20/08/1997
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Republika

20 August 1997

Zhulali: “The Center” ordered the bombing of Tirana

Union for Democracy: Count us in too. The Nano Government’s deception Witnesses confuse Sude. The court brings back “Populli” Union for Democracy: Count us in too. The Nano Government’s deception Zhulali: “The Center” ordered the bombing of Tirana Witnesses confuse Sude. The court brings back “Populli”

Spies throw Parliament into turmoil

. P'jetri: “You’re not filming me? I’ll go on a hunger strike!” Socialist Agasi comes to the aid of Communist Hasani against Ballist Selfo The Albanian Parliament has been dealing with spies and genocidaires for two days. Things became so tangled that last night Parliament descended into utter chaos. There was no shortage of insults, shouts, irony, and even plenty of humor. The Social Democrats initiated changes to the law that the Democrats had once passed when they were in the majority. In fact, neither the opposition nor the government dealt with the substance of the change, but focused instead on “Çelo’s moustache.” The parliamentarians became so enamored of the word “Henceforth” that they forgot about genocide and spies. The spies were nowhere to be seen in Parliament, but their noose made a mess of things. Pjetri, the former presiding speaker in the written record, clung firmly to the absence of television cameras, spending a full 10 minutes arguing with Gjinushi. In any case, Arbnori had the patience to read the speech he had prepared in writing, reminding the Communists that he had been imprisoned by them and that, three hours before entering the chamber, he had visited Burrel prison, which had been whitewashed and was waiting for more prisoners. The subtext was clear. The former speaker challenged the other parliamentarians after folding up his speech: “You didn’t broadcast the session live; I will go on hunger strike starting today.” Although a late-night fax to our newsroom informed us that Pjetri had abandoned his spur-of-the-moment decision and postponed the action until another time, after holding a press conference today at 9:00. The uproar in Parliament continued even after Pjetri left. Socialist MP Agasi from Durrës raised the banner, and, as always ready for a fight, the hardened Communist Maksim Hasani came to his aid. Shouts of “Ballist puppy,” “Bolshevik puppy,” “spy”... continued to ring over the MPs’ heads for quite some time. But just as children make up after a game, the MPs soon moved from a state of war to peace. Judging by how things unfolded yesterday, Parliament does not seem to be on the right track. It still does not understand its dual role in the eyes of Albanians just emerged from a senseless war: it is not only the Assembly of Laws, but also an assembly of reconciliation. The MPs’ petty squabbles, pointless quarrels, and insults show that Parliament is far from meeting the electorate’s hopes.

Gang that took 400 Albanian children to Italy arrested; building that slept over death dismantled; Selenicë gang broken up; two bandits killed, two police officers wounded; 50,000 lekë fine for anyone who does not turn in their weapon in Durrës; anti-crime efforts coordinated in Mallakastër, Tepelenë, Përmet, Delvinë, Gjirokastër and Sarandë

. Pages 5–7

Alarm among the winners. U.S. immigration lottery suspended

Page 8

Football: The championship in a difficult position

Page 15

Light on the mystery of March 9

Page 10

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