Parliamentary proceedings also begin. The SP will discuss the Government and the group leaders once again The first afternoon for the new Assembly. The opposition is absent The “adventure” of the elections comes to an end. The Socialists are waiting for the President to leave. Today, a decision will also be made about him The Assembly chamber (above) Sali Berisha TIRANA — new Parliament begins its work today. But without the new opposition. The group of 24 DP deputies, it was confirmed again yesterday, will boycott the first session—and not only that one. They will also boycott the second, third, fourth day..., at least that was what the party’s Secretary, Vili Minarolli, seemed to indicate yesterday. “We will not go, in protest against a Parliament that emerged from Kalashnikovs,” he said on television. Meanwhile, it is still unknown what the Commission for the Verification of Mandates will do about President Berisha, who, even after being declared a deputy by the CEC, continues to regard himself as the country’s head of state. The formation of the group that will verify the mandates will be the first decision this Assembly takes. JURISTS IN THE SP ON BERISHA “If he doesn’t leave, he’ll lose his seat as a deputy too” On page 2 …ridojë të poshtë të… V. Another name is added to the telephone listings… logjia, this one too a victim of… is. And in the morning, citizens have decided to protest against the political forces. On page 5

VICTIMS ALSO IN VLORA, FIVE-HOUR WAR BETWEEN GANGS LUSHNJE — Four people were killed on the Lushnje–Rrogozhinë national road. One person was killed during fighting between rival gangs that broke out in the city of Vlora. The wave of violence and robberies continues in many southern cities, while the security forces seem increasingly powerless in the face of crime. A car with official registration plate TR 1507 Z, carrying four young people, was riddled with bullets by unknown assailants on Monday afternoon. The competent authorities later clarified that the plate did not belong to the car hit by the bullets, but to a vehicle belonging to the Tax Directorate, which had been involved in an accident a month earlier. Gunfire also rang out in Vlora. The coastal city endured five hours of terror. The gang war forced citizens to flee the … below the leaders. Another name is added to the roll of terror, also a victim of weapons. And in the morning, citizens

In Gjirokastër GJIROKASTËR — Anti-aircraft missile warheads have been stolen. The incident took place on Sunday afternoon, when armed men attacked the secret depots not far from the southern city. After disarming the civilian guard, they used oxygen equipment to open the depot’s iron door. The military authorities of the southern “Labëria” Division immediately took measures to secure the area against further attempts of this kind. The area around the depot has been mined, and orders have been given; a group of military experts has arrived from Tirana to assess the actual damage. Although investigations have begun, the identity of the thieves is still unknown. “Criminal elements, in cooperation with the foreign mafia,” declared Defence Minister Shaqir Vukaj. On page 5

TIRANA — The smaller parties abandon Berisha. “We will be present at the first session.” Zef Bushati explained the decision that he and the others made yesterday at the end of lengthy discussions. PPL, PDK, PBSD and BK decided not to take part in the sessions for the swearing-in of the Government, the Assembly Presidium, and several others. Bushati explained their boycott by citing the nature of the elections and the non-recognition by them of the results in many areas of the south. On page 6 Guri Durollari

Police: “The explosion is not a terrorist act” TIRANA — The trend of attacks on businesses has returned. But this time, it seems that the aim of the attack was not to kill innocent people, but to destroy the business premises. An explosive charge was placed in the early hours of yesterday morning at the “Dardania” restaurant and the “Monte Carlos Games” electronic games arcade, located along “Dëshmorët e Kombit” Boulevard in Rinia Park. The blast destroyed both businesses and shattered many windows in nearby establishments. The explosive was TNT, but the police have not disclosed the quantity used. There is still no information about the perpetrators, but the police have ruled out the possibility of a terrorist act. They suspect the attack was carried out because of competition between businesses of the same kind. On page 2 The businesses damaged by yesterday’s explosion (Photo: Plator Ilo)

Another match TIRANA - The match between sports journalists and artists was a complete success. Now another derby is on the horizon: the people of the pen are ready to face those of politics. Everyone has described it as the match of the century, at least for Albania, but the protagonists themselves have made no particular comment. The most interesting remark came from Dosti, the journalists’ coordinator, who has promised to “reconcile” Nano and Berisha on the green field. Perhaps the magic of the ball will do what the political tribune has not managed to do so far. On page 7

“If he doesn’t leave, he’ll lose his seat as a deputy too” The Assembly chamber (above) Sali Berisha 2

On July 17, 1997, at around 19:30 or 20:00, while luggage was being unloaded from a bus stopped in the square in front of the University of Tirana, a black cloth bag, cylindrical in shape, was lost. In addition to personal belongings, it contains ten film tapes. The people concerned are especially anxious to recover these tapes, which have only personal value. We ask whoever may find the bag to contact the following telephone numbers: 23571, 34699, 63838. Anyone who returns these tapes will be given a substantial reward. At the same time, we promise to protect the identity of the person or persons returning them. Thank you for your cooperation

ECONOMY During 1996, more than 150,000 unemployed people were registered throughout the country ECONOMY Unemployment is beginning to frighten people again During 1996, more than 150,000 unemployed people were registered throughout the country On page 8