Cooperation with the other political forces of the opposition during the election campaign and in governing the country after the elections was one of the main messages of the Second Congress of the SP. This message stems from the party’s fundamental program and from the positions the SP has maintained from its creation to the present day. For the Socialist Party, the possibility and the need for cooperation with all Albanian political forces on major issues of democracy and national interests exist at all times. These interests stand above party programs, without disregarding them. During these four years in opposition, the SP showed in practice that it knows the art of cooperation and understands its positive results. In contrast to the positions of the DP, which considers democracy and the country’s destiny its own monopoly, the SP regards all political forces as partners in building democracy. It was from this perspective that it built cooperation with the opposition’s political forces during the November 6 Referendum, which led to the opposition’s victory. Now, on the eve of new parliamentary elections, the Socialist Party once again considers cooperation with the other parties possible and necessary, especially with those on the centre and left of the political spectrum. Current cooperation stems not only from the importance of the parliamentary elections, but also from the unfavorable conditions that today’s government is trying to impose on the opposition. Faced with an undemocratic electoral law, an absurd situation in which laws known as the “genocide” laws prevent the opposition from freely standing candidates in the elections, and the danger that the people’s votes will be manipulated, it is an urgent shared necessity for the opposition to seek and find ways to cooperate in successfully confronting the situation. Continued on page 7

Dritëro Agolli: Socialists are fighting, and will continue to fight, to ensure that the Law on Human Rights and Freedoms has only one face: the face it acquired in Helsinki, and not the face it acquired in the neighborhood where Mr. Sali Berisha lives.

Statement by the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Mandates and Immunity Regarding the news published yesterday in the newspapers “Republika” and “Koha jonë,” according to which the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office had asked the Albanian Parliament to lift the immunity of MP and SP Secretary General Gramoz Ruçi, Fehmi Abdiu, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Mandates and Immunity, told “Zëri i popullit” yesterday: official notice of such a request.”

SODA

We will give democracy a European face Dritëro Agolli: Socialists are fighting, and will continue to fight, to ensure that the Law on Human Rights and Freedoms has only one face: the face it acquired in Helsinki, and not the face it acquired in the neighborhood where Mr. Sali Berisha lives. Pages 3–4, discussions at the Second Congress of the SP Pages 6–7, greetings from friendly delegations at the Congress

“Zeri i popullit” offers you, on pages 15 and 16, the opportunity to read the continuation of the report of the SPA submitted at its 2nd Congress …ently. It …eguard- …ms is a … both to …tically …oxha’s …secut- … a elec- … and the … their …refore, …00 Al- …ly ask …display …ccess- …battle” …together …, over …enta- …ovide …y gen- …d present …r and …titude …erous …ve and …s, the …ts and …

Socialists guarantee rapid integration into Europe and Euro-Atlantic organizations Page 2

All members of the General Steering Committee and the deputies of the Socialist Party are hereby informed that an urgent meeting will be held on Thursday, March 28, 1996, at 13:00 to discuss very important issues concerning the current political situation. The Presidency of the PSSH