Thousands of citizens of Gjirokastër greet the opposition. More than 300 cars join Berisha on the way to Gjirokastër. Spontaneous meetings in Ardencë, Ballsh, Memaliaj, Tepelenë. The south demands new elections Pj[?]e, on the sports podium of Gjirokastër

Speech by the chairman of the Democratic Party Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha in Gjirokastër The Party of honesty! the road to victory, and its supporters are solidarity and our message to Albania everywhere in the world. Each[?] must ask themselves, all together, is it better to govern with merit and be honest for all Albanians, or to govern with deceit, to build political careers by lying to people? Albanians, From the square of Gjirokastër, each of us is seeking with all our heart the path of truth, responsibility and change. For a whole year our country has gone through a heavy ordeal, and today we are here to say that the Democratic Party recognizes its mistakes, analyzes them honestly and announces a new alternative for Albania. We have not come here to ignite hatred, but to invite citizens onto a new path of trust, freedom and development. We have come to condemn crime, corruption, poverty and political deceit. Today we are in Gjirokastër to say that democracy cannot survive without institutions, without free elections, without independent justice and without an honest economy. We want an Albania where the law stands above everyone and where the state is not used against the citizen. The Democratic Party rises again not for revenge, but for service to the citizens. We invite all Albanians, left and right, to unite in the ideal of a European Albania. Only in this way will we be able to regain lost trust and build the future. This is our alternative. (Page 3)

Sali Berisha's one-day action in the city of Gjirokastër once again brought to light the complete absence of the institutions of the Albanian state. No institution in the Prefecture raised any concern about what was happening; even the Ministry of Public Order reversed its earlier promises not to allow gatherings, while all police checkpoints on the road to the south had been left open and unmanned. This situation was clearly observed by the RD team, which from 6 in the morning until noon covered the Tirana-Lushnje-Fier-Levan-Tepelenë-Gjirokastër route. Total absence of the state was also evident in the city of Gjirokastër, where, in open violation of the Constitution and the laws of the country, the prefect of Gjirokastër County, together with the mayor of the city, led a rally against the opposition, attended by senior officials of the state administration, uniformed police officers, soldiers, as well as many civilians drawn from the ranks of the unemployed, citizens threatened or lured with money, etc. Initially, at noon, the mayor of the city remained hidden like an ostrich, but when representatives of the opposition entered the Asim Zeneli sports hall, the organizers were shaken and for about 10–15 minutes no one made a sound. Then, terrified by slogans such as "Get out! Nano, leave!" the organizers of the counter-manifestation joined in chorus with their thugs until Berisha calmed the tempers. What was striking was the fact that there were many children and women on the podium and in the hall, who through the loudspeakers were filled with hatred, with all kinds of insults and abuse against the opposition. The mayor himself, Fatmir Çelaj, with primitive hatred used the whole arsenal of café-style insults to offend Berisha and the opposition. In this environment an incident occurred that says a great deal about the nature of this government. A group of people angered by the insults of the mayor of Gjirokastër, mainly young democrats, approached the podium and grabbed the mayor by the throat. The police forces stationed around the podium did not intervene to protect the mayor, but later special police forces arrived and pulled him out in a hurry. In any case, calm was restored again and, according to some witnesses, the prefect of Gjirokastër left the sports hall terrified and dazed. Meanwhile, at the same time, the prefect of Police in Gjirokastër, with a group of civilians, was blocking the national road at the entrance to the city. It was only the many citizens of Gjirokastër who were entering the hall that convinced the police prefect to clear the road. After arriving at the entrance to the city, Dr. Berisha and the opposition protest led by the chairman of the PD branch, Genc Ruli, passed through the city's main street among hundreds upon hundreds of citizens, who incessantly greeted and cheered the opposition, while its opponents had barricaded themselves in terror inside the sports hall, cursing hysterically and waving Greek flags. The absence of the state in Gjirokastër was also clearly seen during the departure from this city, when no police force appeared anywhere to protect the buses, the many vehicles of the opposition, and the citizens who accompanied Dr. Berisha, although on the road groups of people armed with stones and sticks and with Greek flags caused serious incidents with grave consequences. At the Kardhiq bridge three cars and a bus were attacked with stones by several hundred people who had laid an ambush on the sides of the bridge. In this barbaric attack 5 people were injured, among them an 11-year-old child, who sustained severe blows to the head. After the extensive damage, the buses, private vehicles and the injured people left, and the police arrived at the scene only 2 hours later. It is clear that no one can be held responsible for these grave events and for this climate of hatred and bloodshed encouraged by the top leadership of the Albanian state, if its institutions do not exist. (Page 8)

This causes a stir in southern Albania This[?]metra[?] causes a stir in southern Albania The PD action and its allies in the city of Gjirokastër, organized under the motto "Enough", was an unquestionable success and showed that the Albanian opposition is gaining ground day by day in the south of the country. This important political action is also taking place on a symbolic day, one year after the holding of the extraordinary Congress of the Democratic Party in Gjirokastër. That congress and its decisions, which the left-wing media mocked with irony and contempt, over time proved to be correct and historic decisions. As a result, the passionate and mobilizing congress of Gjirokastër on 18 April 1997, which set the benchmarks and orientation of the Democratic Party for its strong resurgence, today stands as an event of historical importance. It was precisely this strong resurgence of the party and of the Albanian opposition as a whole that was demonstrated by the democrats and the citizens of Gjirokastër. Under the slogans "Opposition! Opposition!", "Berisha! Berisha!", "Nano, leave", "Get out", "Down with the government of crime", "Down with Fino", etc., thousands of supporters and backers of the opposition, not only from Gjirokastër but also from other districts of the south of the country, marched through the city streets in a rare display of strength and determination. In this context, in Gjirokastër the magnificent opposition demonstration held a few days earlier in the city of Elbasan was repeated in a different form. A simple observation of what happened yesterday in Gjirokastër gives the impression that Berisha and the opposition are no longer carrying out merely a demonstrative action with rallies and speeches, but are increasingly undertaking a powerful political and popular anti-government movement. Thus, the opposition led by Berisha is becoming day by day the hope and the true governing alternative for Albanians and the country. A. N.

To Orthodox believers and to[?], Albanian heart, today is a day of joy, a day of joy and peace, heart I wish all Albanian Orthodox believers Happy Easter. May God bless you and your families! I hope that this blessed day strengthens in you and in all Albanian citizens the feelings of solidarity, understanding and human love. All of us need more peace in our souls, more kindness and respect for one another. Albania will move forward only if its citizens know how to live in peace, in tolerance and in faith in the future. Happy Easter! (Page 3)