A programme that makes us optimistic The Albanian Party of Labour candidate for deputy to the People’s Assembly, Arjan Nallari, is continuing his meetings with voters. These are crucial moments, when everyone is thinking about whom to give their vote to on 31 March. Naturally, the question arises in these discussions: why should we vote for candidates of the Albanian Party of Labour? The answer is found in its programme: it is realistic, credible and implementable. Here we present the views of some voters, among the many who explain why they will vote for the Albanian Party of Labour. Spartak Male, cardiologist at Përmet Hospital: “I am not a member of the Albanian Party of Labour, but I will vote for its candidates with conviction, because in its programme I see reality; it is concrete and implementable for everyone. It expresses broad-minded humanism, especially in the social and health-care fields. I served for six years in the villages of mountainous Dangëllia and now at Përmet Hospital. I have witnessed the achievements in the people’s welfare and health. Services and care are not for particular groups, but are equal for workers, intellectuals and officials alike. Përmet Hospital alone employs 170 people, including 26 doctors and specialists in various fields, and has the necessary equipment. How can anyone believe the words of doctor Petrit Rexhepi, who declared at the Democratic Party’s election rally that the people’s government has done nothing for health care? Such statements cannot make Përmet and Këlcyrë hospitals disappear. I am voting for the Albanian Party of Labour because I am convinced that its candidates are better people.” Dashamir Halili, economist at the district People’s Council executive committee: “I vote for the Party of Labour because I see it as the only political organization that best serves the vital interests of the masses of workers, peasants and intellectuals. It is a political organization with extensive experience and a clear vision for the present and the future; it knows how to renew itself in the name of the future and welfare, for the democracy we aspire to, and knows how to serve all-round development. It has discussed and resolved its problems and concerns with the people; it has turned to the people on every matter and, when it has made mistakes, it has not hidden them but corrected them together with the people.” Ibrahim Emiri, architectural engineer: “I am not a member of any political party, but I am a member of the most pluralistic organization, the Democratic Front of Albania, while I see my aspiration for progress embodied in the Party of Labour’s programme. That is why I will vote for it: because I am voting for progress, for the future. As a designer, I have confidence in the programme of the Party of Labour’s vision for the country’s development in line with its real possibilities, and the reforms the Party of Labour is undertaking for the country’s democratic transformation are convincing.” These are views that people freely express in their conversations and at meetings with voters. On 31 March they will cast their free vote for the candidates presented by the Party of Labour, thereby expressing their aspirations for its programme, which is the most democratic.

— TROPOJË — “Whom did you vote for?”—after 31 March, a child will ask their father, a father his son, a brother his brother. This means: for whom did you cast your signature, the signature that will leave its mark on the history of the homeland in the years to come? I think these questions have already begun to be asked, because the question of whom I will vote for has been on citizens’ minds for some time now. I am at a meeting with Halil Elezi, a Party of Labour deputy in Kam, Tropojë. He meets with voters outside the official meeting. What concerns the voters? Will the victories achieved with the blood of the martyrs be defended? Will Albania be democratic, and will all that magnificent work achieved through great sacrifice be safeguarded— all those transformations that have taken place, all the social equality we have? Those who guarantee what we have achieved and aspire to a society of high ideals and aspirations are precisely the ones who should be the people’s representatives. In Kam and Zogaj, this was the request of the citizens who spoke with their candidate; they are convinced that, by defending the programme of the Albanian Party of Labour, he will fulfil their demand for realistic, modern development of our country and for the unceasing material and spiritual enrichment of the people’s lives. To attend the meeting of the Albanian Party of Labour candidate for deputy, Lush Përpali, a candidate of sciences, in the village of Bllatë, is to understand the concern of this citizen…

Today, under the chairmanship of its chairman, Professor Doctor Rexhep Mejdani, the Central Election Commission of the People’s Assembly met and reviewed the legal documents required to register candidates for deputy to the 12th Legislature of the People’s Assembly, for whom voting will take place on 31 March 1991. In accordance with the requirements of Law No. 7423, dated 13.11.1990, “On Elections to the People’s Assembly”, 1,074 candidates for deputy to the People’s Assembly, proposed by electoral entities and individual citizens, have been submitted and registered in all 250 electoral districts. Candidates for deputy to the People’s Assembly have been submitted by the Agrarian Party in 37 districts, the Democratic Party in 250 districts, the Ecological Party in 2 districts, the Party of Labour in 243 districts, the Republican Party in 165 districts, the Women’s Union in 72 districts, the Trade Unions in 106 districts, the Youth Union in 94 districts, the Democratic Front in 122 districts, the National Committee of Veterans in 7 districts, the OMONIA Organization in 5 districts, and 17 independent candidates in 16 districts. Some of the above candidacies were submitted and registered jointly by several electoral entities in 46 districts, in accordance with the requirements of the second paragraph of Article 24 of the electoral law. The Central Election Commission calls on the electorate and electoral entities to make every effort to comply seriously with the requirements of the law on elections to the People’s Assembly, in order to guarantee general, equal, direct and secret elections, based on the free will of the voters, amid the deepening of the country’s all-round democratization and political pluralism. CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION 20.3.1991

