STATEMENT OF THE GENERAL LEADING COMMITTEE AND THE PARLIAMENTARY GROUP OF THE SOCIALIST PARTY On 6 November 1994, the Albanian people, for the first time in their history, took part in a referendum to approve a draft Constitution. The people, the sovereign, delivered their verdict. More than 53.89 percent of participants voted NO, 4.41 percent of the votes were found invalid, while 41.70 percent voted YES. Once again, our people, through the massive participation of citizens and their free vote, each according to their convictions, demonstrated great political maturity and a strong democratic culture. With their vote, they showed de facto that our country deserves now to join the European family. The understanding shown by people throughout Albania, before, during and after the vote, also taught another lesson to the political parties, state structures, the President and all other institutions: to achieve and accept the result. The massive rejection of the draft Constitution, expressed in this referendum, was the majority’s opposition to the diktat of the state’s No. 1 official, to the sidelining of parliament, to the violation of the main constitutional provisions, to the misguided reform and its serious social consequences resulting from bad governance, to state corruption, to state violence exercised against the political opponents of the party in power, to the insecurity of people’s lives, to smuggling, to the infringement of the interests of the coun- [text continues outside the frame] [Middle column] …try) as well as the factors within the SP (relatively good organization, volunteerism and people’s trust). These analyses must be carried out in every party organization and District Leading Committee. During the referendum, contrary to the spirit of popular understanding and to the law, violence was exercised by law-enforcement bodies or other state agencies, directly or under their observation, in several specific areas, namely the districts of Lushnjë, Berat, Mallakastër, etc. The denunciation of all responsible persons and agencies must continue. We will continue to demand punishment under the law of anyone who has used and continues to use violence against voters or political opponents. In this referendum, 16 political parties acted together to oppose violations of legal procedures and the danger of establishing a new personal dictatorship in Albania. We value this cooperation very positively, as a contribution to democracy. It demonstrated and opened the way for cooperation with them on other matters of common interest. We have respected, and continue to respect, the independence and dignity of each political force; we support, and will continue to support, any initiative by any of them that aims to build a state governed by the rule of law. After the victory, our responsibility is even greater—not only before those who [text continues outside the frame] [Right-hand column of the article] The people have returned to parliament the right to give Albania a Constitution. The people and Albania need a good Constitution, achieved through consensus among everyone. On the basis of the main constitutional provisions, parliament is the only legitimate body that can and must determine its position on this matter. We hope and wish that the President of the Republic, too, has listened carefully to the voice of the sovereign on 6 November and will draw the appropriate conclusions. We are convinced that the issue of Nano is also included in this message. The President’s powers allow him to initiate an objective review of this matter. The release and acquittal of Fatos Nano would represent a great message of social peace within the country and a message of maturity in Albanian politics in the eyes of the world. Events would return to their normal course. The message of the sovereign people is clear and calls for realism. The sovereign people cannot accept adventures. The sovereign demands and strongly urges round-table talks with the political forces. We consider FRESSH’s acceptance as a full member of the Socialist Youth International a great victory and source of joy, not only for Albanian eurosocialists, the Socialist Party and its supporters, but we are convinced that it is also a positive event for Albanian political life in general and for our country as a whole. The great popular message of 6 November also opens the way to realistic approaches and solutions to the Kosovo question and the national question in its entirety. We are convinced that on 6 November the Albanian people de facto also passed a concrete test for entering Europe. Friendly countries, the Council of Europe and other European structures into which we aim to integrate in the near and more distant future received another message of dignity and political maturity, another proof that Albanians have now definitively broken with every form of dictatorship. Democracy is the aspiration of Albanians. We, the Albanian socialists, as members of this peaceful and wise people, will continue to work so that we may deserve the place it gives us and will give us in its life. 1 official; to the sidelining of parliamentarianism; to the violation of the principal constitutional provisions; to the misguided reform and its grave social consequences as a result of the political opponents of the party in power; to people’s insecurity; to smuggling; to the undermining of our country’s interests as a result of misguided state foreign policy and the lowering of national dignity; to naive attempts to demonstrate a North–South divide; to the partisan activity of RTV, etc. At the same time, this mass rejection was also a message of hope for improvements in the future. The KPD and the PS parliamentary group commend the hard work and thank the PS organizations and leadership structures, the Eurosocialists and supporters for the work carried out through commissions, propaganda, etc., in every village, commune, neighborhood, municipality and district. The political victory in this referendum should not make us complacent, but should serve us to realistically analyze the reasons for the rejection of the Project presented and, on that basis, to continue organizing our thinking and actions. Analyses should be conducted of the results at every level (polling station, village, area, neighborhood, municipality, district), identifying the respective reasons for the “NO” vote, while taking into consideration factors external to the PS (the shortcomings of Berisha, PD and the government of a new personal dictatorship in Albania. We regard this cooperation as highly positive for the benefit of democracy. It demonstrated and paved common interest. We have respected the independence and dignity of every political force, and we support and will support any initiative by any of them aimed at building victory of our choice, our responsibility is even greater, not only toward those who decided and trusted us, but also toward the country as a whole. At the same time, we express our hope and wish for the reform of PD, for its affairs to be put in order, for the good of our country, and for its reorganization. We will welcome any step by PD toward combating state corruption more broadly, appointing capable people at every level of the state apparatus, and finding a path of consensus and dialogue with other political forces instead of confrontation. We expect it, too, to condemn every act of violence intended to impose political views and one-sided voting. We would hope that each of us keeps in mind not only March 22, 1992, but also July 26, 1992, and November 6, 1994. In this context, we will also welcome RTV becoming truly a broadcaster belonging to all Albanians. The people’s vote in this referendum essentially also creates the preconditions for competence to prevail over incompetence, and realism over partisan passions, in all parties. people make clear the necessity and great benefit of great victory and source of joy, not only for the Albanian Eurosocialists, the Socialist Party and its supporters, but—we are convinced—also for our country as a whole.

