INTERVIEW / I have set conditions; I want an answer within the month Pëllumbi: Nano is dividing us The professor’s motion sparks controversy TIRANA - “Nano is turning the party into a clan.” Servet Pëllumbi has made further accusations against the prime minister and chairman of the PS, following those published in the open letter to the KPD. “He has upset the party’s balance by bringing people in through a kind of recruitment; there are also those who have never been in the PS,” Pëllumbi said in an interview with “Gazeta Shqiptare.” In the days since the letter, the PS professor has reaffirmed his demands of the party’s leadership structures, insisting on the need to hold a Congress, which, according to Pëllumbi, would save the PS from “certain harmful tendencies.” Servet Pëllumbi On page 5

RUÇI’S RESPONSE TIRANA - “He lost at the PS Conference.” Ruçi opposes Pëllumbi: “The Congress is convened in the cases and under the provisions set out in the statutes, which I do not believe have been met.” On page 5

On page 13

10,000 are arriving. Aid alert TROPOJË / Three dead, 400 sick, fears of epidemics TOO LATE Fatos Baxhaku When, in 1992, the crisis [?] of children’s emigration. Now that we need to, all of us have remembered [?] Crowds of refugees continue to “pour into” Tropojë. The northern district is feeling more than ever the effects of an unexpected visit. It is going beyond what had previously been anticipated. Now the mistakes made by the “state officials” are beginning to come to light; a week ago, they assured us that measures had been taken, while the situation in the North is quite the opposite. The number of registered people has reached 8,500; thousands more refuse to put their names on the list, while it is thought that nearly 5,000 people are still on the way. (Photo: Hektor Pustina)

Fatos Baxhaku When, in 1992, the thunderous roar of Serbian cannons shattered Bosnia’s coexistence among peoples, our officials were indeed concerned, but in their own way. Emerging from a century-long sleep of dictatorship seems to have clouded their minds, and only intervention from abroad persuaded them to take a step to protect themselves from one thing: disaster. But soon, the two camps that were expected to be established—no one knows why—remained on paper. Now that not only the cries of Albanians driven out of Kosovo, but also the thunder of Milošević’s shells and the hail of bullets from his men have crossed the border, now we must all think carefully. Then the exhausted machinery of the Albanian state was set in motion. Many discussions began. Solis sent his doctors and medicines, Fino issued a flood of instructions to local officials, the Ministry of Public Order monitored the borders, and so on. At first glance, it seems that each minister has done his job, and perhaps that is indeed the case; yet from Tropojë, terrorized and overwhelmed by the misery of people trying to escape death, shocking news continues to arrive: dead, wounded, homeless people, requests for medicine, and human scenes that have moved everyone who has reached the conflict zone. Albania has managed to do no more than record in its official accounts several tons of food and medicine, supplies that people have selflessly set out to take wherever the work and danger are, but that is all. No functioning structure capable of coping with a foretold tragedy. No operational camp, not a single tent in which the unfortunate—mostly women and children—can shelter. Now that we need it, we have all remembered that Albania is one of the few European countries without its own structure to deal with such situations. This is not just about specific cases like these, in which foreign organizations can also intervene. It is also about wholly unexpected events: earthquakes, floods, fires... In other words, it is about a concept that has been put into practice through dedicated structures throughout Europe: Civil Protection. A coordinator for the prefectures in the Ministry of Local Government and a specialist military officer in the Ministry of Health seem to be the two people bearing the heavy burden of coping with such delicate situations. Not long ago, there was a Civil Protection Committee. It was later forgotten by everyone, despite protests from its head. Now perhaps many officials have remembered it, but by now it is too late, much too late. The foretold tragedy in Kosovo had been looming for some time, but no measures were taken in the regions now crammed with war victims. Why? No one questions the solidarity shown first and foremost by the people of Tropojë and other northern areas; no one questions the readiness of the people led by Solis and Fino to give everything. It would have been easier if the Albanian state had been prepared in time to deal with such situations—not only current ones, like the one in Tropojë, but also unexpected ones that do not depend solely on Milošević’s madness, but are even worse because they depend on another, more fatal madness: the madness of fate. God forbid, what would the state do if an earthquake or a flood swept everything away?

TNT shakes Catholic cemetery SHKODËR / The two brothers “victims” on the anniversary. The city is shaken Explosives against the dead. A large quantity of TNT that exploded at “Varrezat e Rrmajit,” as Shkodër’s Catholic cemetery is also known, has shaken the entire city. It was Wednesday morning when the powerful blast from the cemetery shattered the windows of the surrounding apartment buildings. The TNT followed Mark and Vuk Sam Marku to their final resting place; the brothers had been killed over the past two years. The large quantity of explosives completely destroyed the family tomb. On page 8

RINAS, THEY WERE COMING FROM TURKEY 5 Arabs detained—were they terrorists? TIRANA - Are Islamic fundamentalists trying to enter Albania? The Albanian authorities at Rinas turned back five people arriving from Arab countries: one Pakistani, three Moroccans and one Turk. The reason was an irregularity in their documentation. Sources say they were suspected of being agents or terrorists. “They presented themselves as journalists who were going to the border.” On page 6

Before the Prosecutor’s Office A Ministry inspection reports serious violations On page 11

Today, once again with “Gazeta Shqiptare,” one of the 30 booklets of the France ’98 World Cup Encyclopedia. Collect them all and together they will make a 280-page volume with color photos, to satisfy all your curiosity about France ’98. ITALY WORLD CUP ’98 Italy

The list includes hundreds of people On page 16

Garbage, the mystery of the inspectors Signs of scandal surrounding the cleaning of the capital. Sources from the Tirana Municipality report that the supervisors who are supposed to oversee the cleaning of Tirana by the two foreign companies are paid by those companies, even though they are on the Municipality’s staff. Criticism from the health sector. “This is how irregularities are tolerated.” On page 7

Trade: fewer private companies DURRËS - The number of trading companies in Durrës is falling. After Tirana, Durrës is Albania’s second city in terms of economic development. During the years of the market economy, many companies flourished and many others went bankrupt or fell victim to the looting attacks of March ’97, and were unable to recover. On page 9

Illegal work: Social Insurance steps in VLORE - Social Insurance officials are entering businesses in Vlora accompanied by police. This follows a special instruction from the Ministry of Finance concerning private and state enterprises throughout Albania. During 15 days of inspections of insurance payments, officials from the employment office and the Social Insurance Directorate found it necessary to be accompanied by police forces, having been met with insults and Kalashnikovs. On page 9