Hundreds of soldiers sent solely to vote in Zall-Herr Television and other state institutions break the law, on the Democratic Party’s orders, to buy votes. The people can see it. THE SOCIALIST PARTY DENOUNCES Statement by the Presidium of the Socialist Party The public of the country is aware of the holding of early elections in 5 communes. The Socialist Party has conducted its electoral campaign in these communes in full compliance with the electoral and constitutional laws. It has presented to the electorate of these communes its candidates, among the best people, with the greatest authority, culture and dignity, and has set out its political, social and economic alternatives. Always realistic and with a high degree of responsibility, it has put forward the paths, means and forms for resolving the hardships and concerns accumulated as a result of the failed policies of the Democratic Party government. It has been open with the electorate about the real, concrete and long-term possibilities for resolving the economic and social problems in these communes. The Socialist Party is consistent in its conception of free and democratic competition between the alternatives put forward by different political forces. It is therefore concerned by the activity carried out by the Democratic Party and its government, which has sought and continues to seek to denigrate competition by entirely undemocratic means, and to undermine other alternatives, especially those of the Socialist Party. Therefore, the Socialist Party denounces: 1. The harsh psychological and economic pressure exerted by government officials, who, during their visits to these communes, have alternated new promises with pressure, attacks and slander against the Socialist Party. This constitutes a serious violation of the electoral law governing elections. 2. The Socialist Party denounces as illegal and unconstitutional the statement by the Speaker of the Parliament’s Presidium regarding fines and the blocking of funds in communes governed by socialists. But the people can clearly see when flour is sent to Rrësh, when the governor goes to Gracani and Greshë, when flour is sent to Rrësh, when the Governor of the Bank goes to Zall-Herr, and where the money is taken by the businesspeople supported by the government and government officials! 3. The Socialist Party denounces the threats and police violence, which have gone as far as unlawful arrests, as happened in Libofshë, where the police arrested the chair of the polling-station commission and the observer at that polling station in Ndërnenas; they were released only because of pressure from the voters of Libofshë. 4. The Socialist Party denounces the actions of the Minister of Defence, who has repeatedly and deliberately been sending military forces to the commune of Zall-Herr in order to ensure, at any cost, that his party’s candidate is elected. 5. The Socialist Party denounces RTV’s unrealistic and biased conduct, in complete violation of its own statute. RTV has covered electoral activities in these communes in an entirely one-sided manner, completely blocking the broadcast of Socialist Party activities and openly taking the Democratic Party’s side. All this demonstrates the deeply mistaken position of the Democratic Party; it demonstrates the complete failure of its current policies and the uniformity of its false policies and promises. It demonstrates its profound weakness, not its strength. Elections cannot be won through deceit, lies, attacks and slander against the Socialist Party, speculation broadcast by RTV, or pressure and manipulation of people’s hardships when they can barely secure their daily bread. The rejection of the Democratic Party is a phenomenon of great proportions. The Democratic Party cannot stop it. The Albanian electorate as a whole, and the electorate in these communes in particular, is now fully aware of the weight and character of the political parties and the alternatives they represent. We call on the electorate of these communes not to be deceived by all-round deception and pressure, but to decide calmly, with a clear mind and a free vote, in favour of the best candidate and the alternative most suitable for them. This will serve their interests and democracy in Albania. Tirana, 25.05.1994 THE PRESIDIUM OF THE SOCIALIST PARTY