The Socialist group insists that work begin with the Constitution Ten days have passed since 6 November, the date the President would call “the most important date in the entire history of Albania.” And indeed, 6 November is, and will remain, such a date in Albania’s history: the date on which the people said “NO” to a savage dictatorship that was knocking at our door. The state of Albania—the Albanians were saved. God knows what would have happened on 7 November if “Berisha’s Kanun” had won. Berisha lost. But what happens next? People are waiting. The country is in a political crisis caused by the Democratic Party’s loss of credibility. In addition to the economic crisis, this crisis has been joined by a constitutional crisis. At the top of the agenda, the priority is drafting and approving a contemporary democratic Constitution for all Albanians. The obsession with a constitution proposed solely by the Democratic Party was thrown in the wastebasket. Nothing is more urgent than drafting and approving the Constitution. That is the normal logic, but it is not the logic of the DP. The parliament it controls is still carrying on with the routine of “Topi bam e Muca tutje.” As if nothing had happened, the parliament of Spahiu and Arbnori is putting up for discussion issues concerning the fate of one thousand seven hundred wild [unclear in source], vehicles that commit criminal acts, etc. This fact alone shows that those who lead the Democratic Party today are outside time and space. Respecting above all the will of the people, expressed in the Referendum, which supported the alternatives of the five parties represented in parliament (PS, PSD, PAD, PBDNJ, PDD), the parliamentary group of the Socialist Party, through its chairman, Mr. Namik Dokle, insists that parliament’s work begin with the following agenda: “Urgent discussion on parliament’s commitment to resolving the constitutional crisis; to expedite the drafting and approval of the Constitution of the Republic of Albania.” The discussion should address the following issues: 1. Parliament should take charge of the Constitution. 2. Parliament should establish a new commission to draft the Constitution, which will respect the will of the people expressed in the referendum of 6 November. 3. Parliament should clearly and unequivocally define the commission’s rules of procedure, the deadlines for preparing the draft, the manner of reporting to parliament, and the commission’s complete independence from other state institutions. 4. On the basis of the “Constitutional Provisions,” parliament should determine … (Continued on page 2)

Albanian Television once again confirmed last night its role as a humble, servile lackey when, in complete violation of its legal status and the democratic ethics of a pluralist society, it read excerpts from Edi’s speech, who was not dressed in sportswear. No one objects to the DP rally being covered by the state media, but … [text missing] We know that the defeat has confused all the servants of power. We know that it has also aroused fear and panic among them because they are aware of the legal violations they have committed, but instead of reflecting, they continue to plunge further and further into these violations, thereby compromising the Democratic Party even more in the eyes of the people. [text continues outside the frame] It confirmed this once again last night, when, in complete contradiction not dressed in sportswear. No one objects to the PD Act being covered by the state information media, but giving it a full 15 minutes in the central news bulletin is madness; it is a flagrant violation of

