PD makes public the reasons why people should not take part in the November 22 referendum A project that divides Albania and the Albanians. A project that expropriates Albanians. A project that increases religious conflicts in Albania. A project that excludes the majority from governing. A project to bring the past back to Albania ON PAGE 6

The budget deficit is still not covered by foreign loans Smuggling, lack of projects, corruption—the most contentious issues ON PAGE 5

By Astrit PATOZI The “privatizers” of the constitution are doing everything they can to keep the opposition away from the constitutional process, remaining faithful to the thesis of PS chairman Fatos Nano that the November 22 referendum should serve to legalize the “government’s passport.” After all the legs of the tables and dialogue on the constitution that could have brought the ruling majority and the opposition together were knocked out, Nano and his clan are now seeking to undermine the only bridge left between political opponents in Albania: participation in the counting of votes. The opposition representatives on the Central Voting Commission have been faced with a choice: either accept the ruling majority’s flagrant violation of all the laws on the referendum, or abandon their mission. It is no coincidence that the entire current battle over the referendum is being fought over airtime on the small screen of Albanian Television, whose broadcasts reach the entire territory of the country. But while government officials are unleashing all their energies to defend a process compromised from the outset and an equally dubious draft constitution of their own, the opposition has found information to be its weapon for disqualifying the “government’s passport.” And although its choice has not been easy, as never before—as was the case with the opposition in 1994, which organized an intense campaign to say “no” to the draft of that time—it is also left with the avenues for monitoring the referendum vote. The authorities’ defiance in violating the laws right up to the last day of the referendum campaign means that the opposition’s exclusion from the constitutional process was not a one-off matter involving the head of government or Albanian Radio and Television, but a political decision by those in power to pass the constitution at any cost and put it in their account book. Because if Fatos Nano shut the doors on the opposition with the doors of political prisons and with doors slammed in Azem Hajdari’s face, Pandeli Majko is shutting them again with government offices, leaving it without a finding to sell. If Arlind Klosi and Eduard Mani have been made responsible for an ugly crime over Zana Çela’s dusks, it is very easy for them to find another one for the community when it comes to making room for Gjinushi and Imami to weave their diatribes of fear at the opposition’s expense. The unity of government officials at the expense of freedoms is optimism, the price of the constitution in desperation to get it approved at any cost is cheap, and in many cases it has even created paradoxical situations. At the start of their referendum campaign, they have made a regular history of lofty things trampling over one another to save the “deity” of their constitution. In Elbasan, Gjinushi and Dole told those attending a rally that they could throw out Nano and the PS MPs, but must not do the same with the constitution. Likewise, the leader of the Socialist Party accepts Fatos Nano as chairman of the referendum campaign, although he is vehemently opposed to the recently floated idea of holding a selection after the constitution is approved. The muddle over elections after the constitution is approved, one-worded, since it is becoming clear that they will accept another referendum campaign, and all of it is detached from their campaign to play with parliamentary language. But so that it may also be allowed in the proper language, obsequiously, and even so that it is no longer learned, and it is reinforced with propaganda calls for the “government’s passport,” despite the efforts of the “government’s passport,” with its center carried along by the popular mass beneath the surface, against Fatos and the criticism of public opinion, or Pandeli Majko, Maliqi or Kastriot Dushku. This means that the postponements of the mini-democratic gatherings for the society of officials who have exhausted their power have not lost their motivation to elevate Fatos Nano, with his assistant after the exchange with Fatos Nano, with his support for the political paradox.” Pandeli Majko. (Continued on page 3)

The approved Constitution Minarolli denounces the farce perpetrated by the signatories with the state’s fundamental document. Through Gjinushi’s trick, the constitution has entered into force automatically

PR: We will withdraw from the voting commissions within three days The government should revoke the decision denying citizens living abroad the right to vote The Republicans are dissatisfied with the way the referendum process is being conducted. Yesterday, at a press conference, the party’s leaders said that if their demands are not taken into account within three days, they will withdraw their members from voting commissions at every level, starting with the Central Commission. According to one of the party’s leaders... ON PAGE 3

The President of the Constitutional Court of Austria, Prof. Dr. Machacek, on Article 18 of the draft constitution The left-wing Constitution conceals the communist rulers’ attempts to restore their dictatorship in Albania. Paragraph 3 of Article 18 of the draft constitution legalizes the discrimination of Albanians by a state that has shown that, even without laws, it has the face of the most dictatorial regimes. Among the comments made by some of Europe’s most authoritative foreign constitutional experts are the observations of Professor Dr. Rudolf Machacek, President of the Constitutional Court of Austria. Prof. Dr. Machacek states verbatim regarding Article 18: “Paragraph 3 appears to be in contradiction with paragraph 2, and not to be in full conformity with Article 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights.” The Democratic Party, the Liberal Union Party, the Democratic Union Party, the National Front Democratic Party, the Legality Movement Party—... Regarding Art. 18: Paragraph 3 seems to be a contradiction to Art 14 of the ECHR. ... and all the political entities of the League Against Dictatorship have expressed severe criticism of the draft constitution, and especially of Article 18, which reinstates by law the discrimination that Albanians experienced during the 50 years of Enver Hoxha’s dictatorship. ... democratic and ... almost all said ... call sh... in the ... and when ... by the mass... of the government, ... its ... Albanian... Stalinist culture... many... free ... of ...-Leninist i A.K

Today, 57 days since the murder of the December Leader Every day that passes since the murder of Azem Hajdari, the symbol of democracy and pluralism, proves the involvement of Fatos Nano’s government and its successor in the crime that shocked the entire Albanian world. The governments of the former communists, who are free and have not brought to justice the criminals who took the life of the December Leader, show Albanians that they have been and remain on the side of the murderers, whose names are known but whom those in power do not touch. Democrats and all Albanians who loved and honored Azem Hajdari can in no way tolerate this fact. The government must either capture the criminals and bring them to justice, or publicly declare that it itself committed the murder of Azem Hajdari.

Gjinushi campaigns for the constitution Yesterday, Vlora asked Gjinushi to return the money from the amnesties, as the rulers had promised a year and a half ago. The Speaker of Parliament had come to the city of Vlora to present his constitution, but the people of Vlora did not listen to him on this issue. As soon as the meeting began, one after another, most of those present made it clear to him that there can be no constitution without money. The same thing happened to Gjinushi with dozens of citizens outside the hall. Gjinushi’s campaign began several days ago, but he has still been unable to win support for the constitution. Three days ago in Elbasan, he was nearly thrown out by the people at the meeting.

The Liberal Union and the Democratic Union publish their objections to the draft constitution ON PAGE 3

ON PAGE 4

State Supreme Audit: The budget, tenders... have been abused ON PAGE 5

A new scenario by the “generals” to reduce the number of voters ON PAGE 2

The judicial farce against the Vlora gang continues ON PAGE 4

All RD newspaper sellers in the district are notified to get ready for management. For returns, only the front pages of the newspapers should be collected and packed. EDITORIAL OFFICE