Berisha signs his authorship on the Draft Constitution [?] At the meeting organized on the occasion of the inauguration of the University of Vlora, the President of the Republic gave some students of the faculty a copy each of the Draft Constitution, signing his autograph on its first page. Of course, for anyone, a President’s autograph is a precious gift, but everyone knows that an autograph is put on a work by its author. Is President Berisha, then, the author of the Draft Constitution? Through the public information media, many voices have been heard saying that the Draft Constitution was drawn up by a Special Parliamentary Commission. Why, then, is Berisha rushing to put an autograph on the fundamental law of the state, appropriating the merits of a legitimate body? Berisha’s autograph should be understood as an act—an impulsive one, perhaps. His? Or as confirmation of the opposition’s thesis that what is being served up to the people for approval by Referendum is nothing other than a Berishian Constitution?

Berisha’s haste aims to preserve his personal power in the face of the Democratic Party’s discrediting

LUSHNJE The Socialist Party is not reforming itself for the DP and expects no reform recipes from it The Democratic Party has been buzzing around Berisha’s personal power. We did not confuse Rajerson’s personal sympathies with the official positions of the USA With a sense of responsibility for the tense political situation the country is going through, an expanded meeting of the Socialist Party of the Lushnjë district was held yesterday, attended also by the deputy chairman of the SP, Dr. Servet Pëllumbi. In his opening remarks at the event, he spoke about the SP’s view of the tense political situation that has developed recently as a result of the illegal, unconstitutional acts of President Berisha and the PD leadership. He explained the aims of this (Continued on page 5)

PERMET Let us not allow the theft of the people’s vote of confidence GRAMOZ RUÇI: Our position is against unconstitutional manoeuvres Constitutions are not made with just a yes and a no Permët seems to have lost much of its former charm. Along with its benefits, Albania’s difficult democracy also has its contradictions and considerable shortcomings. People suffer through all of it. This is one of the reasons why the large hall of the cultural center is packed, with people standing too. The many questions and interventions also testify to the interest and the issues at stake. The meeting was opened by the chairman of the SP of the Argjiri district, who gave the floor to the secretary general of the PSSH, Gramoz Ruçi. He explained at length and in detail the views, alternatives and position of the PSSH on the voting of the political actions of the SP after March 22, he began, on the Constitution, in parliament and other political activities, as well as our position on the Constitution before the referendum was announced. The SP has never obstructed the adoption of the Constitution; on the contrary, it has called for it from the outset, continuously and with great insistence. Abstaining on the charter of human rights was also done precisely to ensure its prompt adoption. It is the PD that has brought about the history of delaying the Constitution. We have also supported and called for the Referendum as a form of direct democracy, the exercise of power and so on, since the second national conference of the pa

SHKODER THE PEOPLE WILL KNOW HOW TO SAY NO TO CONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATIONS ETHEM RUKA: The people have the power to say NO to Berisha’s personal Constitution NDRE LEGJISI: No concessions on the composition of the commissions. In recent days, the leadership of the Socialist Party in Shkodër has held several meetings with activists in the city and the countryside to discuss the new demands now facing the SP, following the decision to approve the draft Constitution by Referendum. The meeting held yesterday at the directorate, attended also by MPs Ethem Ruka and Ndre Legjisi, was part of this series of meetings. Giving an overview of these days, the chairman of the SP for the district, Sadedin Stankaj, emphasized that ordinary people are faced with a dilemma: how should they vote? Shkodra is sensitive to Albanian democracy, and things will be rushed. We understand that all members of the expanded SP leadership must press on intensively, to clarify matters for the people as fully as possible by comparing the proposals of the government with our alternatives. It is a good sign that there are quite a few intellectuals in this district who are coming forward and showing interest in sup- (Continued on page 6)

DURRES THE CURRENT VIOLATION OF THE CONSTITUTION HAS PAVED THE WAY FOR FURTHER VIOLATIONS IN THE FUTURE Berisha sees himself as above the law

MALLAKASTËR Against legitimizing Sali Berisha’s personal dictatorship Dr. MAQO LAKRORI: “This draft Constitution is now not even the Democratic Party’s, but Sali Berisha’s and for Sali Berisha.” On Friday, the Socialist Party Committee of the Mallakastër district organized a party meeting in Ballsh to discuss propaganda and organizational measures related to the unconstitutional referendum of November 6. Both the remarks of the chairman of the district SP and the concrete comments and proposals made by participants emphasized the violations of constitutional provisions by Sali Berisha himself. They expressed their conviction that they oppose Berisha’s unconstitutional actions and also his draft constitution, which aims to enshrine his personal power— (Continued on page 6)

