The SP at a rally, but not on the campaign trail ON PAGE 3 The SP at a rally, but not on the campaign trail Nano: the rebellion must continue ON PAGE 3

Report from Vlora, where logic has come to an end.... ON PAGE 2 Report from Vlora, where logic has come to an end.... The hero of the night is the bullet ON PAGE 2

Disha and Malaj, with their boards, will face off in court ON PAGE 2 Disha and Malaj, with their boards, will face off in court The financial battle on Friday ON PAGE 2

Albanian socialists took another step yesterday against the free elections of 29 June, when, together with the other left-wing parties, they refused to sign the social pact offered to all parties by the Democratic Party. The Socialist Party and several phantom parties that fear any kind of campaign made the complete lifting of the state of emergency their new condition, reminding us of the entire history of boycotts that has accompanied their positions on the 29 June electoral process. The socialists’ disregard for signing an agreement whose essence is a civilized campaign without excesses is another pretext for refusing to declare their participation in the elections. The previous day, Socialist leader Fatos Nano had floated the idea of postponing the elections, while the Rome conference gave a categorical answer to the SP’s hopes of undermining or delaying the electoral process. At midnight on Monday, Nano held a lengthy meeting with Prime Minister Fino, to which Justice Minister Spartak Ngjela was also invited. They discussed a solution that would provide grounds for postponing the elections, in the interests of the socialists’ plans. But the most senior Western figures involved in the Albanian crisis left no room for the SP’s new attempts at obstruction. Vranicki and Dini were clear and firm in their statements that postponement of the elections would not be permitted, placing the grave responsibility on the Albanian socialists if they dare to undermine the electoral process or boycott the elections. Under pressure from the international community, the socialists seem to have decided to return to their old political methods. In an interview with a daily newspaper, SP leader Fatos Nano threatened Albanians and the international community yesterday with provoking a new rebellion after the June elections. He said that the OSCE had not understood what they wanted, and that this meant that as soon as the opportunity arose, it would happen again in other editions. In addition to attacking the OSCE, which is among the international institutions the socialists have insulted, Nano openly threatens to reject the results and trigger a new crisis after losing the elections. Aware of the certain victory of the Union for Democracy, as is also indicated by a recent poll that surveyed Albanians on the day the elections were announced, the socialists are promising a new boycott of the contest, which has been identified as the only way to prolong the crisis in the country. In this situation, the socialists’ decision not to sign the social pact is perfectly clear: they do not want even the most formal obligation to accept participation in the elections, nor to conduct a civilized and dignified campaign. The bosses of Zani, Shyri, Gjoleka and the tenorists of Cërrik want a free hand for their armed rabble throughout the campaign. They do not consider it wrong that the committees have still not been disbanded, as required by the demands of 9 May; on the contrary, they are increasing pressure on politics and terrorizing citizens. But they consider it intolerable that some institutions, previously beyond control, should be the only ones protected by force—the only real element of the state of emergency. For those who have followed, step by step, the entire history of chaos and rebellion in Albania, it is perfectly clear why they did not sign the social pact yesterday: they did not sign the social pact yesterday, they ... PD. Even if they had signed it, they would have been hypocrites, but they refuse to compromise on an issue that touches the committees’ interests. Asrilt PATOZI

The left refuses the DP’s offer of a social pact An independent poll gives the Union for Democracy a historic victory in the 29 June elections. The Democrats win 35 percent. The Socialists are below their historic level, at just 19 percent An independent poll gives the Union for Democracy a historic victory in the 29 June elections. The Democrats win 35 percent. The Socialists are below their historic level, at just 19 percent.

