Socialist Party Chairman Fatos Nano reacts after the provocative decision by the Democratic Party and Berisha

During yesterday's day — apart from the official statement by Chairman Fatos Nano, the president of the PS Steering Council, he held an hour-long consultation with Prime Minister Bashkim Fino regarding the situation that had been created. In response to the demands of the opposition and public opinion, expressed at many rallies organized by the Democratic Party in warning of a broad political provocation aimed at destabilizing the country, Mr. Nano stated that: "Has the PS decided not to take part in the elections?" This opposition and disagreement with the policy of action of the state institutions comes in a completely unprecedented situation, when before 10 a.m. yesterday the presidential decree was announced providing for parliamentary elections to be held on 29 June, while the leadership of the Assembly submitted the decree to the president after 12:30. The Socialists have made it known that the constitutional deadline for issuing the decree by the President is in contradiction with the actions of this side. The only factor that forced the presidency to issue the decree without respecting the constitutional deadlines was not the free will of Albanians for early elections, but apparently the pressure imposed by extremist circles of the right.

Chilling testimony from the parents of the Albanian hero[?] Another proof of the incrimination of the deputy interior minister Shaban of Berisha. A very elementary, physical plan by the socialist envoy Fatos Nano would have failed with every living prisoner of his[?] According to information from the situation in the Përmet district, drifters of the far right, created by the clan of the murdered "warriors" of the south, have undertaken to carry out the elimination of their opponent. On 11 May, 17 people were arrested and taken to the camp of Bënça prison, suspected of participating in the unrest in the south. All these people were questioned by investigators from the Tepelena police unit. Among them was the citizen Agim Shehu. The man transferred together with a group of policemen spoke with the arrested persons about organizing the revolt in the prison. In the conversation he asked the arrested persons to come out, promising that they would be kept safe. When they refused, according to the parents of one detainee, he ordered the camp to be shelled with shells. After this, several prisoners were wounded and killed. ( Continued on page 4 )

The Democratic Party and its power, continually creating pre-prepared scenarios of destabilization through prearranged means, are doing everything possible to keep Albanians subdued through fear and demoralization. Democratic Albania cannot be held hostage by a primitive and anti-national policy. Manipulating public opinion, provocations and hysterical statements are part of an old strategy to impose order by force. This policy of fear cannot last. The Albanian people will find their way toward normality and free elections. ( Continued on page 3 )

I urgently appeal to President Berisha to do everything that responsible leaders of whatever kind can do, so as to facilitate a solution to this problem on the basis of consensus. ( Continued on page 4 )

The policy of the national reconciliation government is a successful impartial policy and not an offshoot of the policy of the old elected officials[?] ( Continued on page 2 )