Meetings of the German president in Tirana Meeting between Mr. Herzog and the political parties at the German Embassy Without a Constitution, there can be no Council of Europe —Pjetër Arbnori: Albania has helped Germany 11 ✠ 01 Presidents Berisha and Hercog photo A. BABANI

Ylli Vejsiu seeks to challenge Selami in front of the German President “I have the mandate to represent the PD” Yesterday, as his receptions and meetings continued, German President Roman Herzog met with the leaders of the parties represented in the Albanian parliament at the German Embassy in Tirana. It seems that the protocol was very restrictive, because Mr. Ylli Vejsiu, who was not included in the protocol, waited for almost half an hour outside the embassy gates without being allowed in by the German guards. Noted for his Berishian persistence, he nevertheless appeared in the meeting room, taking a seat that happened to be vacant shortly after the German president had sat down. Vejsiu appears on none of the meeting protocols, because he was not allowed to speak among the party representatives. His intervention took on the proportions of a scandal, one that would make any Albanian blush at a moment when their nation stands before representatives of a civilized nation. Acting on an instruction that even exceeded the authority of party chairman Selami, Mr. Vejsiu openly challenged the latter in front of the German president, saying that he was the one who represented the PD. “I have the mandate to represent the PD,” Vejsiu told the German president, who, with a faint smile, seemed to indicate that he knew about the drama “Extraordinary Conference of the PD,” scheduled to play out on 5 March. But at this meeting, Selami’s legitimacy prevailed, and once again he represented the PD with his humane demeanor. Albanians consider it an internal matter of the PD if its leaders seek to tear one another apart at an extraordinary party conference, but they consider it shameful for such scenes to unfold before the eyes of the world, represented by a distinguished friend like Roman Herzog.

Refusal to govern or political retreat? Reactions from some politicians on the list page 5

—Vrioni: Albania has other Selamis page 3 Berat: From the PD party activists’ meeting

—The prisons are old... almost beyond repair. With funds from the EC, a large 6–7-storey prison could be built for all the prisoners page 4

The explosion after midnight caused damage and panic page 7 Durrës