More than 30,000 protesters take over “Flag Square” and their city The people of Vlora: We want our money! Down with the government! Government: Violence against citizens: “You are terrorists!” The people of Vlora: We want our money! Down with the government! Government: Violence against citizens: “You are terrorists!” Yesterday in Vlora (REUTERS)

The Forum for Democracy expresses its deep concern over the further escalation of the situation in the country and the deepening of the crisis we are experiencing. Convinced that only sincere political dialogue among all the country’s political forces can find the most appropriate way out, the Forum for Democracy, as the representative of 10 opposition political parties, insists that dialogue must begin as soon as possible, and requests a meeting with you for its delegation, which would serve as evidence of the will to engage in this dialogue. The delegation of the Forum for Democracy - Kurt Kola, Daut Gumen, Fatos Lubonja (Association of the Persecuted, PDD, PRD, PSD, PID, PAD, PS, PA, PDK, PUK, PLP) Tirana, 7 February 1997

Extraordinary meeting of the PSSH presidium The PSSH, acting within the framework of the Forum for Democracy, will continue to support all peaceful protests throughout the country and will stand by them Page 3

The US State Department reacts again Page 4

Saturday, 8 February, at 12:00, in Skënderbej Square The Forum for Democracy and its members—the Association of the Persecuted, PDD, PRD, PSD, PID, PAD, PS, PA, PDK, PUK, PLP—invite the citizens of Tirana to take part in the peaceful protest

Ranieri, in charge of foreign relations for Italy’s PDS, after his visit to Albania In recent days, a delegation from Italy’s PDS, headed by Umberto Ranieri, the party’s official responsible for foreign relations, visited Albania. He met with many Albanian political forces and government representatives, including the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Tritan Shehu. After returning to Rome, Mr. Ranieri made public to the press his conclusions about the visit and what he had observed in Albania. - Observations? [partly illegible] “An unprecedented level of cynicism, to the detriment of the Albanian people,” Mr. Ranieri said at the press conference. “In recent years, a regime has unfortunately fostered the idea that this was capitalism and a market economy, the idea that there was some kind of magic that would bring about a miracle through the interest rates on capital. It is clear that all of this was nothing but a smokescreen to deceive people. Certain powerful forces are responsible for the situation we are in and... [partly illegible] These financial companies bear responsibility, just as the authorities that should have exercised oversight but failed to do so also bear great responsibility. To get out of this situation, the only way is an agreement among Albania’s political forces, with the contribution, assistance and support of the international community and the socialists of the IMF and the World Bank. Asked what he thought about the current government in power, Mr. Ranieri replied: “More than one shadow hangs over the Albanian government, both because of last May’s elections, during which there was serious manipulation, and because of the sense of distrust growing among the population due to the lack of oversight of these financial companies. And, as is now clear, also because the candidates of the Democratic Party distorted the image of these companies during the election campaign, creating the idea of easy enrichment if that party won the elections.”

Meeting with the Austrian Ambassador Yesterday morning, the Secretary-General, Rexhep Mejdani, and the Secretary for Foreign Relations, Maqo Lakrori, received the Austrian Ambassador in Tirana, Mr. Georg Calice, at the PSSH headquarters. Mr. Mejdani and Mr. Lakrori agreed with the PSSH’s assessments and the solutions it has proposed for overcoming the political and economic crisis and normalizing developments in our country. Meeting with the British Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Also yesterday, the Secretary-General, Rexhep Mejdani, and the Secretary for Foreign Relations, Maqo Lakrori, received the British Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., Mr. Geoffrey Briggs, at the PSSH headquarters. At this meeting, the socialist leaders presented the PSSH’s assessment of the situation the country is going through and its proposed alternative for resolving the current political and economic crisis. Meeting with the Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy Yesterday afternoon, the Secretary-General, Rexhep Mejdani, and the Secretary for Foreign Relations, Maqo Lakrori, received the Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy in Tirana, Mr. Robert F. Cekuta, at the PSSH headquarters. The US Embassy’s Political Secretary in Tirana, Lynn Gurian, and PSSH Presidium member Arta Dade also took part in the meeting. Views were exchanged on the current, grave political and economic situation in the country. The socialist leaders spoke about the options offered by the PSSH for overcoming this crisis. At this meeting, the socialist leaders also expressed their high regard for yesterday’s statement by the State Department concerning the situation in Albania.