Parliamentary group convenes urgently The overwhelming majority of delegates vote against the chairman, supporting Berisha and Meksi’s line. Request for a secret ballot rejected. Hajdari: “For me, the real winner is Selami.” Shehu: “The leadership crisis is his fault.” A collective leadership now takes the helm TIRANA - What the chairman of the Democratic Party had been warning about for several days has happened: Selami is no longer at the head of the Democratic Party. Since Sunday evening, the party has been led by a leadership group that includes Secretary General Tritan Shehu and the party’s three deputy chairmen: Dosti, Spahia and Hysenbegasi. At the Extraordinary Conference, the line appointed by President Berisha triumphed; Selami is now left with his seat as a deputy and as Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the People’s Assembly. The event, perhaps the most important political event of recent months, has sparked much debate inside and outside the Democratic Party. Yesterday afternoon, the DP parliamentary group also discussed it. It was a marathon meeting that decided Selami’s fate. On Sunday morning, more than 600 delegates from DP branches across the country gathered and listened to supporters of the two lines on the Constitution. Berisha spoke sharply against Selami, reminding the audience of their recent disagreements. Selami, “as in all the meetings held recently,” firmly insisted on his two main ideas. During the afternoon session, a motion supporting the new DP leadership group was put forward. The new DP leadership group also appeared before journalists, outlining the party’s position without Selami. “Of 664 voters, only 47 voted in favor of Selami and ten others abstained,” Tritan Shehu also said. “The Conference was held in accordance with the rules of the statute; it discussed openly and constructively, with a desire to find a constructive way to address the issues and personal disputes, but also ideas and positions.” The supporters of Selami do not share this view. One of them, Azem Hajdari, reacted very sharply yesterday to the way the conference was conducted. “Yesterday several procedures set out in the statute were violated, and this shows that preserving democracy in the DP will be difficult. ... [unclear] and not on the ideas expressed, and what is worse, there was no secret ballot, as stipulated in the statute for the case of the party chairman. Yesterday’s conference left me with a bitter memory,” Hajdari added. “The treatment of Selami was very fraternal; the shouts against him reminded one of a crowd of football fans, and this undoubtedly damages the image of our party and gives our political opponents a chance to [unclear]. Now it is up to the parliamentary group to meet as soon as possible and come up with a different vision, in order to block the left’s advance towards power. In any case, for me politics is a long-term undertaking, and in that sense Selami has truly won.” The leader of the ... Alliance, Ceka, also reacted. “The DP no longer exists,” he said. “The country has entered a state of constitutional collapse.” fa.bax/gje.pi. The new collective leadership of the DP (photo: H.Pustina) The extraordinary conference rejects the chairman’s proposals and removes him from office [?] supporters of the two sides regarding the Constitution. Berisha spoke harshly against Selami, reminding the audience of the disagreements he had had with him recently. Selami—as at all the meetings held recently—strongly insisted on his two main ideas. At the afternoon session, a motion of no confidence was put forward by a group of MPs; a gathering, then an open vote and... Selami is not in the manner of the PD. “discussions about people, but about ideas and positions.” Selami’s supporters reacted very harshly laid down in the statute were breached, and this shows that safeguarding democracy in the PD will be difficult,” Hajdari told Gazeta Shqiptare. “First, Selami’s supporters were not given the floor; second, the debate was held on the basis of—”

An appeal to his supporters and to Berisha “They have betrayed me” TIRANA - “It was a step backwards in the democratization of the party; for me personally, it was a betrayal.” Eduart Selami is no longer at the head of the ruling party. Just a few hours after his dismissal, he reacted very sharply. Alone, without the friends who had accompanied him until now, we meet him in one of the capital’s cafés, not far from his home. How do you feel after your dismissal? “I feel fine, although yesterday morning a betrayal was committed, violating all the rules of the statute. I am more concerned about the party than about myself personally.” What will you do after this? “My efforts will be directed toward helping the party overcome this crisis. I do not intend to withdraw immediately from the party’s leadership. Our differences with the current leaders are such that they make any kind of cooperation impossible.” What is your appeal to your supporters and to President Berisha? “To my supporters I would say not to be discouraged, because the road to democracy is long. It is true that yesterday’s events may have pleased the DP’s opponents more, but we too have gained something. I would appeal to the President to give up the struggle to retain power at all costs and to focus on the services he ought to provide to the nation.” How will your dismissal affect the country’s politics? “An event like this will not pass without consequences for the life of the country; unfortunately, the political struggle will intensify. I insist on my view that [unclear]. The aim is for the DP to win the 1996 elections, but I oppose the policy of holding onto power at all costs. Today’s officeholders, however, care about the benefits of power and not about the DP’s credibility.” So now the DP is split in two... “Now there is the party’s idealist wing and the wing of those who value privileges and power above all else.” Fatos Baxhaku

6 March 1995: Selami, a different life... Photo: Hektor Pustina

PR chairman on his former colleague TIRANA - The recent developments in the DP have also been followed with interest. TIRANA - The recent developments in the DP have also been followed with interest ... “Our relationship with the DP will not change at all,” said Republican chairman Sabri Godo, one of the ...

Socialists focus on events in the DP leadership TIRANA - Just one day after the DP Extraordinary Conference’s decision to dismiss chairman Selami, Servet Pëllumbi expressed his dissatisfaction with the impact of this event on the country’s politics. “After Selami, it will be Meksi’s turn.” “Isn’t Selami’s dismissal beneficial to the Socialists?” “Without a doubt,” Pëllumbi replies. “In terms of political power in the country. After Selami, it will be Meksi’s turn.”

