Banks accused of money laundering. The pyramid schemes have laundered only 35% of the amount Dokle conducts diplomacy with the Serbs. Berisha: All roads lead to Rome The disease in dogs appears in Krujë; 80 lives claimed by blood feuds and 963 victims of firearms in Elbasan; police collect weapons in Berat; Tepelena is finding its chief of police; a fish takes the life of a man from Korçë; three dangerous criminals from Skrapar are arrested; police officers are tested in Gramsh; a Bulgarian kills an Albanian in Macedonia; a nurse is killed; healthcare workers in white coats protest in Pogradec; he avenges a killing after 50 years in Shkodër Pages 5–7

Yesterday, at the press conference, the de facto chairman of the PD, in the presence also of four other half-left and half-right parties, issued the categorical order: I am the opposition in Albania! He spoke not only on behalf of Durollari, who never opened his mouth, but also on behalf of Ndreu, who made Berisha sweat as he told a story about a person who was obsessed with having his photograph taken with Comrade Hysni Kapo (Ndreu forgot that Comrade Berisha, too, has many photos with Comrade Hysni). The trouble is that Berisha is still flying in the sky. Just as when he was in power, when he ignored not only his allies but also the opposition, he has convinced himself that the keys to all the Albanian opposition are in the pocket of his vest. Yesterday he flew from branch to branch, at times showing jealousy and at times being cynical, especially toward the right, which is not in his flock. He was jealous of Godo, who apparently snatched from him the chairmanship of the Foreign Affairs Commission in Parliament. According to Berisha, a party like the PR, which did not sign the Rome agreement of Sant’Egidio, has no right to be called the opposition or to lead the Foreign Affairs Commission. Unwittingly, the self-proclaimed leader of the opposition is revealing his true nature. The Rome meeting was nothing more nor less than a failure of Tirana’s politics, Berisha’s politics. This was the first reservation the PR expressed before the meeting. The second is well known: the PR and the Balli Party did not sign the agreement because their demand concerning the electoral law was not met. If Berisha had listened with his feet on the ground to the PR’s demand on 29 June, Berisha’s party would not have come out wearing red shoes. Third, the religious agreement in Rome was broken by Nano’s and Berisha’s parties in a buffalo-market bargain, each seeking the fattest pieces and calculating percentages. Berisha clearly has still not recovered. He is a doctor and can make the diagnosis himself, but the delusion of grandeur and communist mentality have gripped him badly. At yesterday’s conference, too, Berisha showed that he has no clear concept of the opposition. Perhaps after settling accounts with his opponents within the Party, he will seek real right-wing allies to fight the left-wing opposition, but by then it will be too late, and his name is no good omen for the Albanian opposition. People at the protests rose up cursing him. It is right for him to take the position of prosecutor against the left in power, but above all he must publicly answer the accusations made against him: he was the head of state that fell apart, he was commander-in-chief of an army that was routed, he was the President of Albania at a time when hundreds and thousands of Albanians were killed and lost their lives. Does he bear no responsibility at all? Without clarifying his responsibility, Berisha will not earn the status of opposition leader. For its part, the PR remains in opposition even without Sali Berisha’s approval. It bears none of the responsibilities weighing on the PD. Within the framework of the DBSH, it will continue to stand in firm opposition to those in power, but it will not allow the PD and Berisha to smear the Republicans.

For $4,000, Berlusconi in Tirana. Page 8 Grunasi wanted by Interpol The Cenaj&Co company has been robbed Page 2 The Communist Party—the fait accompli Page 3 Bushati: the PD and Laço are right-wing Page 3 Laço right-wing Page 3 The State Audit Office changes its skin Page 4 The coalition crumbles along the way Page 4 The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs shows 15,000 refugees from anarchy the way to Albania Page 8

Pages 11–12

“REPUBLIKA,” Rruga “Sami Frashëri,” near the “Petro Nini Luarasi” high school, Tirana, Account No. 986/110, Tirana Commercial Bank. Tel/Fax 259 88; Tel. 230 90