The Lazarat hospital blown up with TNT Police: A remote control was used. They chose a time when there was no movement GJIROKASTER / Building owned by the local SP chairman GJIROKASTER - The explosive and poison caused extensive damage to the Lazarat hospital. The building, owned by the chairman of the village Socialist Party and also secretary-general of what [sic] in Gjirokastra, was completely [damaged] at three in the morning. Witnesses to the incident say the blast was terrifying. The TNT explosion also damaged the surrounding buildings. There were no casualties, since the health centre was empty at the time. Police experts say the explosion may have been triggered remotely from nearby, while residents of the surrounding houses say they saw no movement in the street in the seconds after the explosion. It happened just one day after the detention of ten people suspected of being responsible for a series of crimes. The blockage of the national road for eighteen hours was followed by the TNT explosion at the Lazarat health centre. The terrifying explosion occurred at 3:00 in the morning. SP leaders: “It is a political assassination attempt, following the one against Hoxha’s house”

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HOLIDAYS Christ’s birthday was used by PD chairman Sali Berisha for his first major election rally since the defeat in the 29 June 1997 elections. But not only on the holy day for Christians and many Albanians; throughout this week of holidays in general, the former head of state has declared that he will use Albania’s squares and halls for a purpose far removed from that of the holidays. The PD and its leader are using the image of Father Christmas and the New Year tree not as elements of a popular celebration, but as decorations for political campaigning and attacks on the government. Over the past year, Albania has endured a series of social and political traumas and has been beset by many emotional states, tragic or [unclear]. It has gone from being a country on the verge of an economic “boom,” as the politician seeking power does not hesitate to call it, to celebrations and decline brought about by that same power; from annual trauma to calm disrupted by that same power. Albania stands devastated, exhausted, stressed, and the Government. So much [unclear] that it destroys everything, even the reasons why we should be joyful: First, in a year filled with weapons, violence, death, and more days of mourning than days of celebration, Albania has welcomed the New Year as the most opportune moment to calm down. With no electoral flags of any party in the background, since this entire scene is largely a product of politics. Second, on Christ’s birthday, more than a chance to sing about political success or revenge, Albania needed a court hearing so that what happened in ... would not be repeated. [?] power. Albania has endured, over the course of its final year, a series of social and political traumas; it has been burdened with many emotional states, tragic or unfortunate. It has gone from a tent on the threshold of an economic “boom,” as Westerners dared not call it, to the edge of total poverty. And right at the end of 1997, one of the protagonists of the Albanian situation aims to turn the only real celebrations, after the prolonged days of national crisis, into days of an organized assault on power. Berisha has even dared to summon the lost power on the day of Christ’s birth and insistently demand it back. The blasphemy of a person who for years belonged to a party that denied God is not the last strange thing in this Albanian year. More than the parallel with Christ and the careful conduct on Christmas Day, Albanians are drawing into discussion the fact that they are trying to steal the last things left to them: traditional celebrations and the enjoyment of their atmosphere. The PD seems to be taking this strategy entirely seriously, and it is no coincidence that today, in “Sheshi Skënderbej,” it has announced an electoral concert-rally, at a time when people are thinking more about ballokume and turkey than about political leaders. In this absurd atmosphere, between power and celebrations, between political gain and each individual’s joy, all the characters stand together. Christ has affirmed—

From Bovilla, the threat: “We will occupy the dam” TIRANA - Residents of three villages set to benefit from the water of the Bovilla water-supply system are in revolt. Around 120 residents of the villages of ZallMner and Bulçesh in the Tirana district, as well as residents of Bruz in Kruja, are threatening to occupy the dam. “They haven’t included us on any list of those who are to receive homes in other areas, and in our place they are giving homes to people who have not even heard the names of our villages.” On page 3

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TROPOJE / 50 homes at risk TROPOJE — Earthquakes and bad weather have damaged 50 homes in Tropojë. Families are struggling on the threshold of the heart of winter, and there are no funds to repair the homes. Tropoja has become an area sensitive to seismic tremors since the creation of the two hydroelectric power plant lakes at Fierzë and Koman. The tremors have increased since their creation. Meanwhile, the construction of the dam did not take this phenomenon into account. As a result, even slight tremors, like the most recent earthquake, can have consequences in this area. On page 6

PD: The city has been left to languish TIRANA — Meidaniingjet in Lezhë, while Berisha attacks the state for leaving the northern city to its miserable fate. This happened yesterday, when the head of state, in his first appearance through a press conference, [criticized] the Nano government’s indifference toward Lezhë, [devastated by] the irresponsible flooding. Meidani’s visit also included a stop at the “Dom Anton” Catholic center. On page 2 President Meidani

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ELBASAN / The couple’s adventure, as they chose the police station over the church “Love story” in a cell too Their parents wouldn’t let them stay together ELBASAN — They celebrated Christmas in the cells of the police station. This happened to a teenage couple from the city of Elbasan. Both had left home the day before. The girl’s parents immediately filed a report at the police station, whose officers began searching for the missing girl; but she turned up at home, where she learned that her parents had been waiting for her at the station for some time. Together with the young man accompanying her, she went to the police station and met her parents. Alarmed by her disappearance, they were happy at first, but immediately found themselves facing an unexpected situation. “I don’t want to stay at home tonight,” she is said to have told her parents, who were alarmed. It all happened in the police station’s reception office. Faced with a difficult position, the parents asked that if the girl did not return home, she should stay in a cell. It seems this was a well-intentioned decision for the girl, who chose to spend a night in a police cell, but in any case with her boyfriend. The parents returned home, convinced that they had done the right thing by their daughter. After spending several hours with the officers on duty and listening to the church bells, the two lovers entered their room in an irregular manner, where they stayed until morning. They then headed home. For the girl, it was a great effort not to spend Christmas in church, while for the police station officers, the latest couple’s story became the topic of the day among the police staff.

After the incident in Balsh: Wave of arrests by the police Tropoje / 50 homes at risk PD: The town has been neglected AFTER THE INCIDENT IN BALSH Wave of arrests by the police TROPOJE / 50 homes at risk Ligenet bring [unclear] PD: The town has been neglected Meidani in Lezhë

Wave of arrests by the police police On page 5

They caught the shop robbers On page 5

The editorial staff clarifies that yesterday’s article, “Helsinki attacks Minister Kondi,” was not referring to the Albanian Helsinki National Committee, but to the Human Rights Forum.

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