Press conference of PD Chairman Tritan Shehu and Messrs. Pollo, Demi and Minarolli Yesterday at 11:00 a.m. in the premises of the Palace of Congresses, the Chairman of the Democratic Party, Prof. Dr. Tritan Shehu, and Messrs. Genc Pollo, Secretary General, Leonard Demi, Secretary for International Relations, and Vili Minarolli, Secretary for Public Relations, gave the press a news conference following Sunday’s expanded meeting of the National Council. First, Mr. Shehu read a press release which states: On Sunday, 13 April 1997, the meeting of the National Council of the PD was held, attended by our group’s victorious members and MPs. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the grave situation created in the country, its current needs, its causes, consequences and ways out, while allowing the PD to revive its activity and its structures, and to set certain urgent and medium-term points for the step-by-step resolution of the situation that had arisen. The responsibilities of the state bodies and of the PD are many, and we believe that the analysis made at the meeting is quite honest and profound. Despite the unquestionable achievements of the PD in the last five years, there have also been mistakes to which the PD could have reacted more quickly and clearly, but as should also be stated in the resolution, responsibility for the extra-legal burden may remain with those linked to the crime of disarmament. From the materials presented and the candid discussions that are being made public, and from the main analysis, it emerged in the end that the cause of the movement is a rapid growth of dissatisfaction with the bad governance and populist policy created by the collapse of the pyramid companies. Its organizers are the left-wing extremists, former collaborators of the State Security, mafia segments, etc., who, taking advantage of a chaotic, unstable situation and of some of our institutions, erupted only during violence and terror in the country. After analyzing the causes and responsibilities, the National Council declared itself fully in favor of the national reconciliation platform approved by the March 28 agreement reached by the PS with socialists in Vlora, as the heaviest blow against this platform. The National Council declared itself fully determined to implement the three points of the March 9 platform, making as its main task the comprehensive preparation that had to be done for the coming parliamentary elections, the work that must be carried out in this direction in order to realize them within the set deadline and according to democratic principles. The National Council thanks the PD for supporting the desire for Albania in these difficult moments. The National Council also criticized the publication two months ago of a motion by a group of MPs and of a call statement by them and several former senior PD officials. It considered this an incorrect gesture of personal display, which leads to weakening the PD and contains unprincipled ideas. A new declaration by 13 people, including 9 members of the National Council, was presented to the National Council, in which, in fact, overthrow ... First, Mr. Shehu read a press release which states: Page 4

President Berisha received the Chairman of the Turkish Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Policy President Berisha expressed his gratitude for the sincere and friendly sentiments of friendly Turkey. President Demirel, Prime Minister Erbakan, Parliament and all Turkish political forces have shown and demonstrated support for Albania and the Albanian people, and he thanked them in particular for the unanimous and swift decision of the Turkish Parliament to participate with military units in the multinational operation to help Albania overcome its difficulties. President Berisha gave an overview of the latest political developments, also confirming the further continuation of all efforts for free and fair solutions, which will take place only when the climate for them has been created, something the rebel committees are obstructing. Their monitoring, President Berisha stressed, has been entrusted to the Council of Europe. ... an organization with long-standing experience in this field, while also inviting other international institutions. Mr. Aloglu, greeting President Berisha and conveying the greetings of President Demirel, Prime Minister Erbakan and the Turkish Parliament, emphasized that Turkey has valued the results Albania has achieved on the path of democratization and the market economy. It is following the latest situation with concern, a situation considered not simply the result of the pyramid schemes but also of the activity of certain internal and external circles interested in destabilization. Turkey attaches particular importance to support and cooperation with Albania and is ready to back it and contribute in all fields so that friendly Albania can continue on the path of democracy, a market economy and integration into Europe. On this occasion, President Berisha asked him to convey to the President of Turkey Demirel, Prime Minister Erbakan, Parliament and the leaders of their parties in Turkey his gratitude and greetings.

Operation “ALBA” starts in Albania Four warships, 1,200 French, Italian and Spanish troops, helicopters and armored vehicles arrive in Durrës Page 2

The Prime Minister of the Government of National Reconciliation, socialist Bashkim Fino, although in just a few days in office has given proof of surpassing the theoretical stages of his chairman Nano’s dismantling. Instead of restoring the institutions desecrated by the communist rebels in many districts of the country and bringing Albania back to normal, as he had promised, Mr. Fino, to everyone’s astonishment, began the institutional dismantling and reassembly of local government and other legitimate institutions. He apparently wants to replace the prefects and secretaries of communes and municipalities with people from the military committees or PS militants. His dismantling plan includes everything democratic that has been built over these five years. Despite the fact that these are attempts beyond the powers of his mandate under the March 9 Agreement, he has improved in his efforts. SHIK was the first work Mr. Fino dismantled, right at the first hours of his tenure, declaring in Gjirokastër that “SHIK no longer exists; it has been shattered.” The appointed local government bodies were concerned about the two communes, and Mr. Fino, at times even confusing his own powers. Fino is certainly mistaken in confusing the role of Prime Minister with that of the President of the Republic, wanting to dismantle, according to Nano’s theory. As is known from sources close to the prime minister, after dismantling SHIK, Mr. Fino plans to dismantle the Ministry of the Interior, RTSH and ATSH! M. BUC/PAP

The MP of the Austrian People’s Party Wolfgang Grobruck declares: Page 3

Pjetër Arbnori: The PS and the armed groups of the South have a clear goal: the destruction of the Democratic Party. This is neither strange nor unexpected. What is unexpected is that some people in our Party are moving in the same direction as this aim. Enjgjëll Hysenbegasi: Above all, the cause of the situation created is the destabilizing, destructive, anti-national activity of some leaders of the Socialist Party and its branches, supported by fanatical communists, by criminals and spies of the former State Security, as well as by new, rotten criminals or paid common criminals Page 4

Starting from the good wish for Albania to have a distinctive party, some of the features of past governments are summed up in these eight principles of theirs. This party of the credibility (debility) type needs at least 30 members. The initiative committee of this party once again calls on candidates to come forward to join and to know well the criteria that must be met. The criteria are: 1) to have participated in at least one government while holding high-ranking positions. 2) to have only a bank account with over $40,000 and a luxury car. 3) To have unjustly benefited through the privatization of state-owned objects, small and medium enterprises, as well as other properties that they did not deserve. 4) To have brought trouble upon simple and innocent people. 5) To be able to plunge into mud and still not get dirty. 6) To know how to twist and turn in order to come out dry when the time requires it, and with clothes. 7) To have a pseudonym, such as “snake” or “chameleon,” to use when their honor and name have been lost. And one more thing: to suffer a bit from gout. GJIN KASTRIOTI

Statement by the Democratic Party of Albania The Democratic Party of Albania believes that certain positions and statements by former Austrian Chancellor Vranicki, now the special envoy of the current OSCE Chair, have created an impression of bias. These include welcoming the provocateurs of the rebel committee of Vlora, which includes mafiosi, former officers and left-wing extremists, as well as some of his positions that exclude the state’s highest constitutional institutions from direct dialogue and cooperation and that also run counter to the national reconciliation agreement. Such positions could compromise the neutrality of Mr. Vranicki’s mission in Albania and endanger its success, something we do not want. The PD emphasizes in this regard its desire to continue close cooperation with the OSCE and its mission on the basis of the known principles by which this organization operates, in order to stabilize the situation in Albania.