“Starting tomorrow, there will be no more such high interest rates” With remarkable patience, hundreds of people queue behind the iron doors that offer millions “I sold my son’s house—he has gone abroad—and I deposited the money to double it through usury” TIRANA - Today appears likely to mark the end of the financial “miracle” served up just, so to speak, 48 hours ago by the “Sude” company. Yesterday, the director herself, whose name the company bears, told Gazeta that starting tomorrow new deposits will no longer generate 100 percent interest over two months, but that the previous interest rate will be applied again. Meanwhile, the super-interest rate on offer, which remains in effect today as well, brought hundreds of citizens to the “Sude” counters yesterday, including people who had come from various districts across the country. Large crowds of clients were also seen throughout the day yesterday outside the counters of the charitable foundation “Xhafer”, which continues to offer an interest rate of around 100 percent per month on the first payment installment. On page 11 Now an even greater rush of Albanians to the counters offering millions in “usury” Last night in Tirana at “Sude” (Photo: P. Ilo)

The Socialists settle on the Constitution formula The Center Pole and PS draft 11 points: “Here is what we demand” TIRANA - The opposition is calling for an Assembly and new parliamentary elections. The Socialist Party, meanwhile, has set out its formula for drafting and adopting the Constitution, preferring that it be drafted by a Constituent Assembly elected by the people under a proportional system. The PSD shares the same view, but differs on how the Constitution should be adopted. It calls for adoption by referendum. The demands drawn up by the PS, PSD and PAD were also “revealed” to the PD during a meeting the three parties held at the PSD headquarters three days ago. On page 3

A new organization soon [the rest of the headline is cut off at the edge of the photo]

CONTROVERSY OVER BSPSH Kaloshi’s murder: lawsuit against TIRANA - The battle over the union assemblies. Xheka and Hajdari have once again begun making harsh accusations against each other, using the podiums at BSPSH assemblies, each of which he claims is led by him. In a photo, Xheka at the BSPSH headquarters, which have provoked Hajdari’s fierce retaliation. “He hasn’t held a single assembly. With the help of Television, Xheka is manipulating,” Hajdari told Gazeta Shqiptare last night. On page 9

TIRANA - A new competition for Albanian journalists. The Velija Foundation yesterday announced the awarding of three prizes for cultural articles published in the Albanian press during 1996. - The competition opens on 15 November 1996, and submissions must be delivered by 30 November 1996. - Each journalist is entitled to submit only one article to the competition. - The competition jury, appointed by the Velija Foundation’s Advisory Board, will soon be announced in the press. - There are three Velija prizes for journalists: First Prize - USD 1,000. - Second Prize - USD 500 and Third Prize - USD 500. - The Velija Competition prizes will be announced in December 1996.

A new organization soon PD changes its leadership from the grassroots up. The heads of the branches in Tirana, Shkodër, Durrës and Vlorë are to say goodbye to their positions A new organization soon PD changes district leaders PD is changing its leadership from the grassroots up. The heads of the branches in Tirana, Shkodër, Durrës and Vlorë are to say goodbye to their positions TIRANA - After the local elections, PD is now turning its attention to itself. Its internal reorganization, from the center down to the grassroots, will affect its entire organizational system. PD’s renewal of its leadership is expected to proceed in parallel with the drafting of a new structure, which will be modeled on European right-wing parties. Vejsiu outlines several areas in which the organizational mechanism of the governing party will change. On page 3

TIRANA - “Basha is Kaloshi’s murderer” — the testimony of the driver of the senior official, who was brutally killed in his car, appears likely to become the subject of a lawsuit for perjury. While the young Basha, arrested several months ago on the charge of murdering Kaloshi, has now been released, his lawyer, Maksim Haxhia, casts doubt on why the driver pointed the finger at Basha. “I suspect that someone tried to conceal the real line of inquiry,” Haxhia said. On page 9

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FROM THE WORLD ROME - The global emergency caused by hunger brought an international summit together in Rome yesterday. The most urgent issue to be discussed by the participants is immediate aid, which needs to be provided to around 1 million refugees in Zaire. On page 2

Tirana, tensions flare again between religious community members and dental students Madrasa: Students “Break Through” the Perimeter They break down the door to hold classes TIRANA - The old controversy over the Madrasa has erupted again. The young dentists “break through the perimeter” of the building so long coveted by its former owners. Yesterday, in the early hours of the morning, the main gate of the Dental Clinic was closed by teachers from the religious school of the Albanian Muslim Community. Things almost ended in a serious incident, but for the many people and patients there who intervened to break up the quarrel. The Dentistry students forcibly broke open the door closed by the Muslims and went inside to begin their usual sessions. It all began with the arrival of three bailiffs, who were to enforce the court ruling—in other words, to “clear” the dentists out of the Madrasa. But where are the people who get their teeth fixed supposed to go? They said once again that they had no objection to the court ruling, “but the state must find them premises elsewhere.” The history of this dispute over the Madrasa began two years ago, when the leaders of the Muslim Community decided to return to what they call “their lawful property.” A whole legal process and numerous bilateral disputes have been filed with the Albanian courts since then. The final decision came only a few weeks ago: “the property belongs to the Muslims.” But what will become of the dentists’ property? Bailiffs intervene, but the long-standing dispute over ownership of the large building has still not died down. Arlan Çani Tirana Madrasa

TIRANA - The opposition is calling for an Assembly and new parliamentary elections. The Socialist Party, meanwhile, has set out its formula for drafting and adopting the Constitution, preferring that it be drafted by a Constituent Assembly elected by the people under a proportional system.

TIRANA - The battle over the union assemblies. Xheka and Hajdari have once again begun making harsh accusations against each other, using the podiums at BSPSH assemblies, each of which he claims is led by him. Azem Hajdari, at the BSPSH in recent days

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