INTERVIEW / From Johannesburg, the Heir to the Royal Throne unleashes a storm against politics Nano’s government is a catastrophe But Berisha should also be investigated for the tragedy of March ’97 TIRANA - Leka Zogu takes aim at Nano and Berisha. “One year of Nano’s government has been a catastrophe.” The heir to the royal throne summed up his assessment of the Socialists and their Prime Minister in just one word. Based in Johannesburg, where the headquarters of the Royal Court has long been improvised, Leka Zogu agreed to speak to Gazeta Shqiptare, spontaneously answering all the questions concerning current Albanian politics. In his view, all Albanian politicians have failed in their efforts to rebuild the Albanian state and, especially, to improve the image of the Albanian nation in general. “I want Ethnic Albania. This is why Kosovo Albanians are shedding blood today. The government and the opposition cannot change anything. The case brought against me is a sham.” On page 3

Godo at secret meetings The PR leader refuses to comment on anything concerning his meeting the previous day with the leader of the Democrats. “I was only having a coffee with Islami.” TIRANA - A secret Godo-Islami meeting. One day after his one-on-one meeting with Berisha, the old Republican spoke yesterday for almost an hour with Kastriot Islami, Nano’s deputy. It seems that a great mystery is shrouding the political activity of the Republican leader, Sabi Godo, during these hot summer days. And it did not happen as it had the previous day, when the Godo-Berisha meeting had taken on an official tone: Islami and the old Republican met at the “Rogner” Hotel at 11:30, which coincides with his visit to the DP headquarters. On page 2

Rebel Tushe: My people were eliminated Once again, a dispute among the Vlora Socialists. Now two factions are emerging TIRANA - “Yes, judging by the talk going around here and what I have been able to see, there is a division in the party between Brokaj’s people and Nano’s people.” David Tushe admits that in Vlora the PS has begun to … Tushe looks at the present and comments that the party in Vlora is divided, between Nano and Brokaj. The disputes that have taken place in the Vlora PS in recent months are well known; Vjezi and Tushe have been the protagonists, one of whom?

. Battle with the looters. Four soldiers fought for more than an hour against 20 people. On page 4.

ROBERT RAKIPLLARI None of the people active in politics gave a reliable account yesterday of the unexpected Godo-Berisha meeting. The guesses that arose spontaneously—that Godo was interested in the Kosovo issue, or even in the impossible, the unification of the right—dissolved like salt in water within 24 hours, when news emerged of another surprise: the mysterious old man had met Kastriot Islami. Perhaps a meeting between the Republican and one of the Government’s leading figures would not have seemed so significant, but it was highly coveted by everyone, given the importance the Constitution has for the international committee. But times have changed, and there is increasingly more talk of a Nano-Berisha meeting, described as the key to resolving the “bad luck” in Albanian politics. At first it was Majko who floated the idea of this meeting, which—especially after it was called for as something more than a handshake—could at most have had an emotional effect on the most fervent activists of the two camps. Unfortunately… even this space … Even the seemingly impossible—unifying the right—had evaporated like kn-p[a?] in water within 24 hours, when another surprise became known: the mysterious old man had met with Kastriot Islami. Perhaps a meeting between a attract attention on an ordinary day in August, especially at the Rogner, where Albanian politicians do very little politics, if any at all. The one-on-one meeting between Godo and Islami, a day after the wise old man had met Berisha, means that something new is stirring in the stagnant waters of politics. The fact that a diplomat such as Sabri Godo has entered the fray confirms that something truly unexpected may happen. Furthermore, one can say that the aim must be important, given that Godo has made considerable sacrifices, even beyond what anyone would have predicted. Separated from Berisha for a year, the Republican leader has limited himself to courteous polemics with his own camp, categorically ruling out rapprochement with the PD. Indeed, Godo had previously declared that Berisha’s demonstrated authoritarian tendencies posed a serious threat to the opposition. Berisha, for his part, has also attacked him, calling him an opposition figure appointed by the Government. Godo has received these attacks with his characteristic calm, while not coincidentally occupying the chair of the Constitutional Commission, a post that is not elected and is considered an “ill-starred” one the idea of this meeting, which, according to him, would be more than a handshake and could at most have an emotional effect on the most ardent militants on both sides. Fortunately, however, the ranks of this species of people are dwindling. This time, remarkably, there was no opposition to the idea of the meeting even from the Democrats’ camp. On other occasions Berisha had met one of them together with Nano, agreeing only to debate with him on an unequal basis. Godo, meanwhile, has said that a meeting between the two great figures would be fruitful, but said that Majko should mediate it. And Majko had completed his mission very quickly. Those seeking to bring Nano and Berisha to the same table know very well that Majko is not the right person to mediate. Only someone like Godo can prepare the way for the day when Berisha and Nano will extend their hands to one another. Signals from the PD pointed to August 31, the day when the opposition will present its ideas on the constitutional draft. This may be one of Berisha’s moves that could perfectly serve a plan devised by others. Or it may be the opposite. The only person keeping the full mystery is the Republican old man. This man is certain to keep the mystery to himself until it is revealed. The choice is truly apt.

TIRANA - “Yes, judging by the talk going around here and what I have been able to see, there is a division in the party between Brokaj’s people and Nano’s people.” . TIRANA - crack and split into two camps, but adds that he cannot make any definitive statement on the issue because he is now somewhat detached from the party. The previous day, the head of the Vlora Socialists, Niko Veizi, had said that the future of the PS lay in Nano and Brokaj uniting. months are well known; the protagonists have been Viezi and Tushe, one described as being in Brokaj’s camp and the other as a man of the Prime Minister. In the case of the local elections, all the Socialist leaders supported the other candidacy, that of Këndi, proposed by Veizi, rejecting the former acting mayor. On page 3. Nano. Brokaj’s.

The Ministry of Justice objects: We have not extradited anyone for two years. Request to the Government from Europe and the US The Ministry of Justice objects: We have not extradited anyone for two years. “Do not return the condemned Egyptian.” Request to the Government from Europe and the US. TIRANA — The fate of Ahmed Ismail Osman, the Egyptian sentenced to death, is becoming increasingly mysterious. Albania’s highest authorities now have on their desks requests from governments of various countries around the world, including the US, asking them not to allow his extradition to Egypt. It is inhumane to extradite a person to the country where he was sentenced to capital punishment and where certain death awaits him: that is their common request, official sources confirm. Meanwhile, the mystery continues to deepen because officials at the Ministry of Public Order have denied that the would-be assassin of the Egyptian Prime Minister was detained in Albania. In any case, the requests not to extradite him are now before the country’s highest institutions. “They must be activists from organizations that campaign against executions under death sentences, because most of those who signed them do not have Islamic names,” an official information source confirmed to the newspaper. On page 2.

TIRANA / Police arrest the murderous couple . In a neighbors’ dispute, a husband and wife are massacred. TIRANA — Rifle shots shattered the quiet of the afternoon in Tirana. A couple were killed by their female neighbor’s gun after the woman had an argument with them. Niko and Anila Berati died at the hands of Hedije Kullaku, who was assisted in the killing by her husband, Vath Kullaku. The incident occurred at around 6:30 p.m. in the neighborhood near the INIMA institute, considered one of the quieter neighborhoods of the capital. The two families had lived for some time in houses sharing the same courtyard, which had led to recurring conflicts between them. Both perpetrators were detained at home a few minutes after the crime and questioned. On page 5.

On page 12

GAZETA e Durrësit. A fence at the port to keep out terrorists. On page 7. GAZETA e Tiranës. The heroin man behind bars. On page 5. GAZETA e Shkodrës. Infection alert in Velipojë. On page 6.