Message from the Head of State: Enough with the rallies TIRANA - Meidani has called for new rules of the game for Albanian politics in a message addressed to Parliament yesterday. He proposed a pact between the parties on public order and disarmament. He called on the governing coalition to make structural changes and changes to its governing policy, as well as to consider expanding the coalition. Meanwhile, he suggested that all parliamentary groups participate in Parliament’s proceedings and de- [text continues beyond the image] On page 2

Anti-Terrorism warns. Fears also for senior Police officials TIRANA - The life of a minister is at risk. Information from police agents has warned of the possible creation of a plan to carry out an assassination attempt against one of the members of the Government; but it seems that other powerful people, as well as police officials, have not been overlooked by certain groups seeking to spread panic. In response to this alarm, the people targeted for attacks have been placed under strict security measures and have changed their daily routines. Walks along the boulevard or having a coffee in public establishments have been categorically prohibited for those at risk by their security personnel. Meanwhile [text continues beyond the image] Albanian leaders must be kept safe until this danger, which appears to be real, has passed. The alarm has set all the structures of the Ministry of Public Order and SHIK in motion. Identifying the organizers of these actions, their methods and their purpose has become the focus of the anti-terrorism experts’ work. On page 4

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TRITAN SHEHU The fact that the socialists managed to erode [the situation] to the point of swimming does not stem from their merits, nor from developments in this country, Albania. If these were the reasons, the changes would have been made long ago, even using formulas acceptable to everyone. But this situation has become worse solely because, in their favor, since July 1997, the fatal strategy devised by the opposition as its mission has been at work, and responsibility undoubtedly falls first and foremost on the leaders of the PD. There have been and are many options for changing the situation in Albania, but unfortunately the opposition in Albania has so far chosen the one option that is keeping everything static while the country is heading toward total catastrophe. A year has passed since 29 June, and the opposition has offered no constructive alternatives, either from domestic or international public opinion. A year has passed in which the opposition has absurdly squandered the “chances” given to it by the government through its conciliatory cabinet. Indeed, this has happened even when it was very clear that [the column text is cut off] So, only to mention the credibility coefficient. If in a film our strategy had been participation, calm and patient waiting, with short- and long-term alternatives, events would undoubtedly have unfolded differently for several reasons. First, such an attitude would not have allowed the radicals on the left to carry out so easily the crazy things they did; that is, many things would have gone better overall. Second, the madness of the crowd would have harmed only them, opening the way to democratic changes, in stages, toward a global solution; we would not have been harmed either. But it seems that the radicals of every group, even if silently, [text continues beyond the image] toward total catastrophe. Nearly a year has passed since June 29, and the opposition lacks constructive alternatives that enjoy lasting support from domestic and international opinion. Nearly a year has passed in which the opposition has been absurdly burning the “opportunities” afforded to it by the government’s colossal mistakes. This has happened even when it was very difficult not to win. Fatalism or a fatal strategy? I do not believe in the repeated fatalism. Here we are dealing with a fatal strategy. In the most absurd way, the manager after June 29—after we had improved our election result—[promoted] what was called the idea of a constructive strategy: one that was not based on nonparticipation, without alternatives and full of emotion. The boycotts in parliament, culminating in the extremely negative decision to boycott it completely; blaming the Socialists for nonparticipation in the constitutional process; and extreme aggressiveness made us seem untrustworthy even when we were absolutely right, even when violence in all its forms was being used against us, and even when the government was undermining the basic principles of democracy. Not knowing how to show that we know how to wait, how to build even in opposition, and how to remain calm and restrained in difficult situations within democratic principles, we did ourselves the greatest harm. We conveyed the impression that we were desperate to return to power, that we could not live without it, whether in domestic opposition or, even more so, in the international arena. Some may say otherwise. Throughout these months we saw a guilty mentality, a psychology and emotional burdens that wasted time and energy at the expense of our democratic goals. The same thing happened in Albanian political life—or, rather, was imposed upon it. The time calls for change. The first step would be the formation of a broadly inclusive government with a two- to three-year mandate, built on a clear program and a social pact among the parties, trade unions, and the President. The support of the international community must be secured; it is necessary to set the economy on this course, stabilize public order, adopt the constitution, and have foreign experts shed light on Hajdari’s murder and the events of Monday. This seems to be the only possibility left to us. The correction of our strategies must begin here, by defining strategies based on modern European concepts.

Politicians react after the Strasbourg decision concerning the leader of the PD Gjinushi: The Prosecutor’s Office holds Berisha’s immunity Politicians react after the Strasbourg decision concerning the leader of the PD “Albanian justice doesn’t care about the Council of Europe” Gjinushi: The Prosecutor’s Office holds Berisha’s immunity TIRANA – The Albanian Parliament apparently will not implement one of the amendments adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which calls for Berisha’s parliamentary immunity to be restored. “This is not provided for by law. The restoration of immunity is decided by the justice system. If the Prosecutor’s Office closes the investigation, then a member of parliament regains immunity,” Gjinushi told Gazeta yesterday. The parliamentary speaker even gave the impression that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe’s resolution is not very important to the Albanian authorities. “In recent days, dozens of declarations and resolutions concerning Albania have been approved by various institutions and countries, but none of them has called for anything like this. The joint declaration of the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the EU and the BEP is the most important one for us,” Gjinushi said. The Socialists, too, appear likely to adopt this position. “Immunity is restored when the Prosecutor’s Office decides,” Braho said. On page 3

Sabri Hamiti wounded in Pristina On page 8

The final hours of Director Bleta: Fine, I’m leaving, but arrest at least 7 corrupt customs officers in Kakavijë On page 9

On page 4 Klosi in Parliament: How they stripped the Television station On page 10 TOMORROW: THE CONSTITUTION BOOK FREE

Rinas, 37 traffickers sent back On page 5 THE DURRËS GAZETTE Police, a wall against Islamists On page 7 THE SHKODËR GAZETTE Shots fired at Hani i Hotit customs post On page 6 List of students from the districts: Who got into the school On page 12