After killing Vlora and destroying all of Albania: The solution proposed by the President is completely at odds with the demands of the entire people After killing Vlora and destroying all of Albania: Berisha sells Mexi The solution proposed by the President is completely at odds with the demands of the entire people

The Forum for Democracy responds following Mexi’s resignation Following the news and President of the Republic Sali Berisha’s statement on RTV about the resignation of the Mexi government and the intention to form another government of the Democratic Party, the Forum for Democracy declares: The proposed formula is demagoguery and deception by the Democratic Party to gain time, not to genuinely resolve the multifaceted crisis, which has deepened especially with the tragic events in the city of Vlora over the past two days. This so-called solution proposed by Berisha people for the government’s resignation, the formation of a technical government, and the fulfillment of the conditions for free and fair early elections. It tramples on the blood that has been shed by innocent people and on the sublime sacrifice of the students of Vlora, Gjirokastër and all the country’s universities, who are protesting not for the DP to change its masks, but demanding a new government free of the DP’s diktat, one that will stop the gra[?] theft of their labor and efforts over many years. The Forum for Democracy denounces this attempt by President Berisha and the DP to deceive the Albanian people once again and preserve a power built on the theft of the free vote, on the pyramid schemes, on violence and terror. It also rejects speculation about supposed opposition support for these maneuvers. The Forum reiterates its position that Albania can emerge from the grave institutional, political and economic crisis only through a new political solution: the government’s resignation, a technical government, and new, free and equal elections. The Forum declares that it will continue to demand that the stated demands be met through peaceful protests and dialogue with all other political forces that are genuinely interested in saving the country from the brink of catastrophe to which Berisha’s regime has brought it.

PSSH extends its condolences to all the victims’ families and joins the people’s concern over meeting the demands of the students on hunger strike in Vlora and throughout Albania, which set out the best path for resolving the multifaceted crisis and establishing calm and transparency in Albania’s democratic process. Page 3

The opposition parties invite the citizens of Tirana, today at 12:00 Come and join our legitimate protest with the students on hunger strike in Vlora and Gjirokastër. Come and let us tell the criminals to stop their violence against the students, high school students and citizens of Tirana

The Forum for Democracy, following with great concern the extremely critical situation that is deteriorating by the hour, especially after the recent events in the city of Vlora, where 9 people have so far been counted dead, and the events in Tirana, considers it extremely necessary to organize an urgent meeting among all political parties. To this end, it invites you to meet today, 2/3/1997, at 11:00, at the ROGNER hotel, to discuss everyone’s options. Considering this situation extremely alarming, we look forward to your attendance at this meeting. The Forum for Democracy will be represented at the meeting by several delegates at party-chair level. For the Forum for Democracy Secretary for Public Relations Blendi Gonxhja

The entire city accompanied its sons, killed by a criminal hand, on their final journey with sorrow and profound respect.

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