The disorganized army of Vukaj kills and terrorizes the lives of Albanians The explosion at the ammunition depot in Qafë-Shtame was caused by an attempt to take brass cartridge cases ON PAGE 8: Horoscope and Crossword Page 2

The PD and PS discuss preparations for the June elections TIRANA — The “great powers” of Albanian politics, the Democratic Party and the Socialist Party, have held consultations at senior leadership level on preparations for the parliamentary elections, which are scheduled to be held in June. The PD delegation, consisting of its chairman Tritan Shehu, Secretary for Public Relations Vili Minolli, and head of the Department of the Economy Aleksandër Meksi, held discussions for about two hours in a closed-door meeting with the Socialist representatives, who were led by Nano. The first meeting between the two parties since the severe rift that has engulfed the country appears to have been more of a close-up exploration of the opinions of the fiercest political opponents in Albania than a convergence of positions on resolving this crisis. “It was a meeting in which both sides expressed our respective views, our concerns about the problems of the electoral law and these elections. The differing positions were left to be discussed together over the timing of the elections; this is an important issue,” Shehu stressed. The chairman of the Democratic Party said he had proposed to the Socialist Party that it immediately distance itself from illegal bodies and committees that hinder the holding of a normal election campaign. He said that lawful local government must be established immediately. The Socialist Party must distance itself from its March 28 agreement with the committees. At the meeting, it was proposed that consideration be given to the requested arrangements for a social pact among all Albanian political forces, to ensure as calm an election campaign as possible in Albania. “First, we do not see any legal obstacle to the campaign. The most important thing, as we see it, is precisely opening up the ground everywhere throughout the country so that all political forces can work, become active, and perform their functions. “Precisely, this is the most delicate and important part. To…” According to chairman Nano, the Socialist Party does not yet intend to call for the dissolution of the communist-mafia military committees. Speaking to journalists, Nano recalled only the promises of Zanith and Shyjit that the committees would be dissolved once the election campaign began. Thus, the Socialist Nano declared that the Democratic Party would be barred from any pre-election preparations as long as most southern cities continued to remain under the control of the military force directed by the PS headquarters. Nano affirmed that neither he nor any of the other leaders of his party intended to withdraw the majority of Socialist members from the Military Committees. Unlike Shehu, the Socialist chairman suggested that there would be no further meetings of this kind between the two parties. Conclusions of… Socialist Nano declared that the PD the majority of The Socialist Party must the holding of a normal election campaign. examination of the opinions of the fiercest political opponents in Shërrasi was a meeting where both sides expressed our respective views, their concerns about the problems of the electoral law and what should be done to resolve them. The differing views were left to be discussed together… [partly illegible] Shehu, speaking for the Democratic Party, said that he had proposed that we all immediately begin working together, but with full consensus, to address many of these problems, in accordance with a constitutional draft, as an important condition for post-election guarantees in Albania. It seems to us… Precisely, this is the most delicate and important part. All possible views concerning… [partly illegible] The Socialist Party should not be asked to disarm the rebels, because no political force will do that, but it should openly declare the need to dissolve the committees and the need for a democratic environment throughout the country. Meanwhile, we are considering this, and we agreed to meet again and cooperate in further, more conclusive discussions, says the PD chairman. There was no debate during the meeting about… …continue no further meetings between the two parties. “We await the conclusions of the Democratic Party at the round table of the parties,” said Nano, who had been released only a month earlier after being convicted by the Albanian courts for the theft of humanitarian aid. Nano did not announce that the PS would change any of its positions in order to contribute to bringing about a political solution acceptable to all Albanians. VULLNET ELBASANI ARTUR KOPANI The Socialist Party must immediately distance itself from bodies and

Listening to Minister of Defence comrade Vukaj Page 4

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The ambassador of Spain presents his credentials

Socialist Nano declared that the PD would be barred from any pre-election preparations as long as the majority of

