— FIER — They gathered once again to meet Anastas Pone, chairman of the executive committee of the district People’s Council, whom the Albanian Party of Labour has proposed as a candidate for deputy in their constituency. Voters Andrea Mici, a cooperative member; Pilo Llupi, a nurse; Dhimitraq Stavre, a worker and communist; and others agreed on one point: we trust the Albanian Party of Labour, and therefore we will vote for it. Anastas himself, through his work, efforts and warm communication with the people, strengthens this trust. Before the meeting with Prini Mezina, Minister of Mining Industry and Energy, whom the Albanian Party of Labour proposed as a candidate for deputy in constituency 66, began, many voters of different ages met him in the street; they spoke to him, and he spoke with them personally. His years of work at the oil and gas geological institute in Fier became a school for him, teaching him not only about the problems affecting this sector but also about the people and their troubles. This exchange continued in the hall, where the candidate spoke about many problems of the economy as a whole and the ways to resolve them, which the Albanian Party of Labour’s programme has so clearly defined. “It is an honour for me to stand before you,” said Kristaq Thanasi, director of NNI, at the meeting with his voters. “As a communist, I will fight so that, together with you, we can implement the Albanian Party of Labour’s electoral programme.” Here, too, many voters took the floor. Among them, Shpëtim Emiri said: “I know the candidate as a friend, but also as a leader. We work at the same enterprise. He is one of us, and he communicates warmly with people. A man of action, he spares no effort; therefore, we have complete confidence that he will represent us with honour as a deputy put forward by the Albanian Party of Labour.” The candidates Xhevahir Breagu, Spiro Lule, Xhevahir Tahiraj, Ali Lamaj and others are also holding meetings with voters in the constituencies where they have been proposed. THOMA GOGA

— KORÇË — Afternoon. You open the door of your home, step out into the street, greet your neighbour, and then, as you become part of the city’s life, you realize that the moment, the day, has an unusual tension about it. Then you quicken your pace towards the main square. The square of demonstrations in Korçë, where even the afternoon seems fuller in this city. And suddenly, this haste seems pointless. After all, you came out simply for a stroll. But then a brightly coloured poster catches your eye, then another, and another... The parties’ campaign posters start appearing on walls, in shop-window display stands, on electric poles—[text cut off] In Bitinckë, Zagradec, Vërnik, Kuç and Bilisht. Speaking directly to the people of Devoll, he said: “I have been in the Party of Labour for 40 years. I didn’t suddenly turn into a daredevil, climbing and jumping on a wire, as someone might think.” Then, when they calmly discussed pluralism, he said: “History determined the birth of the Party of Labour; it was machine guns, not the Ministry of Justice, that signed it into being. Naturally, history also brought the other parties, but in peacetime.” “But tell me, Dritëro, why don’t you insult any party?” “They are all Albanian parties, and as such their first purpose must be Albania.” These are among the first sayings of March 31. We encounter them these days; they bear the unmistakable stamp of these days. And March 31 is approaching. People, passions and inclinations both divide them and bring them together. That day will give them their full resultant. May we vote for the best sons and daughters, only for those who will be true to Albania! This wish rises above the banners, party slogans and electoral contest. KOSTAQ DUKA …efforts, this crowding seems incomprehen-… especially. So you’ve simply come out for…? Elections…? … and a stroll. But look, a bright-colored, unclear point catches your attention… with one feature, another… another… The parties set out on their campaign activities on walls, … leaflets, on … electric-… Pluralism has moved from the pages of newspapers to the façades of the city. And after … feeling, «Republic» Boulevard seems wider to you. This afternoon, the chairman of the «Guerilasit» neighborhood, Dhosi Çollaku, has it in mind to go for a walk. All these days, the hall of this popular neighborhood’s building has been continuously occupied. One after another, candidates for deputy from the different parties and electoral subjects have met with the residents of the neighborhoods. Will the few days remaining be enough to give the building the festive appearance and attention it deserves for the nation’s celebration, March 31? Undoubtedly, the life of one day has the normality of many days. We might call the following facts ordinary for a day in March: after the Lumalas cooperative, the cattle-breeding enterprise has finished planting sugar beet, and the «Enver Hoxha» agricultural enterprise in Plasë and the Dishnicë cooperative are close to finishing. A second dressing of nitrate is being applied to the wheat. The report is that it is in excellent health. These days, milk production has also risen according to the production chart. But undoubtedly, candidates’ meetings with voters are what take first place in people’s conversations. Well, that day it was Director Dr. Agolli. In Trestnikë and Kurilë, in Poloskë and Vloçisht, in Kapështicë and Tren, … Embassy… to issue a visa in … 8:00 … 1991…

