The usual midday rally in Vlora fails ON PAGE 3

The Prime Minister “advises” Prefect Afrim Haçi ON PAGE 4

The chairman of the PD in Berat: ON PAGE 4

. Albanian socialists yesterday began a new attempt to undermine the voting process, the June elections, warning that they would not take part in the elections under the law adopted yesterday by the Albanian parliament. PS deputies first walked out of parliament to block the law’s adoption, which fully respects the agreements of March 9 and May 9, signed by the 10 parties involved in the Government of National Reconciliation. It is a natural extension of the 1992 law and the 1996 law, which satisfied all sides by offering all parties equal chances for free and fair elections. But precisely as this law was being discussed, the socialists left the parliamentary chamber, reminding us that the history of boycotts remains a real threat to Albanian politics. Dokle’s argument that he did not want to see at all the law proposed by the Democratic Party group, but wanted to discuss only the law submitted by the government, is in fact also an indication of the wretchedness of the Albanian socialists’ political reasoning. If Dokle had found arguments against the amendments to the law included on parliament’s agenda, however laughable or absurd they might have been, he and his party would have been more acceptable. Dokle’s idea that parliament should accept only a law submitted by the government, and that this government should be socialist, expresses his party’s medieval logic about political competition and is further proof that it does not respect the agreements among the 10 parties in the Government of National Reconciliation. National Reconciliation. Dokle and the others’ attempt to delay approval of the electoral law that opens the way for the electoral process in Albania comes at a time when Prime Minister Fino continues to present himself at international meetings as a Socialist Party activist, not as chairman of Albania’s Council of Ministers. During his visit to the United States, he continued to lie publicly about the balance of power among Albania’s political forces, turning his meetings in Washington into a campaign against the Democratic Party. Although his political and diplomatic blunders show his inexperience in Albanian politics, Albanian socialists are trying to squeeze the last drop out of Fino as Prime Minister. The one thing the socialists should remember from Fino’s visit to the United States is Secretary of State Madlen Olbrajt’s warning that those who block or delay the holding of the June elections and the implementation of agreements between the parties will not be tolerated. Yesterday the socialists added another act of irresponsibility to their political record because, before the Washington newsmakers had even appeared, they dealt another blow to the fragile political consensus reached in Albania. They warned that they might blow up everything achieved through the agreement with Vranicki, simply because they want to impose their political will on Albania. Now the warnings about the precedent set by political forces that would break the consensus have a concrete target. They are Fatos Nano, Bashkim Fino, and Naimik Dokle. The latter declared yesterday, as he left Parliament, that his party supports returning to the political contract signed by Vranicki and will consider the possibility of leaving the Government of National Reconciliation. If one is to believe them, the committees of the south are warning that they will not tolerate the weapons and that there is no agreement that can make them do so. As the Socialist Party’s armed wing, the committees’ efforts to keep crime hostage to a revolt that will come along with the elections are no secret at all. For now, the elections must be held, and it seems to me that the socialists will try to the very end, as the cause of this, to undermine every spirit of political consensus aimed at restoring stability and calm so that free and fair elections can take place. The socialists prove once again that they do not understand compromise in this country. Ahuna…

Parliament adopts the mixed electoral law Dokle: We will review the agreement with Vranickin and the possibility of bringing down the Government of National Reconciliation Parliament adopts the mixed electoral law Socialists return to boycotting Dokle: We will review the agreement with Vranickin and the possibility of bringing down the Government of National Reconciliation

