Attack on a senior official of the Police Directorate Explosion occurred at 5:00. Arben Ujka’s car blown up The explosive “package” had been placed beneath the parked car Mystery surrounds the incident. Investigations have still not established the causes or the perpetrators of the attack on Ujka’s car The blast shattered the windows of many apartments in the building opposite the former "Flores" As a result of the powerful explosion, parts of the car were thrown hundreds of meters away The place where the explosive had been placed is circled (Photo: P. Ilo)

Newspaper anniversary Armand Mero Here we are together again. For four years in a row "Gazeta Shqiptare" has appeared every day alongside its readers, trying to bring them everything that is both good and difficult in our society and beyond. We would have wanted this anniversary not to fall in such a difficult moment for all of us, and for us not to be forced on this day to write about murders, robberies, or the many different tragedies that shake every Albanian. Instead, we would have preferred to write that Albania was changing its face, that Albanians were rejoicing in life, that Europe was welcoming us as partners and no longer as the country of total madness, suffering, and poverty. None of us had imagined that now, after four years, we would return to writing about humanitarian missions, aid distributions, and another "Përlall". The first issue came out on 22 April 1992, initially for the Pope’s visit as an important event in the country’s transitional life, now including the end of the crucial event: the intervention of thousands of foreign troops in the country. It seems to us as if everything has started from the beginning and that we are reporting what we covered in those times, only against a different backdrop. Today we begin another year of our life, through many difficulties. It is true that compared with the early years the press is much better prepared professionally. But today it is threatened by another danger, the difficult economic situation that keeps worsening. In a way, our newspaper is paying the price of the development of a country. The stronger the development, the stronger the press, because we live off sales and advertisements. Today, however, we face a luxury consumer who will think twice before buying a newspaper because the high price is equally heavy for the pockets of Albanians. But on the other hand, even today the press can do nothing else. On the one hand, taxes and the price of paper, which has risen, and on the other the lack of advertising, which has been decreasing, have forced everyone - all newspapers - unfortunately to reduce the number of pages; this is also due to the state of emergency because information cannot be gathered until late. So today is a difficult period, but we will continue working hoping that things will change for the better, and because we believe that the press in every situation is in the same condition and in the same position. We will continue, as we have always done, with only one criterion: the truth. Although often the truth is not pleasing to one person or another and other newspapers do it under threats. Nevertheless, this is our profession, and we have taken these remarks into account and do not intend to give up the Truth.

Dissidents expelled from the PD prepare for elections INTERVIEW PD motionists: "We will create a new party" Dissidents expelled from the PD prepare for elections TIRANE - A new party is expected to join the Albanian political spectrum. 20 senior politicians from the Democratic Party - who have now declared a complete break with it - have decided to create the "Movement for Democracy". Ruli, Serreqi, Malis, Vioni, Shehu and others, former important figures in the PD, have decided to continue in politics under the banner of a new political emblem. They are now continuing the process of collecting signatures to submit, together with the necessary documentation, to the Ministry of Justice in order to seek the legal registration of the new party. On page 2

Migrant killed: Shot on a bus GJIROKASTER A journey of terror from Kakavija. The bus bringing migrants from Greece was attacked by a gang of robbers, who left one of its passengers dead and calmly took whatever they found on him. The victim’s body - a young man from a village in Vlora - was later taken to the morgue in Gjirokastra, awaiting collection by his relatives. Meanwhile, there is still no trace of the fate of the armed bandits. The bus, full of passengers, was stopped in an ambush near the village of Jergucat by several armed men. They demanded the complete “seizure” of the passengers’ pockets, but met resistance from the young man from Vlora, which made one of them shoot him. In bursts of automatic fire, the Vlora companion fled, leaving him dead immediately, while the killers calmly continued the abduction and robbery of the other passengers. The bus was then allowed to continue on its way and delivered the body to the Gjirokastra morgue.

SHOW Ritfolk: "Encore" of the group in Torino Recognition and applause for Albanian singers On page 4

FROM THE WORLD Assembly dissolved: France in elections President Chirac has declared that he has called elections for 25 May. On page 7

"We didn’t know about the decree. Now a request to Berisha" The mystery of the powers is revealed: the decision belonged to the Presidency TIRANE - The mystery surrounding the powers to dismiss Agim Shehu is finally becoming clear. It was Prime Minister Fino himself who, in a brief interview unexpectedly given to his "Zëri i Popullit", admitted that he did not know that the appointment of the deputy minister was made by presidential decree. Nevertheless, Fino has not given up on the request for this move. He added that "we will address the President for the release of General Shehu and we may also propose a new post for him". So the whole game of statements and counterstatements, which had been going on for days, now seems to be over. It will be Berisha who decides the fate of Agim Shehu, who had continued to work and perform his duties despite an order from the Prime Minister. It is not known what stance the President will take; his spokesman had strongly opposed, from the very beginning, the decision of the Council of Ministers. On page 2

Italian cruiser grounded on sand by the strong wind Hours of maneuvering to free the largest ship of the Italian Navy On page 5

FOOTBALL The Government decides today TIRANE - After the meeting of the FSHF representatives at the Ministry of Sports, today’s government meeting will also determine the sports budget. From the first promises, it was forecast that football alone needs 11 thousand dollars. Still, there was talk of 240 thousand dollars, a special fund of the Albanian Football Federation. Today is the Champions Cup. Dortmund with a field without Sammer. Treatment toward Rome and Capello toward Milan. On page 6

"LUBRIFICANTI AUTOMARKETI" The company is looking to hire: - Financial economist, knowledge of accounting, computers, Italian, and mandatory English. Maximum pay. - STOREKEEPER - SALES ASSOCIATE (engineer with different profiles). - SECRETARY, knowledge of Italian, English, and computers. Interested applicants should contact Durrës by phone: 052/24350 or mobile 038 20 23 16.

"MAGIC BINGO ALBANIA" (L.T.D) Tele Bingo, every Sunday on your screen!!! For all those who want to try and enjoy luck, young people, families and pensioners, through your television screen, on 27 April 1997, at 14:00 (after the news) win these prizes: The company "MAGIC BINGO ALBANIA" has put on the market for the sixteenth (16th) TELE-BINGO draw 80 series, from series No. 401 to series No. 480. The background color on the back of the ticket is orange until a new notice from the Company. The notice will be given every day in the public media and can be read on page 531 of the TELETEKST service. 1. Mini-Bingo 30,000 lekë each (80 prizes) 2. Star-Bingo 280,000 lekë (one prize) 3. Magic-Bingo 560,000 lekë (one prize) 4. Tele-Bingo 3,000,000 lekë (one prize) The company is taking all measures to distribute the tickets throughout the territory of the country, so the number of series released on the market and accordingly the prizes will increase week by week. Buy Telebingo tickets at Toto-Football points and other points opened by the Company; one ticket costs only 50 lekë!