Abdyl Xhaja refuses the post of Organizational Secretary in the PD: “I have not dealt with party work” Dashamir Shehi: “We will be a separate group in parliament” The democrats’ leadership punishes Ruli and Dosti. They are suspended from the Council: “They were collaborators of the Sigurimi” Abdyl Xhaja refuses the post of Organizational Secretary in the PD: “I have not dealt with party work” A split in the PD, the motionists leave Dashamir Shehi: “We will be a separate group in parliament” The democrats’ leadership punishes Ruli and Dosti. They are suspended from the Council: “They were collaborators of the Sigurimi”

SPECTACLE “Skampa” opens its doors to music Next week, the groups’ meeting On page 4

Visit to Vlorë and Shkodër cancelled TIRANË - “We have now reached an agreement with the Albanian parties, the elections will be held on Sunday, 29 June.” Speaking to the world's major news agencies, Vranicki seems to have finally given a signal of reconciliation in the country's complicated situation. In fact, with this statement yet another enigma has been added to the many that weigh on the crisis in the country. Has the election date finally been fixed? On page 2 Vranicki

TIRANË - The PD parliamentary group splits in two. “We decided to come out with a separate parliamentary group.” This is the essence of a press statement made public yesterday by the democrats’ meetings. “We cannot and do not want to take on the responsibilities and further consequences that may arise from the unrenewed political leadership of the PD,” says the document, which marks the split of the main supporters from the PD parliamentary group. Dashamir Shehi believes the list will soon be even longer. According to him, many MPs in the Assembly cannot support how the PD leader or some of his associates are running it, so the list will soon include other democrats as well. Also yesterday, the PD leadership suspended Genc Ruli and Tomor Dosti from the National Council. “They have been collaborators of the Sigurimi.” This is the justification that Shehu announced at the meeting of the PD leadership team. On page 3

PD headquarters

“It was more necessary to meet with politicians.” The Austrian chancellor talks with the parties about the election law. Everyone agrees it should be held within June On page 2

“You cannot vote in armed cities and without local government.” Nano cites the example of Bosnia and Palestine: “There elections were held even though there were weapons” On page 2

AFTER THE DECISION Xhaja refuses the new Organization post The former minister steps back: “I have not dealt with party work” On page 3 Xhaja

SUSPENSION Ruli: “It is an archaic decision by the PD” “Let it not be thought that I can be expelled. This was done in the PPSH” On page 3 Ruli

The ministry assures: “Traders are not affected” TIRANË - The food supplies that the Albanian government has requested from the European Union amount to several dozen tons. According to specialists from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, these quantities are enough to feed Albania for only about 50 days. The list arrived in Brussels on 17 March and there is still no confirmation of which items will be accepted by the EU. In any case, the specialists do not appear worried, emphasizing that, after all, in Albania there is a more urgent emergency regarding wheat. On page 5

The base is set up in Fier. The “Alba” command is established in Sauk Vlorë minesweeper. The port is under control The base is set up in Fier. The “Alba” command is established in Sauk The first troops arrive in the South Vlorë minesweeper. The port is under control P Italian soldiers of “Alba” guarding the port of Vlorë On page 5

TIRANË - Albanian football reappears in Albania and will be[?] not with imposing weight[?] in midweek after the championship. The winners of the "Migjeni" Cup in N[?] clash[?] of Bushat against Apolonia have given this trophy to the "reserve team". In Spain, Real are still closer to the end. Barcelona’s defeat in Valladolid has given the Madrid side more chances. Lechie[?] star has won the English League Cup, leaving Middlesbrough aside in the final[?] of a trophy in 121 years of history. On page 6

TIRANË - Vranicki announced the election date for the parties from the presumed term. Yesterday, the declarative stance and the preparatory moves for yet another OSCE mission on holding the vote on 29 June were followed by denials from Albanian party voices and even by the prime minister himself, that no date had been spoken of at all. Meanwhile, foreign news agencies have urgently reported Vranicki’s statement. Is this once again another blunder by European diplomacy, or have the journalists rushed? The latter seems less likely, given that it is certainly not just one, but three news agencies that have cited the Austrian chancellor himself. So the first option remains, namely that Vranicki may have rushed. But how could this have escaped such an experienced diplomat? It is something that remains truly open and one does not know what explanation can be given. But recalling a similar event with the Italian authorities of the European sphere, it remains believable that even diplomats make mistakes. In mid-March, the Van Mierlo government, the head of the EP, at a meeting on the Albanian issue in The Hague, the General Committee of the European Union had stated that Benish had resigned. The news released by k[?]shte was delayed and finally in mid-March at 23:00, up to the president, had notified Franzonio[?]. Benish had not changed his mind and was taking such an action.

WORLD Netanyahu: corruption charges Police report: “He has deceived” On page 7

GREETING Gazeta Shqiptare wishes all Muslim believers throughout Albania a happy celebration of their traditional Kurban Bayram festival.

The Central Office of "NATIONAL TELEBINGO" announces that the tenth (10th) drawing of "NATIONAL TELEBINGO" for the year 1997 will take place on Sunday, 20/04/1997, at 14:00 [after the news edition] Tickets for this drawing can be found at Toto-Football outlets as well as at the new outlets opened by the Company in your city. These tickets belong to series number 201-400 and have an orange back. All tickets from these series, regardless of the time of purchase, are valid. Apologizing for the delay in holding this drawing, the Company thanks the public for its understanding.