The Socialist leader fails to make his first trip to the North Yesterday, the OSCE Troika’s final word from Vienna: “The elections must be held on June 29” In Mamurras, men, women and children stop the motorcade. Nano turns back. Majko and Mejdani get through TIRANA - Fatos Nano was stopped in Mamurras as he set out on his first trip to attend an SP election rally in Rrëshen. Armed people, who also brought women and children to the front, forced him to return to Tirana. After four hours of talks at the SP headquarters, it was decided that they would set out again, but this time without Nano. Tension and anxiety filled the SP corridors, while the people from Mirdita who had arrived insisted on setting off for Rrëshen. Finally, at around 15:00, the rally was held in the city of Rrëshen, with thousands of people present, waiting for the arrival of Socialist leader Fatos Nano. His absence somewhat dampened the enthusiasm. “You will be the elections of victory,” leader Mejdani declared during the rally. The World Bank conceals the poverty of Albanians Andrea Stefani Albania is the poorest country in Europe, but the poverty of its people continues to remain a state secret. In the sixth year of the transition, official sources cannot say plainly how much money an Albanian needs to meet minimum monthly requirements—that is, to survive in these difficult times. International institutions such as the World Bank are also making a special contribution to concealing some bitter truths about their lives from the Albanian people. Even without a gigantic collapse like that of the “pyramid schemes,” the core of an economic reform demands great sacrifices. Although they have accepted this undertaking, Albanian government officials have never given up concealing—and they think this has been done only for political reasons—the economic indicators that illustrate the social dimensions of the sacrifices required by the reform. Thus, indicators such as the “subsistence minimum” or the poverty of the population have not been published for years. Does this not also constitute, in the years of socia- ... [text unclear in source] ... international institutions’ specialists are doing the same, as in this particular case with the World Bank. It was this institution that completed a study on the extent of poverty in Albania in January this year and was ready to publish it. But an order from the Albanian government’s ... [text unclear in source] meant that even today the study is being kept secret. Polite staff members of the World Bank—foreign Albanians have left ahead of the expected unrest—shrug their shoulders and are unable to explain this mystery surrounding the rags of Albanians. And suddenly the World Bank seems to us like some wedding guests casting a misty veil over an ugly bride. Today poverty is one of the most tragic subjects in Albanian reality, and its worsening trend cannot be avoided with slogans and party promises. The ever-higher rates of inflation and the devaluation of the lek have disproved the official claim that the subsistence minimum for a family of four is equal to social assistance. The voting date has been definitively confirmed, but the OSCE has called for the urgent finalization of the lists, committees and the time for opening the ballot boxes On page 8 Several hours of tension at the Socialists’ central headquarters. “We know the organizers; it is a politically staged scenario” On page 3 From Nano’s rally in Patos the day before yesterday (Photo: REUTERS)

AFTER THE BLOODSHED Police officer Ilia Banaj injured in Berat TIRANA - Five special-forces police officers from the Brisku unit were held hostage in Kuçovë for about 20 hours. After an armed attack on an armored police vehicle in Berat, a group of armed men took the officers hostage. While news of their deaths had reached Tirana, they began releasing them only after ... [text unclear in source] and after they had been threatened by their captors. On page 2

socia- ... [text unclear in source] ... it. But an order from the Albanian government’s ... of four is equal to social assistance. We believe this has been done solely for political reasons—[?] made for reform. Such indicators as the “subsistence minimum” or the population’s mortality rate have not been published for years. Is this not also what happened during the years of socialism, when it was sacrilege to mention the subsistence minimum of a “happy” people? By contrast, every “step” of success in the economic sphere has been so greatly amplified by propaganda that it has become a “kilometer.” Again, just as in the past, when “a step became a kilometer.” It may be accepted—but not justified—that Albanian officials, regardless of their names and new flags, cannot easily break away from the mentality and formalism of governance that sooner or later degenerate into domination. But what can one say when one sees that eager collaborators in carrying out this political censorship of the economy [?] of Albania, and the worsening trend, cannot be avoided with the slogans and promises of the parties? The ever-rising family of four is 6 [?] times the social assistance of 2,984 lekë. And instead of being at the forefront of campaign rally platforms, the issue of poverty and the fight against it have been forgotten even in this “brainless” and one of the most turbulent campaigns being held in Albania. It is understandable: Albanian politicians have to engage in intrigue and violence against one another and have no time to think about the people’s poverty. But what interest do international institutions such as the World Bank have in keeping state secrets in Albania? And does the crisis of the reform schemes not demonstrate that cooperation in hiding such truths produces poison capable of killing an entire society?

