THE ALBANIANS HAVE SPOKEN: NO TO LEGAL VIOLATIONS, NO TO BACKWARD CUSTOMARY LAW, NO TO BERISHA’S PERSONAL POWER - About 61 percent of voters voted against it - Of the country’s 37 cities, 31 of them said “NO” to the draft constitution - The rural vote, a strong NO to the referendum TIRANA, 24.00 on 6.11. ’94. Waiting for the records of victory. Photo: Petrit Kumi [?]

On 6 November, the Executive Committee of the Socialist International, at its meeting in Budapest, approved the proposal of the International Council that the youth organizations of the International, IUSY, become an associate member of this organization. This means that the European Socialist Youth Union will be officially represented in the meetings of the Council and the congresses of the Socialist International. The process of the admission of the European Socialist Youth Union to the Socialist International began in November 1992, when the chairman of the Socialist International, Mr. P. S. Gonzales, submitted such a resolution to the Presidium of this organization. The final decision will be taken at the IS Congress in Budapest on 10 December of this year.

TIRANA, 24.00 on 6.11. ’94. Waiting for the records of victory. Photo: Petrit Kumi [?]

THE PEOPLE SAID NO TO THE REFERENDUM, THEY SAID NO TO BERISHA’S REGIME THE PEOPLE SAID NO TO THE REFERENDUM, THEY SAID NO TO BERISHA’S REGIME Yesterday our chairman Fatos Nano stated before the news media bodies: After the long hours and exhausting work of the commissioners, observers, vote counters and result announcers, we are now able to make a provisional balance of the constitutional referendum, which instead of marking the acceleration of reforms and democratic processes in society, was turned into a referendum against President Berisha and his clique. From the initial data it appears that about 60–61 percent of the Albanian electorate has rejected the draft constitution. The initial data also show that the decision to reject it was clearly made in the cities and with a strong margin in favor of “no”, which shows that the government and President Berisha have now lost the political and moral authority to govern and lead the country. We must wait for the final data in order to make the most accurate balance possible, but even now we can say that Berisha’s regime is facing a plebiscitary defeat. This is a politically very important result and should be welcomed as a real step toward the stabilization of the country, the restoration of the rule of law and constitutional governance. The people, through their vote, dealt a powerful and decisive blow to presidential autocracy and the backward customary laws of Sali Berisha. After a 40-day campaign characterized by extremely serious political and institutional conflicts, by an indisputable advantage of the government in the use of the media and official propaganda tools, by unprecedented pressure and intimidation on the state administration and vote counters, by massive vote theft and manipulation of results in many polling stations, by real psychological terror near polling stations, it is understood that this result is especially encouraging for the Socialist opposition and for all democratic forces in Albania. (continued on page 7)

BERISHA ACCEPTS THE VERDICT OF THE PEOPLE After the Albanian declarations, once again on the political stage appears that yesterday’s president [?]. Berisha’s appearance yesterday on the state television screen, with the expression of a “thinker”, “professor” and “patriot” on his face, sounded ridiculous to the overwhelming majority of Albanians. As always, in an effort to camouflage his own failure as much as possible, he used the screen to proclaim himself the “winner” of the referendum. However, the reality of the result was completely the opposite of what he said. In fact, as has happened before, Berisha tried to present defeat as victory. The news that 61.2 percent of voters cast their ballots against the draft constitution has made any other interpretation invalid. This vote is the clear expression of popular distrust toward his personal regime. Press conference of the districts Today here for Albania Selami spoke 7 minutes before the journalists [?]

SERVET PELLUMBI: “We thank the Albanian electorate that said NO to the draft constitution, giving parliament, the parliamentary parties, the political specialists, and the country’s democratic opinion-makers the opportunity to respond properly by saying no to a better constitution for all Albanians.” Tirana - city 52.4 percent Tropojë 64.7 percent Sarandë 71 percent Burrel 48.1 percent Vlorë 74.5 percent Gjirokastër 78.2 percent Gramsh 72.8 percent Përmet 72.2 percent Pukë 63.3 percent Berat 65 percent Korçë 54.8 percent Librazhd 61 percent Lushnjë 63.5 percent Skrapar 37 percent

PEZA 70 percent - NO MORRA 80 percent - NO CERMENIKA 71.6 percent - NO KRUTJA 79 percent - NO MESAPLIKU 76 percent - NO SINABALLA 78.8 percent - NO LIBOFSHA 72 percent - NO HERE IS THE TRUTH OF BERISHA’S TELEVISION SPECTACLES LIBOFSHA 72 percent - NO MESAPLIKU 76 percent - NO SINABALLA 78.8 percent - NO KRUTJA 79 percent - NO CERMENIKA 71.6 percent - NO MORRA 80 percent - NO PEZA 70 percent - NO HERE IS THE TRUTH OF BERISHA’S TELEVISION SPECTACLES