— ELBASAN — Meetings in the «Kongresi i Elbasanit» neighbourhood and in the «Abdyl Haxhire Myzyri» neighbourhood, where the candidacy of Teuta Dilo, a scientific candidate and employee of the Institute of Metallurgical Studies and Projects, has been proposed, have been organized both by residential block and in small groups. These meetings are serving as an opportunity for fruitful exchanges of views on the Albanian Party of Labour’s electoral programme. Meanwhile, in the villages of Shushicë and Fushe-Buall, residents of different ages asked questions and received various clarifications during discussions with their area’s candidate, Ligor Balla, a teacher with specialist training at the Faculty of Political and Legal Sciences. The candidate gave highly informed answers. Speakers at these meetings expressed positive views of the Albanian Party of Labour’s electoral programme and pledged to give their votes to the candidates it has put forward. Meetings are continuing in other electoral districts. SEJDIN CEKANI They will Meetings are continuing in other electoral districts. SEJDIN CEKANI (Continued on page 2)

The Party of Labour Committee of the Gjirokastër district organized a meeting at the city’s «Zihni Sako» cinema, attended by members of the plenary committee, secretaries of primary organizations, cadres and specialists from various sectors of the economy, from both town and countryside, to explain the Albanian Party of Labour’s electoral programme, particularly in the economic and social fields. In his speech, the Secretary of the Central Committee of the Albanian Party of Labour, prof. dr. Abdyl Backa, among other things emphasized the idea that the electoral programme provides a sound foundation for (Continued on page 2)

Yesterday the Minister of Trade and Foreign Cooperation, Shane Korbeci, received Mr Alessandro Graffini, Deputy Chief of Staff of Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and his associates, Messrs Celi and Zanghi. The meeting discussed ways to further expand cooperation and collaboration between our two countries. Mr Graffini, for his part, emphasized the enduring material and spiritual commitment to the people’s life. At deputy, Lush Përpali, candidate of sciences, in the village of Bllatë, one would understand the concern of this citizen… The Italian ambassador to the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, Tokuato Cardilli, also attended the meeting. (ATA)

Yesterday morning, the chairman of the Central Election Commission, prof. dr. Rexhep Mejdani, received Xhorxho La Malfa, national secretary of the Italian Republican Party. During the conversation, he informed the guest from Italy about the electoral law, the composition of the Central Election Commission and the local commissions, which are pluralistic, their work to date to ensure the normal conduct of the 31 March elections, and so on. Professor Doctor Rexhep Mejdani also answered Mr La Malfa’s questions concerning state financial support for the various parties for the current campaign and the opportunities provided to them to conduct electoral propaganda through the information media, especially television, and so on. Rexhep Mejdani emphasized that both financial support and equal airtime on television are set out and guaranteed by law. (ATA)

Yesterday, the delegation of the Italian Republican Party left our country. It was headed by its national secretary, Xhorxho La Malfa, who, at the invitation of the Albanian Committee for Cultural Relations and Friendship with the Outside World and the Albanian Republican Party, paid a visit to our coun- Yesterday, the delegation of the Italian Republican Party left our country. It was headed by its national secretary, Xhorxho La Malfa, who, at the invitation of the Albanian Committee for Cultural Relations and Friendship with the Outside World and the Albanian Republican Party, paid a visit to our country. At Rinas Airport he was welcomed … (Continued on page 4)

As has already been made known, the Assembly of the Republic of Serbia adopted, under an accelerated procedure, a law suspending the work of the presidency and the autonomous province of Kosovo, and dismissing Riza Sapunxhiu, the member of the Presidency of Yugoslavia from Kosovo. The acts of the Serbian Assembly constitute a violation of interests and of the policy, long known, of denying the people of Kosovo their national, democratic and humanitarian rights, as well as denying the province itself its status as a constituent element of the SFR of Yugoslavia, guaranteed by the federal constitution. They also constitute an intensification of unconstitutional actions, a challenge to European democratic developments and to the process of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) itself. The decisions of the Serbian Assembly were opposed by political forces and public opinion in Kosovo. They have been supported by an opinion … (partial and illegible text) … This policy of violence pursued by Serbia in Kosovo up to now, which provokes a rise in tension in the province and … tension, bringing about the destabilization of all Yugoslavia, must be ended as soon as possible. The normalization of the situation in Kosovo and respect for the freedoms and national and human rights of Albanians are in the interest of Yugoslavia and will make a strong contribution to good relations between Albania and Yugoslavia. The Albanian people condemn this unconstitutional act of the Serbian Assembly and demand an end to arbitrariness in Kosovo and respect for the national identity and rights of the Albanian people of Kosovo, as well as those of all the other nations and nationalities of Yugoslavia. Tirana, 20 March 1991 …n of so… Borisav Jo- [?] … blockade of … in the ter- [?] … of the country … with Agani. … «Doreh- [?] … in the … of the unpainted [?] … po- [?] … Yugos- [?] …

