The Socialists attempt to seize the Ministry of Interior. Fino, a leading figure in the scenario to escalate terror against Democrats The Socialists oppose taking power through institutional channels Albanian Socialists tried to take control of the Ministry of Interior and the police forces, in a typically putschist plot, even though many days remain before the 29 June elections are fully concluded. Prime Minister Fino was tasked with using Belul Çelo’s weapons abroad as a pretext for the Ministry of Interior and all its forces to fall into Fatos Nano’s hands immediately. Invoking the 9 March agreement, which stipulates that the Ministry of Interior should be headed by a person from the Democratic Party, the Socialists hastened to announce that the ministry would instead be run by one of their deputy ministers, a former State Security officer who had been appointed to that post only the day before. Socialist Party leader Fatos Nano hastened to tell the REUTER agency how pleased he was, declaring that the Ministry of Interior would now be headed by socialist former State Security officer Baraj, who holds the post of deputy minister. Yesterday, too, Prime Minister Fino, charged with carrying the sinister plot through to the end, tried to annul an order by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Sali Berisha, directing the Guard forces and several police units to help maintain public order and protect the State Bank in Tirana. Yesterday’s attempt by the Socialists to seize and take control of institutions before their future government has been formed is, in fact, a continuation of the communist rebellion that shook and devastated the country for months. Just as during the entire election campaign they terrorized, killed, beat and massacred Democrats, and just as they massively seized votes at gunpoint throughout the country, the Socialists are now trying to take control of the armed forces in order to further escalate their violence against Albania’s free citizens. The Socialists’ urgency to put on police uniforms now, many days before the final election results are announced, is part of their plan to envelop the country in a climate of savage terror and stifle every breath of the Democrats, whose survival has already been difficult in many areas where the Socialist Party has for months installed the “police” of armed criminal gangs. The Socialists’ haste to seize institutional buildings, which are barely still standing after the rebellion they themselves instigated and organized, is part of their sinister plan to shut down the Democratic Party in a sea of armed revolution. It is no coincidence that this attempt is taking place before the final results of the first round of elections have been released, while cases of terror against Democratic Party representatives are increasing throughout the country in an effort to overturn results even where the Democratic candidate’s victory has been indisputable. On the other hand, this attempt is intended to exert enormous pressure on the civilian population in the runoff areas, which will play a decisive role in the final election results. This filthy communist coup is, in fact, an attempt to kill the runoff and demonstrate the force of violence in uniform, by those who lit the fuse of terror throughout Albania. The urgency with which they now want to occupy the ministries is also connected with protecting every hope of survival for the referendum’s supporters. It is no coincidence that the gang leader, Fatos Nano, was the first to announce the figure of 20 percent for the monarchy, even though he still does not know how many seats his party has won. They also wanted the police so that, in addition to invalidating the PD vote, they could invalidate the votes Albanians gave to Leka i Parë. Perhaps they want to take this one step further, following the figures that their leader Nano was prompted to publish the day after the voting. This sinister plot, centered on Socialist Party leader Fatos Nano, is the expansion of his socialist state, imposed on Albanians in advance. Violence, terror and lawlessness in the institutions are the state the Socialists are trying to create. Prime Minister Fino is merely a tool, chosen to carry the Albanian communist rebellion through to its conclusion now, while being forced to allow their votes, though violated, to be protected in the state and the relevant schools... [?]

Press conference by President Berisha. Elections worse than in 1991 I feel strong and confident about continuing and facing the events of the situa- Elections worse than in 1991 The voting was far from normal I feel strong and confident about continuing and facing the events of the situa-

I feel strong and confident about carrying on and facing events and situations. The difficulties will be overcome. I do not think you are saying that it is better to face difficulties than to rack your brains over how they might be prevented. ON PAGE 3

