Anti-drug police comb every coastal village Fieri first on the list, followed by Durrës and the other cities TIRANA - The general operation against narcotic plants is under way. The police are putting aside the “rubber baton” to take up the “pruning sickle” against hashish. Starting in the past 24 hours, forces from the Ministry of Public Order have launched a campaign throughout the country, encircling the country’s coastal areas. The operation, believed to be the largest and at the same time the most effective ever carried out in Albania, has involved an extraordinarily large number of villages, which have come under the scrutiny of the police and the special anti-drug unit. Spokespeople for the Ministry of Public Order said yesterday that a number of villages in all the country’s districts, from south to north, had been targeted over the past day. On page 4

Anti-USA revenge: 100 dead and 1,000 injured Jihad responds to the arrest of Egyptians in Albania Explosions at the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. Alert at Lino’s offices. Police take precautions TIRANA - Yesterday’s massacre in Kenya and Tanzania is suspected to be nothing other than the long-foreshadowed response to the arrest, a few weeks ago in Tirana, of four Egyptian Islamists. As the ANSA news agency reports, over the past week the Islamist fundamentalist group Jihad had sent a series of threats to the United States of America, warning that it would soon take revenge for the arrest and extradition to Egypt of three of its members. They were four Arabs arrested in July in Tirana by the American CIA, wanted worldwide for criminal acts and participation in terrorist organizations. On page 4 After the bombings yesterday in Nairobi (Photo: ANSA)

ILIR BABAMAMO All Albanians who watched on television the massacre caused by simultaneous explosions at the U.S. embassies in African capitals believed that this was a distant act of revenge, another game—and something even more dangerous. For those who have long condemned Islamic terrorism, this event is further confirmation of the thesis that Islamist terrorists, the organization of the Jihad Movement, are so well prepared that they can operate in any country. The FBI arrested three Jihad militants in the Albanian capital. The “holy war” waged by fundamentalist organizations against the USA and Israel has been something very difficult for Albanians to comprehend. Perhaps they are the only people in the world among whom, during the Second World War, no religion was persecuted. Moreover, Albanian believers, in choosing how to resolve their national question, chose to align themselves with democracies. Statements by terrorist organizations, carried by all the major Western agencies, leave little room for doubt about the events. Palestinian terrorists were not the first to draw Albanians into the trap of a new and more dangerous wave of terrorist explosions. Perhaps the first path taken by organized crime in Albania was the trafficking of illegal immigrants. Earlier this year, Turkey itself was shaken by bloodshed, and it was thought that the seeds of the country’s home-grown terrorism had been sown. If the government’s authority weakens, and if the Albanian state is left unsupported, it could fall prey to this threat. Under these circumstances, the party has raised the fear that they may break away; they are known, if they are terrorists, to be capable of such a thing. They are capable of embracing no cause other than their own national question. Moreover, Albanian believers, in choosing how to resolve their national question, chose to align themselves with democracies. Statements by terrorist organizations, carried by all the major Western agencies, leave little room for doubt about the events. Palestinian terrorists were not the first to draw Albanians into the trap of a new and more dangerous wave of terrorist explosions. On page 4

Ceka responds: AD has no place in this matter. Gjinushi: I agree Majko: We will go to Berisha “The Constitutional Round Table can work wonders” TIRANA - “The DP’s round table could bring surprises,” said the chairman of the Party, Majko, yesterday. In the morning, the PS secretary general received the official invitation from the DP and its allies to a round table of parliamentary parties on the Constitution, at the end of August. The Socialist leader has agreed to attend this meeting organized by Berisha, stressing that there is nothing wrong with an exchange of views. On the other hand, Majko wrote yesterday that if the DP’s suggestions prove valid and are accepted by the other parties, they could also be adopted. But for now, he continues to seek changes through the Constitutional Commission. Gjinushi also supported the DP’s initiative, seeing it as an opportunity to judge whether Berisha has truly changed his political position. Ceka, on the other hand, opposed the Democrats’ invitation. On page 3

