Dritëro Agolli sparks debate within the Socialist Party. The well-known writer has not spared his pen in taking the Prime Minister and his ministers, as well as other members of the cabinet, to task. The editorial office nevertheless remains open to debate with PS members, ministers and Socialist MPs as well. Dritëro Agolli The question of whether a division has arisen between the government of “meritocrats” and the Socialist Party is now asked neither by any Socialist nor by anyone with a little sense in their head. This question has its answer within it, and the gulf lies between them. It is asked only in a journalistic way or in some other transmuting way, usually as a matter of courtesy. Today the question is: where is the gulf between the government of “meritocrats” and the Socialist Party, between the meritocratic rulers and the Socialists shorn of merit, so that Nano’s swans of super-meritocracy may flourish, along with some micro-doctor and some imitative micro-ruler, also a meritocrat according to the new philosophy of governance? And so, where does this gulf lie? First, the gulf lies in the ridiculous and deceptive idea of “meritocracy,” a term borrowed from some Italian politician’s wording, used by chance and temporarily and then turned into a “philosophical concept” by the leading light and solemn chorus of the Socialists. This “meritocracy” was used as a means of separating ideals from merits, leaving the Socialist Party without ideals and creating a clan of bureaucrats who could be corrupted as easily as possible. A party without ideals, just like a person without ideals, co- Continued on page 3

Foreign soldiers in Bosnia On page 2

Majko thunders from party headquarters: Replacements must be made Storm over the ministers Changes among coalition members are imminent Nano to his subordinates: No one should consider themselves pampered TIRANA - The coalition is splitting. Yesterday Nano warned of the storm expected to fall upon his ministers. Yesterday, the Secretary General of the PS, Majko, shared this view: “I will ask the Prime Minister to begin changes in the cabinet,” he said, thus raising a storm over the frightened ministers of the coalition government. There has not yet been a reaction from the parties in the governing coalition. But it seems that Nano and Majko’s statements will not pass easily at the central headquarters of the PAD, PSD and the other coalition parties. The government cabinet On page 3

SHKODËR - Two Shkodër traders drowned in the Buna while being pursued by a boat carrying Montenegrin soldiers. They were crossing the border clandestinely after buying some mandarin saplings to trade. They were spotted by Montenegrin border guards and then pursued by them. The motorboat they were travelling in lost its balance, and the traders ended up in the Buna. Their bodies have not yet been found. Also yesterday in Shkodër, two young men lost their lives while trying to catch a fish with explosives. The grenade exploded before they could throw it into the lake. On page 9

TIRANA - Investigative file on counterfeit dollars. The Chief Prosecutor of the Republic, Arben Rakipi, confirmed yesterday to Gazeta Shqiptare that an investigation into the issuance of counterfeit dollars that have entered the Albanian market will begin very soon. Yesterday he requested infor-

The Contact Group’s decision to postpone the application of sanctions against Serbia for another four weeks, while awaiting concrete steps from Belgrade and Prishtina toward bilateral talks, seems to have contributed to the disappointment of all those who had hoped for something else. Bashkim Gjergji The Contact Group’s decision to postpone the application of sanctions against Serbia for another four weeks, while awaiting concrete steps from Belgrade and Prishtina toward most striking ... consideration of the views of Kosovo’s political forces, which, speaking in the name takes into account Serbian policies, military power and nationalism on the one hand, as well as the abundant resources

TIRANA - Investigative file on counterfeit dollars. Two young men lost their lives; forgetfulness tries to bring back to life... it into the lake. On page 9. SHIK too against counterfeit dollars TIRANA - investigation into the issuance of counterfeit dollars, which had entered the Albanian market, would begin very soon. Yesterday he requested full information from the Albanian Secret Service, as well as from experts at the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The Prosecution has decided not to remain silent in the face of the latest phenomenon to appear in Tirana’s currency market. On page 12