— No one will evade a referendum, but it has value only after the Constitution is approved in parliament — Just as at the meeting with representatives of the political parties on Thursday, also at the joint press conference the new draft Constitution was [to be] approved by two-thirds of the Assembly. Al[?] is presented by the beloved and congratulated [illegible text] democracy... After the so-called “referendum” [illegible text] ... What does the law say about a referendum held within one year? ... [unclear passage in photo] ... Berisha ... the approved Constitution ... [Continuation at the top:] ... having completed half of the mandate ... [text continues in the columns above] (Continued on page 2) has used up half of his term as president, yet we have never heard him raise the issue of withdrawing approval of the constitution. On the contrary, since PD had two-thirds of Parliament, he made it understood that the Constitution would be approved only in Parliament. When PD lost that share, he began moving toward an appointed Constituent Assembly, and only just over a month ago did he become a partisan of a referendum. Why is Mr. Berisha’s demand absurd? Because the law on referendums, hastily approved by only 63 PS deputies, does not have the legal force of Article 162.1 of the constitutional provisions. These provisions, which regulate life

— According to his fellow villagers, the person who struck him is the village head and chairman of the PD in the village of Babunjë, Ismet Përsh*va — Having undergone lung surgery on Monday, the second victim of referendum Sunday, Josif Rushi from the village of Gurjaz, was operated on Monday morning at the surgical clinic of Tirana’s sanatorium to remove from his body the irrefutable evidence of the crime—the bullet which, according to his relatives, was a pistol bullet. “The operation was successful and the patient’s condition is good,” the head of the surgical clinic, who led the operation, confirmed to us after midnight. The victim was struck in the plexus ... [cut off/unclear text] ... with his right arm; the bullet then pierced the side of the ... ... the village head, and it remained in the lung (fortunately without damaging it); but I performed an operation and removed the bullet; his condition is good,” explains the head of the clinic. But while everything ends here for Josif Rushi, for those who shot him it seems that the part concerning their punishment has only just begun. Prosecutors in the district of Lushnjë have opened a criminal case concerning this crime. Initial actions have begun, while, according to those who took part in the incident, the person who wounded him—although President Berisha indirectly opens the way for … [text cut off] (Continued on page 3)

The 50th anniversary of the Liberation of Tirana was celebrated with indescribable enthusiasm in the hall of the Theatre of the Academy of Arts; the event was organized by the Committee of LANÇL Veterans of the Tirana District in cooperation with the Commission for the Celebration of this event. Former partisans, men and women, from the formations of the Brigades that took part in the fighting to liberate the capital were present, along with veterans, families of martyrs, invited guests, and representatives of political parties and associations participating in the round table for the celebration of 17, 28 and 29 November. Also present were the chairman of the National Youth Association, Resul Bedo, and the deputy chairmen of the National Committee, Arif Hasko and Dilaver Pojani. Amid the enthusiasm of partisan songs, the meeting was opened by Ismail Qashi, Chairman of the LANÇ Veterans of the District, who, after greeting the participants and inviting them to observe a minute’s silence in honor of those who fell for the Liberation of Tirana, then gave the floor to Sh. Hamdi Sallaku, deputy chairman of the LANÇ Veterans Committee of Tirana and member of the Presidium of the National Committee. The speaker pointed out that the people of Tirana played an extraordinary role in the people’s gigantic struggle to liberate the country. Under the leadership of the NC Front and the KSHH Party, the people of the capital took part in powerful demonstrations; successive guerrilla actions and the first [unclear] of People’s Hero Babë Myslym, etc., became the emblem of nationwide resistance, a hearth of the struggle of the first heroes who fell in battle, such as Vasil Laçi; Hamid Shijaku; Shyqyri Ishmi; Hamdi Mezezhin; the Heroes of Kodra e Kuqe; Vojo Kushi; Xhoxhi Martini and Sadik Stavileci [Stavileci?]. It was Tirana that formed the Brigade (Continued on page 2)

Albania’s boys, the eleven in red and black, with Neptun Bajko at their head, will face today the 11 players selected by Vogts of great Germany. Let football’s challenges prove themselves as such today too. Let our national stadium, “Qemal Stafa,” once again become the arena for showcasing the finest qualities of our football; let it become the epicenter of everyone’s joy. At 14:00 ALBANIA — GERMANY. A warm welcome from Bajko, Demollari, Strakosha, Lekbello, to everyone. GO ALBANIA... VOICE OF THE PEOPLE.