— GRAMSH — These days, the candidates for deputy of the Party of Labour in the Gramsh district are among the people, discussing the electoral programme as well as various concerns of the voters. The concern with which we saw people speaking at these meetings speaks to the trust they have in the Party of Labour as a political force capable of advancing the country’s democratization further, without excesses or harmful passions. What do voters discuss at these meetings? Most questions concern the Party of Labour’s programme. The collectivization of the countryside was discussed at length at the meeting candidate Meçan Hoxha held with voters in the villages of Kullollas, Fushë and Bletëz. “How will the Party of Labour work in the future to strengthen the agricultural cooperatives?” Bilbil Skora asked, not without concern, in the village of Bletëz. “Attention will be focused on strengthening them, in keeping with the conditions of each village,” the candidate for deputy replied. “Plans will no longer be dictated from above; instead, the cooperative itself will be given the means to determine which crop has the best prospects under the... concrete conditions. The cooperative will not change, but its forms of organization will. In this way, the collective and family-based arrangements for increasing incomes will be considered responsibly.” The voter who had asked the question, agreeing with this explanation, added that they would make the necessary organizational changes without hesitation, but would guard the cooperative as the apple of their eye. “On this point, the Party of Labour’s programme suits our wishes, which is why we have made it our own and want to work to put it into practice.” Meanwhile, in the villages of Kullolas, Idaet Zhupani and Rakip Kaptelli, saying that they would give their votes to the Party of Labour’s candidate, said that they knew the Party well, not only from its current programme but also from its history. “And let others say whatever they want,” they said, “but no one can tear the Party of Labour from our hearts. We know well what it has done for us. It is no small thing, and the mistakes that have been made cannot erase it.”

Facing psychological pressure Yesterday morning it was noticed that some slogans put up the previous day by the Democratic Party on the columns of the Palace of Culture in the capital had been furtively removed during the night by some malicious hand. And yesterday morning, in one of the offices of the “Zëri” editorial department, an anonymous voice said that “the communists are putting pressure on people who openly declare that they will vote against the Party of Labour.” Yesterday morning, once again, a comrade of ours received an anonymous letter saying: “You are sentenced to...” “What more is there to say about these ‘yesterday morning’ and ‘the day before yesterday’ incidents, and so on? It seems that psychological pressure on honest people, on communists, on veterans, on anyone who bears their name with honour, is also part and parcel of the election fever gripping certain forces. These are old scenarios, but for us, to tell the truth, they are quite new. There are people in the opposition who think communists have weak nerves. The opposition seems to think it is easy to break those who have devoted their whole lives to the Party of Labour, worked honestly and faced life’s difficulties courageously—with an anonymous phone call, a letter left at the door or a hooligan’s gesture in the street. How pitiful these calculations are, and how disheartening their authors! It is well known that democracy can be built only by cultured people and only through tolerance and dialogue. But this does not suit someone. What has the opposition not tried to concoct in recent months against the communists and the Albanian Party of Labour? It accused them of pursuing a strategy of tension, railed against their past, defended all sorts of forces, proclaimed prisoners to be heroes, while concocting a fable: it made the Albanian Party of Labour responsible for the exodus. The flood of insults and fabrications has no end. The opposition wants to fish in troubled waters, wants to find wavering people, wants people to be afraid; it acts like thieves shouting, “Stop the thief!” But all in vain. It is true that our people have not known this kind of underhanded struggle. They have wholeheartedly enjoyed peace and security; they were not used to street rallies and demonstrations, to all kinds of slogans and to anti-communism openly displayed in public and in the press. Pluralism has brought them all this, too. They will get used to it. The fact is that they are facing this unwelcome climate with wisdom as well. Members of the Albanian Party of Labour, in particular, know how to assess and withstand the psychological pressure of these final days. Indeed, this pressure is helping everyone to distinguish themselves and take the right position, so that on March 31 they can cast their vote with a clear mind for the person of their choice.

— DURRËS — These days, the residents of Durrës neighbourhood no. 6 met with Arjan Karoli, the Party of Labour’s candidate for deputy to the People’s Assembly. They know Arjana not only as secretary of the executive committee of the city People’s Council, but also as a resident of their neighbourhood. At the meeting, they spoke of this comrade’s qualities. Nikolla Goga, Xhemal Zeneli, Koço Xhavara, Pëllumbe Demiri, Vezire Zeka, Sotiraq Tataza and others spoke. What did they say? What they felt, with sincerity and warmth. They know this comrade as a modest, approachable person with an untarnished character. As an employee of the city executive committee, even though she has held this position only a short time, she strives to resolve the people’s problems as well as possible and to stay as close as she can to the concerns and difficulties of the neighbourhood. A good person shows their character even when, hearing others’ kind words face to face, they lower their head and feel a gentle satisfaction. Such a person feels even more indebted to them. A candidate for deputy draws new duties for herself and feels the great responsibility she will bear before the voters, to fully justify their trust. Speaking about the Party of Labour’s electoral programme, the candidate focused on the general renewal the Party of Labour has embarked upon in every field, and on the deep and broad process of democratizing the Party itself and the life of the country. Those who took the floor emphasized this even more. “In the Party of Labour,” they said, “we see a political force that, in new historical circumstances, knows how to define well-considered, mainly new tasks. This shows seriousness and maturity! In the Party of Labour’s electoral programme, we, as residents of the neighbourhood, clearly see our interests and rights, those of each one of us; we see a fair policy in the economy, social affairs, and so on. We all want to become like Europe,” the speakers emphasized, “but the gates to it open through work, through more effort from all of us.” At the meeting, a strong conviction was expressed that Albania, too, by implementing the Party of Labour’s electoral programme—which will be enriched with yet more new tasks—will become like Europe.