History will bear harsh witness to this reversal and will severely punish the Government of National Reconciliation DP protests against the red terror The Democratic Party of Albania strongly protests against the red terror being inflicted on its many members and supporters. Since last night, their homes have been shot at; they have been physically abused, threatened with death, and forced to leave their families and children. Concerned by the escalation of violence against its supporters, the Democratic Party of Albania calls on the Government of National Reconciliation to stop the violence against ordinary people, because everyone has the right to think freely and believe in particular alternatives; this is the freedom Albanians have won over the past five years. severely punish the Government of National Reconciliation, which boasts in its statements to representatives of international organizations of its commitment to National Reconciliation. The DPA calls on all its supporters and members to remain calm at this difficult moment and to commit themselves fully to ensuring respect for the legal framework, order, peace, and National Reconciliation.

The socialist prime minister yesterday publicly revealed the dark plots to plunge Albanians into bloodshed Fino: I am determined to bring down the Government of National Reconciliation ON PAGE 3

Fino accepts the Democratic Party’s proposal The Democratic Party announced yesterday that the socialist Prime Minister had accepted the appointment of Ali Kazazi to the post of Minister of the Interior. Kazazi was proposed by the DP for this position two days after former Interior Minister Belul Çelo fled to Greece. The Democratic Party bases its proposal on President Berisha’s 9 March agreement with the political forces, which states that the post of Minister of the Interior in the Government of National Reconciliation is to be proposed by the Democratic Party. Fino appears to have quickly abandoned his statements that he would accept no changes to his provisional cabinet.

Monarchists protest in many cities across Albania : Nano rigged the votes for the King Monarchists in Tirana, Lezhë, Mamurras, Shkodër, Burrel, Laç, and several other cities protest against Nano’s vote-rigging. Mulosmanaj warns Nano to be careful with his statements about being accountable for the election results. ON PAGE 2

The Socialist Party has decided to rig the second round of the elections as well Hajdari: the DP is stronger and more democratic after the rebellion The Secretary-General of the Democratic Party’s Election Campaign Headquarters, Azem Hajdari, denounced at a press conference yesterday the secret agreements between former Interior Minister Belul Çelo and socialist Prime Minister Bashkim Fino to destabilize the country during this election period. Hajdari called Çelo’s departure, along with that of two other senior officials from the Ministry of the Interior, Agim Shehu and Xhavit Xhaferri, from Albania over the past two days shameful and part of a dark plot. Their escapes, Hajdari said, were orchestrated by the Socialist Party, which as well. He described the latter as directly responsible for the indirect deaths of 40 police officers, because, in cooperation with Fino and the Socialist Party, they allowed criminal gangs to operate freely throughout this period of the Government of National Reconciliation. Their aim was to prevent the restoration of law and order and leave the country under the anarchy of the communists. Although this plot was devised to damage the Democratic Party’s image, Hajdari said that the Democratic Party would not be blackmailed by the withdrawal of defectors, former spies, and corrupt people who had infiltrated its ranks. The Democratic Party emerged from this crisis, caused by the rebellion, many times stronger and more democratic than the other parties, which declined under pressure from left-wing gangs. Denying rumors circulating in the capital that he too intended to flee Albania, Hajdari said he would work to secure the DP’s victory in all the constituencies where it was in a run-off. Hajdari gave journalists details of Çelo and Fino having lived together for several months in villa 30, as well as details of the minister’s escape on a plane belonging to the Greek driver [?]. Hajdari said he found no other motives that could justify Çelo’s departure, and that it would have been more honorable for him to go with a bouquet of flowers and take refuge with the family of a slain police officer. Hajdari also condemned Fino’s lies when he tries to justify ...

POLICE

Fino denies his responsibility for the pyramid schemes ON PAGE 5 Fino denies his responsibility for the pyramid schemes Nano will return the money ON PAGE 5

Around 5,000 forces will not allow manipulation against the king ON PAGE 4 Around 5,000 forces will not allow manipulation against the king The referendum arms the North ON PAGE 4

The second round risks being short of observers ON PAGE 4 The second round risks being short of observers The OSCE has no helicopter ON PAGE 4

NATIONAL LIBRARY TIRANA