Two different accounts of the cause. The Ministry contradicts witnesses Elbasan shuts itself indoors, ten injured The battle in the square risks turning into a tragedy. Bloody fighting also at the Cërrik intersection Two different accounts of the cause. The Ministry contradicts witnesses Shots fired at Berisha’s rally Elbasan shuts itself indoors, ten injured The battle in the square risks turning into a tragedy. Bloody fighting also at the Cërrik intersection According to local residents, it all began after rally guards mistreated a young man. Then the battle... According to the Ministry of the Interior, a group of unidentified people opened fire on the crowd ELBASAN - Many shots and blood, at least ten injured, and a battle of accounts between witnesses and the Ministry of the Interior accompanied President Sali Berisha’s trip to Elbasan yesterday. Berisha, Pollo, Hajdari and others attended an electoral rally of the Democratic Party yesterday. As the rally was nearing its end, gunshots rang out, leaving six people injured, most of them residents of Elbasan. According to local residents, the gunfire began immediately after a conflict between the presidential guards and citizens; according to the Ministry of the Interior, the shots came unexpectedly from a group of unidentified citizens. Armed fighting also took place near Cërrik, where armed men exchanged fire with the presidential guards protecting the important intersection. The incident occurred only a few minutes after the first one. The serious event immediately caused the city to empty almost completely. None of the injured are in life-threatening condition. On page 3 An injured man yesterday in Elbasan (Photo: H. Pustina)

The PD car Shots fired in Krrabë too The Democratic Party reported another serious incident yesterday. According to the party, a mysterious Audi followed and shot at Flutura Hasko and Marieta Pronjarin On page 3

The experts’ meeting on the borrowing companies has failed: Here is the version Berisha rejected A draft anti-usury document proposed in Rome

can collapse The anti-usury document proposed in Rome comes to light TIRANA - The anti-usury document has been revealed. The IMF had prepared it to examine the forms that are still accused of being pyramid schemes. But the project drawn up by foreign institutions has remained unsigned, this time by President Berisha’s own representative. The Rome meeting ended on Wednesday, while the version that would have shed more light on the usury scandal was accepted only by the lawyers of the Fino Government. The confidential document On page 2

Resumed operations after a 5-month interruption TIRANA - The Kamberi company has woken up. After five months of silence, it has finally opened its counters to its first 25 clients. After postponing its capital obligations for months, it has begun operations, which, according to its managers, will now continue through to the end. In an effort by this branch, they have stated that they will initially collect the outstanding funds... [text unclear] these interests. On page 11 Ferdinand Kamberi

Following Monsignor Ilia’s statement TIRANA - The Catholic Church is not taking sides in the political battle in Albania. Its position on remaining ... through the Episcopal Conference, the highest body of the Catholic Church in Albania. “Any other statement made, or that may be made, by representatives of the clergy should be considered only a personal opinion,” the conference’s statement emphasizes. The conference met just two days after, in Shkodër, Monsignor Frano Ilia had rung the bells, calling for people not to vote for the former communists on June 29. This action provoked strong reactions, as well as surprise at the unexpected intervention of the religious leadership in the tangled affairs of Albanian politics. The cross has been raised, the bells rang again, but this time for peace, for an electoral campaign stripped of hatred and division, a campaign characterized by tolerance and understanding. A statement by the Episcopal Conference of Albania, the highest body of the Catholic Church, affirmed the church’s official position on the situation in the country and the upcoming elections. The Church has denied that it has any role as a party in the political “conflict,” and has not refrained from expressing messages that should at least be heard with respect. According to the statement, every Albanian voter should use their vote to achieve: “The unity of the country in pluralism, secured by the struggle against divisions, revenge, and disregard, which lead nowhere other than to the fratricide of a people.” The Church emphasizes its non-partisan position, taking encouragement from no party, while at the same time encouraging all Catholic believers to take an active part in the voting. On page 2

Vietato attraversare i binari Translation: Crossing the railway tracks is prohibited Attenzione pericolo Treni in transito Warning: danger Train passing Sign in San Benedetto del Tronto TIRANA - Albanian as a second language in Italy? Of course, that is not what has happened, but at least this has crossed the minds of many Albanians who have often passed in front of this small sign wrapped in plastic, at the main entrance to San Benedetto del Tronto station. So: unlike all the signs in Italy, this notice is written in two languages, one of them in a line of Albanian. Both notices literally warn of the danger from fast trains and [sic] freight trains, used by many locals as well as many Albanians. Albanians in Italy have for some time now constituted a sizable presence. Indeed, troubles, parliamentary debates, accusations and lobbying, but also solidarity toward them, have marked all these years of coexistence between Italians and Albanians. Much has been written about this, and much more could be written. But the message conveyed by this simple photo is far more interesting. It has shown that, besides the vocabulary filled with words such as refugee, illegal immigrant, inflatable boat, drugs, and crime, there is another vocabulary, one closely connected with solidarity. It seems that it was precisely this word that, at least in this case, makes Albanian the second language in Italy. (Photo: Alfred Muçi) Sign in San Benedetto del Tronto (Photo: Alfred Muçi)

On pages 5–8

DURRËS Italian warship returns the illegal migrants The ship had set off from Velipoja and returned to the port of Durrës yesterday On page 10

ELBASAN Tragedy at the bakery: 3 workers die The fourth is still alive, in very serious condition, and is expected to be sent to Italy On page 10

Bari Special Magnificent ceremony at the opening of the 13th Mediterranean Games Partizani will play in the Cup Is Muça’s record worthwhile? GAZETA SHQIPTARE SPORT ALBANIA sails toward Bari BARI '97 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TRANSFER MARKET MONDIALITO Spectacle: Here is how it will unfold in the '97-'98 season Donalison is accepted. His work remains in Torino and far from Con... [????] Spectacular finish, goals and whistles at the France Tournament Last night, a magnificent ceremony opened the 13th Mediterranean Games The first Albanian adventure in Bari ends in defeat; the last basketball players in the group On pages 5-8

Albania comes in 102nd Albania has taken 102nd place in the human development ranking just published by UNDP. It is a list in which 175 countries are ranked according to their achievements in the areas of life expectancy, education and the population’s real income. The 1996 indicators, compiled by international institutions, have thus placed Albania in the category of 55 countries with medium human development. It has managed to leave behind 28 countries in the same group, as well as 25 other countries classified in the group with very low human development indicators. Meanwhile, Albania has been ranked behind 101 countries, 64 of which are classified as countries with high human development indicators. This is the second consecutive year that UNDP has published its world report on human development in Albania. An important part of this report is the Human Development Index, constructed on the basis of indicators for life expectancy, educational opportunities and per capita income, and used as a measure of human development across the globe. Comparison with 1995 shows that Albania has risen from 104th to 102nd place. But as for the more advanced indicators, we are dealing with social improvements... At the top of the list are countries with the highest human development indicators, led by Canada, France, Norway, the USA and Iceland. This group includes 64 countries, among them Albania’s neighbours: Greece in 20th place and Italy, which follows it in 21st. Other Balkan countries such as Romania, Bulgaria and Macedonia have also been ranked above Albania, demonstrating better indicators for education, life expectancy and real income. But Albania has managed to leave many large countries, such as China and Egypt, behind. Sierra Leone is at the bottom of the ranking. An. Shtë.