OPINION SPARTAK NGJELA The law on the National Intelligence Service, which changes its name to AISK, has two new features. The first concerns the procedures for naming and division, and the second concerns surveillance methods. The issue is that Albania has had a very bitter experience with laws governing police agencies of this kind, and this has undoubtedly left its mark on people’s psyche. In this context, it should be mentioned that historical memory is the most important factor in judging a society in its historical and general context, and especially in the course of the state’s history. Looking at this issue from the second perspective, we must carefully consider the consequences of the past fifty years for those currently in government. First, there is the sector dealing with historical memory; second, a specific part of this apparatus relating to the former regime; and third, we must make an assessment. If we take all these points into account, we were obliged to make a law that selects only the relevant aspects of the Albanian state’s National Security Service. The current law we are discussing achieves this in a general way, but does not fulfil all the procedures of the overall picture we have described. The most essential point to emphasize is the fact that naming, control and direction belong to an institution under the Prime Minister. Given this side of the equation, surveillance of senior officials cannot be acceptable if MPs are monitored by a separate body and by an executive branch. Regardless of the law, the procedures for authorizing the surveillance of MPs as an executive function could exist because they have also been included in the law. We can see, for example, the position taken in this history, which has been very bitter and has undoubtedly left its mark on people’s psyche. In this context, it should be mentioned that historical memory is the most important factor in judging a society in its historical and general context, and especially in the course of the state’s history. Looking at this issue from the second perspective, we must carefully consider the consequences of the past fifty years for those currently in government. First, there is the sector dealing with historical memory; second, a specific part of this apparatus relating to the former regime; and third, we must make an assessment. If we take all these points into account, we were obliged to make a law that selects only the relevant aspects of the Albanian state’s National Security Service. The current law we are discussing achieves this in a general way, but does not fulfil all the procedures of the overall picture we have described. The most essential point to emphasize is the fact that naming, control and direction belong to an institution under the Prime Minister. Given this side of the equation, surveillance of senior officials cannot be acceptable if MPs are monitored by a separate body and by an executive branch. Regardless of the law, the procedures for authorizing the surveillance of MPs as an executive function could exist because they have also been included in the law.

TIRANA - As NATO’s plans for a possible intervention option are being finalized, the 15 countries participating in NATO’s “Partnership for Peace” program are preparing to begin military exercises in Albania on August 17, with the aim of showing the Serbian President “the West’s ability to act quickly in Albania.” Allbright warns Millosheviç: Military attack is approaching NATO ready to deploy in Tirana On August 17, 1,200 troops from 15 countries TIRANA - As NATO’s plans for a possible intervention option are being finalized, the 15 countries participating in NATO’s “Partnership for Peace” program are preparing to begin military exercises in Albania on August 17, with the aim of showing the Serbian President “the West’s ability to act quickly in Albania,” Pentagon spokesman Keneth Bacon said. A total of 1,200 troops from the USA, Canada, Germany, France, Greece, Spain, Great Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Turkey, Italy, Albania, Russia and Lithuania will take part in Tirana. “The current level of violence is unacceptable, and we are conveying this to the Yugoslav President by every means available. What the Serbian forces are doing today is barbaric. We condemn this violence and are calling for all these actions to end as soon as possible,” added the Pentagon spokesman. Asked whether the goal was to bring this military intervention to a conclusion through pressure on Millosheviç with NATO’s force, Bacon replied: “I don’t think that is necessary. I don’t believe Millosheviç can have the slightest doubt about our ability to send military forces into his country very quickly, should the need arise.” On page 2

INTERVIEW TIRANA - Brojka opposes abandoning local government. “I don’t take orders from the party, but I will serve the citizens who elected me,” said the Mayor of Tirana yesterday. He had not been invited to the meeting of local DP officials, at which the latter were forbidden to have physical contact with central government officials. On page 6

Tirana GAZETTE From prison to the Municipality just to get married On page 5 Durrës GAZETTE UNESCO takes charge of the city’s amphitheater On page 7 Shkodër GAZETTE “Others could suffer the same fate as Fierza” On page 6

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