MEETING WITH PRIME MINISTER POUL RASMUSSEN At the invitation of the President of the Danish Social Democratic Youth (DSU) and member of the Presidency of the Social Democratic Party, Mr. Henrik Larsen, PSSH and FRESSH Deputy Chairman Ilir Meta visited Denmark from 18–24 May. During his visit, he was received at the Danish Parliament and at the Social Democratic Party headquarters by the party’s leaders in Denmark and its parliamentary group. He also took part in and delivered greetings on behalf of the Eurosocialist Youth of Albania at the 30th Congress of the Danish Social Democratic Youth. He also referred to your meeting with the President of Kosovo, Mr. Rugova, and praised your statement on the return of displaced foreigners to Kosovo as a first step towards increasing attention to preventing conflict in Kosovo, which would give the conflict so far a regional dimension. Ilir Meta then focused on developments in democracy in Albania, the problems and difficulties it is encountering, and the PSSH’s commitment to its development. During a visit to Denmark, the Deputy Chairman of the PSSH and FRESSH, Ilir Meta, was there. and at the headquarters of the PSD by leaders of Denmark’s PSD delivered greetings on behalf of the Socialist Youth of Albania at the 30th Congress of the Social Democratic Youth, held from May 21 to 23 in Herning. The full message from the chairman of the PSSH, MP Fatos Nano, addressed to the 30th Congress of the DSU, was read at the congress and warmly received by those present. On May 21, the Deputy Chairman of the PSSH, Ilir Meta, met with the Prime Minister of Denmark and President of the Danish PSD, Mr. Pol Rasmussen, who also attended and addressed the 30th Congress of the DSU. At the beginning of the meeting, Ilir Meta thanked Mr. Rasmussen for the opportunity to meet and conveyed to him the greetings of the Steering Committee of the PSSH and personally of the chairman of the PSSH, MP Fatos Nano. He then praised the contribution of Mr. Pol Rasmussen and his government in supporting democratic developments in Albania, as well as its practical solidarity in helping ensure the continuation and smooth progress of democratic processes in Albania. Ilir Meta went on to welcome the visit to Tirana by the Danish Foreign Minister, Mr. Niels Pet[e]rsen, with whom we held a separate meeting, as an effort by Denmark to institutionalize relations between the two countries at the highest levels. The efforts of your government and Denmark’s representatives in all international institutions to raise their awareness and increase attention to preventing the risk of conflict breaking out in Kosovo and Macedonia have greatly increased Albania’s and the Albanians’ sympathy for Denmark. Your government, and you personally. We are ... ... on the development of democracy in Albania, the problems and difficulties it is facing, and the PSSH’s commitment to balanced democratic development in the country. In this context, he said, we consider the commitment of many Danish public figures to defending and respecting human rights and the opposition in Albania, and the “Nano” case in particular, to be a contribution to the successful progress of these processes. We are pleased to note that Denmark will assist Albania with its valuable democratic experience. He expressed the PSSH’s commitment to encouraging reforms in the country and preventing their distortion. For this, he said, we believe that the solidarity of Denmark’s PSD will also be forthcoming, as it has very well-established experience. For his part, Mr. Pol Rasmussen expressed his government’s willingness to support reforms and democratic processes in Albania, both through bilateral initiatives and multilaterally as a member of the EU. He also expressed the Danish government’s and his own personal concern about Macedonia. Albania, he said, is at the beginning of its democratic processes, and it is our duty to assist it in every respect. The meeting was held in a friendly atmosphere. Tomorrow you will read the interview that gave to our editor on the occasion of the conclusion of his visit to Denmark.

The 29 May vote is a vote—a judgment on the “unconscientious”; promises fulfilled - The present should not be concerned with judging yesterday, but with building the future. - The Socialist Party’s economic policy for the countryside: no taxes or levies should be imposed on farmers until they have recovered and are no longer harmed by them; subsidies for the countryside to revive the public sector, for machinery, seeds, fertilizers and irrigation, for as long as recovery takes. - The government should not set ultimatums for people to move away, but should stop encouraging uncontrolled migration that brings social conflicts to the fore. Land must be divided according to the law; the Socialist Party promises this. The problem of compensation for former owners must be resolved immediately. - The farmers ask: who will vote—the soldiers who have arrived in such numbers these days, or us? Or will Minister Zhulali be made a soldier and come to vote for the opposition?! On Tuesday afternoon, at 18:00, as part of the meetings held in the villages of the commune of Zall-Herr, the Deputy Chairman of the Socialist Party and chairman of its parliamentary group, Mr. Namik Dokle, the Socialist Party’s Deputy Chairman and MP Luan Hajdaraga, and MPs Bashkim Zeneli, Leontiev Çuçi and Mehmet Loci met with the people of the Zall-Herr area, a commune in which with (Continued on page 2)

