected President, Sali Berisha, to take the oath. Taking the floor, the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, said: “I solemnly pledge, with my honor, before the Flag and God, to be faithful to the people and the Fatherland, to the ideals of freedom and democracy, progress, independence and the territorial integrity of Albania. I swear to respect the Constitution and the laws of the country, to protect and develop democracy, freedoms and human rights, and to fulfill with determination and energy all my duties as President of the Republic of Albania. I so swear!” Immediately after the oath, the National Anthem was sung. Then President Berisha delivered his address on the occasion.

An office will operate at the Local Headquarters for the State of Emergency in Tirana to handle the implementation of Article 4 of Law No. 8 195, dated 03.03.1997, of the People’s Assembly, “On measures within the framework of the state of emergency.” All newspaper editorial offices and printing houses are hereby notified to obtain the relevant publication permits from this office at the printing house in the Prefecture of Tirana, telephone number 23652.