Pollo takes over the party. Yesterday, a quarrel in the opposition leadership The role of the current President in leading the Democrats remains unclear. The Congress will decide Surprise three-hour meeting yesterday. Berisha addresses his people: “I admit it, I was wrong” THE NEW PARLIAMENT, ITS FIRST DAY WITHOUT THE PD TIRANA - The new Parliament will meet without the opposition. At least on the first day, the main party of the Socialists will be absent. The news has been confirmed by sources who are “very close” to the PD “meeting.” “It will be an act that we have been considering for some time – the same sources stated – the Socialists boycotted Parliament when we had a majority.” It seems the reason given by the PD – more than a “credible departure” – along with their other opponents, will be an act intended to give Berisha time to appoint the new Prime Minister by decree. Other sources from the PD have also mentioned this. “I want to appoint the next Prime Minister myself,” Berisha said two days ago, while having coffee with Prime Minister Fino. The idea is for the PD parliamentary group not to appear in the chamber at all, not even to read the formal statement announcing its boycott of the session. This decision has not yet been made public, and abandoning Parliament on its first day is expected to be the Democrats’ first “surprise” in opposition. Berisha is number 1 on the PD’s proportional-representation list and, in order to enter Parliament as a deputy, he must resign from the post of President. If the aim were to carry out the normal procedure for transferring power, Nano would have to be endorsed by Berisha’s successor. But sources in the PD said that this 24-hour boycott would give the current President time to fulfil his final wish in this post: endorsing the new Prime Minister. It is not yet known whether the head of state will accept Fatos Nano’s name to lead the next Government, but in any case he will try not to create trouble for himself before subsequently taking his seat among the MPs. Lawyers say that the PD parliamentary group’s failure to appear in Parliament on the first day gives them the opportunity not to sign their mandates immediately. Under this arrangement, Berisha, who will still be President, will try to fulfil his “wish” of appointing the Prime Minister. Nano declared immediately after the elections that the current President would not appoint his Government, and he has even expressed opposition to the money from the [text unclear]. But a possible refusal by Berisha to appoint Nano would do nothing other than further delay the formation—and especially the start of the work—of the new Government. According to lawyers, the party that wins the election has the right to ask the President to appoint the new Prime Minister. Lawyers say that the head of state has the right not to accept the candidate, even if the candidates are different, but he cannot refuse more than three times. Arian Çani The current secretary takes charge of the largest opposition party. Berisha will remain an honorary leader until the autumn. Yesterday, the PD also discussed at length the party’s new political role, its relations with other parties, and its position in Parliament. Berisha and Pollo

Berat, another victim BERAT - Special forces have arrived in the city, which has been hit by a savage wave of violence and crime. They were accompanied by Deputy Interior Minister Sokol Baraj himself. But their passage into the city was not peaceful. At its entrance, a group of armed people ambushed the Interior Ministry forces, but the conflict was resolved through dialogue. Baraj left a selected unit of 60 people at the Berat police station and returned to Tirana later that evening. Yesterday he also introduced the new chief of the police station. Since the unrest began in the country, Berat has recorded 204 victims. A 32-year-old man was also killed yesterday morning on the outskirts of the city. On page 5

Major operation; weapons seized TIRANA - The police station in Kombinat was attacked at midnight. At around 3 a.m., armed people attacked the station with guns and explosives, but caused no damage. Meanwhile, Tirana police, with around 90 officers, supported by armored vehicles and tanks, carried out a major operation. The entire neighborhood was then surrounded; the road was blocked, and at around five in the morning a search began. A number of weapons were seized and seven suspected individuals were detained. On page 2

Hajredin Shyti speaks VLORE - Former Deputy Interior Minister Hajredin Shyti yesterday described all the accusations against him as fabricated for political motives. Shyti was sentenced to 17 years in prison for the 2 April massacre in Shkodër and escaped in March this year from the high-security prison in Bënçë. He has “promised” that, once the situation is normalized, he will appear again before Albanian justice, but this time to seek acquittal. Shyti also calls the accusations made against him and his two sons in connection with the terrorist organization “Hakmarrja për Drejtësinë” political. From the position of a police professional, he also explains how order could be restored in the country. On page 5

