In a front in defense of democracy 12 political parties sign a joint declaration In a front in defense of democracy PD alone heading toward defeat 12 political parties sign a joint declaration In the photo: From yesterday's meeting of the political parties Namik Dokle - PS: “Let us create a Front for the defense of democracy” Gjergj Rakaj - PSD: "An inter-party delegation should go to Strasbourg to denounce the anti-democratic electoral law and to ask for Europe’s help for endangered Albanian democracy" “Petrit Kalakulla - PDD: "Democracy must defend itself and we should not expect help from Europe". Zef Bushati - PDK: “As a party affiliated with the International Union of Democratic Parties, to which PD also belongs, we will denounce the anti-democratic stance of PD”. Page 3

Socialists will lead Albania's development until the year 2000 The vote that the people give us we will defend at any cost Page 2

Issue of the day Free and equal elections are the foundation of pluralist democracy. Therefore, the Electoral Law acquires a very special importance, especially for the conditions in Albania, where democracy is not only unconsolidated but is constantly under threat. The existing Electoral Law has been assessed by specialized international organizations in line with European standards, because first and foremost it was adopted with the consensus of all political forces before March 22, 1992. It was for this reason that it guaranteed free, equal and democratic elections, after which Sali Berisha and his party came to power. If it needs to be corrected and improved, or even if it should be replaced by a new law, everything must be done through open debate and discussion and decided by consensus. But this does not suit the Democratic Party or its chairman Sali Berisha. That is why they acted on their own and according to their own interests, disregarding not only the political parties but, first and foremost, the fundamental principles of democracy on which a state governed by the rule of law is built. Berisha's draft electoral law is not only very far from the Electoral Law under which the elections of March 22, 1992 were held, when Ramiz Alia was president, but it is also more anti-democratic than the Electoral Law that governed the elections of March 31, 1991, the first free pluralist elections after 50 years of communist rule. The PD draft law is an ugly copy of communist laws, built in the Stalinist spirit that says: “It doesn't matter who votes, what matters is who counts the votes.” Therefore this project should be told STOP! Let us remember the changes at the end of 1990. The student movement and the nationwide protests, which led to the overthrow of communist totalitarianism, brought free and democratic elections to Albania, the institutionalization of political pluralism and a market economy. These are historic victories that no one should try to violate. For Albania, it matters little what fate the Democratic Party will have in the elections. What matters for Albania is democracy, what matters are the laws that build it. Therefore, for every important law, including the Electoral Law, the consensus of all political parties that will compete in the elections is required. Outside this consensus, any other solution will be arbitrary, abusive and anti-democratic. Luan M. Rama

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EU-Albania Yesterday the European Commission recommended to the foreign ministers of the European Union that Albania is not yet at the appropriate stage for an association agreement like the one other countries of Eastern and Central Europe signed some time ago. The Commission foresees a special kind of agreement, which goes beyond the existing bilateral relations, but not as far as the association agreements signed with the other countries. European Commission spokesman Niko Vekio said in an interview with the London radio network BBC that the time has not yet come to begin the procedure for granting the association agreement. Albania's economic level still does not allow this agreement to function properly. It requires not only economic and trade cooperation but also political dialogue. Such an agreement has not been made with any other country, despite Tirana's insistence that it is entitled to have the association agreement.

The editorial office of the newspaper “Zëri i Popullit” is looking to hire 10 girls up to 25 years of age in the marketing department. Preference will be given to those with higher education and communication skills. Interested applicants should report to the newspaper administration every day from 10:00 to 11:00. Editorial office