. Only a few days remain before the opening of the PS Congress, undoubtedly the most important Congress in the politics of recent years. The meeting of the General Steering Committee was prejudged by almost all journalists and observers as a triumph for Mr. Nano’s faction in the Party and his re-emergence within the PS. In fact, many of Mr. Nano’s criticisms, with great difficulty but successfully, managed to prevail over the heads of the deputy chairmen. It is interesting that the latter had on their side precisely those who drew salaries from the PS payrolls at headquarters and in the districts. Apparently, the same story is being repeated in the PS as in the overwhelming majority of other Albanian parties. In recent days, developments ... whether large or small. Those settled into party headquarters have not been any more interested in such major changes, which, whatever their character, could significantly jeopardize the comfort of their posts. It is precisely this category of people who have been wholly opposed to Mr. Nano’s generally transformative moves, and they expressed this opposition sharply at the last meeting of the GSC. In recent days, developments in the PS have brought to the fore figures who had been neglected in the PS for some time. Besides Mr. Majko, who was removed in a not entirely clear manner from the leadership of FRESH, other names have also come out in support of the motion—people who not so long ago had been forced to leave their chairs to make way for others, who today have logically lined up on the opposite side. These are Messrs. Çuçi, Bufi, Lakrori and Zeneli, the most active opponents of the current leadership. ... Others, at different times, have had their due coming to them. And what is owed is not only political, but also career-related and, above all, financial. It is clear that in the PS the leaders’ struggle is spreading from the top of the Pyramid all the way down to the grassroots. Thus, not only is Zeneli seeking his post again, but a branch chairman in Malësi has also retaken the post after he himself had kicked it away. This gives the impression that in the PS politicians have begun to see one another only physically—or, more accurately, merely as living beings. Adrian NDREU

On August 21, the peacekeeping troops from the 19 countries participating in the “Cooperative Osprey- 96” exercise complete the field-training phase, which aimed to provide individual training and coordinate actions at squad and platoon level. In some cases, actions were also coordinated at company level. Last night, the first company—which included, alongside the Albanian peacekeeping troops, members of the Romanian platoon and two American platoons—was transported by helicopter to the American ship Pensacola, where the company also spent the night, becoming familiar with the surroundings of a warship. On the morning of the 21st, the company returned to ... Kalemi, commander of the Albanian platoon. Mr. Kalemi, who had also been operations chief of the multinational brigade during the “Shqiponja e Pages” exercise, held in July -96 in Bizë, said that the exercise applied the American method of command, which places the direct superior in the foreground. The aim of the exercise was for the peacekeeping troops, despite belonging to different nations, to operate as a single force. In organizing the troops, the platoons were made up of a single nationality, while the companies were multinational. American equipment and American infrastructure were used in the exercise. Firing practice was conducted with American M 16 rifles and the M 249 machine gun. Amphibious transport vehicles ... were also used. American forces were company also spent the night, familiarizing itself the 21st, the company returned to shore in an air-cushion craft (LCAC). After the exercise it will conduct this morning in a minefield, the company that includes the Albanian troops, like the other peacekeeping companies, will return from its camp, set up at a place called Zogu i Kalter, to the barracks and, tomorrow, August 22, will have a day off. After that day, another phase of the “Cooperative Osprey- 96” exercise will begin, involving combined operations on a broader scale. During the exercises so far, the American method of training and command has been used. However, in some cases, the American side preferred the participating forces to use their own methods for tactical operations, Major Shkelqim mbi, multinational companies. the M 249 machine gun. Amphibious transport vehicles AAV and LAV, RRC and RAC boats, and KOBRA helicopters were also used. The instruction was supported by materials prepared and translated in advance into all the languages of the exercise participants. Before the exercise began, the American side had done extensive preparatory work to lay out the daily program precisely, including scheduling details, details relating to the participating forces, the methods to be applied, the equipment to be used, the areas where operations would be carried out, etc. The organization so far has been divided into four main groups: commanders, instructors, simulators and action controllers. All four groups have also received strong logistical support.

Tritan Shehu, Albania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, has appointed Albert Ferit Rakipi as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. Sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Rakipi’s appointment as deputy minister, alongside Deputy Minister Arjan Starova, is part of the restructuring of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Albert Rakipi was born in 1962 in Ersekë, Kolonjë. He completed his higher studies at the Faculty of History and Philology of the University of Tirana. In 1993 - 1994 he studied at the Mediterranean Academy (Malta), where he earned a master’s degree in diplomacy. In 1987 - 1989, Rakipi was a language and literature teacher in Fushë - Arrez (Pukë). In 1991 - 1992 he was editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Alternativa SD”, and in 1993 - 1995 he was also director of the Press Directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1995 - 1996, Rakipi worked in the Europe Directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Rakipi is not a member of any political party. The new deputy foreign minister has published a work of fiction and many articles on international politics and relations.

Inside: The BPSH’s assets divide the unions P. 2