The crutches betrayed the president From the heights of Vision 2000: “With us, everyone wins” The crutches betrayed the president Berisha Falls From the heights of Vision 2000: “With us, everyone wins” [Caricature]

Everything that happened was not unexpected. He had prepared his own downfall long ago. In fact, he had fallen this way before, too. We are not referring to his occasional “collapses” in the corridors of the presidency, which are then so widely discussed by those around him, but to his political downfall. The communist crutches with which he managed to seize power made it clear early on that Berisha would not be able to stand on them for long. His dogmatic communist headquarters could no longer serve him under the new conditions. Because apart from his suit and his slicked-back hairstyle, he had changed nothing else. That is why they broke, and he fell. But Berisha, sensing the danger, immediately rushed over and clung to the pyramids, rose along with them and climbed to the top. From there he devised “Vision 2000” and served it up to Albanians as the greatest discovery of the century, which, according to him, Albanians would never be able to attain without Berisha. Of course, neither the crutches nor the pyramids would have brought Sali down if it had not been for the people’s “NO” in the referendum and the mass revolt at the beginning of 1997. The people are now totally against him. And having been brought down not only by Vlora, Tepelena, Saranda and Gjirokastra, but also by Shkodra, Dibra, Tropoja and all of Albania, he will not be able to get back up. He will no longer succeed in deceiving the Albanians, because they have now experienced what Berishism means; they know what Berishism is.

Yesterday, under the chairmanship of Fatos Nano, the Presidency of the S.P.S.A. held a meeting, which was also attended by the Socialist representatives in the Government of National Reconciliation. Prime Minister Fino and the Socialist members of his government reported on the work carried out to date in fulfilling each of their duties in implementing the Government of National Reconciliation’s Program and in connection with the commitments undertaken at meetings with the political parties. The Presidency of the S.P.S.A. analyzed in particular the situation in the country, the issues arising in the further preparatory work for the parliamentary elections of June 1997, and the continued work of all party structures at central and local levels. It also assessed the consensus reached with the other parties on preparing the legal framework for these elections, and at the same time expressed regret over the artificial, tension-creating obstacles that the D.P. continues to create. At the table of ten parties, the D.P. now stands alone in its positions, facing the consensus of the other nine parties. The Presidency of the S.P.S.A. decided to undertake the necessary initiatives to continue inter-party dialogue and swiftly unblock the issues that would pave the way for holding elections within June 1997. Spokesperson for the S.P.S.A.

ON THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH Grandeur and culture united in one name: Skënder Luarasi [Photograph] Pages 8–9

P.S.P.A. Chairman Fatos Nano received the E.D.U. delegation Yesterday, the Chairman of the P.S.P.A., Fatos Nano, received at the P.S.P.A. KPD headquarters the E.D.U. Executive Secretary, Aleksis Wintoniak, and those accompanying him. During the meeting, views were exchanged on the situation in Albania and on the work being done to prepare for and hold the parliamentary elections of June 1997. After the meeting, the Socialist leader told “Zëri i popullit”: What does the meeting at the Socialist Party headquarters with a delegation from the European Right mean to you? The reception of the E.D.U. delegation at the Socialist Party headquarters is an important step in the Socialist Party’s political contacts with international actors. This is the first time that E.D.U. representatives have held official talks with us here in Tirana. This meeting follows a fruitful discussion we had a few days ago with the same political organization, represented by its chairman, Alois Mock, in Vienna. What did you discuss with the E.D.U. delegation? The subject of the discussion was the political situation in Albania and the positions of the parties at the political parties’ round table on preparing the elections and finding the necessary compromise solutions for the electoral law and other preparations that will lead to unblocking the situation. In our discussion, we found understanding on the need to contribute mutually to fostering a spirit of dialogue and the willingness of the parties to make the necessary concessions in order to reach a consensus between the majoritarian and proportional systems. In this context, we believe a good option is the proposal put forward by the representatives of the O.D.H.R. to return to the amended majoritarian law of 1992. What else were the delegation members interested in? The E.D.U. mission is a fact-finding mission concerning the political situation, the positions of various political actors, the reality represented by citizens’ committees in different regions of the country, and the possibility of integrating them into the processes of political dialogue and institutional elections to resolve the crisis, etc. What do you hope the Socialist Party will achieve through these contacts with the European Right? We believe that by presenting the positions arising from our political analyses, we contribute to balancing the positions and judgments—and, we hope, the political actions—of E.D.U. representatives, so that they may contribute, as an international actor, to mediation in overcoming the crisis. We have no prejudices; rather, we engage in discussions with all those actors who can contribute to Albania’s emergence from its current situation. The E.D.U. representatives gave us assurances that such contacts will continue in the future. Beqir Skreli