PD draws up its tactics Municipalities without files PD draws up its tactics Local elections, voting on 20 October Municipalities without files TIRANA - On Saturday, the Democratic Party laid out the entire plan with which it will enter the October elections. The party’s National Council discussed for two hours the future of local government, as well as the stages the PD will follow on its course toward 20 October, the election date. The standing election commission and the technical issues the PD will face before the vote were analyzed and reviewed by members of the party’s top body. From the podium, Berisha assured that “the files for municipal councillors will be closed and there will be significant changes to the electoral lists on the ballot papers.” On page 3

The socialist leader’s message will be discussed today by the PS Steering Committee The deputy chairman responds to accusations from Bënça The socialist leader’s message will be discussed today by the PS Steering Committee Pëllumbi: “Nano should name names” The deputy chairman responds to accusations from Bënça TIRANA - “Nano should name names in his accusations.” From his office at the Socialist Party’s headquarters, the party’s number two responded to the “appeals” its chairman had issued from Bënça in a message. He did not hesitate to describe the words written by the imprisoned leader as “unfair accusations that do nothing to strengthen the Socialist Party.” Nevertheless, the PS leadership has made the “Nano message” the subject of today’s meeting of the General Steering Committee, where the campaign for the Congress elections and the October local elections will also be debated. In the message written behind bars, Nano observed that within the PS there was “competition of ideas and alternatives, as well as—without even mentioning a term from the socialist political lexicon—‘the alternative of progress’.” Pëllumbi responds: “The most important thing we need today is unity, and to go to the Congress united. I would not consider any other initiative useful.” On page 3 I am surprised that I know the sinners

“Dialogue should be broadened” TIRANA - Understanding and calm in talks between PD-PS experts. Meanwhile, yesterday afternoon only eight of the 14 parties responded to Gjuhushi’s invitation. The heads of the two technical teams from the PS and PD said they were satisfied at the end of their first roundtable. Held yesterday at the Palace of Congresses, the discussion between representatives of the PS and PD leaders opened up several new paths, which are expected to be formalized by the top leaders. Local government and broadening the PD-PS roundtable were the two main objectives of the dialogue between the socialist Ruka and the Democrat Xhaferi. As heads of their teams, the technical-roundtable leaders expressed optimism at its conclusion. “Not everything is finished; we will meet again on Wednesday,” they told the press after two hours of negotiations. Meanwhile, in one of the halls of the “Tirana International” hotel, only 8 of the 14 parties invited by Gjuhushi gathered. For about two hours, the leaders of these parties focused on “ensuring free and democratic elections.” The first meeting between the parties since the elections of 26 May was opened by the leaders of the Center Pole. Opening the round of proposals, they expressed the view that the parties’ roundtable should be permanent and that this first meeting between the parties should begin with his words of calm and [unclear: “shkmillor”]. On page 3

TIRANA - A weekend steeped in tears and despair. The waters off the beaches of Radhimë and Golem mercilessly swallowed the bodies of two 9-year-old children. The same age, on the same day. Their parents had left them peacefully in the water, thinking they were playing, but just a few minutes later the day ended tragically, as they searched for their bodies. Fation Karoqia was the name of the boy who had gone with his family to Radhimë. According to witnesses who described the incident in horror, he went into the sea and suddenly sank. The cries filled with ... the pain of the mother and father brought everyone together. But there was no hope. Fation’s body washed up farther along the shore, lifeless. He was immediately taken to hospital. The forensic doctor also gave the 9-year-old’s diagnosis: cyanosis around the mouth and the darkening of the toenails and fingernails indicate heart disease, a heart attack. Horror in Golem too. “I’m going to play in the water.” That was all the little boy from Tirana said to his parents, without thinking that he would never come back out. Some time passed, and, worried, they went to the shore, but could not see the child. Four full hours of extensive searching followed before his body was found. But the tragedy of the boy from Tirana did not end there. The delay by a neighborhood bureaucrat—a letter declaring his death—caused anger in his family. Inexplicably, the person issuing the statement delayed handing over the document that was to be given to the funeral organizers. Twenty-four hours passed, and the 9-year-old—with his body now badly deformed by the water—had still not been buried. Only late last night was he accompanied to his final resting place. Amid the family’s profound pain and sorrow, their mourning cloth was not understood [text unclear]... St. Ma. Qe Ca.

