The International Community made its final appeal to the Albanian left Europe: “March to the elections!” The Democrats toward victory, the Socialists toward boycott The PS is openly on the side of criminals Two days before the electoral process in our country was to begin, a high-level international delegation arrived yesterday in Tirana, led by the US ambassador to the UN, Richard Holbrooke. According to the initial reports, this delegation also includes the former Prime Minister of Italy, Lamberto Dini, the German MEP Elmar Brok, and the Austrian ambassador to the OSCE, Franz Vranitzky. Their presence in Tirana coincides with meetings with President Sali Berisha, Prime Minister Bashkim Fino, and the Socialist leader Rexhep Meidani. The program of this visit, and especially their first statements, made possible only one reading: the international community is here to support the elections and to publicly warn of the country’s return to chaos if such a thing were to be attempted by destabilizing groups. The acting Prime Minister, Fino, who during this period has positioned himself clearly alongside the police forces against the armed gangs, gave a forceful interview. “There will be no postponement of the elections,” he said, adding that the polling commissions and electoral materials are ready. On the other hand, Socialist Party leaders have issued mixed signals, not abandoning the language of boycott, while armed elements on the ground have increased pressure in several areas. The photograph in the center of the page shows an injured man, with the caption: “Two days before the electoral process was to begin, the killed in the emergency situation of Cërrik and the police station chief, Fatos Nano.”

Vranitzky at the preparatory conference in Rome: Chapter 24 still has difficulties, and therefore at the preparatory conference in Rome, held for 29 June, it was stressed that elections are the only way out of the crisis. Today, for the 24 elections, chaos would represent not only an institutional risk, but also a threat to the country’s social and economic recovery.

Being a calm Socialist government and being under the scrutiny of Prime Minister Bashkim Fino’s numbers has brought many surprises to the forefront of this electoral campaign. The PDS has tried to create an image of inevitable victory, while the Socialists themselves have alternated between the language of postponing the elections and statements in favor of participation. Postponement of the elections has become a kind of refrain for some left-wing politicians, but the international community and the interim government have declared that 29 June remains the irreversible date. This debate is taking place in a tense climate, where weapons and gangs are directly affecting the behavior of the electorate. For this reason, the word “defeat” has become part of the day’s rhetoric and each side tries to place the responsibility on the other. In this sense, not only the opposition, but also the Socialist government seems to be moving on politically slippery ground. More than a program, citizens are seeing a daily contest of statements and alibis. This is the other war, the one for public perception, on the wall of defeat.

President Berisha summons Fino and Çelo President Berisha has invited Prime Minister Bashkim Fino and Minister Çelo to a meeting to discuss the need for a social pact that would guarantee public calm. At the same time, new developments are expected from contacts with representatives of the opposition and the international community. ON PAGE 2

The Socialist Party makes the new alibi for not entering the elections ON PAGE 3

Why the law enforcement forces are not being paid 300 percent ON PAGE 2

Kris[a]ta Kun[e], chair of the Commission ON PAGE 3

President Berisha is welcomed with enthusiasm by thousands of residents of the city of Durrës ON PAGE 3

The Socialists begin, the brothers [?], over the blood of the brothers of Čeçik ON PAGE 2

The Russian governor speaks about inflation and bank privatization ON PAGE 5

Verona Court: Qemal Drishta remains director of INSIG ON PAGE 5

All with the same ones of Italian politics He kills, as parties, straight to the borders of ZPS and in Italy, at the center of the country, he kills also 3PZ. Comrade and the X-rayed letter with voice, comrade with the first of the sovereigns in Italy, beheaded in Italy.