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Nano seeks to oust the prime minister from FRESH, while Meta does not want to lose his supporting faction in the party The head of the Executive, Ilir Meta, is wary of the manoeuvres of socialist leader Fatos Nano. He continues to hold firmly on to the post of FRESH chairman, which could be his last source of strength if he slips from the post of prime minister. At yesterday’s meeting of the FRESH General Governing Committee, Ilir Meta tried to conduct a thorough review of the work of the youth forum of the Eurosocialist Youth, which he leads. Meta even criticised the poor results achieved after the 3rd PS congress, where his FRESH members did not secure a significant percentage of seats on the General Governing Committee of that party. But who will be the next head of FRESH? P. 5

P. 4 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FOR MILOSEVIC?

Association of Professional Journalists of Albania Protest against the blocking of newspapers in Tirana A decision by the Tirana Municipality, enforced by the Police, has blocked the sale of newspapers in the capital for two days. The journalists’ associations of Albania draw the Municipality’s and the Police’s attention to the obstruction of newspaper sales and strongly demand that street vendors selling them not be stopped. We regret to note that in some cases force has also been used against street vendors. We believe that the Tirana Municipality’s decision to ban street vendors in the capital has nothing to do with the free sale of newspapers. Everyone is aware that in Albania newspaper sales are not organised through kiosks and the necessary infrastructure is lacking. This is already a 10-year-old tradition, and the Tirana Municipality is aware of this. As for newspaper sales, it would have been better at least to consult the publishers and not to consider a newspaper a commodity like other everyday consumer goods. Restricting the space available to the press and to informing the general public through barriers that hinder its sale and distribution ultimately also restricts central or local powers and greatly harms Albanian society. For the Journalists’ Union of Albania Ylli Rakipi For the Association of Professional Journalists Armand Shkullaku

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DRINKS WINERY Gjergj Kastrioti SKËNDERBEU Tel & Fax: 052 23 353 • Natural Production • State Standard • Quality - Safety Nano offers cooperation on his own terms P. 3 PD looking for new leaders P. 5 Mustafaj: Meidani is obstructing Corridor 8 P. 3