EXCLUSIVE / On March 4, 1997. Takeoff from Rinas: “On the radio, Petrit told me to fire at civilians...” They ordered me to bomb the South The shocking account of the “Mig 15” aircraft pilot arrives “Near Vlora, I was given the command to hit them one by one, not in a burst. Who was giving the orders...” BARI. “They ordered us to fire at people in the south of Albania. But we decided not to do such a thing. To fire at the people would mean breaking the oath we had taken as servicemen in their name.” Pilot Ardian Elezi, who together with Agron Dajçi flew to Italy in a “Juftë Mig” 15 aircraft, tells “Gazeta Shqiptare” in an exclusive interview how, on March 4, he was specifically ordered to fire on a convoy of angry people in the south of Albania. “Before I took off,” Ardiani recounts, “I was surprised to see four aircraft on the runway at Rinas airport, two of them bombers. Once these bombers take off, they cannot return to the ground with their bombs; they have to release them. I climbed into my aircraft, which was the sixth and had three cannons that fire bursts of bullets. My colleague in the other three aircraft was doing the same. I was given the command to take off. At that moment I could hear that the colleague in the bomber had started his engines too. I told him over the radio that the command was not for him. The two Albanian pilots on the day they arrived in Italy On page 3

NEW AMBASSADORS SOON, TOO TIRANA - The winds of change are blowing through diplomacy, too. All the directors of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been replaced. Milo introduced the new heads yesterday. Meanwhile, the Council of Ministers has asked Medani to decree the first ambassadors. Vangjel Dheri will be director of the Europe Directorate, replacing Nuri Domi. Historian Pellumb Xhufi will head the Balkans Directorate, replacing Kastrit Robos. Qiriako Qirko returns to the post of director of the Legal and Consular Directorate, replacing Albert Beja. Qirko had held this post when Sereqi was head of diplomacy, but was forced to leave two years ago. Milo announced yesterday that the Culture Directorate and the Economic Directorate are being abolished. Ministry of Foreign Affairs On page 2

Yesterday, the decision on the group that will draft the proposal to be voted on in March Opposition: “We don’t want Majko’s Commission” TIRANA—The Constitution has once again sparked a political dispute in Albania. One day after the Constitutional Commission was approved, a firm position came from the PD: “We are waiting for Majko’s invitation, not sessions to set up commissions.” The PD Secretary General believes that only a round table will bring the Democrats into discussions on the country’s fundamental document. “This is our idea, and we will not abandon it,” Pollo says. With this position, the Democrats withdrew from Parliament from the outset, declaring that they would not participate in parliamentary sessions discussing the Constitution and anything related to it. Two days ago, Majko said yes to Pollo’s invitation to hold a joint round table. The proposal appears to have stalled, since the party leadership is making no attempt to bring forward the date of the round table or settle its modalities. Majko, for his part, also declared during the session two days ago that he was not against a round table with his partners and that the Commission that had been set up did not mean that the Constitution was being drafted. Other politicians share this view. On page 4 The Parliament chamber

TIRANA On page 5

TIRANA—“Change the law on the Bank of Albania”—this is one of the conditions the IMF has set for Tirana. “The amended law seriously undermines the independence of this institution.” President Meidani’s signature on the decree enacting the new law on the Bank of Albania has not yet dried, but the IMF is not at all satisfied with the change. IMF experts met again with the new governor, Shkëlqim Cani, yesterday. On page 4

Gathering of Albanian intellectuals at the end of the year An idea from the President offers the Academy the task of organizing a major National Assembly TIRANA—The challenge of political reconciliation begins. Ismail Kadare and Rexhep Qosja will bring the entire political spectrum together at a roundtable for face-to-face talks. “The causes of the bitter disagreements and a joint declaration on normalizing political life”—this will be the agenda for the major meeting to be organized by the Academy of Sciences. “The Academy’s leaders have agreed with the president to organize this gathering,” says presidential adviser Preç Zogaj. “Zogaj says that many political parties and non-governmental organizations have asked Meidani to find ways to normalize political life. ‘Pluralism should be an alternative of ideas, not an existential struggle. That was their message,’ says Zogaj. To normalize political life, the Academy will organize a nationwide gathering at the end of the year. “The causes of the political strife must be found. The issue will be examined from both a historical and a forward-looking perspective,” Zogaj confirms. According to the presidential adviser, at the end of the week the academics will meet Meidani again to determine in detail the next steps to be taken. “Qosja is also expected to come to Albania. Kadare will be invited along with him,” says Zogaj. He recalls the experience the two giants of Albanian letters have in this regard. Kadare and Qosja undertook such an initiative six years ago. But their effort failed precisely because of political passions in Albania. The academics will try, first of all, to reconcile the politicians, or at least to tone down their harsh rhetoric. “The Academy is the most suitable institution to organize this gathering. They have welcomed the president’s call to fulfill this role,” Zogaj confirms. According to him, at the end of the gathering the participants will sign a joint declaration in which all political sides commit to observing the rules of normal political competition. “The gathering will be intellectual and political at the same time. This may help identify the causes of the shared political strife. At the end of the gathering, political representatives are expected to sign a joint declaration,” says Zogaj. He is optimistic that the failure of a similar effort six years ago will not be repeated. Ilir Babaramo

EVEN IN HOSPITAL Arbnori insists: I don’t want to go TIRANA—Arbnori is once again between life and death. On the second day of his intensive care, the former Speaker of Parliament is again experiencing moments of uncertainty. The doctors are cautious in their prognosis. “He has decided not to eat, which complicates the situation for us,” hospital sources say. Suzana Arbnori shares this view and confirms her husband’s determination not to eat, even though she has repeatedly pleaded with him to abandon such a decision. Yesterday, the politician’s condition improved and worsened several times. The initial bursts damaged the veins in his arm, so doctors decided yesterday to place them in the veins in his neck. Arbnori was also visited yesterday by the head of the OSCE Albanian Group. On page 4

If Portugal are to play their most important match against Germany On page 7