Recently, the editorial office has received many letters from voters in various parts of the country who say that they will not vote for the candidates registered in their own districts (regardless of which electoral subject put them forward), but for Ramiz Alia, even though he is a candidate in another electoral district. We will do this, these voters say in their letters, out of the love and respect we have for comrade Ramiz Alia. The authors of these letters are asking for clarification on several uncertainties concerning this issue. They ask: 1. If a voter casts a vote for a candidate who is not registered in the voter’s electoral district, but in another district, is that vote valid? 2. If, in an electoral district, a candidate who is not registered in that district but in another district wins the majority, is that candidate considered elected? To clarify these matters, we contacted the chairman of the Central Election Commission, Prof. Dr. Rexhep Mejdani, who gave us the following explanations: 1. The second paragraph of Article 22 of the «Law on Elections to the People’s Assembly» states: «A person may be a candidate for deputy in only one electoral district». As is clear from this passage of the law, a vote cast by a voter district, but in another electoral district, does not count in favor of the candidate, regardless of what is recorded in the minutes of the polling stations or electoral district. 2. In light of the explanation given above, the same answer applies to the second question, that is, in the case where a candidate who is not registered in a particular electoral district, but in another district, wins the majority there. In this case too, the votes do not count in favor of the candidate. …in the …, those who have tied their lives to the Party of Labour have worked honestly and faced life’s hardships courageously. How miserable these calculations are, how pathetic their authors are! It is known that democracy is made only with cultured and … people… …in elections». vote cast by a voter favor of the candidate. When voting as described above for a citizen permanently residing in the territory of the PR of Albania, who is entitled to vote but is a candidate for deputy in one of the 250 electoral districts, votes cast by crossing out the names of all the candidates on the ballot paper and adding his name (meaning first name, father’s name, surname) are recorded in the relevant minutes. This may serve to include this citizen, with his approval, as a candidate for deputy in the second round of elections, if those elections have not in fact been completed in the first round.

The Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the PR of Albania, comrade Fatos Nano, met yesterday afternoon at the Higher Institute of Arts in the capital with workers, specialists, intellectuals and residents of several neighborhoods in Region No. 2, which are part of Electoral District No. 23, where he is a candidate for deputy… … of the Assembly. They thanked the prime minister … for this warm reception. … This is not a personal … for me, … the goodwill you have … for the work, for the Party … … have come … the people in a …

Yesterday afternoon, at the international press center in Tirana, the chairman of the Central Election Commission, Prof. Dr. Rexhep Mejdani, held a press conference for journalists from the press, ATSH, Radio and Television, and journalists from newspapers, news agencies and… … television stations that have come to our country. After welcoming them, Prof. Dr. Rexhep Mejdani spoke about the first pluralist elections of March 31, about the new law on elections to the Assembly… (Continued on page 2)

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the PR of Albania, Sokrat Plaka, and Hungary’s Deputy State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Imre Szokal, held consultations in Tirana from March 22 to 25 on bilateral relations and a number of international issues of mutual interest. During the consultations, it was concluded (Continued on page 4)

Let us have confidence in the people, who never forget; let us talk with the people, let us go to them with confidence, convinced that they love and understand their own Party better than anyone. RAMIZ ALIA

Starting at 24:00 on March 30, 1991, the clocks will be put forward by 60 minutes; in other words, 24:00 on March 30, 1991, will become 1:00 on March 31, 1991. As is well known, for years the change to summer time has taken place on this date in most European countries, helping coordinate the time among them for the normal continuation of social and economic activities and relations. In accordance with the agreement reached earlier, our country is also included in this European time zone. This year, the day on which the clocks change coincides with the election day for deputies to the People’s Assembly. Bearing in mind the importance of ensuring that the elections proceed normally, voters are hereby informed that the time for the start of voting on March 31, 1991 (6:00 a.m.) and the time for the closing of polling stations (8:00 p.m.) will be according to the new time. This will also create normal working conditions for the foreign observers and journalists who will attend the voting, as well as for their regular communications with abroad. (ATSH)