Democrats set a deadline for three demands. The government’s response: This is a coup d’état Berisha’s ultimatum to the Prime Minister: You have 6 days

ANDI BEJTJA The arrest of six former senior officials of the Democratic Party has put the two largest political camps in Albania, the PS and the PD, on a war footing. In fact, the mini-war had begun immediately after the left-wing coalition came to power, when Berisha and his party gradually and rapidly boycotted every legal institution. Meanwhile, taking advantage of Berisha’s actions, Nano took care to show the West an angelic face when it came to respecting human rights and political tolerance in general, with his positions on national reconciliation and inclusiveness. Until yesterday, this was Nano’s strongest point, which he knew how to market well in the West. But this commodity does not sell very well in Albania, especially now, when the shadow of the war in Kosovo leaves little room for serious investment and the Albanian government is still far from the economic parameters it promised. The PD confirmed that there had also been extremist calls from the party’s blue-shirted councillors to respond in kind to the neo-dictatorship, but this time too the Democrats decided to use democratic methods of protest. “We decided this time as well, in consultation with our thousands, to protest legally,” Berisha said, announcing new protests throughout the country until the political prisoners are released. On page 2

Austria’s Foreign Minister floats the idea of a conference like the one held for Bosnia On page 8 well in the Western market. But this product does not seem to be in much demand in Albania, especially now, when the shadow of the Albanian government is still far from the economic benchmarks it promised. Some time ago, the Albanian Prime Minister said that Berisha “is now just a pretext”; yesterday, in a speech delivered on TVSH, he accused Berisha more harshly than ever, calling him the instigator and main person responsible for the call to bring down and destroy the state. For his part, Berisha has not hesitated to openly call for the government’s overthrow at rallies, going so far as to shout, “Death to the killers, death to the terrorists, death to the smugglers.” The political struggle ... Regardless of how the trial of the six arrested people unfolds, and regardless of whether the Judiciary can deliver its judgment professionally, the political struggle ... in November of this year. Under these circumstances, Albanians will find it difficult to vote for it alone, with a clear conscience. The vote, like every other vote in Albania, will be a “Yes” or a “No” to Nano’s policies. If the Albanian Prime Minister and his coalition overcome this hurdle, the road to the year 2000 will be smoother for him. The vote on the Constitution is, in a sense, the biggest political test for both camps, as it is quite clear that Berisha will call on his electorate not to vote for it. Nevertheless, the bitter political struggle will unfortunately not end here. The return of revenge is evident. It is perfectly clear that if Berisha returns to power once again, many of the current government officials will not be able to walk freely on the streets of Albania. It seems that this struggle, which has begun, will end only when one side is on the verge of total destruction. One side will devour the other.

Excerpts from the testimonies of six former PD officials Zhulali: Yes, we deserve a trial Rama: We were weak with the rebels On page 3

Appeal to preserve monuments: Stop barbarism I address Albanian public opinion, I congratulate all Albanians wherever they are in the world, I kneel before my traumatized people, I appeal to all conscientious people, I appeal to intellectuals and decent people wherever they may be, and I beg them not to remain indifferent, because indifference is criminal and absolutely unjustifiable. As a person devoted to Albanian letters, I feel that I must do everything so that all together we may show the dignity that has been denied or trampled upon, with this as our motto or emblematic call: “STOP BARBARISM!” On page 10 The damaged graves of Migjeni and Pashko Vasa

For some time now, journalists from all Albanian newspapers have felt that “when they pass through the door to enter the Democratic Party headquarters, they are crossing the Albanian-Serbian border and coming under a barrage of Serbian soldiers.” Fortunately, there is only one “soldier” at the DP headquarters firing a barrage at journalists, and that is MP Azem Hajdari, a former December student and hero of this party. As always, yesterday too, Hajdari threatened Gazeta Shqiptare journalist Robert Rakipllari, telling him not to set foot in the headquarters and that, if he did, Hajdari would wait at the back of the hall to begin “caressing” the journalist. Since this is not the first time MP Hajdari has taken such action not only against journalists from our newspaper, but also against journalists from other newspapers, “Gazeta” has lost hope that he will correct his behavior quickly. It therefore calls on party chairman Sali Berisha and his colleagues in the party to intervene and take measures against Azem Hajdari, so that he does not obstruct journalists in their work and, ultimately, does not overshadow the good relations that party chairman Sali Berisha himself and other DP officials have established with the Albanian press since the left-wing governing coalition came to power.

SPORT Starova’s press conference has failed. The reason is that journalists boycotted it in protest against the Executive Committee’s actions and violence against them. The “pretext” was a decision by the E.C. stipulating that any journalist wishing to cover the national team’s matches abroad must pay 100 dollars for the charter flight. This is only the tip of the iceberg, because the roots run much deeper. Recent articles in all the daily newspapers, and not just theirs, have exposed the irregularities of this Committee, leading it to take primitive revenge. Although no specific individuals within it have stated this, it has been declared that journalists must pay the full fare for the trip. At first glance, this seems a fair demand, based on the fact that the plane is chartered by the FSHF, which has the right to use it. On page 11

“The Americans trespassed on my property” On page 5 Durrës NEWSPAPER The Prosecutor’s Office will investigate sports On page 7 Shkodër NEWSPAPER Fewer traders are heading to Tuzi On page 6

“Italian Visa Desk” at GAZETA SHQIPTARE Send your letters to: 370 Dibra St., Tirana Answers from the Italian Consul In the pages of “Gazeta Shqiptare” Italian visas: Here are the new names List of 200 people On page 12

Association of Professional Journalists of Albania 14 Shqiptarëve Tiranë, 20.08.1998 STATEMENT The Association of Professional Journalists of Albania expresses its deep indignation at the continued attacks against the journalist and the independent newspaper of the Democratic Party during Mr. Berisha’s press conferences. Yesterday, while the journalist from “Koha Jonë,” Mr. Arben Blloshmi, and Gazeta Shqiptare journalist Robert Rakipllari were asking Mr. Berisha questions during a press conference, a DP supporter and administration employee, Këne, insulted and verbally abused the journalists. The Association of Professional Journalists recalls that such incidents have repeatedly occurred at Mr. Berisha’s press conferences and, despite repeated complaints, no action has been taken to prevent them. Condemning the lack of respect for our profession, as well as the serious danger posed by this DP faction, the Association of Professional Journalists calls on its journalist members not to attend any DP event or press conference until Mr. Berisha publicly commits, with concrete proof, to respecting freedom of the press. Association of Professional Journalists of Albania