After the Speaker of Parliament, politicians react Emigrants’ votes: “If you want, come back” Arbnori: “There is no other way” TIRANA - Polling stations closed to the approximately one million Albanians living as emigrants in Europe. “If they want to come back here,” is what Speaker of Parliament Pjetër Arbnori himself said a few days ago. At a meeting with Lezhë DP deputies and members—and later in Gjirokastër—Arbnori closed off the possibility of voting outside Albania. Technical difficulties and pressure from European political forces on Albanian voters. These were Arbnori’s arguments on the issue of not voting outside Albania’s borders. On page 3

EC poll: we are the most optimistic EUROBAROMETER / Results rekindle controversy between the parties TIRANA - Albanians are the most optimistic in the East. The figures from the Eurobarometer poll—published in the newspaper by the EC ambassador in Tirana, Elio Germano—have placed us first in almost all the issues covered in this survey: the country’s development, the market economy, and the evolution of democracy and human rights. For all the answers, the balance has tipped toward optimism and satisfaction, even by large percentages. On page 3

Last night’s debate on TV The Eurobarometer has reignited clashes among Albanian politicians. The first signal came in Gjinushi’s remarks, in which he questioned how the survey had been conducted, and Dokle did so immediately after him. “The data were collected by Albanian specialists, who were intimidated by 24/1, and arrived in Brussels manipulated,” was the gist of the suspicions expressed by the leaders of the two opposition parties. On page 3

ELBASAN Bingo owner takes the money and disappears On page 5

TIRANA The cashbox of Tirana’s mosque is robbed On page 5

BERAT Minister Frashëri: “Crack down on the criminals” On page 3

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Battle between two groups of youths Eight teenagers clash. One seriously injured and in hospital Three of the students were injured. Police detained four of the teenagers. They were all between 15 and 16 years old KRUJË - A fierce clash between two rival gangs in the village of Krujë. Knives and bloo[d], fi[?]ghting right in the schoolyard. One inju[?]red, taken to hospital in extremely serious condition, and four detained by police: this is the provisional toll of the students’ battle. On page 5

ENTERTAINMENT Katia Ricciarelli will sing for Albanian children. A message of solidarity comes from neighboring Italy. The famous soprano will give three weeks of charity concerts for 40 little girls with heart conditions. On page 7 Katia Ricciarelli and Pippo Baudo

Optimism about admission to the EDU Yesterday’s press conference: “The center pole is a bubble” Joy and hope in Kosovo Belgrade’s surprise: restrictions on travel to Albania lifted TIRANA - A surprise decision by Belgrade. Last night the Federal Government of Yugoslavia announced the abolition of entry and exit visas for all Albanians. Thus, for the first time, Albanians will not have to give notice or obtain special permission to cross the borders. The multilayered wall has begun to melt[?]. The news was welcomed by all political forces in Kosovo and was also greeted last night by the Albanian government in a special statement. On page 3 Titan Shehu at a press conference (photo: H. Pustina)

The explosive went off at midnight. Minor damage to nearby buildings. Investigators: “Personal revenge” No one injured VLORË - The coastal city wakes up frightened. A tremendous dynamite explosion late Thursday night sparked panic and terror in Vlorë. A kiosk very close to the city center, by the mosque, was suddenly blown up. The blast was heard as far as the outskirts and reminded the people of Vlorë of the Black Monday of the uprising, the car-bomb attack at the “Vefa” supermarket. On page 5

The coaches speak FOOTBALL TIRANA - Even after the super-match “Tirana” - “Teuta”, the Albanian championship remains at a standstill. The leading teams remain where they were a week ago. That is precisely why this week’s matches are of particular interest, especially the matches in Fier and Lezhë, because the two leaders will play there. The team from Durrës will travel to Fier with a one-point advantage in the standings. On page 8 Koka, coach of “Teuta”

Story / He had set out for Italy with his son but prefers Albania TIRANA - He came to Albania intending to reach the West, but found Europe in Tirana. Albania thus has its first economic refugee, and at the same time its first illegal immigrant. He is a Kurdish citizen who came from Turkey to Albania last year and now refuses to return to where he came from. Together with his 20-year-old son, he has now “acquired” Albanian citizenship. He earns a living as a street vendor, selling cigarettes and lighters all over Tirana. He lives in a rented room and kitchen on the outskirts of the city and seems satisfied. “He refuses to speak, and even accepts the camera with difficulty. His knowledge of Albanian, though it seems very limited, is remarkable when it comes to the currency—the lek—and the prices of his goods. He is perhaps the shyest of the street vendors. Customers buy their cigarettes from the solitary Kurd because he represents another memory of fate and fellow countrymen in the world’s metropolises. That is why he has not been stopped, but is in Albania.” The “refugee’s” son does the same work as his father. He sells cigarettes. They both like Tirana, and find comfort in [unclear] sleepless nights when they may remember the land of their birth. And, just like Albanians in the West and those “responsible” on TV, they long for their distant homeland. On page 7 Kurdish refugee in Albania (photo: H. Pustina)

From the World Chechen peace begins in the Kremlin On page 2