Genc Pollo, Secretary-General of the DP What is your assessment of the amendments made to the electoral law? The amendments primarily reflect the recommendations of the Council of Europe and the OSCE; secondly, they reflect point two of the May 9 agreement signed by 10 parties in the presence of Mr. Vranicki. They also represent a concession by the major parties to the smaller parties regarding the votes they collect. In your view, what prompted the Socialists to oppose this improvement to the electoral law? I should recall that the May 9 agreement called for elections to be held within June. Tomorrow is the final day for announcing the elections. If we do not make changes, we would in practice enter the elections under the May ’96 law. The Democratic Party put forward these amendments in good faith, to make the improvements we discussed above, and they reflect the compromise that was reached. In practice, the government’s own law, based entirely on the proportional principle, would have been out of the question because of the May 9 agreement, which stipulated that the new law would be based on the majoritarian system but include proportional elements. No other party has so far put forward amendments or suggestions of its own. Nevertheless, there is an opportunity, whether in the relevant parliamentary committees or at meetings of the party groups and contacts between political parties, to examine various points. However, the Socialist Party chose the path of imposition and threats, declaring through Dokle that it could not take part in the elections unless [the law was implemented]. If it does not take part in the elections, that is its responsibility, but it would be a grave responsibility before Albania, which at this moment is asking us to act in a spirit of national reconciliation. Dokle said that they would not enter the elections under the ’96 law, but it is quite clear here that these amendments have made substantial improvements to the composition of the commissions, the allocation of television airtime, and the increase in the proportional element. Given Dokle’s warning that the SP will review its position and that of the Government, could the country face a crisis? The DP remains faithful to the March 9 agreement, the May 9 political pact, and the amendments that were made in the spirit of that agreement. If the Socialist Party does not take part in the elections because it suspects it will lose again, and decides to overthrow the Government of National Reconciliation, that is a grave responsibility before the Albanian people. The changes made to the anti-genocide law met with opposition from some DP deputies. How do you assess them? Some DP deputies voiced conscientious objections to the changes to this law. Nevertheless, I want to say that implementing the anti-genocide law was part of the May 9 political pact, and we remained faithful to what we signed by fulfilling its conditions. The amendments were made in the spirit of this to what we signed by fulfilling its conditions.

Fino, a Loyal Soldier of the SP Regarding Prime Minister Fino’s statement in Washington that “9 parties support the corrected ’92 law and only the DP disagrees with it,” we recall that on May 9, in the presence of the OSCE envoy, Mr. Franc Vranicki, a political agreement was reached among 10 Albanian parties. Point 2 of the agreement provides for a law based mainly on the majoritarian system, combined with proportional elements. As a compromise, the DP accepted the maximum majoritarian component of the 1996 system, with 115 electoral districts, as well as the maximum proportional component of the 1992 system, accompanied by several changes in favor of the smaller parties. Mr. Vranicki also publicly expressed this position at his most recent press conference. All parties that signed the May 9 political pact should join this choice. Why, parties have already declared themselves in favor of this law. Prime Minister Fino’s statement on “Voice of America” that he had informed the U.S. Secretary of State about disagreements among the 9 parties over proportional representation and the DP’s demand for the majoritarian system is inaccurate. Actions such as these do not serve the prime minister’s majority; they show Prime Minister Fino as a loyal soldier of the SP. We consider this to be disinformation and a political rush on Prime Minister Fino’s part, whereas we had expected him, during his visit to our friendly country, the United States, to represent the spirit of National Reconciliation with dignity. Unfortunately, with this statement Fino appears not to have understood the content of the May 9 political pact, which was also signed by his party.

Nano Calls Ruçi Returns: Ismail Lleshi, Ibrahim Baci; the reactivation in a leadership role of the former Head of State Security is also being planned. On p. 3

“A Full-Scale War” Is Expected Zani’s Hostage Escapes On page 2

We Abide by the May 9 Pact What is your assessment of the amendments made to the electoral law? electoral law? The Legaliteti Movement Party has consistently supported a purely majoritarian law, like the one in England. The amendments made were also our views on this electoral law. I believe that the differing positions of some parties are not motivated by shortcomings in the law, but by their party interests. What about the changes made to the anti-genocide law? We and the other right-wing parties supported a particular formulation of this law, but we abide by the May 9 agreement for the sake of stability. Interview by: A. Kopani