It should not be expected that the Albanian political and institutional crisis will be handled on every occasion by international bodies. This is the message highlighted by the round table of political parties, initiated by the PR, a round table that so far has been successful in unblocking political situations. Thanks to the PR initiative, a basis of consensus has been reached on media issues, the Constitution and matters related to the institutionalization of debate within the general pluralist framework. Many problems in Albania, despite the progressive efforts of some political forces, remain unresolved. State radio and television serves the position in an ordinary partisan way, downplaying the activities of the other political forces. In fact, television openly shows nostalgia for the past and in particular for the so-called "art of socialist realism." On TV, interviews with opposition political figures are censored without apparent reason, and independent news space is reduced. The issue of the Constitution is being discussed in a piecemeal fashion in two or it seems they were asking for politics, but it seems that two political forces, namely PD and PD, perhaps are not interested in giving the country a Constitution. DS hopes to govern with the ease of an institutional vacuum, just as PD once did, while the current PD aims for the lack of a standard Constitution to push the government toward unconstitutional actions, as practically happened with the parliamentary approval of the amendment on state control over the administration of private entities, which would be added to Article 10 of the Constitutional Package. The last night's political round table gave particular importance to the treatment of the national issue, on which recently there have been polarizing positions contrary to the will of Kosovo's elected representatives. The much-discussed Crete meeting between Nano and Milosević, the confusing and far from favorable statements by Mediam in Italy regarding the stance toward Milosević, and the official foreign-affairs cadres of the Government of Albanians in an enigmatic outburst compromise the general position of the other political forces and of Albanian opinion. The national issue is considered by the political truce of the parties as a contemporary refrain and a basic obligation of Albanian politics. Parties of any spectrum should not use being in power to undermine the overall national spirit.

1. The Albanian Republican Party feels and shares the deepest pain with all the families of the victims of the recent tragedy in the Adriatic. 2. The Albanian Government must draw its concrete responsibilities for not stopping clandestine trafficking, for not creating a dialogue to give citizens hope for their future. 3. Law enforcement must do its duty to stop this deadly traffic for Albanians. 4. The Republican Party considers unacceptable the Government of Albania's procrastination and negligence in opening consular offices. The opening of these offices in the cities of Sarandë, Durrës, Vlorë, Shkodër would provide a partial solution to the problem. 5. The repetition of the Otranto tragedy should make Albanian politics bow their heads and find solutions to stop these misfortunes. The PRSH Presidency

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Elbasan: Attack on the Chief of Public Order Fier: Grenade and bullets in a disco Page 7 Nano gets lost in the catacombs of the Bank, BK breaks his knees Page 9 Durrës: Mass brawl in the stadium stands Page 21 Sunday literary supplement: M. Ahmeti, A. Kallulli, M. Vyshka, etc. Pages 11-14

"REPUBLIKA", "Sami Frashëri" Street, near the "Petro Nini Luarasi" gymnasium, Tirana. Account No. 986/110, Tregtare Banka Tiranë. Tel/Fax (+355 42) 259 88. Tel. (+355 42) 230 90