Voting for Parliament again only in the year 2000 A firm statement from the Albanian President has arrived from Krans Montana TIRANA - The Albanian president’s position has come through loud and clear, following the forum in Krans Montana. “Not with elections. We will do it in the year 2000.” Berisha’s statement yesterday thus creates the latest impression of official Tirana, while at the same time raising hypotheses about relations between Albania and a united Europe. From the Swiss mountains, President Berisha assured that the Albanian government has appreciated and will continue to appreciate the valuable assistance of friendly countries, while also distancing itself from a “one-sided European press,” as he called it. According to him, it was this press that created false images of the elections of 26 May. At the same time, however, Berisha hastened to reassure the Europeans, saying “that he will improve voting conditions in the next local elections.” The head of the Albanian state has received support, but has also been opposed. According to Austrian parliamentarian Grosruk, “no falsification or manipulation was seen in the elections.” But Swiss chief diplomat Flavio Cotti did not share this view. At the same time the current president of the OSCE, Cotti did not hold back his reservations, calling for the elections in Albania to be repeated. Yesterday’s developments in Krans Montana appear likely to determine some new courses along which Albanian diplomacy towards Europe, and the latter’s diplomacy towards Albania, will proceed. On page 3 (photo: H. Pustina)

President Berisha (photo: H. Pustina)

France and England lucky. The Dutch and the Spaniards are eliminated Sports Newspaper A day of penalties at EURO 96. 240 minutes of play and not a single goal in the first quarter-final matches. England and France go through to the next round, while Holland and Spain are out. Thanks to greater accuracy in taking penalties, the transalpine and British teams will await their opponents today, while the Dutch and Iberians will pack their bags to return home, albeit in high spirits. Two more matches today. At 16:00 in Manchester, live on RAIUNO, Germany and Croatia will play, while at 19:30, also live on RAIUNO, Portugal and the Czech Republic will meet. All four sides have expressed enthusiasm about continuing in the European championship. Major moves in the Albanian football transfer market. Shkëlqim Muça will be the new coach of Besa of Kavaja, while Hyser Danedja, one of Vllaznia’s best players in the 1980s, will take a seat on the Shkodran bench. Interesting news from Berat, too. Following the arrival of sponsors, well-known players have joined them, including Bozgo and Arben Arbëri. Tirana in Italy for training, Mema. “We will attach great importance to preparing the tactical schemes.” An Albanian in Imola. Qemal Hidri has arranged a meeting with his Formula 1 idol, Michael Schumacher. In Albania he will establish the “Schumacher fans club.” On page 10 Pearce after scoring the penalty (REUTERS)

Albanian parties seated in one hall Albanian politics “flies” to Strasbourg. The leaders of the six main parties will arrive today at the headquarters of the Council of Europe, where they will try—each in their own way—to win European confidence regarding what has happened in Albania. On page 3

FEATURE MOSCOW - Russia, a land of wonders and grandeur, amid millions of poor people and new millionaires. More than 36 million people live below the minimum subsistence level, on 40 dollars a month. Prices are stratospheric. Rapid privatization has accounted for 75 percent of the economy, but prostitution and crime have grown along with it. On page 11

The right wing swept up in crisis Kola definitively announces his break with the right-wing grouping The right-wing members of the “League” are in crisis. It began 48 hours ago, when the Association of Formerly Imprisoned and Politically Persecuted People definitively announced its break with the first right-wing grouping in Albania. Signs of dissatisfaction had also emerged days earlier from the camp of the “Legality Movement” party, whose leader, Durrallari, declared against the elections while also calling for them to be repeated next Thursday. “One of the principal figures among Durrallari’s Legality supporters, who have taken part in every stage of elections held in Albania over the course of a decade. But, ‘thanks’ to his calculated position, Kola and Kalakulla—who stand for a right wing—are not convinced that they should accept Durrallari in their political actions. Now PSD: Cuts and reduced spending PSD has been “taken over” by cuts and major financial savings. Meeting yesterday at the central headquarters, senior social-democratic leaders and those from the districts settled on a plan, according to which the adoption of these measures is necessary. What concerns PSD is, it says, that the party’s dire situation has been met with indifference; as a result of the extreme measures, a policy of very limited spending has been decided. On page 3 The Right-Wing League

Muça is the new coach of “Besa” Bizi is replaced by Dedja on the Shkodran bench On page 9

CAMPAIGN Meksi celebrates victory in the capital Dinner at “Arbana” for the votes of 26 May TIRANA - Meksi celebrates victory in the capital. Raki, beer, wine, meat and desserts for Democratic Party members and representatives on the electoral commissions in the constituency where he ran on 26 May. On Friday evening, in the large hall of the Arbana Hotel, Albania’s number one spent more than three hours enjoying his place in the new Parliament. The party began at 19:00. Meksi, accompanied by his wife, sat at the central table. Shaban Memia spoke first, followed by the prime minister himself, who toasted the promises made during the campaign. The official part ended and music began in the hall. The first dishes—appetizers with cheese, ham and salads—were quickly finished. The second course was served: champagne and steak. The minutes passed and the rhythms of the music got everyone up dancing. Meksi held back and limited himself to keeping the beat by clapping his hands. Then he turned and spoke with Musaraj, who was seated beside him. Aleksandër Meksi His companion Brojka, seated to his right. The orchestra continued playing various pieces, mainly folk songs. Songs—perhaps 100- or 200-lekë notes—flew across the hall and were accompanied by the orchestra at the end. A dessert and coffee brought the prime minister’s rather spectacular celebration to a close at 26:00.

On pages 5–8