Electoral message of the Socialist Party of Albania The SP calls on you to contribute, with your free vote, to the victory of democracy over totalitarianism. There is no room for hesitation or pessimism. We call on you to: - take part in the October 20 elections - vote for the candidates of the Socialist Party - vote for our democratic alternative - vote for the integrity and professional competence of the Socialist Party candidates

Durrës:

Kolonjë:

Kolonjë: Page 2

Today, October 1 Page 6

96th Conference of the Inter-Parliamentary Union According to authorized sources close to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, headquartered in Geneva, the Governing Council has adopted a fifth consecutive resolution in favor of the Chairman of the Socialist Party of Albania, Fatos Nano. This is the strongest resolution adopted at the 96th IPU Conference, held in Beijing from September 15–20, 1996. Neither the participation this time of Berisha’s diplomatic adviser, MP Fatos Beja, nor his moderate speech could spare the Albanian authorities and the (in)justice system of Albania from harsh criticism and reprimands, as well as from the alarming concern of the world’s largest parliamentary organization, representing 131 countries, regarding the political motives, arbitrariness, and numerous violations during the trial and sentencing of Fatos Nano. According to the same source, we learn that the IPU Council has reiterated that none of the charges against Nano holds up, and that the demands for repayment of the sum of 7.2 million dollars—fines allegedly lost or stolen through “Nano’s acts and omissions”—are absurd. In this Resolution, the Union has gone further, openly calling on the President of the Republic to use all his legal powers to proclaim an amnesty for the political prisoner of Bënçë. This, together with the participation of foreign observers in the retrial of his case, offers the best guarantees for resolving the “Gordian knot” of Albanian politics and democracy. Thus, neither the higher level of representation of the Albanian parliamentary delegation nor the absence of Nano’s lawyer and representatives in Beijing prevented Nano’s messages and demands from flying from the cells of Bënçë to Beijing, adding to the volume of the Nano dossier, which is a powerful political indictment of the current regime. Now that the Union’s legal arguments and examination have been completed, its overt pressure on the Albanian authorities and Berisha himself is expected to increase in the future, something that will also be reflected in other prestigious international organizations. For more information about the Resolution, read our next issue. “Zëri i Popullit” correspondent

AGIM FAGU: - Socialist Party candidate for Mayor of the city of Tirana: AGIM FAGU: - Socialist Party candidate for Mayor of the city of Tirana. MYSA ULAQINI: - On behalf of the 45 Socialist candidates for municipal council members, we are holding a press conference on Tuesday, October 1, 1996, at 11:00 a.m. at the Palace of Congresses, on the topic: - “The present and the future of local government in the capital.” Journalists and the diplomatic corps are invited to attend. K.D.I PS of the city of Tirana

How will the ballot papers be collected? Page 7