Berisha sees himself as above the law The rush to adopt the constitution aims to divert public attention from resolving the «NANO affair» THE CURRENT VIOLATION OF THE CONSTITUTION HAS OPENED himself as above the law The rush to adopt the constitution aims to divert public attention from resolving the «NANO affair» The expanded meeting of the PS organization in the Durrës district also had on its agenda a review of the political situation following the constitutional coup by the PD leadership, and the tasks facing the PS in dealing with this situation. The meeting was also attended by and heard from the deputy chairman of the PSH, views, alternatives and position of the PSSH on voting on the draft constitution by referendum. It is necessary to recall the position, with people standing. The many questions and exchanges also testify to the interest and the issues involved. The meeting was opened by the chairman of the PS in the district, Argjir Argjiri, who gave the floor to the secretary-general necessary to clarify the electorate about the Socialist Party’s position on the referendum and the draft constitution, as well as the organizational measures that need to be taken. He then gave the floor to comrade Luan Hajdaraga. In his speech, he stressed that a referendum is indeed a democratic form, but in this particular case it is being exploited to deceive public opinion. A referendum cannot ask for a «yes» or «no» answer on 131 articles, but only on specific issues. (Continued on page 5) (Continued on page 6)

KORÇË The democratic people of Korçë did not fight to bring down an old dictatorship and establish a new one NAMIK DOKLE: In that draft, which they brought and waved before the people of Vlora and signed as if it were one of his own novels, the constitutional security and stability of the state are seriously undermined Amid great enthusiasm and powerful chants in support of the Socialist Party and Fatos Nano, the PS meeting for this district was held on Saturday in the «Çajupi» theater hall in the city of Korçë. Also attending were the deputy chairman of the PSSH and chairman of the PS parliamentary group, Namik Dokle. (Continued on page 5)

FIER IT IS TIME TO SAVE DEMOCRACY ILIR META: Time has shown that in its critical positions the PS has not been guided by narrow party interests, but by principles that affirm rather than deny democracy On Friday, the PS meeting for this district was held at the Fier PS headquarters. Attending the meeting were members of the party presidium, leaders of the district council and the municipal council. Also present were PSSH chairman Ilir Meta and Fier MP Spiro Ksera. The meeting was opened by the chairman of the Fier PS, Pëllumb Kola, who, after praising the good work done by the PS in Fier and the district, and addressing the tasks facing the PS in Fier to deal with the political situation and the next PS elections in Fier, made clear that the Fier PS had already faced a major test to demonstrate its strength and support among the electorate. Speaking at the meeting, PSSH deputy chairman Ilir Meta said that it was concerned about these developments and where the PD and the president were leading the country, as well as about the criticisms that had been made. (Continued on page 6)

On Friday afternoon, October 14, 1994, a PS meeting for the district was held in the Sanxhak neighborhood of the Laç municipality. Attending were members of the governing committee, councillors, organization chairmen, as well as members and supporters from this neighborhood. Also attending the meeting were PS deputy chairman comrade Luan Hajdaraga, MP Alfred Pakola and the lawyer of the general governing committee, Elmaz Sherifi. The meeting was declared open by the chairman of the PS in the Laç district, Shpëtim Cani, who informed those present about the purpose of the meeting: to inform and the draft constitution, as well as about issues. Nevertheless, we (Continued on page 5)

MALESI E MADHE Not a personal constitution that gives power to «the one» SHAQIR VUKAJ: To ask the people to pledge their word in order to vote means to play with their noble feelings ERMELINDA MEKSI: Those who chose this kind of referendum regard the people as a flock of sheep The Socialist Party meeting for the district was held yesterday at 10 a.m. with particular interest, and was also attended by the deputy chairman of the People’s Assembly, Shokuar? Vukaj, together with MPs Ermelinda Meksi and Adem Zyberi. The chairman of the PS in this district, Ruzhdi Tuli, first briefed the meeting on the public discussions concerning approval of the draft constitution by referendum. In this short time, people have begun to understand the aims of those behind this antidemocratic manipulation. It is our urgent duty to make clear to the people that the Socialist Party has always supported consensus, not only on major issues such as the Constitution, but also on (Continued on page 6)

Agron Meta, an intellectual, leader of the Socialist Party in the commune of Horë-Vranisht, [?] and courageous, convinced of the alternative he defends and represents, held an open and constructive dialogue with the president during their meeting. What did Agron Meta tell President Berisha? «Mr. President, your visit honors us. We respect you as head of state and value your contribution to democracy. Someone had to lead the movement and the democratic revolution. That was you, and that is why we respect you». Your visit made us happy because with your own eyes you will see that we are a poor commune. Your visit as president to our area makes up for the absence of your government officials from Tirana, because the local authorities have been here. It is true that (Continued on page 5)

Why was Korçë given the honor of launching the Constitution campaign? Selami’s voters or local administration employees? On Wednesday afternoon, a convoy of police cars with sirens and escorts rushed along Korçë’s main boulevard toward the library in the city center. The arrival of party leader Mr. Selami and those accompanying him was somewhat unexpected! Television covered this sudden visit, which was described as a meeting with his voters as part of the Berishian referendum campaign, whereas in reality Selami’s voters learned of his arrival only through the television news! In fact, our MP and his colleague Mr. Uka went to all that trouble for nothing, because the 30–40 people before him, listening attentively, were mostly people who had become accustomed to the transition and were weighed down by the promises of (Continued on page 3)