REC The distribution of consumer goods and other gifts for electoral purposes has become the Democratic Party’s modus operandi in the poor commune of Reç, in flagrant violation of Article 86 of Law 7573. After gift packages arrived in Reç two weeks earlier in two lorries and were distributed, further aid was distributed on May 21, 1994, the day of Kurban Bajram. Notably, candidate for commune mayor Aqif Lala and Halil Doda, the chairman of the DP in Reç, have been implicated in distributing this aid: 2 kg of flour, 1 kg of rice and 300 grams of sugar per person, and three blankets per family. There are reports that the Ministry of Defense also had a hand in distributing the three blankets to each family. The party in power, in order to secure the career of the commune mayor in Reç—a position that will serve him in organizing deafening propaganda for months on end—stops at nothing and respects no law. B. REÇI

The party has arrived in Ngracan too. The remaining punishment ... (text continues) ... to pay a visit to the meeting they are organizing to hear the villagers’ grievances. And ... at this boundary, every means is being used, from the most sophisticated and [unreadable] ... in power. As they can see and hear, it has put promises, bribes, deceptions, etc. center stage, sparing no ... Only and solely so that people will vote for the DP. But the villagers know ... (Continued on page 2)

Eduart Selami denies the meeting about Eduart Selami. The DP “honored” the martyrs of the National Liberation War, but did not forget to embrace their killers, such as Bektash and Kadri Çakran in Mallakastër. — The “bread bogeyman” may not exist for government officials who eat rolls, but it does for the people of Mallakastër. (tAËshrd) The DP’s “attacks” to take the commune of Greshicë in Mallakastër at any cost are prearranged. Partisans, government officials, people in power, small and great, come and go—not to mention the “successful” Blerim Cela, who has become so annoying to the people of Greshicë that when he goes to the shop, they put on their glasses. Nevertheless, the latest “attack,” supposedly the meeting of the party chairman, Mr. Selami, had to be carefully organized so that it, too, would not end up like Tomor Dosti’s “...,” turned into a scandal involving Mrs. Golemi. For this reason, the DP itself thought it reasonable to prepare the ground for the meeting that Mr. Eduart Selami would organize by sending Mr. Selami himself. For the sake of ... it may seem like that, (Continued on page 2)

For the attention of: MR. HENRIK LARSEN, PRESIDENT For the attention of: MR. HENRIK LARSEN PRESIDENT Dear friend, The participation of the representative of the Eurosocialist Youth of Albania and of my colleague, Mr. Ilir Meta, Deputy Chairman of the Socialist Party of Albania, in your 30th Congress gives me the happy opportunity to greet this important event for Danish social democracy and to wish you success in strengthening the role of your organization in the social and political life of the country and of European youth in general. Allow me to recall with pleasure that your 30th Congress is not only a jubilee, but also a significant event demonstrating the maturity and vitality of Denmark’s social-democratic youth movement, where generations of politicians, trade unionists and social activists have met and been shaped—people who have earned a place and left their mark on the history and prosperity of your friendly and widely respected people. This further development of relations between the younger generations of Danish social democrats and Albanian Eurosocialists also expresses the shared commitments and political solidarity between the Socialist Party of Albania and the Social Democratic Party, recently demonstrated in the cause of defending and affirming European standards of democracy in post-communist Albania as well. With the feelings of respect and gratitude of Albanian socialists, Sincerely, FATOS NANO Chairman of the Socialist Party of Albania. Member of the People’s Assembly. Tirana Prison. 15.05.1994.

Aqif Lala distri-

Quite unexpectedly, yesterday at 12:15, a letter without a date from TV arrived at the Socialist Party headquarters in Tirana. It says: “The News Department welcomes your request to produce reports on the elections in this season (in 5 communes). Your request must be submitted to the Information Department one day in advance and signed by the Party Chairman, Deputy Chairman or its Secretary General.” Director of the Information Department, ARTJAN TEPELENA This letter arrives after we have been swamped on TV with reports about Arbnori, Dosti, Selami, Shehu and Shehi, Malasi and Spahiu, etc., etc., who went “one by one” to meet the people in Dibër, Mallakastër, Rec and Zall-Herr. And only now does our esteemed TV remember that other parties also have electoral campaigns! Only now, when Socialist Party MPs and leaders have travelled from village to village and organized dozens of rallies, meetings and conversations with the people. Only now does this letter arrive, when, as everyone knows, the law leaves only one day for campaigning. What is there to say to this Television? Good night, and “The Weather Today and Tomorrow.” The Observer.

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