Even after 6 months The meetings of the Council of Europe rapporteurs continue

-After the president's statements: “The elections will be free” Recently, the President of the Republic Sali Berisha has repeatedly stated that “the upcoming parliamentary elections will be free and democratic.” He said this once again in the 16-minute speech he gave on television on New Year's Eve. At first glance, it seems that this statement by the president deserves praise. But free and democratic elections in Albania are guaranteed by constitutional law. Point 3 of Article 3 of the law “On the Main Constitutional Provisions” expressly states: “Representative bodies are elected by free, general, equal, direct and secret vote.” So it is not the merit of the President of the Republic that elections will be free and democratic. That is the merit of democracy itself. The president's duty is only to guarantee the implementation of the Constitutional law. Otherwise, he bears the legal responsibility for failing to respect the fundamental law of the state. Then what prompts the president to repeatedly declare that the elections will be free and democratic? We think there are two main reasons. First, President Berisha has understood that concern about the upcoming elections has now become a real concern not only for the entire Albanian public, but also for the international one. The leaders of the opposition parties have raised this concern several times. They have complained about the fact that, three months before the end of the current parliament's mandate, the date of the next elections has still not been set. They have raised the concern that the electoral law for the elections has still not been determined. They have protested that the government is using various laws such as the genocide law, etc. (Continued on page 5)

“I have not said any of this, for any newspaper.” “ I have not said any of this, for any newspaper.” “I have not said any of this, for any newspaper” - the reporter of the Council of Europe’s Political Commission, Lord Finsberg, who heads the Council of Europe delegation that arrived in Tirana on Wednesday, has refuted the reports of two Albanian pro-government newspapers. “Albania” and “Rilindja Demokratike” wrote yesterday that “the Council of Europe rapporteurs blame the opposition for blocking the constitution.” But yesterday evening, after the meeting with the legal commission of the Albanian parliament - when asked about these claims by the government press made in the name of the delegation he leads, Lord Finsberg denied them with considerable concern. Meanwhile, the night before, the leaders of the opposition parties, after meeting with the Council of Europe rapporteurs, had told journalists that they supported the amendment of the constitution and were against the authorities' games with it. Namik Dokle, Chairman of the Socialist Parliamentary Group, stressed that we will win the elections and we will make the constitution Dokle stated that he had told this to the Council of Europe rapporteurs as well. Erion Braçe Read on pages 2-3

Tropojë The explosive takes the life of a 13-year-old girl Elbasan: Mystery over the death of an 18-year-old Read on page 6

Koplik: Heavy showers damage Kelmend Kukës: The price of kerosene doubles Read on page 9

Tirana: After the propaganda façade The number of families that have benefited from social assistance on the basis of the Municipal Council decision has been as follows 31.7.1993 2650 families 31.12.1993 8106 .... 30.6.1994 11621 .... 31.12.1994 12748 .... 31.10.1995 13232 .... The lives of 60 families at risk from electricity Read on page 7

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