In Vranica, before leaving Tirana: It was not I who failed, but Albanian politics

PRIME MINISTER FINO REACTS: And he believes he will find a common language with the president Prime Minister Bashkim Fino has expressed optimism about restoring cooperative relations between the government and the President of the Republic. In an interview with the Greek daily “Ethnos”, Prime Minister Fino says that "I will make every effort of mine for relations with the president to return to normality. OR he abandons this abnormal path, such as carrying out reorganizations in the army and police, solely by his decrees, in the absence of the government since last month and in contradiction with the March decisions, or my government and I will resign and return to the people through early elections, internationally monitored, asking them to decide". Mr. Prime Minister, you declared at the end of February that the government would resign after the international community announced its conditions? Do you think the country will descend into anarchy after the President appoints a new government without Parliament’s approval? How do you describe your relations with President Berisha, now suspended almost de facto? How do you assess the events in Albania? From the decision to take part in the government, together with four other parties, I necessarily also take into account the risk of a crisis between institutions. Despite this, I declared then that I would call elections and that this is the unwavering position of the coalition that was formed. If, 40 days ago, there were objections on the part of the president, today it is the international powers that are putting pressure on him. Of course, the international factor has fully understood the issue. These days it is becoming clear that the political and military factor, which had been at the forefront of events, has brought us to this chaotic situation. What I think and believe is that it is necessary for law and order to prevail in the country. All Albanian citizens want that, as do our foreign partners. Any government that will replace the interim government must ensure one thing: oversight of the elections, so that they are legitimate and not manipulated. If this anarchy continues, is there not a risk that the “Alba” operation will fail? Who bears responsibility? For me, all those who have tried to oppose any form of legality bear responsibility. From day one, I have insisted that constitutional order be established. Unfortunately, the logic of force has prevailed there. As a result, national responsibility is being abused. We risk becoming isolated and losing the support of the international community. That is why I have asked that institutions be respected and that the normal functioning of the state be restored. Do you still hope that the escalation of the conflict can be avoided? I believe so. But this requires all political actors to act with prudence and not use the crisis for narrow interests. We must act responsibly before the people and before history.

Press conference of the three special OSCE envoys, Frank Vranicki page 3

Unconstitutional activity by former SHIK chief Bashkim Gazidede page 5 “ACTIVITIES OF THE SHIK BRANCHES IN THE DISTRICTS” What was not hidden could not escape the organizers’ eye, and it revealed that SHIK president Bashkim Gazidede keeps in force order no. 108/1, dated 8.11.1994. This photocopy sent by the SHIK chief, Bashkim Gazidede, a text from one SHIK branch signed by the Chief, scanned [??] also in this format. DECIPHERING

Statement of the National Public Salvation Committee In a statement today from the city of S[h]tit, Spiro Angjeli did not doubt the presentation of the mass, 1. We are not in mar? to take power with elections unfinished. 2. We cannot hold elections without an agreement on the Electoral Code? It confirms it. The National Committee of Public Salvation has agreed in this case with the extraordinary assembly, where the president is asked to urgently begin signing without leaving it for later and to call the political forces for consultation and dialogue as soon as possible in order to determine the modalities for exiting the crisis. 3. The crisis is in Albania; free elections are demanded by all political forces from the left, the right and the center without fear. Sali Berisha, We are here not to take your power by force, but to prevent you from keeping it by force. For this, we expect you, at the start of the day, to put? in the right place after so many turns and out-of-ordinary events, The Chairman of the Council of Ministers, on his own responsibility, to speak to the people and to take the steps for the change of the president? We, taking into account that this is a necessity, will continue with solutions? to this crisis. (National Committee of Public Salvation) page 7

NOTES: February-March 1997, the government was aware? of restoring order control? through the creation of national salvation commissions. Later the example? of the rebellion in the south of the country also spread to several cities in the north. After the failure of the president’s attempts to establish direct military control, a national coalition government was formed under the leadership of Prime Minister Bashkim Fino. The situation in Albania remained shaken, while political tensions and warnings of escalation continued. At the end of April, a large protest against the return of the previous structures of power was held in the city of Vlora. Mobilization in Shkodra was visible and strong, but no one could calm? down in power.