The Socialist Party must immediately distance itself from bodies and

After a prolonged offensive in the dark field of the ZP and KJ remnants, not only against President Berisha’s political element, the “artillery” of the Forum for Democracy has also launched a political attack against him, ostensibly over Genocide?! Everywhere, read and hear, it has become clear that this is a new adventure or simply a propaganda show, entirely in keeping with the 56-year-old nature of the PS. By now, neither Albanians nor the rest of the world have the patience or the nerves to put up with the absurdities or nonsense of this party and its “ugly” path, driven by delusions of grandeur, careerism and mercenary motives. Nano and his comrades undertook this adventure after the party suffered a K.O. just a few days ago in Strasbourg. The few old comrades, pathological communists, are rare; those on the left, who are gradually leaving the centre, will turn their backs on them, or they do not care about them at all, or they slam the door in their faces—yet you are the shameless ones, all of you are shameless and… [partly illegible] This latest attack comes after the failure of the violent revolution and the military coup, politically defeated Nano and his cronies… [partly illegible]

The Democratic Party and Balli Kombëtar will support the 1992 electoral law Balli Kombëtar is calling for the elections to be postponed. This became known yesterday at a meeting between the chairman of the Democratic Party, Mr. Zef Bushati, and the chairman of Balli Kombëtar, Mr. Abaz Ermenji. Mr. Ermenji presented his party’s position, which was divided into three issues: 1. Balli Kombëtar calls for the elections to be postponed 2. It calls for the 1992 majoritarian electoral law, and 3. It calls for the parties to enter the elections with joint candidates Mr. Bushati, on behalf of the Democratic Party, agreed with the position that joint candidates should be put forward through a coalition of the united democratic right. Regarding the postponement of the elections, Mr. Bushati said, “On this issue, the ten parties that signed and participate in the Government of National Reconciliation must decide.” At the end of the meeting, it was agreed that another meeting would be held with the four right-wing parties in the Government of National Reconciliation to discuss the coalition of the United Right.

Page 3 In the PS there is a strong extremist faction advocating the seizure of power by force. This line begins with the boycott of the vote count on May 26, continues with the seizure of weapons by the so-called Committees and, apparently, nobody knows when it will end. Why do we say this? Because for so long none of the PS leaders has called on the Committees to surrender their weapons and let local government carry out normally the duties entrusted to it by law.

The Ambassador of Spain Presents His Credentials “I bring you the greetings of King Juan Carlos and the wishes and conviction of the Spanish government that you will succeed in restoring Albania to the path of democracy and integration,” Spanish Ambassador Col told President Berisha. Spain’s participation in Operation “ALBA” is a political act through which we wished to demonstrate our solidarity and friendly feelings toward Albania and the Albanians at this difficult time for them. President Berisha, expressing his gratitude to King Juan Carlos and Prime Minister Aznar for their friendly feelings toward Albania and Spain’s involvement in Operation “ALBA,” emphasized that the operation has so far been entirely successful. Albania experienced an armed rebellion organized by those who refuse to accept losing power through a free vote, President Berisha said. This rebellion failed not because of the violence used, but because of the democratic political solution that was offered. The forthcoming elections are entirely feasible and must be held within the set time frame. In this regard, the major obstacle is the armed committees in several districts which, exploiting their open alliance with the former main opposition parties, are imposing their control through violence and terror, robbing and looting every innocent citizen, their property and their investments. These committees are preventing the Government of National Reconciliation from governing the country and fulfilling its mission. I am convinced, President Berisha emphasized, that in the forthcoming elections Albanians will prove to Europe and the world that they are determined not to turn back, but to continue along the path of democracy and integration into Europe.

Messrs. Shehu and Demi Meet Ambassador Grubmajer Another PD–PS Meeting on Monday Messrs. Shehu and Demi Meet Ambassador Grubmajer We Support Technical Amendments to the Existing Law Another PD–PS Meeting on Monday Yesterday at noon, the chairman of the PDSH, Mr. Tritan Shehu, and the secretary for foreign relations, Leonard Demi, received the OSCE ambassador, Mr. Grubmajer. At the meeting, Mr. Grubmajer inquired about the pre-election situation and the meeting between PD chairman Shehu and PS chairman Nano. The interlocutors considered that holding the general elections within the time frame stipulated by the political agreement of March 9 is important for restoring stability and preventing the economic crisis from deepening. Regarding the electoral law, Mr. Shehu said that we are ready to cooperate on technical amendments to the existing law. At the meeting, Mr. Shehu said that the Democratic Party is interested in the broadest and most comprehensive possible monitoring of the electoral campaign and the June elections by the EC, ODIHR, OSCE, U.S. institutions and the parliaments of other countries.