Sharp polemic between the parties following the arrival in Tirana of the observers’ official opinion DP: “We won the votes.” Opposition: “Favorable” Sharp polemic between the parties following the arrival in Tirana of the observers’ official opinion OSCE report triggers a “battle” DP: “We won the votes.” Opposition: “Favorable” Only a few hours after the OSCE observers’ official document arrived in the Albanian capital, a “battle” broke out between the political parties that support or disapprove of the Vienna document. The Albanian opposition has been “seized” by great hopes for the rerun of the parliamentary elections. At the same time, equally forceful accusations are coming from the Democratic Party’s political camp against some of the OSCE observers, who, according to the party’s Secretary General, Besnik Gjongecaj, “were manipulated by the SP.” But despite the severity of the DP’s accusations, the opposition’s enthusiasm remains at its highest. Opposition leaders regard the report of the observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe as an “open path” toward achieving the goal they set themselves in the afternoon hours of May 26: holding the elections again. This is something the DP now opposes with equal conviction following the arrival of the OSCE report; the “triumph” of May 26, it says, is undoubtedly a right granted to it by the “people’s mandate.” On page 3

Brussels blocks only Korçë Europe has not imposed an embargo on Albanian livestock; in fact, it is offering free assistance to eradicate foot-and-mouth disease. The Permanent Veterinary Committee has also made its final decision in favor of Albanian livestock products. In two days, 55,000 vaccine doses and two EC specialists have arrived. On page 5

Holland shines Romania is out From the Holland–Switzerland match, 2–0 (Photo: REUTERS) After a magnificent second half, Holland has put itself forward as a title contender. Following yesterday’s defeat by Bulgaria, Romania has packed its bags to leave EURO ’96. Today’s two matches: Italy–Czech Republic, 20:30, and Portugal–Turkey, 17:30. A flood of money in basketball in Albania. Record figures, up to a million dollars for a match. On page 8

The taps and the Municipality’s appeal TIRANA — The taps on the higher floors have begun to run dry. With the start of this summer, we have another piece of news, which has gone away after bringing joy for a few minutes. It is news that has come only in the early hours of the morning, or at the weekend. Only those who have been awake at around four o’clock can say whose hours these are. The pumps have begun to rumble, but so have the footsteps of residents from the fourth and fifth floors, who, during peak hours [?], have taken up the summer sport of bucket-racing. At last, the Municipality has understood that the situation has truly become critical. “Citizens, be careful, do not abuse the water,” Tirana residents heard yesterday, surprised, in an appeal from the Municipality of Tirana. “Once again, it’s our fault,” they repeated to themselves, making an appeal—with words. Then they thought, surely there is no more water, and “surely it has forgotten us with its heart open.” Whatever the case, whether with buckets or pumps, this summer too water will have to reach up several floors. The Municipality’s appeal should be taken seriously, but perhaps it would be better to tighten the measures against the real abusers: those who dig channels at night to wash their own [?] without permission, or [?] that have just been laid. When nothing is done, those who may be taken to court are not only the Municipality and its inspectorate, but also, more directly, those who have appealed every day at work. And the repeated appeals are all the more [?] because there is no [?] for you to remember [?]

Yesterday, proposal by PAD and PSD. PS opposed “Let us enter a third round of elections, to undo the May 26 elections” — in this way the “Center Pole” has extended a hand to the other parties, whether in the opposition or in power, seeking to have its proposals discussed and then approved by them. But the Socialists’ response was an immediate “no.” Feeling “betrayed by the Pole’s new position,” they described the Center’s efforts as “a pilot-style experiment and in no way rational.” Ceka and Gjinushi On page 3

On page 3

DURRËS Brother kills brother On page 5

TROPOJË Shots fired at a doctor On page 5

DURRËS Fines to combat drought On page 5

HAS A swarm of locusts arrives On page 5

Sofia: The government is wavering, but despite the criticism it remains in power. Parliament rejects the motion Moscow: Intense investigations into the attack in the metro, but still no arrests On page 2

On page 5 Moski

VAT takes effect in July Value Added Tax of 12.5 percent will come into effect, replacing the Turnover Tax that the fiscal system has applied to Albanian businesses up to now. Specialists from the Ministry of Finance explain the advantages and mechanisms of this new tax, which, starting on July 1 of this year, will apply to all branches of the country’s production sector and to commercial network units. On page 7

Deaths at beaches, rivers and lakes. Among them, a child They die longing for a cool-down Three drownings in different places in three days TIRANA — The heat continues to strike not only with the sun’s scorching rays — temperatures remain very high — but also by causing tragedies among those seeking to cool off. Over the weekend alone, at least three drownings were recorded in several districts of the country; these are only the cases reported to the cities. In Durrës, 23-year-old Gentian Moku drowned and lost his life while swimming at the part of the beach in Durrës known as “Iliria.” Thus, the many hopes of others from his town, Shijak, of enjoying a chance to cool off have come to an end; he fell victim to bad luck and, of course, the high temperatures. Meanwhile, one of the other districts along the [?] coast, in the area between Tirana and Durrës, has been put on alert. A child lost his life through carelessness while swimming with his peers in the waters of the Erzen. Now police, specialists and villagers are searching for the little victim’s body. As of yesterday afternoon, nothing certain had been reported. Another tragedy occurred in one of the villages of Elbasan, Shkenca. This time, as in the Durrës case, the victim was also 21 years old. A.P. Prejoshi could not swim. Tired from the heat and hard work, he decided to cool off in the lake in his village. He did not take precautions and, a few meters from the shore, suddenly got caught in the Erzen River [?]. The tragedy could not be averted, and the fellow villagers who came to his aid found that he, unable to swim, had already been swallowed by the lake’s mud.