Why not make the candidates’ files public? The negative responses by the Commission for the Verification of Figures concerning some of the leading figures of the PS and the “Democratic Alliance” party were clearly bound to provoke reactions from these political forces, both regarding the Commission’s objectivity and the way it was constituted, as well as other matters. The press conferences held urgently, immediately after notification was received from the Commission, showed that it would be their target. Thus, the Commission was called “eunuch-impotent,” a “phantom commission,” with people who might indeed have been “technicians,” but whose decisions were made only by Berisha and relayed to him by telephone. Above all, however, what caught the public’s attention was the fact that almost all those who “failed the test of moral integrity” challenged the Commission’s decisions concerning them, accusing it of lacking objectivity because they deserved such an assessment. The Alliance members, invoking one of the provisions of the “anti-genocide” law, appealed to the Court of Cassation, while the Socialists, at their press conference, expressed their distrust of this court, which, like all the other institutions connected to the state, is controlled by Berisha; for this reason, the Court of Cassation’s ruling, like the one issued by the Commission, would be made only by Berisha. Perhaps, in order not to discredit their own standing, the candidates—[continues outside the image] Continued on p. 4

Yesterday, a security measure was imposed on the two Savings Bank employees at the center of this scandal. Yesterday, a security measure was imposed on the two Savings Bank employees at the center of this scandal, Mimoza Deliu and Mimoza Palushi. The charge is abuse of office, which resulted in the loss of 1 million dollars from the bank’s safe. Both defendants must report to the judicial police twice a week until the start of the trial. The scandal was uncovered by the State Audit Service just 6 days ago. Both accused women violated the law in connection with the granting of open credit. “Open credit” is a form of banking operation used for clients with substantial, verified capital, who have borrowed from this bank several times and repaid their loans on time, thereby becoming reliable partners in guaranteeing repayment. However, the lending rules stipulate that the Bank may grant its “privileged” clients loans of up to 150 thousand dollars in the form of “open credit.” But the two Mimozas evidently acted otherwise. Although they had been working there for a long time and knew the above rules very well, they granted the company “Universal” open credit amounting to 1 million dollars. The scandal, uncovered after an audit of “Universal’s” bank account, has prompted the State Audit Service to widen the scope of its investigation. According to reports, it is suspected [continues outside the image] More on p. 3

P. 3

Rugova, Bukoshi, Demaçi in Europe and the USA Several of the leading political figures among the Albanians of Kosovo—the president of the Republic of Kosovo, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova, the prime minister, Dr. Bujar Bukoshi, and Adem Demaçi—are currently abroad. After Austria, where he met Austrian Foreign Minister Shyssel, President Rugova has headed to Strasbourg, where today he will address the European Parliament to explain the situation in Kosovo and exchange views with European figures on finding a solution for Kosovo as soon as possible. Bukoshi, for his part, is in the USA, where, in addition to other American figures, he is expected to meet the deputy [unclear in source] of the Secretary of State, Rudolf Perina, who for a long time was the US representative in Belgrade and is well acquainted with the situation in Kosovo. Also in Europe is Adem Demaçi, chairman of the Council for the Defence of Human Rights. Also one [continues outside the image] Continued on p. 4

Alarm in Bari Yesterday, the authorities of the coastal city of Bari sounded the alarm over a wave of Albanian refugees who are expected to descend on the Italian coast in the coming days. To avert the consequences familiar in such cases, the Prefect of Bari ordered assistance from the army and other Italian state agencies. Meanwhile, the press has also echoed suspicions concerning a landing from the opposite shore of the Adriatic. According to reports, there is information that more than 1,000 Albanians have gathered in the city of Vlora and are expected to set off by foreign vessels for the Apulian coast, thus repeating the exodus of [continues outside the image] Continued on p. 4

The chairpersons of the Republican Party branches are to report urgently to the Central Headquarters on 17.04.1996.

NATIONAL LIBRARY TIRANA

Azem Vllasi speaks How Kosovo’s constitutional autonomy came to an end P. 4