The SP leadership responds to the latest letter from Bënça TIRANË - The Socialist leadership is concerned about number three of Fatos Nano. Meeting yesterday at lunchtime, the leading "brain" of the largest opposition party put under scrutiny the latest message to come from one of Bënça's cells. "Nano did not ask for Marx to be removed from the political platform of the SPSh; he did not contribute to this party's election program," members of the Socialist Party leadership discussed, although not all of them took part in the meeting. A statement due to be issued tomorrow—following another planned leadership meeting—is expected to clarify everything regarding Nano's accusations from two days ago. "He has no reason to insult us by using themes such as a swamp or by calling the situation within the Socialist Party swamp-like," are some of the signals the SP leadership members "sent out" yesterday, warning of an even bigger "storm" after the "lightning bolts" launched by Nano. See page 3 Nano and Marx

Berisha decrees the elections TIRANË - A high-level face-off between the PD and PS. Yesterday, the leaders of the two largest Albanian parties sat on their respective sides of the negotiating table. Proposals and counterproposals emerged from the files of Pëllumbi, Shehu, Dokle and Gjongejat. These were the Socialists’ proposals on how the "framework" for talks between the parties could be established. Meanwhile, the Democrats put forward their propos-? at the table: "Dialogue, yes, but only with the parties participating in local government." It is not yet known what position the PS took toward such a condition from the Democrats. Yesterday another parallel dialogue meeting was also held in the camp of the Poli: all the parties in the dialogue initiated by Gjinushi and Ceka decided what their immediate position would be regarding political developments in the country. "We will maintain our position if the political conditions for the talks are not met," the party leaders said, according to whom "the process could reach a standstill"—elections that Berisha decreed yesterday for October 20 of this year. Another meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, at which their official position and the demands they will submit to Europe will be decided definitively. See page 3

Minister Peçi: "We will bring them back" ATHINË - "Athens is right; we are causing the delay." The statement came yesterday from the office of the Albanian Minister of Justice. Kristofer Peçi acknowledges that the department he heads has delayed the procedures for returning Albanian prisoners serving their sentences in Greek prisons. Meanwhile, he assures that the Ministry has taken the prisoners’ request seriously, guaranteeing their swift return to their homeland. See page 3

The Anti-Genocide [court], yesterday’s trial of former police officials Trial of the former Ministry of Internal Affairs Lenka Çuko once again before the courts Communist Party

SHOWBIZ The well-known actress will soon return in front of the cameras in a new film. See page 4 Margarita Xhepa

BERAT See page 5

. SHKODER - The disease that caused the massacre of the eels in the lake has now been discovered. It is not known whether it is transmitted to humans. On page 5

. TIRANE - Today the founders of the illegal Communist Party will appear before the judges. The four members of the party, which is banned by law, will answer before the judges to the charge of founding unconstitutional parties and associations. They were arrested in February of this year, when SHIK had in its possession materials concerning the activities of the young communists. The judges will conduct an abbreviated trial against them. On page 5

. The second genocide trial. TIRANE - The second trial of officials of the Ministry of the Interior began yesterday. Nine accused of genocide and crimes against humanity sat in the dock yesterday. Only four of them were in the courtroom, since the others are not in Albania and are being tried in absentia. Lenka Çuko, Idajet Beqiri, Llambi Ge-gprifti, Veiz Haderi, Nazmi Domi, Agron Tafa, Sulejman Abazi and helkezen Bajraktari were the protagonists of yesterday’s proceedings. Meanwhile, Beqiri has requested that President Berisha come to the courtroom to testify for him, since, according to him, Berisha provides Beqiri with an alibi. On page 5

FBI leaders now have the two versions of the American-Southern composite sketch in their hands. FROM THE WORLD. The face of the Atlanta attacker is revealed. One version of the composite sketch. On page 2

TIRANE . The union protests for bread. On page 3

GRAMSH . He forgave her after she wounded his wife. On page 5

Everything will be settled on Wednesday The formal announcement of Mema’s resignation is expected, but... TIRANE- Nothing new on the blue-and-white front. Mema has still not formally submitted his resignation. He announced his departure immediately after the defeat against the Croatians, but five days have passed and he has not appeared before the board of the Tirana club. They expected him to submit his request yesterday, but Mema preferred to rest. “He should show up today, but he has gone away for a few days’ holiday at the beach,” confirms assistant coach Zenga. In any case, it is a painful problem; a final decision needs to be made as soon as possible. Although the team continues training as usual, the absence of the head coach creates problems, especially since the football season begins in a few days. “I believe I’ll settle everything on Wednesday; I remain in regular contact with Mema,” says Zenga. Not only the club board but Mema himself should be more engaged so that this problem can be resolved as quickly as possible. “There have been 6-7 training sessions in question, and fewer than two weeks remain before the start of the new football season,” explains the blue-and-white club, which needs, more than ever, to continue normally and has found training already underway for some time.

Atlanta '96 . Bailey, the fastest man. A fantastic record by Canadian Donovan Bailey. In the world's fastest race, he clocked a record time of 9.84 seconds; America went without a medal for the fourth time, and this time without even making the podium. In the women's event, Merlene Ottey's defeat. First place went to American Gail Devers. Atlanta on the other side of the medal. Love stories briefly overshadow those of sport. Italy better than ever in cycling. For the first time in Olympic history, an Italian woman reached the highest step of the podium: Antonella Bellutti. On page 6

Steals 17,000 marks. Spends two million lek in two days GJIROKASTER — An adolescent steals his uncle’s money, but ends up in a cell after being reported by his father. Together with a peer, the teenager broke into a safe in his uncle’s house and took about 17,000 marks from it. Then the two boys set about having fun, and by Monday, in just two days, they had managed to spend two million lek. The remaining money was handed over to his father, while the two adolescents are now at the Gjirokastër police station, awaiting the judges’ decision on the security measure to be imposed on them. He had managed to find where his uncle kept his money and thought he would take it so he could live like a gentleman for a while. On Saturday, he went into his uncle’s house—the grandmother was the only one in the apartment—and used an iron crowbar to break open the safe, taking the 17,000 marks he found inside. His friend was waiting outside, and the two went on a spending spree that was wild for their age. In just two days, the adolescents spent about two million lek. Meanwhile, alarm bells rang at the victim’s home. At first, the uncle found it impossible to suspect his nephew, but he learned that he had been the last person to enter the apartment, and that after the boy left, the safe had been broken into. He spoke with his brother—the adolescent’s father—and together they filed a report with the police. On Monday morning, the police detained the two thieves and took them to the police station. The case documents have now been sent to the prosecutor’s office, and the judges’ decision on the security measure for the two adolescents is expected. In any case, given the substantial sum and the circumstances of a classic theft, it is thought they may have a serious problem with the justice system—even though the victim is the thief’s relative. p. re.

Yellow fever strikes the eels

TIRANA