Government reshuffle. Majko draws up a list of new names Switzerland will calm Albanian politics. Socialists and Democrats at one table, Mejdani in the middle

P. 4

By Aleksandër GARULI Once again, on the horizon of Albanian politics, to the misfortune of the nation and the ... unthinkingness of Albanians, the dark clouds of confrontation have reappeared. After a fragile peace, the Albanian political spectrum is becoming polarized again. And unfortunately this is happening precisely today, when the national question stands at a major crossroads, when every word coming from Rambuje is followed with anxiety and emotion. Who puts the snake in our bosom every time we are at a crossroads? Could this be a coincidence?! Either Albanian politics is so mediocre that it cannot see beyond its own nose, or, what would be worse, important segments of it are undermining the national question. The SP is reflecting its internal confrontations in its policies. For example, the SP’s categorical opposition to the Bisha Pact on public order shows that fanatics dominate this party, those who call every proposal from the opposition hostile. What would happen if we sat down at the table and each side put forward the views of the entity it represents? Why are so many accusations hurled back and forth against one another, when the debate could easily be held at the table? Also, although it is their business, the efforts to purge Maki kos from the party leadership sound like attempts to further weaken the executive. This further weakening? It serves the interests of corrupt elements within this party. On the other hand, the decision of Me tej, page 3

NATO’s intensive preparations for intervention in Kosovo We are now ready to deploy the first elements of this force NATO will approve in the coming days an “intervention plan” to deploy a peace force in Kosovo, which would guarantee the achievement of a possible agreement at the Rambouillet conference, diplomatic sources said on Wednesday. Prior approval of this “plan” by NATO’s Military Committee and then by the Permanent Council of Ambassadors will pave the way for the execution of a concrete operation. During a meeting of the NATO Council on Wednesday, many allied countries announced their military preparations in

Sharp rebuke by the head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Albanian Parliament to the Yugoslav representative Godo: I consider it an insult to the level of this meeting to comment further on the Yugoslav Ristic’s speech We heard here the remarks of Mr. Ristic (the Yugoslav), who yesterday drew the attention of Mr. Agov (Bulgaria) and me, saying that we were departing from the agenda. But it seems to me that Ristic himself has fallen into complete confusion regarding the agenda. Yesterday, in the second session, we were supposed to discuss regional issues of common interest. The Kosovo problem has now gone beyond the borders of our region and has become a serious concern for the entire world community. Mr. Ristic did not even mention Kosovo in his speech yesterday, as if that country were located in some distant corner of the world, or perhaps among the stars. This is undoubtedly ridiculous, but nevertheless a

“There is no reason for MPs’ wives to be issued diplomatic passports simply because embassies provide such conveniences, which make it unnecessary for them to be issued diplomatic passports. Given that Albanian politicians are temporary, their wives have no reason to have such immunity,” said yesterday the Socialist Party MP and Secretary of the Mar-

Leka I, 60, claimant to the Albanian throne, who was arrested on Friday for illegal possession of weapons at his home, was admitted to hospital on Tuesday, at a clinic in Johannesburg

TIRANA: Five years ago our national team was soundly defeated in Macedonia by that country’s national team, while yesterday the Albanian “Reds and Blacks” thought they would take revenge. Although belated, the revenge did not match the scoreline from five years ago, but it was nevertheless a clear victory. The field had to…

Omepi

Democrats: Remove the responsibility from Berisha! The chairman’s crown on Majko’s head Pages 4–5 Legisi: Diplomatic passports are not for women