Police demolish unlicensed kiosks TIRANA - “Some establishments in ‘Rinia’ Park have become centers for drug use and distribution”—this is the latest warning from the police in the capital, who have decided to carry out frequent inspections in order to catch the traffickers. Police sources said that the police would also begin drug trials. “We have information,” police sources say, “that many young people take drugs inside these establishments, and not only that. The drugs are also sold in these places.” Yesterday Tirana police also organized another operation, not far from this area, amid suspicions that some rooms in establishments had become ideal hideouts for drug users and dealers. Meanwhile, following Sunday’s incident, when two young people were killed in one of these establishments and another was wounded, Tirana police have made this part of the capital an object of “special importance.” Numerous patrols and services are operating around the clock, following the report that the police authorities in the city have decided to restore calm in this place, which has become a large “recreation camp.” Thousands of young people and intellectuals go there, especially in the mornings, but the chairs at these establishments are full throughout the day. And there have often been disturbances and killings there at midday, which is why the police have carried out numerous strict weapons checks. But now it seems that, beyond maintaining order, they have only responded, but have not been absent. The state has a severe chronic deficit and a very negative trade balance. Prices in domestic markets are rising day by day, and the Government must increase spending to balance them with wages and pensions. But it is difficult for every increase in the money supply to be accompanied by an equally strong revival of domestic production. Inflationary depreciation of the additional lekë in circulation can be avoided only through further international assistance for Albania’s balance of payments.

Gianni Versace On page 6

ECONOMY Foreign currencies erode the lek again “The strengthening of the dollar worldwide also has an impact” TIRANA - The tide of foreign currencies has begun to rise again in the money market in the center of the Capital. In addition, the US dollar is rising faster than other foreign currencies. Alongside the increased demand from traders, money changers also explain changes in the Albanian exchange rate by the influence of currency exchange rates in international markets. For several days in a row, the “lek” has been undergoing a quiet movement of foreign currencies which, although not at all explosive, is pushing it down day by day to lower levels. And at the head of the currencies is once again the dollar, which is on the rise. While at the end of last week the USD exchange rate was around 175 lekë, yesterday its price on Tirana’s exchange market reached 179.5 lekë. Money changers also report a strengthening of other foreign currencies: the German mark, the Italian lira, the Greek drachma, and the Swiss franc—but the US currency is appreciating against the Albanian lek at a faster pace. According to money changers, this asymmetry in the dollar’s rising exchange rate is due to its strengthening on international stock exchanges; the end of the elections has also sparked a degree of confidence among traders. After several days of deadlock following the conclusion of the first round of elections, money changers now report an increased presence in the money market of people doing business with the outside world. Despite the new tide of foreign currencies, the market is no longer gripped by the psychology of panic and distrust in the domestic lek—a panic that some time ago pushed the dollar up to 200 lekë. Nevertheless, Albanian finance needs to act urgently to avert a new surge in foreign currencies. Many factors undermining the lek’s stability have already taken effect, and they have not gone away. The state has a persistent chronic deficit and a highly every increase in monetary supply to be accompanied by an equally strong revival in domestic production. The inflationary depreciation of the additional lekë put into Albania’s balance of payments. THE DOLLAR’S RISE DURING THE WEEK 178.5 178 177 176 175.5 Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday

POLICE

All graduates of the Faculty of Law are hereby informed that the entrance procedures for the initial training of candidates for magistrates will take place during September 1997. The examination will be both written and oral. Admission criteria will be based on the results achieved and the points awarded to each candidate. A further announcement will be made regarding the date for submitting the relevant documents, the place and time of the examination, and the method used to calculate the total points. Those interested in taking the examination may obtain the list of questions for admission to the School of Magistracy from the press office at the Council presidency, starting on 21 July 1997.