Priest arrested TIRANA - Weapons under the cassock. An unusual case this time at the Vlorë police station.

FROM THE WORLD

Military Prosecutor’s Office opens an investigation: “He died from electrocution” Family members suspect: “He was killed” Military Prosecutor’s Office opens an investigation: “He died from electrocution” Mystery in cell: serviceman dies Family members suspect: “He was killed”

VLORA - A weapon under the cassock. A special case this time at the Vlora Police Commissariat. The priest of Pilur—a 23-year-old young man named Ksenofon Prifti—was found by law-enforcement officers with a pistol he was carrying without a permit. The incident happened on Sunday, when he was travelling in a Mercedes-type van along the Himarë-Porto Palermo road with a friend. A surprise inspection by the “blue uniforms” found his “sin” on the seat where Ksenofoni was sitting. “It’s mine, and I found it two days ago.” This was the 23-year-old’s sincere response as he was taken to the police station. The prosecutor in the case explained the firearm’s forensic examination, which proved conclusive, and requested that the priest be remanded in custody. But in the name of God, Ksenofon Prifti will deny all the charges. “I admit my mistake in the name of God, but I had decided to take ‘God’ into my own hands,” he replied. Nevertheless, he remains in a cell. The panel of judges decided this after the testimony of the accused himself and his lawyer’s defense. Prifti is now without a priest. st. ma.

QUEBEC - Disaster in the eastern regions of Quebec. In the early hours of Saturday morning, a sudden landslide accompanied by winds reaching hurricane speed overturned several areas of the Canadian province. As a result, 10 people died, most of them elderly people and children. The rivers were what inundated the populated centers. Swollen by rain, they burst their banks and spilled over into inhabited areas. Besides the loss of life, there was also material damage. Homes and buildings were destroyed, and electricity and water supplies were cut off. Around 10,000 people have left their destroyed homes and set out for safer areas to live in. Many people prefer to live inland, since the climate there is more stable than on the coast. On page 2 Flooding in Quebec

TIRANA - Mystery in a cell surrounding the death of a serviceman. Mbi Dujaha, 40, a former serviceman in the Korça Division, died two days ago in an isolation cell in Tirana. He had been detained together with three other servicemen from this garrison in connection with the Prosecutor’s Office investigation into the disappearance, a year earlier, of a quantity of ammunition from this division. But on Sunday morning he died. The official version of the Tirana Military Prosecutor’s Office is suicide. “The soldier had escorted him to the bathroom, and he had unscrewed the light bulb, touching two of the lamp holder’s contacts with his hand, which caused his death.” But the family members insist that his death was caused by violence in the cell, and they base this on the marks the doctors observed when he was taken for help. On page 5 Tirana Prison

OLYMPICS A “marathon” to see Albania Atlanta ’96, spectators faint in the stadium TIRANA - Seven hundred kilometres to see the Albanian delegation in Atlanta. They went to great lengths and paid dollars for an Albanian flag, and in the end were overcome by tears and intense emotion, which caused them to faint. This happened to two Albanians living in America. They had not been to Albania for five years and thought they could ease their longing by cheering on the Albanian team at the Atlanta Olympic Games. To do this, they travelled around 700 kilometres and arrived at the venue only moments before the opening ceremony began. On the way to Atlanta’s Olympic Stadium, they each bought an Albanian flag, paying 85 dollars apiece. They went inside, saw the Albanian athletes with the flag, and could not contain their emotions. After the opening ceremony ended, they began to feel unwell. A lump rose in their throats and they were extremely stressed. For quite some time they could not recover from their emotions, even fainting. “It felt as if we were seeing Albania, with our people behind us,” they recalled later. On page 6 They travel 700 kilometres without stopping to see the flag

TIRANA - More medals in Atlanta. A second gold for South Korea. Both the men and the women showed their dominance in this event, winning the gold medals. After winning a gold medal in this event, the Russians drew level with Poland in the overall medal tally. Romania has entered its name in the gold-medal book. Bardea won gold in fencing. After yesterday’s events, Russia or Poland tops the overall standings with 6 gold medals. On page 6

Fisherman dies while dismantling it VLORA - He wanted to dismantle an Italian shell, but it suddenly explodes. A fisherman from Vlora is killed on the spot, bringing to three the number of victims who have lost their lives in similar circumstances within one month. On page 5