The Democrats on campaign, the left hides in headquarters Berisha shows in Fier the strengths of the Democratic Party Socialists, after every agreement signed, have regretted it the very next day. The opposition initiated the armed rebellion in order to use it, once successful, to trigger a civil war. The committees are sending out instructors, blowing up bridges, but we will quickly build new ones. Progressive Europe! had hidden the unprecedented ethnic cleansings in a frenzy, and all humanity had not noticed what was happening to our country during these terrible months. Yet within a few weeks, with the help of international partners and the Albanian people, we succeeded. The Republic of Albania and the structures of the rule of law were restored. Our Albanians, the vast majority of them, are against chaos, anarchy and ordinary mafia. No one can force them to vote, much less through the fabricated committees that were created by force during these terrible months. These committees and the opposition side that commands them are enemies of freedom, of independence and of Albania’s integration into Europe. Socialists, after every agreement signed, have regretted it the very next day. The opposition initiated the armed rebellion in order to use it, once successful, to trigger a civil war. The committees are sending out instructors, blowing up bridges, but we will quickly build new ones. Know well that Albania is painfully going through another state of affairs, and the national coalition government has the duty to restore order at any cost. We do not take a different position as regards calming the country and disarming the population. However, the Socialist Party’s aims are deeply dishonest. They seek to lead Albania back to the miserable condition in which they reduced it in July 1992. That is why they do not want things to proceed normally and for elections to take place in a calm climate. The Democratic Party is determined to take part in the elections and accept any result that comes from them, but not their distortion. If they are capable of winning by votes, let them enter the elections. The Democratic Party is sure it will remain the winner in any case, because it will receive the support of political forces that are against anarchy and destruction. These statements were made yesterday in the town of Cërrik by the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, during a rally organized as part of the election campaign. At another meeting held in the town of Librazhd, he described as a major democratic duty the citizens’ turnout at the polls, because that would mean the victory of freedom over the Bolshevik revolution of the committees, which aims to turn Albania into a second Kosovo. “But there is no doubt that the civilized world is decisively opposing this Bolshevik revanche and will punish it. The alliance of the committees with the opposition is the most anti-national alliance of the last 55 years. Their emissaries are being sent from Tirana to Gjirokastër and Sarandë to spread class hatred. I remind the citizens of Librazhd to take a look at the odyssey of the Socialist officials with the firm they won six months ago, when they were selling as a victory what was in fact merely a declarative agreement.” At an election rally held in the city of Elbasan, Berisha said that 4 March marked an unusual turning point for the elections of 29 June. “They took a completely unexpected political direction and were entirely turned by the efforts of terrorist organizations, because their aim was clear: the violent seizure of power. For that reason they also challenged the coalition government to take control of public order. No civilized state in the world could agree to such a thing.” He added that strengthening the state and the coalition government constitute the most urgent interests of the country and the Albanian people. According to him, the creation of the committees and the expansion of their activity were intended to incite class hatred and regional division. “But Albanians do not accept this. They have excellent traditions of understanding and can never fall prey to the instigators of civil war.” He then said that the vote of 29 June will be proof of the Albanians’ will to support the political forces that guarantee order and peace in the country. This is a confrontation between civilization and barbarism. In this context, he called for the broadest possible participation in the vote and for the rejection of the policy of the fabricated committees. He further declared that alongside the armed rebellion, the opposition is also hiding in its headquarters the fear of the citizens’ verdict. The Democrats, he said, are on campaign, meeting people every day, while the left hides in offices and tries to keep tensions alive in the country.

Olivier rejects Fino What are the Albanians doing, hostile ones? The American official and member of the US Foreign Committee, Mr. John Kornblum, gave a stern interview yesterday to TVSH. He made it clear that Albania cannot have fair elections if the coalition government continues to be dominated by socialists and the fabricated committees keep the weapons. He stressed that the international community cannot accept elections under the pressure of violence and that all political forces must accept equal rules. He then underlined that the opposition must abandon threatening rhetoric and the government must guarantee public order. According to him, any attempt to manipulate the electoral process will seriously damage Albania’s standing in the eyes of Europe and the United States. On page 4

For more than two months, people and foreign journalists based in Albania, as well as ordinary Albanians inside the country, have expressed concern that the country is being shut down under the pressure of violence and censorship. Attacks on independent media have increased and freedom of expression has been placed under constant threat. In a strong reaction, public opinion has called on the authorities to take measures to protect the press and guarantee free information. On page 4

Panic e skitës for the humanitarian organization of active volunteers [?] The Socialist Party must pay 1 billion lire Panic e skitës for the humanitarian organization of active volunteers On page 3

After failing to block the electoral process The Socialist Party prepares not to recognize the elections After failing to block the electoral process M A X O - "Our decision had been thought through in advance. We will try by every means to block the electoral process, and if we fail we will denounce this process as a fraud." This is how one of the opposition’s most active figures expressed himself in recent days, referring to the strategy being followed by the Socialist Party so as not to recognize the elections. Along this line, according to the newspaper’s sources, public statements and coordinated moves are being prepared in order to create a climate of distrust toward the result. On page 3

The south under the terror of armed committees On page 2

Vlora boys and girls leave the city On page 2

The United Party, its allies, in Fino’s Unity Party [?] Bashkim Driza, prevents the return of the firmidë. The United Party, its allies, in Fino’s Unity Party On page 5