After giving clear notice of the abuse of the opposition by the Tirana regime Undersecretary Petrovski calls for the deepening of democratic processes in Albania, without ruling out early elections Protests amid the dust of voting By Eno BAZE The Tirana government received another signal yesterday from the internationals, who are increasingly distancing themselves from scenarios that would turn the Constitution into a legal act tied to solving the crisis in Albania. The UN Undersecretary-General, Mr. Jan Petrovski, declared yesterday during a press conference in Tirana that “the Constitution is not a solution to the crisis in Albania; it only creates a new institutional framework for democratic development in the country.” He was unequivocal in the way he addressed the relationship between the crisis and the Constitution, making clear that “democracy is in the hands of Albanians and no one should understand the approval of the Constitution in a referendum as a solution to the crisis in Albania. The Constitution is a challenge for Albanians and not for the internationals.” This statement by Mr. Petrovski appears to have been a clear message to the Tirana government, which in recent times has decided to present the 22 November referendum as a process backed by the international community and as an important commitment to solving the crisis in Albania. Moreover, Mr. Petrovski was adamant yesterday that the democratic process in Albania must reopen political debate and must not be confused with whether or not the opposition boycotts the voting process. “The biggest risk in Albania is not whether the opposition takes part in the vote or not, but whether it is seen as a free and fair process,” he said. While expressing regret over the opposition’s non-participation in this process, Jan Petrovski said that “he hopes the opposition will boycott the vote.” If you link the success of the process to the opposition’s participation, that means you have not understood the situation in Albania, he said. “What matters is how the process will be judged and whether it will bring stability.” In a very clear way, Mr. Petrovski was firm in his assessment of the opposition’s stance in Albania. Although he avoided a direct answer to the question of who is right, he emphasized that “it must be understood that the reason the opposition is not taking part in the vote has nothing to do with the Constitution but with the violation of democratic standards.” In his view, “the Democratic Party is an important force in Albania and its participation in political life does not depend solely on a voting process.” This means that, according to Mr. Petrovski, the Albanian government must send important signals and accelerate the process of normalizing political life in Albania before asking the people to vote on the Constitution. The same thing was stated yesterday in Tirana by the OSCE representative, Mr. ODHIR [?], who said that “the 22 November referendum must not be turned into a political test against the opposition.” A series of similar comments in the Western press yesterday criticized the government’s efforts to present the referendum as a kind of “test” of the country’s democratic stability. Meanwhile, the opposition continues to demand political and institutional guarantees for free and fair elections, considering the climate created by the government unsuitable for a normal process.

The deputy speaker of the People's Assembly denounces legal violations in the referendum process ON PAGE 3

The PD memorandum addressed to the KQV, the OSCE, Mr. Everts and ODIHR ON PAGE 3

The plans of those in power to terrorize people were observed by “PD” two weeks earlier The plans of those in power to terrorize people were identified by “PD” two weeks earlier. ON PAGE 2

The PD Tirana branch activist body sends a message to the government ON PAGE 2

Polo and Dajçi hold meetings in Vlora, Levan, Krrabëzotinë and Durrës ON PAGE 2

By Eno BAZE Albania is approaching the referendum date under conditions of almost normal political tension. 22 November will be a day crowded with, at last, the chaos the country is experiencing. The referendum seems to be losing more and more of its meaning as a civic and constitutional process and is turning into a test of strength, a count of the sides in conflict and, ultimately, a plebiscite on the government. This has dramatically diminished any legal and political value that the new constitution might have had, turning it into a child expected to be born dead.

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