According to the official account, “the victim was a drug trafficker.” Problems with foreigners also in Berat and Gjirokastër Tragic incident in Elbasan. The Greeks: “He fired first” In New York, the Security Council has decided: “Foreign troops are to stay until August” According to the official account, “the victim was a drug trafficker.” Problems with foreigners also in Berat and Gjirokastër “Alba” opens fire; a young man is killed Tragic incident in Elbasan. The Greeks: “He fired first” In New York, the Security Council has decided: “Foreign troops are to stay until August” ELBASAN—An Albanian young man has become a victim of bullets fired by “Alba.” He was shot on Wednesday evening by Greek soldiers and arrived at the hospital dead. The official account given by the soldiers of the “Alba” mission is that the 24-year-old young man from Elbasan—a drug trafficker—had tried several times to sell his goods to the Greek soldiers. After they refused, he went near the barracks in a Mercedes with Elbasan license plates and responded by firing his automatic weapon into the air. Then, getting into his vehicle, he also fired his automatic weapon at the Greek sentry, who returned fire, fatally striking the drug trafficker. The Albanian version of the serious incident is missing; this is the first incident of its kind in which “Alba” has opened fire in self-defense and killed an Albanian. Later that evening, a Security Council decision extended the “Alba” mission in Albania for another six weeks. This was done at the request of Italy, the country leading this international operation. The first serious incident between the international mission and Albanians. The Greeks fear reprisals On page 11 In Berat, numerous shots fired around the Italians’ barracks put the soldiers on a combat footing On page 11 Greek “Alba” forces in Albania

AGOLLI INTERVIEW “Why did it happen this way?” TIRANA—Dritëro Agolli explains the current situation: “Albanians rose up in revolt against social injustices. At first, their demands were economic; then they also became political. The Albanian political class—both the one led by the President and the opposition—has lacked the ideas democracy needs. Anti-communism broke down into such tendencies as entrenching communism, the Red Front, the Marxists, etc. The opposition then attacked this dogma and opposing dogmas. The clash of dogmas made ideas disappear.” On page 9

“Our people in Berat have been threatened with being killed” Strong reaction yesterday to the tragic incident TIRANA—Yesterday, the DP issued a barrage of protests over the violence its people are facing during the campaign. But its harshest words were reserved for the threats that the head of the DP in Berat received the previous night from unknown people. Accusing its political opponent, the DP stressed that “this is a macabre threat from Fatos Nano’s gangs, who seek to prevent our people from conducting a normal and peaceful campaign.” On page 3 Berisha stopped in Kamëz yesterday, while other leaders of the DP headed south in the country One of Berisha’s rallies

Fino at the rally: “There must be coexistence” Yesterday, a Socialist rally in the Capital. The candidates are introduced CANDIDATES 1. Lulë Gjinkuri 2. Anastas Angjeli 3. Spartak Poçi 4. Afërdita Stefani 5. Luan Hajdaraga 6. Lulzim Ahmetaj (PSD) 7. Koco Blushi (PSD) 8. Ajlin Fagu 9. Pëllumb Xhufi (PS) 10. Ermelinda Meksi 11. Lesko Gjata 12. Edmond Ruka 13. Limos Dizdari 14. Enver Reçi 15. Bukura Ufçiali TIRANA - PS announces its candidates for Tirana. Among the best-known names, Hajdaraga, Angjeli, Fagu, Ruka and Ulqini will try their luck in the capital. Yesterday, a meeting with Tirana residents was held in the grand hall of the Palace of Congresses. For nearly two hours, flowers, flags and election slogans surrounded Prime Minister Nano and other leaders of the party, while the 15 candidates for the capital introduced themselves from the podium with their speeches. On page 3 PS leaders before the candidates were announced (Photo: P. Ilo)

On page 2

CEC: “There must be a mysterious hand” THE MEZINI RESPONSE DISAPPEARS TIRANA - The responses from the Mezini Commission have mysteriously disappeared. The file containing the responses on the clearance of Zani and other independent candidates[?] went missing yesterday from the CEC offices. Mutual accusations have been made by Kume’s people over the mysterious disappearance of Mezini’s documents. Ylli Kollari accused CEC secretary Thimjo Kondi of carelessness in safeguarding the documents received from the vetting commission. Kondi, meanwhile, defended himself with the argument that “they never passed through his hands and everything can be found inside the CEC offices.” The responses concerned the clearance of many of the independents who had made it into the seventeen-candidate list, and arrived at midday. Everything was registered with the CEC’s central secretariat, to be opened later according to the Commission’s work procedures. The mystery slowly began in the first moments, when the members failed to find this response. According to sources inside the CEC, a mysterious hand seems to have hidden them in order to create a haze of speculation and suspense[?]… “The clearance of Zani’s record and the others’ has gone missing.” The institution’s response, needed to set the process of registering them and sending the facsimiles of the names to Rome—where the ballot papers are being printed—on its way, was met with shrugs from many members. Only late in the afternoon did the row erupt. Democratic member Kollari “accused” secretary Kondi of carelessness in safeguarding the envelopes. In any case, the accusations and counteraccusations did not bring Mezini’s envelope to light. “We couldn’t do anything,” said former … Republican Vashina. Nevertheless, the mystery, which lasted until late hours, seems to have been dispelled by a “solution”: Mezini is urgently asked to send us a photocopy of the original. Myrteza Caushi and the others will apparently have to wait a little longer to learn what the response was from the commission that examines Albanians’ past. Sources inside the Commission say that the response concerning Zani from the seventeen-member commission was positive. Also considering the law that defines the limits on candidacy, it seems that the man who betrayed Vlora may have passed the first hurdle that will lead him, in turn, to a new Parliament[?]. From a CEC meeting

TODAY, TWO NEWSPAPERS FOR JUST 30 LEKË ALBANIAN GAZETTE SPORT At the Vlora Olympic team’s match in Bari Italy’s poker against the Olympic team Nine minutes destroy Mema’s Olympic team. Tardelli: “Still, you played well.” Devi Muka close to Verona Pages 5–8

LAW AGAINST USURY On page 2

TELEVISION TVA and Alba TV programs every day A helping hand for fans of the small screen in Tirana On page 8