TIRANA - After Fino, Nano too, just back from Bonn, gives his response on the setbacks and achievements in the fight against smuggling. Meidani’s criticism does not seem to have been taken particularly to heart by the head of the executive, who considers the fight against smuggling a responsibility of the cabinet he leads. “I do not accept the idea that our Government, including the parties that make it up, is completely immune to the flaws inherited by Albanian politics today,” he said in Tirana, implying that in no case should the responsibility of particular individuals be confused with that of the entire Government. On page 12

GAZETA of Tirana The Municipality too gets an unauthorized radio station TIRANA - A radio station that had until now been broadcasting secretly was discovered in an office of the Municipality of Tirana. Ulqini of the PS considered this unacceptable under the standards of the forthcoming media law, while Brojka said that Radio Bashkia had merely occupied a frequency while awaiting approval, and that he would seek its legitimate closure. Ulqini said that the recommendations of the Council of Europe were what had advised that Albanian municipalities should not have their own radio and television stations. These recommendations are expected to be taken into account in the law on Albanian electronic media, which will soon be approved. On page 4

A 2-0 win over Partizani The coach and players are beaten On pages 10-11

GAZETA of Durrës DURRËS - Are state offices open or not on Saturday? It has recently become one of the problems for the people of Durrës. In fact, following Prime Minister Nano’s decision and Imam’s proposals, nothing is clear in the coastal city. Some offices are open, others are not. This has caused confusion among citizens. people of Durrës. In fact, following the decision of Prime Minister Nano and Chief Prosecutor Imam[it], the proposals[?] ... ... two weeks and for four steps[n], while awaiting concrete steps from Belgrade and Prishtina for bilateral talks, seems to have contributed to the disappointment of all those who had hoped for something else. What is most striking is that even powers such as Germany and Italy, previously presented as supporters of the rights of the Albanian population in Kosovo and opponents of Milošević’s policies, have recently taken a more subdued tone in the context of the need for a unified position by the group on this shared problem. From Mr Kinkel’s statement during his conversation with Prime Minister Nano, it is difficult to understand whether this new opening being granted to the Belgrade regime is influenced by the particular interests of the participating states, Europe’s traditional weakness, or a straightforward political bargain in exchange for Russia’s position, which has agreed to discuss changing Kosovo’s current status. Beyond the restrained diplomatic language, this position of the Western powers, with the exception of the USA, can be understood as a temporary brake on the application of coercive measures against Belgrade. But what may most likely become a topic of future discussion concerns the position of our government, which went to Bonn as a party entitled to make proposals. Prime Minister Nano himself declared the government’s position in support of the option of Kosovo as a republic within the Yugoslav Federation. Despite declarations about increasingly broad talks and contacts with Prishtina, the public expects to learn in greater detail whether the proposal of the top official has received ... ... of the people, have expressed support for Kosovo as a Republic and an independent state. The idea of an Albanian state structure within the federation seems somewhat faint when one takes into account Serbian politics, military power and nationalism on the one hand, and Kosovo’s abundant economic resources on the other. The lack of consultations on a broad basis with political forces at home before going to Bonn is one of the criticisms levelled at the Albanian team that took part. But, above all, two arguments appear to lie at the heart of the opposition’s critical tone toward the government’s position: - The external factor is undoubtedly very important, but by no means decisive in the development of the Albanian issue in general (the phenomenon of Bosnia is highly significant with regard to Western tolerance, which may shift only at a very high price). - Putting forward, in an argued manner, the maximal demand in order subsequently to reach a level acceptable to all parties need not be considered an adolescent policy that runs counter to the West’s position. At the very least, one should bear in mind Milošević’s [b?]ka, who has never hesitated to put forward ever greater claims on behalf of current Serbian policy. This would, above all, remove from the shoulders of today’s government the accusations of taking a weak position for the sake of holding on to power. On the other hand, such a way of presenting the issue would compel Rugova to abandon an ambivalent position, concealed by extreme statements within Kosovo’s territory. • Head of the Department of Journalism at UT

GAZETA TV All the week’s television programs and news about the protagonists On pages 5-8

At 2 o’clock this morning, the clock hands moved forward one hour. Daylight saving time will end again on October 25, the last Sunday of the month. Albanians slept one hour less last night. Apart from England, the clocks changed today throughout Europe.