“PS will lose if Vlora does not love us” Today, the party’s local conference. Debates with the leaders are expected From the March protests in Vlora TIRANA - The PS faces its test in Vlora today. Only Majko and Petro Koçi will travel to the angered city for the Socialists’ Conference. Nano has chosen to wait for Dini in Tirana, rejecting the insistent request of Vlora’s Socialists for him to attend the Conference. For his part, the PS secretary-general has denied that the PS has forgotten Vlora and its problems. “If the PS comes from Vlora.” This is what Majko said, according to whom the disagreements between the two leaderships should not be exaggerated. But the head of the PS in Vlora, Alushi, does not share this view. According to him, Vlora’s Socialists no longer need fine words, but the presence of the leaders from Tirana alongside those dealing with the hardships weighing on this city. For Alushi, the absence is unacceptable of those who, after being elected, are now at the helm of the state, but who at one point in June received their votes from the Vlora electorate. On page 3

“Honest businessmen” appear to be the true face of crime Undocumented migrants, prostitutes, drugs and weapons—who covered it up? Italian investigators in Tirana. Strong suspicions about two companies “Honest businessmen” appear to be the true face of crime Mafia behind private companies Undocumented migrants, prostitutes, drugs and weapons—who covered it up? Italian investigators in Tirana. Strong suspicions about two companies TIRANA - For the past two days, Italy’s anti-mafia investigators have been investigating Italian suspects with investments in Tirana in Albania. “They are suspected of having fuelled the trafficking of undocumented migrants, drugs and prostitutes,” sources at the General Prosecutor’s Office say. The Italian Mafia, concealed behind the guise of investment, will be the focus of questioning and document collection. Investigations have also been carried out in Durrës, where two anti-mafia prosecutors have identified useful information about the links between the Albanian Mafia and the Neapolitan Camorra. The two Italian private companies constitute the first indication of the Mafia’s actual existence. Money laundering or illegal trafficking—everything is suspected, but the information is being kept secret. Meanwhile, the examination of the bank accounts of these two companies at the Italo-Albanian Bank has been confirmed. “Only with a decision by the Albanian Prosecutor’s Office will we make the documents we have available,” says Italo Torsello, the Bank’s head of accounting. The latest information points to private companies concealing the real Mafia. On page 4 Enver Hoxha’s house the day after the attack (Photo REUTERS) Terrorism? The first three shadows On page 5

Prime Minister Nano To run the poor Albanian state, the President is paid 60,000 lekë a month. The government earns 54,000... On page 2

“Reconciliation is receding

A Greek ship with an Albanian crew was seized

Berisha calls for a new government

Teta: Arms trafficking from Iraq? Absurd TIRANA — Foreign Minister Paskal Milo has refused to normalize diplomatic relations with Belgrade. According to the Austrian news agency APA, Milo is quoted as telling the independent Belgrade press that “official Tirana will continue to support the Albanians of Kosovo.” Milo described the situation in Kosovo as “dangerous.” Meanwhile, State Secretary for Defence Pérskin Teta denied the report in an Italian newspaper about arms trafficking from Iran, through Albania, to Kosovo. “I do not know the Kosovo Liberation Army, but I do not deny the existence of terrorist groups in Kosovo, just as there are in Italy and other countries,” Teta said. “The Albanian government will do everything possible to stop this trafficking.” Teta described the claim about arms trafficking from Iraq as absurd. “Albania had no reason to send weapons to Kosovo from the other side of the world when it had Kalashnikovs here at home.” Meanwhile, the situation in Kosovo continues to be difficult. “War is possible,” says Adem Demaçi. “The delusion coming from Belgrade’s policy is being transformed into a strengthening of the KLA, over which we have very little political influence. According to Demaçi, the KLA’s supporters are growing in number day by day, thus increasing the polarization and the possibility that the problems will be resolved with weapons. The international community, too, has begun to grow concerned about the escalation of the situation. American Congressman Eliot Engel has sent a letter to the daily “New York Tiems,” calling for greater responsibility to prevent an outbreak. British Deputy Foreign Minister Toni Lloyd has also expressed his government’s commitment to a peaceful solution through dialogue. “We expect the Albanians to show in Belgrade that they care about human life.” But only a few days after the Milutinoviç–Shehsel meeting, Belgrade is showing no goodwill whatsoever to make even the smallest concession. The sentencing of 17 Kosovars “for acts of terrorism” has served as the last straw.

Greek vessel with Albanian crew seized DURRËS — A vessel carrying smuggled cigarettes has been seized; they are worth 1 million dollars. The “valuable” cargo was intercepted by the Albanian police in the Vjosa estuary, following an operation with the Italian Navy’s 28th Naval Group. The vessel, flying a Greek flag, had seven sailors on board, five Albanians and two Greeks. The seized cigarettes, a total of 2,000 cartons, were of the “Marlboro,” “Bond” and “L&M” brands. The vessel has been impounded and the crew is under investigation. On page 5

Then elections TIRANA — A new technical government? The idea came out yesterday from PDS leader Berisha himself. For the first time, the head of the Democrats spoke in firm terms about a political crisis in the country, proposing as a solution the urgent formation of a new cabinet of technocrats that would lead the country toward new elections. Setting out a series of arguments, Berisha focused on the current state of the country and the serious scale of the growth in crime, smuggling and other vices which, according to him, are overwhelming the Nano government. Yesterday Berisha also reaffirmed once again the DP’s political position regarding the Constitution. “We will not move from our position,” he assured, declaring that he would not sign on to the Constitutional Commission. On page 2

SHKODËR / PRIVATIZATION OF THE ENTERPRISE PUTS WORKERS OUT ON THE STREET The sweepers are laid off The city no longer needs their labour SHKODËR — They have taken their brooms and buckets to protest outside the City Hall. The 180 workers of Shkodër’s cleaning enterprise have suddenly been thrown out of work. Two companies have taken over the enterprise and will also decide on its staff. On the 16th of this month, they were told not to come to work the following day: their brooms and labour were no longer needed. The “broom” of privatization will spare only the transport drivers, who will first have to sign a two-month contract. Shocked by the unexpected news, they protested outside City Hall with their work equipment. According to the enterprise’s employees, they did not take part in the tender already won by the companies “Borshi” and “S.A.N.,” in accordance with the order of the Minister of Privatization. Through a petition from the enterprise’s trade union council, addressed to the Municipality, the workers say they were not given 30 days’ notice of their dismissal. According to the enterprise’s director, Sadush Shaba, some of them have not yet even received their regular leave for the past year, while neither the manager nor the private contractors are responding regarding payment of the workers’ entitlements. Yesterday, after meeting with the workers, Shkrepë Hitaj, a representative of the State Labour Inspectorate, said that failing to give them advance notice of their dismissal constituted a violation of the Labour Code. According to her, the companies undertaking the work will be contacted in the coming days so that the city’s future cleaning workers are recruited from the existing staff, regardless of preferences. Nevertheless, the cleaning enterprise’s workers are seeking a solution to the problem from the Ministry of Privatization and the Secretariat of Local Government. They are also asking for their representatives to appear in the pages of the newspaper. The peaceful protest outside City Hall by the cleaning workers will be only the beginning of a series of actions if their problem is not resolved. Until then, the city’s rubbish will live without the threat of a broom.

BERAT On page 6

SPECTACLE On page 8

FOOTBALL EXCLUSIVE PHOTO, EVERYTHING ELSE ABOUT THE 32 FINALISTS TOMORROW: FRANCE ’98 SPECIAL Cup draw: Dortmund–Bayern On page 7