Democrats backtrack: There was no manipulation during the voting. Violations occurred during the vote count Events responds to the press allegations: “A mad accusation” P. 16

By Selim BELORTAJA It is entirely understandable that, in times of crisis, the nation’s finest or perhaps most sensitive minds should be stirred into action at a particular pace and with unusual energy, seeking a way out. In this sacred stirring of intellectual thought, petty interests and material rewards are generally forgotten, because contributions of this kind—where everyone gives something of their nerves and blood—cannot be measured or rewarded. A positive motivation of this kind is evident throughout the spirit of the public debate of the time, amid the abundance of events and facts, statements and counterstatements, predictions and hypotheses. Nevertheless, when we come to the causes and the ways out, the picture becomes disappointing. The whole analysis dwindles into a terribly narrow scheme: personalized poles. According to it, the current conflict between Berisha’s activism on the one hand and Nano’s demagoguery on the other almost “sums up” all our present misfortune. And so, little by little, the idea is “thickening” (I cannot say “ripening”) that Albania will finally be saved as soon as we get rid of these two “undesirable” individuals. This conclusion is then passed on and relayed to public opinion abroad, where, with all the “qerratallëkun” … Continued on page 4

Illustration: two men hold a large figure above a fire.

The DP punishes its allies. Laço and Ndreu receive a cold reception; Bushati flees to Switzerland. Bode seeks peace with the OSCE. Page 5 A Greek criminal kills two Albanians at the border The Police blindi is being strengthened Norwegian prosecutor for Hajdari’s murder 36 Kurds stranded at Qafë-Thanë Page 7 Radio-Tirana, “Honor of the Nation” The stories of Ardenica Pages 10, 13

Italian-Yugoslav traffickers at the Port of Durrës Foreign parents for Albanian orphans To kill over a word Page 6

Let Albania ripen; let democracy not burn