The SP promises not to recognize the election results Nano’s insult against the OSCE or other institutions that have taken an unequivocal stand in favor of elections on 29 June is in fact a direct insult against Vranicki and, immediately after him, against the Italian government, which has taken on the most delicate positions in the Albanian crisis ON PAGE 3

Fino: “I have asked the Minister of Finance to put an end to this kind of practice” Berisha talks with Fino about dismissals at financial institutions ON PAGE 3

PD Chairman Shehu secures the support of Italian politicians The Chairman of the Democratic Party, Mr. Tritan Shehu, is continuing his official visit to Italy, holding meetings with the highest-ranking figures in Italian politics. At his meeting with Italy’s Foreign Minister, Lamberto Dini, Mr. Shehu outlined the political and economic situation in the country and the ongoing election campaign. He said that terrorist gangs and committees continued to stand in the way of holding a calm and fair campaign. Foreign Minister Dini took a keen interest in the conduct of the elections, stressing that holding elections on June 29 is not only the implementation of a political contract, but also the necessary step toward emerging from the crisis and ending the international community’s assistance to Albania. He stressed that Italy would always stand by Albania in overcoming this difficult situation and that the Italian government would not stop negotiations with other countries to help our country. At this meeting, Lamberto Dini once again emphasized that all Albanian political forces should begin their election campaigns in order to hold an honest contest of programs and viewpoints. At today’s meeting with the leaders of Italy’s right-wing parties, Pier Ferdinando Casini and Gianfranco Fini, Ranieri, the PDS Secretary for International Relations, and Marantonio, a senior Forza Italia secretary, Mr. Shehu received the political support of these parties. They expressed their interest in a fair election campaign in Albania and, at the same time, voiced their support for greater assistance to Albanian democracy. At his meeting with Mr. Shehu, Gianfranco Fini said that the genuinely democratic forces should win in Albania, led by the Democratic Party, the only political party committed to and working for a true democracy. Casini likewise said that a Democratic Party victory was necessary to prevent the return of communism to power. The Italian left-wing PDS’s Secretary for Foreign Affairs stressed that it was essential for Albania to hold elections on June 29 in a calm political climate and to emerge as soon as possible from its difficult situation. Likewise, Mr. Tritan Shehu, the Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the third political force, once again presented the Democratic Party’s position: it had countered violent elections with its own political choices. These political choices, Mr. Shehu said, saved Albania from the chaos into which the forces of the far left wanted to plunge it, and this same solution would bring the Democratic Party victory in the June 29 elections. We support free and fair elections, and to that end we have begun a Western-style campaign, convinced that a new victory awaits the Democratic Party and the Albanian right. T. M.

The Democratic Party and its allies will win an overwhelming majority in the June 29 elections. A poll by the Institute of Social Research “Albanian Opinion” predicts that a coalition of the Albanian right will receive more than 55 percent of the vote nationwide. According to the poll, the PD continues to be the party with the greatest support among Albanians, far ahead of the Socialist Party and the other parties. The poll results also indicate that the country’s right-wing political bloc is seen as the most acceptable alternative to govern after the elections. What is striking about the poll results is that the SP has not only failed to gain support, but its support continues to fall to ever lower levels, which could leave it ranked third or fourth after the elections. Recent events apparently mean that a very large number of Albanians who believe in the left-wing alternative have also lost faith in the SP, which organized and backed the armed rebellion and has nothing in common with European socialist ideals. In a poll covering a range of issues and problems affecting the country’s present and future, more than 1,025 citizens of different ages and professions were questioned. The poll was conducted on the day the election date was announced, and its results show that 35 percent of voters currently support the Democratic Party, 7.1 percent the Legality Movement Party, 2 percent the Social Democratic Union Party, around 2 percent the Christian Democratic Party, 3 percent the Republican Party, 3 percent the National Front Party, etc. Only 19 percent of Albanians are ready to support the Socialist Party, 3 percent the Social Democratic Party, and 2.5 percent the Democratic Alliance Party. Around 15 percent of voters are still undecided, while around 5 percent of the electorate is split between the Union for Human Rights Party and several insignificant small parties. The poll results confirm the findings of the first election meetings held by the PD in recent days, where it is clear that support for the PD has not fallen at all, while, on the other hand, an openly rejecting attitude toward the SP has emerged, as it is held responsible for the drama the country is going through. L. K.

Photo: F. Bilani Pollo fails to persuade Majko to give up the rebellion