Threatened employees react to the Minister of Finance The Socialist Party is preparing to dismiss 170,000 employees of the state administration. Malaj’s arbitrary action, the threat to Albanian finances from the SP... ON PAGE 5

Alliances, an unresolved problem for the Socialist Party The Social Democratic leader is seeking to restore the committees to Nano. The leaders of the PSD and PAD have called the Socialists’ decision to enter the elections a betrayal. ON PAGE 3

Armed gangs terrorize defenseless travelers Bullets fired at an innocent 20-year-old. Armed bandits use firearms and wound two citizens from Memaliaj and Ballsh. ON PAGE 2

Former Albanian communists in the service of power are spreading terror in Cërrik and Elbasan, while claiming that they have nothing to do with armed rebellion or the idea of seizing power by force. At least five police officers were massacred and many others wounded by armed Socialist supporters, just as, following the report by former Austrian Chancellor Franc Vranicki in Vienna, the left was expected finally to join the normal campaign for the 29 June elections. It is no coincidence at all that the gruesome attack against the rapid-response forces in Cërrik took place on the same day that every avenue for the Albanian Socialists to block the electoral process was closed off. A single call from headquarters was enough for the fanatical criminals of Cërrik to seize their weapons and ambush the forces heading to restore order in the town. The existence of a macabre plan to attack the police forces, and Socialist authorship of the bloody crime, are now attested to by many terrorized citizens of Cërrik, who for days have not dared leave their homes for fear of the cold-blooded killers. But even without these facts, it is enough to recall the praise lavished by the Socialists’ newspaper “Zëri i Popullit” and the left-wing press on the attack in Gramsh, about ten days ago, when a group of criminals attacked the special forces. The police forces withdrew then to avoid bloodshed, while the former communists applauded, encouraging the criminals to plunge the country back into the bloodiest days of the chaos that engulfed Albania during the Stalinist rebellion. And, ironically, as news from Cërrik shocked all of Albania, the leaders of the Socialist Party yesterday asked Prime Minister Fino to lift the state of emergency, thereby making it easier for the committees’ terrorists to take control of the election campaign terrain. The Socialist Party leaders’ request, as cynical as it is criminal, is further proof of the involvement of left-wing politicians in the campaign’s bloodshed and in the worsening of the situation. While Berisha and the leaders of the Democratic Party are gathering people and calling on them to conduct a calm and peaceful campaign, the left, which has so far avoided a normal campaign, has set fanatical criminals loose to terrorize the whole country. It is perfectly clear that Nano, Majko, Gjinushi, Ceka and others do not want a peaceful campaign that would lead them calmly to defeat. Instead of fair competition, they have chosen terror as their sole weapon for keeping alive their vain hopes of coming to power. The links between the leaders of the SP and the armed committees in the south, which are holding entire towns hostage and terrorizing them, are now clear. Yesterday Gjinushi drafted the ultimatum issued by the red bandits of Vlora, calling on them to drag the Democrats away. Mediani, Nano, Majko and others have made similar statements. Throughout this time there have been these spit-filled excuses to exonerate the organized crime committed by them in towns occupied by the committees, and in other parts of the country. Yesterday’s events are clear proof that the Socialists are pouring gasoline onto the fire of rebellion. Albanians must recognize the red terror as a threat, leading straight to catastrophe, exactly what they are deciding and want, since 16 May was burned and it seemed that on 16 May it was decided...

Yesterday the Socialist Party asked for the state of emergency to be lifted, to make it easier for its armed gangs to terrorize the country. The day before, Gjinushi had called in Vlora for Democrats to be dragged away. Red terror in Cërrik. Five police officers killed and 11 wounded

The SP presents new conditions for the elections The Socialists’ demand to lift the state of emergency coincides with an increase in crime and the activity of armed gangs in several districts of the country. Just a few hours before this demand, armed communist Socialists attacked law-enforcement forces in Cërrik. ON PAGE 3

Responsibility for the elections rests with the Socialists It is primarily up to the “Albanian authorities to establish a viable organizational basis for the upcoming elections.” This is the essence of the letter from former Austrian Chancellor and OSCE representative to Prime Minister Fino. The government headed by Socialist Prime Minister Fino remains responsible for the upcoming elections and for their organization and conduct. “The international community is doing everything possible to provide support and advice in preparing and implementing the electoral process,” Vranicki writes. But “if these basic conditions are not guaranteed throughout the electoral process,” the OSCE’s engagement “in Albania will have to be reconsidered,” Mr. Fino is warned by the OSCE representative. Put more simply, this means that the international community cannot become Fino’s or the SP’s instrument. Its assistance during the electoral process is separate from the responsibility and duties that state authorities must fulfill. Albanian election law makes the government responsible for organizing, holding, and ensuring the smooth conduct of free and fair elections. The President has also tasked Fino with setting up the commissions as the bodies directly responsible for the proper conduct of the elections. Two and a half months after this technocratic government was formed, Fino is being reminded of the main task his government must fulfill: organizing the elections, which means ensuring public order and making the technical preparations for holding and conducting the vote. So far, Fino has merely held meetings with the parties, indulged the committees, and appeared on television and in newspapers. Prime Minister Fino has followed the example of his comrade Malaj, the Minister of Finance, who is dismissing and firing financial administrators at various levels. These and other such actions are what the Albanian prime minister has been doing, and he has now been given a definitive warning that he must organize and conduct the elections.

President Berisha talks with thousands of residents of the Lezhë district Yesterday President Sali Berisha conveyed to thousands of residents of the Lezhë district, who gave him an exceptionally warm welcome, the message that the DP would win decisively in the snap elections of 29 June. The greetings from the residents of Lezhë were a good omen that the DP would repeat its 26 May victory in the three electoral constituencies of this region. The President said: “I have come to the city of Albanian reconciliation, the city of the League, to ask the entire electorate to turn the campaign into one of tolerance, where all alternatives are listened to more carefully and politicians of every color are respected. But,” Berisha said, “on 29 June I call on you to vote only for the DP...” ON PAGE 2

Fino seeks greater support from the multinational force The commander of the Multinational Force, General Luciano Forlani, stated that the forces of Operation “Alba” were successfully fulfilling their mandate. The Albanian prime minister, Bashkim Fino, and several members of his cabinet asked Forlani to deploy the multinational force at important road junctions, to carry out stricter checks throughout the territory, to control customs posts, and to have the multinational force provide support during the electoral process. After hearing the Albanian prime minister’s requests, General Forlani said that “soon the patrols will also begin on roads in areas where the ‘Alba’ soldiers have not had a permanent presence. While we recognize the importance of customs controls, this task does not fall within the mandate of the multinational force,” he said. Nevertheless, Forlani assured them that the Albanian authorities would receive every possible form of support in this regard. As for the assistance “Alba” would provide during the electoral process, Forlani said he had met with OSCE representatives and would help determine what support the multinational force could provide these organizations while they monitor the elections.

International observers cannot make up for the Socialists’ shortcomings It should not be forgotten that last year the Socialists organized self-defense groups, which can now appear legally dressed as Fino ON PAGE 5