The DP leader is opposed within the Presidency. Topalli: There is no need for an Extraordinary Congress. Minarolli: We have nothing to do with this Parliament

Dalip GRECA Arben ILIAZI The “Rogner” agreement of 21 December continues to give rise to mysteries and secrets. Other winds are blowing after the agreement: the political substance changes every day, the tone of the talks rises and falls, and the ways of communicating between the PS and the PD change, with the heavy hand appearing to be that of Berisha’s party. The Democrats had chosen a very transparent tactic: to sideline the old guard of the PS, which feels that the game may very soon put them in an offside position. Senior PD officials yesterday openly asked the Socialist parliamentary group to publicly distance itself from former Prime Minister Nano’s public positions on Kosovo in particular and the national issue in general. It is understandable that this demand is based on the serious accusations the PD had levelled against Nano when he met, in Crete, the enemy of the people of Kosovo, Sllobodan Millosheviç. With this tactic, the Democrats are seeking to justify their presence in the new Resolution of the Albanian Parliament, which is expected to receive a unanimous vote on Monday. We hope this is a positive initiative, after which the PD can lower its tone on the cold benches of Parliament, left empty by its MPs for months. Meanwhile, Chairman Berisha indirectly welcomed the action of the Parliamentary Party, which, according to him, is “endorsing the opposition’s positions.” The PD leader considers the thesis of “self-[text cut off]” Continued on page 3

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Compromise. Illustration: Medi Belortaja

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Terror for New Year ’98, the year of the judges’ resignations. New Year firecrackers train the “Eagles”: 17 alarms, 16 firecrackers. Page 2. “Republika” poll: Albanians are not “afraid” of America. Killed on the day of his engagement. Death began on Christmas Day. Thieves attack emigrants returning from Greece. Pp. 6–7. The Police Director builds a house without a permit; clients offer envelopes. P. 8. PRESS CONFERENCE. Today, at 10:00, at the PR headquarters, the Presidency will hold a Press Conference.