Yesterday, Minister of Foreign Affairs Muhamet Kapllani returned to the Homeland. He signed in Washington the Memorandum on the resumption of diplomatic relations between the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania and the United States of America, and also visited Italy. The Minister of Education, Dr. Kastriot Islami; the chairman of the Committee for Culture and Arts, Moikom Zeqo; Deputy Foreign Minister Sokrat Plaka; and other officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had gone to Rinas Airport to welcome him. (ATA)

Yesterday, at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a group of UN experts arrived in our country. They will provide consultancy on various issues related to the organization and holding of the 31 March elections in our country. The group consists of: Jean-Paul Costa, Councillor of State, professor of international law at the University of Orléans, France, UN expert; Michael Hiden, professor of constitutional law at the University of Helsinki, UN expert; Michael Stopford, head of cabinet at the UN in Geneva; and Judith Edrich, assistant to the UN Under-Secretary-General for Human Rights in Geneva. At Rinas Airport, the group of experts was welcomed by representatives of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (ATA) … part … UN … Photogra- [?] … of … and … [?] …

Yesterday, officials of the United States Department of State arrived in our country as part of preparations for the opening of the American Embassy in Tirana. At Rinas Airport, the American diplomats were welcomed by Kostaq Çifliku, head of the Protocol Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (ATA)

Yesterday, a delegation headed by the Vatican’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Klaudio Çeli, arrived for a visit to our country. Yesterday, a delegation headed by the Vatican’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Klaudio Çeli, arrived for welcomed by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sokrat Plaka. (ATA)

Yesterday, humanitarian aid from the UN arrived in our country on a special flight, along with the delegation headed by Sergio Vieira de Mallo, Director of External Relations at the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, who is accompanying the aid. The aid sent by the Ministry … (Continued on page 4)

Question: — Mr. Graffini, the free press … to continue further with the delivery of material aid, especially medical and food supplies, through the port of Durrës, and also to make contact with the Albanian administrative commission, where the political parties will also be present, to see how this aid, as you also say willingly… — Interview with Mr. Graffini, Minister Plenipotentiary at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, assigned to Albania by Minister De Mikelis, given to the RTV correspondent. — Question: Mr. Graffini, the free press … to continue further with the delivery of material aid, especially medical and food supplies, through the port of Durrës, and also to make contact with the Albanian administrative commission, where the political parties will also be present, to see how this aid, as you also say willingly, is fully … with the Italian side in this cooperation, whose implementation the working groups will discuss in Rome during April, and within this period two Italian economic missions will visit Albania. Answer: My arrival, the purpose of my visit here, is to begin distributing this aid and to study the possibility of sending it with … this aid, as you also say willingly, is fully … this period two Italian economic missions will visit Albania. (Continued on page 4)

The establishment of democratic relations between Albania and the USA was welcomed by our broad public opinion, and by the many friends Albania has all over the world. Curiously, the DP is presenting this event as its own victory, almost a historic one, although its history is very short, only a few months. As is known, the idea of establishing these relations was itself raised at the 10th Plenum of the Central Committee of the PPSH, and was followed by a decision to hold talks between representatives of the two governments. The DP had not yet been born. But, impatient as they are, the leaders of the DP movement, forgetting this fact as well as many others, have spent the last few months saying and writing that Albania is isolated, that the world has no confidence in the democratization processes undertaken in our country, that Europe and the USA will not help Albania as long as the Party of Labour is in power, much less before the March 31 elections, etc. Nevertheless, diplomatic relations between the two countries were established. The DP would have liked a few more weeks to pass, at least a few weeks, before this historic step was taken. In other words, the DP wanted the March 31 elections to take place, elections in which it has set its sights on taking power, and on the basis of these wishful expectations it would be … (illegible part) … It will easily observe that the processes of democracy in Albania are irreversible. This is why we tell the DP that diplomacy is not conducted with wishes to gather votes. SPIRO P. GJONI