DANGER The first signal came from a local Greek newspaper 250 million drachmas to buy Himara Page 5 EDITORIAL In Himara, the contest is no longer about a vote that officially appoints a mayor, nor about having a candidate of any party color win. In Himara, the contest is about electing a “person with clearly Albanian ideas.” All of politics has understood this and has united to support one candidate, regardless of what color he represents. After this unity, nobody can any longer grant the party in power the excuse that “the votes are being sold.” If this state has a service that informs it, if this state has Where the free vote is worth many times more In Himara, the value of the vote is different. In Himara, the value of the vote is framed by Albanian identity. The sums mentioned in the money of the neighboring state to buy the Himariots’ “elementary right” show that the Himariote vote does not belong to just anyone; the government must regard this as its responsibility, because this time nobody can let it off with the notion that, right under its nose and that of its services, votes are bought in Albania as if it were everyday bread. ... In Himara, the value of the vote is multiplied. It matters little to informs it, if this state has the courage to protect the vote with dignity, at least where it directly takes on the meaning of an “Albanian vote,” then the National Alliance’s numerical vote must win. Otherwise, nobody will forgive those who are in charge today. It is different. In Himarë, the value of the vote is a matter of Albanian identity. The sums mentioned in the neighboring state’s currency to buy the “elementary right” of the people of Himarë show that the Himariot vote is not a simple matter, nor something to be passed off as “just another electoral round.” The sums mentioned in “neighboring money” do not promise good fortune or prosperity… Himara is a responsibility. And all Albanians must bear this responsibility in mind. But more than anything else, has multiplied a hundredfold. It matters little why and how we arrived at this dizzying multiplication of the value of the vote in the small southern town. What matters is that this time we show that we know and are ready to make amends. The State, in particular, must bear this in mind.

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SCANDAL World Bank: Clarifications are the responsibility of the Albanian government Page 5 Office for South East Europe European Commission / World Bank Table A. Detailed Information Table on Quick Start Infrastructure Projects Regional Funding Conference Proj. No. Country Project Name Project Description Albania Lezhë-Fushë-Kuqe North-South Corridor VIII, 2-lane road reconstruction, 32 km Albania Fier Vlorë North-South Corridor VIII, 2-lane road reconstruction, 71 km Albania Tepelenë-Gjirokastër North-South, 2-lane road reconstruction, 76km Albania Elbasan-Librazhd East-West Corridor VIII, 2-lane road reconstruction, 31 km 1.07 Albania For Vlorë [unclear text] 1.08 Albania Tepelenë-Gjirokastër [unclear text] 1.09 Albania Elbasan-Librazhd [unclear text] 1.10 Albania Durrës-KUKËS (the Corridor axis) Emergency repairs and pavement strengthening at 271 km 1.11 Albania Kukës-Sarandë and Vlora [unclear text]

EC contacts the CEC regarding the opposition’s complaints The Chairman of the Central Election Commission, Fotaq Nano, yesterday clarified the responsibilities of his institution in connection with the objections raised by the opposition. Responding to statements made in the media by OSCE Ambassador Gert Ahrens, Nano stressed yesterday that “Ahrens was not referring to the CEC.” In response to Ahrens’s statement that “Complaints concerning irregularities have not been dealt with appropriately, as the CEC has not established procedural rules and has thus shown a degree of reluctance to address their substance,” Nano defended the responsibilities of the institution he represents. According to the head of the CEC, the work was confused in the OSCE chief’s statements. Page 3

Investigations closed, files sent to the archives The cases concerning the grave murders of 2000 remain “held hostage” because the perpetrators are missing. The Tirana Prosecutor’s Office reports that these files have been transferred to the Counterterrorism Sector of the Tirana Police Directorate, which has jurisdiction over them. Tirana Chief Prosecutor Thoma Jano confirms that the files on these murders were sent to this institution for investigation, but the process has come to a standstill because the perpetrators of these crimes are missing. Page 7

The Chairman of the Republican Party, Fatmir Mediu, decided to convene the National Assembly of the RPSA on Wednesday, 18.10.2000. The Assembly will review the local elections of 1 October, the result achieved, as well as the problems observed during the campaign.

Mediu receives the Council of Europe observer delegation The chairman of the Republican Party, Fatmir Mediu, met yesterday afternoon with the delegation of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, which observed the first round of local elections in the country. Also present at the meeting was the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe in Tirana, Jorgen Grunnet. The chairman of the RP pointed out irregularities and serious violations of the law and the Constitution. Page 2

40 tons of meat with “epizootic aphthae” Page 8