SP Secretary: Berisha is seeking another tragedy Democrats: We will fight the Government by every means The opposition confirms its plan to boycott local government. Strong reaction from the SP Berisha declared war on the Government. “This is an enemy government that must be overthrown immediately,” the opposition leader said yesterday at an expanded meeting of the SP Presidency and all the locally elected representatives of municipalities, communes and district councils. Berisha called yesterday’s meeting with local elected representatives a historic turning point in the Democratic Party’s position, just days after its definitive withdrawal from Parliament. A warning to the central government authorities was also delivered at the Opera and Ballet Theatre, where Berisha issued a clear order that the mayors of municipalities and communes should break off all personal contact with government officials and their representatives and communicate only in writing. “This is the first response, but if state violence does not stop and the mayors of Korçë and Gramsh are not reinstated, even stronger measures will be taken,” Berisha said. “The DP risks being outlawed; given its statements calling for unconstitutional actions such as overthrowing the government by force, that would be normal.” Gramoz Ruçi issued his first warnings to Berisha and his people in the event that they put into practice the strategy they declared at a meeting with Democratic representatives in local government. Ruçi called for the institutions of a state governed by the rule of law to be scrutinized, so that they can hold accountable institutions or specific individuals when they seek to carry out unconstitutional actions. Ruçi accused the DP leader of choosing the path of force. For political opponents to use all legal means to engage in a mutual political struggle is understandable. But decisions must very often be viewed against a particular backdrop. For many decades, there had not been an Albanian-Serbian war. A set of historical factors has caused it to return in a bloody form, just one step away from the threshold of the third millennium. Weapons have become more sophisticated; they are now capable of wreaking massacres without tiring. Europe—Fisht[a]’s “weather-cock”—has also become more elegant in its stance, though it has not abandoned its effort to preserve the old balance. It seems that the attitude of Albania’s political class is not the only thing that has failed to change: while hearing the gunshots knocking at its door, it finds the “strength” to quarrel among itself instead of doing the opposite. At least at this moment. Let us hope it changes its mind. Otherwise, many generations will not forgive it.

FATOS BAXHAKU Kosovo is being devastated. Hundreds are dead, and tens of thousands of civilians are fleeing without knowing whether they will return to their burned-out homes. International television channels have brought shocking scenes into Albanian homes: people massacred by the heavy weapons of Milosheviç’s paramilitaries, bloodied young people, houses burned by flamethrowers—in short, a people on the run. But what are Albanian politicians doing in the meantime? That is a story of its own... While Kosovo is engulfed in the fire of war, while the entire international community has mobilized—although still passively—to avert the latest Balkan bloodshed, the Albanian parties in Tirana are quarrelling for what may be the last time. While agencies around the world continue to broadcast alarming figures for the bloody massacre in Rac-hovec, the Albanian opposition has announced that its representatives in local government may also leave their posts in protest at “the scandalous attitude of Nano and Fino”—in other words, their political opponents. The other side, the governing one, has responded almost dismissively. “These are old political games; we know all about them”—that was the message Bashkim Fino, the Deputy Prime Minister, who should normally be in more frequent contact with the local officials, gave to the press yesterday and the day before. Neither side has connected its serious steps with the Kosovo tragedy in any statement. As if it were happening thousands of kilometres away from their country. As if it were taking place in distant Australia. As if Kosovo’s calamity were the disaster caused by the tsunami in Papua Guinea. Neither of the two sides is doing anything different. Come on, let us make peace while we are all Albanian and while we are all being called upon as one...

Kukës, the Yugoslavs mine the border Serbian soldiers in combat positions TROPOJE - Serbian mortar shells cross the border. Tuesday’s fighting near the dividing line marked the second shelling of houses in neighbourhoods about 100 metres inside the neutral line. Sources at the Ministry of Public Order reported the arrival of a [?] wounded person from Padesh, where a few days ago foreign soldiers had advanced 500 Public Order reported the arrival of a [?] wounded person from [?] at yesterday’s meeting, requested by our border authorities, between a [?] held the previous Saturday. They gave the same excuse as two days earlier, citing the lack of security from a possible UÇK attack, although the meeting was to take place on neutral ground. The Serbs did not appear at yesterday’s meeting either, which our border authorities had requested through the usual weekly channel last Saturday. As two days earlier, they excused themselves by citing a lack of security against a possible UÇK attack, even though the meeting was to be held on neutral ground. On page 2

List of 15,000 names burned Ministry of Labour TIRANA - The Italian-Albanian seasonal employment project is in jeopardy. It is the Italian employers who do not want to hire people whose passports state that they are Albanian citizens. The quota of 20,000 people set by the Italian Ministry for recruiting non-EU workers has been filled, and no places remain for Albanians. Only the municipality of Brindisi has submitted a request for 300 places, as have some construction company owners, but the number envisaged is far too small. On page 4

GAZETA e Durrësit Kabashi award in Meidani’s hands DURRËS - President Meidani will decide today whether Mirush Kabashi will receive an award from his city. The Prefecture of Durrës has decided to propose to the President that actor Kabashi be awarded the title “Great Master of Labour”. Following the city council’s negative decision on the proposal by the cultural association “Durrësi”, which had been submitted a few days earlier to the District Council, it was the Prefecture that gave a glimmer of hope for the title for the Durrës-born artist. On page 8

Petro Koçi criticizes the work of government officials “The Socialist Committee will address smuggling and party cliques” TIRANA - “There are some ministers in the Government who are far too casual.” The SP’s organizational secretary, Petro Koçi, criticized the way some members of the government handle several of the most important problems concerning not only the SP but also its electorate, including smuggling and corruption. The SP secretary also declined to classify them as politically irresponsible, as Brokaj did, although he acknowledged that every party has such people. Government Cabinet

The Shkodër side played the final 25 minutes with ten men DINAMO TBILISI–VLLAZNIA 1–0. IN THE UEFA CUP, INTER–TIRANA 2–0 Vllaznia of Tirana has once again lost its opening matches of the season. Reduced to nine players, and then to ten in the 67th minute (Cungu was sent off with a red card), the Shkodër side were beaten 1–0 in Tbilisi by Georgia’s champions, Dinamo. Although Tirana tried hard, it could not avoid a 0–2 defeat in Bratislava against Inter in the UEFA Cup. A fantastic bonus for Tirana’s qualification from President Metush Seferi. On page 7

DURRËS - decided to propose to the Presidency Labour”. Following the negative decision regarding the proposal by the cultural association “Durrësi”, made a few days earlier by On page 8 GAZETA e Shkodrës Telecom seeks help from the police “We are under pressure from threats. Under these circumstances, we have requested cooperation with the police,” says Kujtim Shala, director of the Shkodër Telecom branch. According to him, the start of the installation of the new network has not caused many problems. There have been numerous cases of drivers being threatened, even with weapons, and all this over a telephone number. “Now that the existing numbers have been transferred to the new exchange and new numbers are being installed, it seems that even bigger problems are emerging,” says Shala. On page 6 GAZETA e Vlorës The English are buying Vlorë’s water VLORE - The English are arriving once again to buy Vlorë’s water. Representatives of some of the largest European companies trading in natural water are discussing with local authorities the purchase of the water resources of Shushica, which flows into the sea unused. Meanwhile, according to the managers of the city Water Supply Enterprise, if this agreement is signed, Vlorë will benefit not only from the business created by these resources, but also from a project that will connect an entire water-supply station to the existing water supply system. On page 7