Open opposition to the political agreement of May 9 and to the International Community: a mad adventure aimed at isolating Albania again and causing even more bloodshed among this people

VRANICKI AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE: Further postponements of the elections will not improve the situation and would also put International Community aid in question. Under these circumstances, if a compromise on these elections is not reached, the OSCE, as well as other international institutions, may reconsider their monitoring of the elections. Since the day I was in Albania last time, we have found a profound climate of distrust among the representative parties of the six political parties that make up the Government of National Reconciliation. The Albanian people and the international community are markedly affected by the failure of the parties to reach a compromise that would lead to elections. I have consistently stressed,” said OSCE representative Mr. Vranicki in the statement he made at the beginning of the press conference, “that democratic and free elections are the only solution to the political, economic and social crisis that Albania is facing. This is possible only if the process begins immediately, and only if the administration of the elections begins at the proper time—that is, if the technical procedures begin to function efficiently and on time. Vranicki stressed that he had made it very clear to the leaders of the political parties that further postponements of the elections would not improve the situation and would also put International Community aid in question. Under these circumstances, if a compromise on these elections is not reached, the OSCE, as well as other international institutions, may reconsider their monitoring of the elections. For this reason, this is a decisive moment, the Austrian chancellor said. Throughout the day I have discussed and spoken with representatives of the political parties, with the Albanian Prime Minister, President Berisha, and I have put forward the parties’ requests on the following points: The political parties at the round table are requesting that the law submitted to Parliament by the Democratic Party be reconsidered by Parliament, also taking the additional amendments into account. The Government has also approved a draft law. So far, Parliament has not decided to work on the Government’s law.

Free and democratic elections, the beginning of a new era in this country

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[?] international institutions may reconsider their monitoring of the elections. For this reason, this is a decisive moment, the Austrian chancellor said. Throughout the day I have discussed and spoken with representatives of the political parties, with the Albanian Prime Minister, President Berisha, and I have put forward the parties’ requests on the following points: The political parties at the round table are requesting that the law submitted to Parliament by the Democratic Party be reconsidered by Parliament, also taking the additional amendments into account. The Government has also approved a draft law. So far, Parliament has not decided to work on the Government’s law. It is not my task to try to explain the reasons; nevertheless, I think it will be necessary and productive for the coming days of politics in Albania for Parliament not to reject a draft law proposed by the government, and if they maintain that certain formalities were not observed. I think it will be extremely necessary and important for parliamentarians to try to find a point of compromise between the differences they face between the two different laws. I think that the representatives of the political parties who met with the OSCE delegation today, after meeting with the members of their parliamentary groups, will come up with a joint solution—not only for the OSCE and the Council of Europe, but also a positive new development for Albania. Do you have a final opinion on this issue? I have said that Albania urgently needs to emerge from the crisis, and the way to do so is to hold elections before summer. This is an issue raised by the Albanians themselves: to hold free and democratic elections and for these to serve as the starting point of a new era in this country, and, frankly, of the reconstruction and building of the country. What guarantees do you have that the Albanian political parties will implement what you have proposed to them? When you speak of guarantees, do not regard them as bank guarantees; they are the politicians’ understanding that the solution will be implemented. The law submitted by the DP has elements of the proportional system of 1992 and the majoritarian system of 1996. Is this a democratic law, and is it within the limits of the May 9 agreement? As you know, in the political agreement we stated that there should be a mix of the two systems, and what has been proposed is 155 seats, of which 115 are elected directly and 40 through a proportional system. This proposal has been welcomed by the diaspora made up ... When you speak of guarantees, do not regard them as bank guarantees; they are the politicians’ understanding that the solution will be implemented. The law submitted by the DP has elements of the proportional system of 1992 and the majoritarian system of 1996. Is this a democratic law, and is it within the limits of the May 9 agreement? As you know, in the political agreement we stated that there should be a mix of the two systems, and what has been proposed is 155 seats, of which 115 are elected directly and 40 through a proportional system. This proposal has been welcomed by the diaspora made up beyond where by most of the parties at the round table. When I spoke with the members of Parliament, they intended to debate this issue again in Parliament. Did you expect an agreement on the electoral law to be reached? First, given that the situation is very complex, if you were to describe it in a few words, how would you describe this crisis? I think that even though the parliamentarians will not have before them the day after tomorrow. In a few words, I would explain this crisis as follows. After all the difficulties everyone has lived through in total isolation, I think it is somewhat difficult for people.

Nikolas Burns, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State: We oppose the way the law was passed Vito Leçeze, Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Italian Parliament: The Italian Government should condemn the stance of Berisha and the DP Page 4