In the Commission TIRANA - Myrteza Caushi, known as Zani of Vlora, will run in constituency 106. Described as a minefield, the constituency will see Zani, Shtyqi, Arben Rama and other figures from the political parties face off. “His documentation is in order,” Vosh tina confirms, having submitted to KOZZ the papers that could make Zani a member of parliament. All that is awaited is a green light from the Mezin Commission for Zani to officially enter the parliamentary race. Vosh tina also recounts episodes of an otherwise normal return, despite unexpected stops. On page 3

The parties threaten to sue director Pollo VLORA - Vlora’s political parties and local authorities have issued an ultimatum to Albanian Television. “You have misled people about the events in our city. If those responsible are not replaced, we will take you to court.” The protest was issued on Tuesday following a meeting of all political forces and local authorities, and is addressed to the director general of TVSH, Bardhyl Pollo. According to the Vlora protest, the event that prompted this reaction—the encirclement of the home of the head of the PD in Vlora—is untrue. Vlora Prefecture. On page 5

The minister responds to Berisha TIRANA - Malaj hits back at Berisha. “I was threatened over my work.” This was the content of a letter that the Minister of Finance sent to the head of state yesterday. “I ask you to publish our conversations held at the Presidency.” According to the Socialist minister, it was the PD Parliament and the President who obstructed transparency and the efforts of the commission that Malaj heads to carry out an in-depth analysis of the transparency of the pyramid schemes. “I will not back down on my tenet,” the minister’s letter concludes. On page 8 Arben Malaj

TIRANA - From yesterday onward, the portrait of the most renowned Albanian in the whole world, Mother Teresa, will shine on the lapel of Paolo Foresti, the foreign ambassador, the most active ambassador over the past four years. President Berisha himself held this ceremonial farewell reception at his headquarters. This was the latest gesture by the Albanians toward improving relations with Italy, the country with which they have exchanged many things in common throughout their history. During Foresti’s speech, an Albanian gold medal was presented to him, the highest honor the small country can offer. As is customary among Italians, Foresti thanked everyone with tears in his eyes, while the guests applauded the departure of the man who will now represent Italy in Brussels. Berisha presenting the “Mother Teresa” order (P. Ilo)

Producers: It could reach 75 lekë TIRANA - Traders are warning of further increases in the price of bread in Tirana. “Within a few days it may cost as much as 75 lekë,” many bread producers in the capital have also warned. “The price of flour has risen sharply, and at the price we are selling bread now, we are making a loss,” they say. In general, they have planned to meet tomorrow—all 100-plus people in Tirana whose businesses are affected by the difficulties they face bringing flour from Greece. They have been raising its price day by day. One kilogram of flour costs 65 lekë, that is, 5 lekë more than a loaf of bread. This was the reason why, a few weeks ago, bread producers raised the price of bread from 50 to 60 lekë. But while in Tirana this price seems to have settled, in a chain reaction its price in many districts has risen alarmingly. In Elbasan it rose immediately from 50 to 70 lekë, while in many other districts the price of a loaf has reached 80 lekë. Once again, it was flour that producers cited to justify themselves to buyers. But now, while the state still has not imported the flour—around 10,000 tons, as discussed—the matter remains with the government, awaiting approval for the release of funds. The difficult and unstable situation has meant that flour traders, because of the difficulties they face bringing flour from Greece, have continued to raise its price day by day. This immediately brings the price to imported the flour, as discussed—around 10,000 tons—the of funds.

In the Commission The parties threaten to sue director Pollo The minister responds to Berisha In the Commission Zani latest The parties threaten to sue director Pollo Vlora against television: “It did not tell the truth” The minister responds to Berisha Malaj: “Don’t gamble with pyramid schemes anymore!”

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