TIRANA - The recent developments in the DP have also been followed with interest. TIRANA - with interest. “Nothing will change in our relations with the DP,” said Republican chairman Sabri Godo, one of the founders of the Right Alliance, commenting on Selami’s departure from the post of DP chairman. “For us, with or without Selami, our position is the same: we will continue to oppose the DP on the issues we have been raising for a long time, and we will continue to insist on those demands to the end.” What do you think of the way Selami was dismissed? “Those are matters for the DP; every party has its own internal rules, which govern its life. But in my opinion, it is unacceptable to dismiss by open vote a chairman who was elected by secret ballot.”

TIRANA - Just one day after the decision of the DP’s extraordinary Conference to dismiss its chairman, Selami, Servet Pëllumbi shared his views on the impact of this event on the country’s political life: “Selami’s departure is an expression of the crisis within the DP, engulfed in a clan war; it is unacceptable.” The extraordinary Conference showed that democratic norms do not exist within their ranks. This is evident from the fact that, in order to preserve Selami’s position on the Constitution, an external pretext was concocted—the PS’s involvement—and, to remove him, a motion by a group of enthusiasts was used. “I think,” Pëllumbi continued, “that Sunday’s events will lead to an outbreak of political conflict Pëllumbi replied. “In the narrow party-political sense, every split in the party in power benefits the opposition, but our success does not depend on their internal struggle; it depends on the merits of our alternatives.” f.b.

TIRANA - Drivers of cars that use regular gasoline will have to pay more for fuel. Yesterday the government, on the proposal of the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy, decided to raise the price of RON 70–85 gasoline to 60 lekë per litre, from the previous price of 46 lekë. This is the type of gasoline currently used less often in cars driven in Albania. When fuel prices were raised at the beginning of the year, this type of gasoline was not included in the list. At yesterday’s government meeting, it was also decided that the maximum retail price of fuel for cars must not be lower than 38 lekë per litre. It was stressed that this was due not only to the rise in oil prices, but also to increase state-budget revenues. “There were two issues on which we focused at the meeting,” Sali Kërmendi, spokesperson for this Association, told Gazeta Shqiptare: “dealing with the government to improve the legislation for the smooth running of affairs and, secondly, joining as soon as possible the Standing Conference of Local and Regional Authorities, headquartered in Strasbourg.” Gë. To

In Durrës DURRËS - This time, the city of Durrës welcomed the members of the Association of Mayors of Albania into its “home.” The meeting was held yesterday morning in the Durrës Municipality hall, with 47 district mayors in attendance. The issue of the Association’s internal organization was mentioned in most of the discussions, starting with the creation of a budget and, above all, regulations; training mayors to equip them for their demanding work; and defining relations with the prefectures. in Strasbourg.” Gë. To

The Municipality proposes the square in front of the post office “They obstruct the Puppet Theatre” TIRANA - Money changers risk losing their place of work. The Municipality proposes the square in front of the post office Money changers are being moved “They obstruct the Puppet Theatre” TIRANA - Money changers risk losing their place of work—but only by moving 100–200 metres away. At yesterday’s meeting, the Tirana Municipal Council decided to relocate the open foreign-exchange market square. According to the report presented, this is being done to save the Puppet Theatre, which, because of the confusion created by the large number of people, kiosks and the nearby bus stop, “has been reduced to an almost invisible institution, and children are afraid to come near to watch the performances.” The Municipality of Tirana also proposes removing the bus stop as well as the dozens of cars parked there. The new location proposed for the money changers is not far from the current one: on the other side of the Bank, near the Central Post Office. Perhaps they will also be closer to a telephone. gje.pi. Photograph of the square and the building near the foreign-exchange market.

YESTERDAY IN ALBANIA Yesterday, President Berisha held a series of meetings with Pakistani Defence Minister Aftab Shaban Mirani and the deputy chief of the General Staff of the Turkish army, General Ahmet Grecki. In both meetings, Berisha expressed his appreciation for the high-level delegations and for the cooperation between their countries and Albania in the field of defence, describing it as very important for peace in the region.

Fotofutboll TIRANA - The latest totofootball millionaire is from Tirana. TIRANA - The latest totofootball millionaire is from Tirana: 1,466,233 lekë won. His ticket, number 0092902, was announced yesterday by the Central Commission as the only winning column with 13 points on totofootball ticket no. 25. There were also 26 winning columns with 12 points, each winning 37,595 lekë. So far, the record amount won through totofootball is 3.27 million lekë, achieved in December last year, when a lucky winner from Lushnja used a ticket with combinations.

Symptoms of the illness, its treatment, its consequences TIRANA - It is the most common phrase these days, as people tell one another about the symptoms of a “severe flu.” “I have the flu...” A similar infectious virus has affected large numbers of people, causing a high fever. According to doctors, “people of all ages are contracting this illness, but it has the most severe effect on adults. It is a virus that spreads at extraordinary speed, and, according to doctors, causes a high fever of around 40–41 degrees.” Although the illness is on the decline, its consequences, according to doctors, are quite serious. In many cases, the flu has caused complications such as bronchopneumonia and loss of hearing. Nevertheless, treatment remains limited to the usual medicines that act against the virus: paracetamol and aspirin. Another consequence is that after recovering from the illness, the body feels generally weak for several days. Student dormitories are the places where the flu has “reigned” with all its might. Since the virus passes rapidly from one person to another, communal living particularly favours its spread. The city of Durrës has also been affected, with many residents, including school-age children, coming down with the flu. At the paediatric hospital, visits for children with the illness doubled, and many of them have been admitted for continuous monitoring by paediatricians. Doctors advise avoiding visits to people with the flu and taking medication at the first signs of the illness. Ar. Ça.

Football in Albania and Italy Bergkamp caught off guard during a duel “Under 16”: Albania 25th in Europe On page 3 Fraud at the stadium: counterfeit tickets On page 3

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