The President cut short his vacation in Vlora to choose Tirana’s chairman and opponents Minister Brojka — the new DP chairman for Tirana Berisha at the Tirana DP Conference: With just one sentence, President Berisha yesterday described the Albanian Socialists as hated enemies. He described their alternative as hostile to democracy, the country’s integration into Europe, and human freedoms and rights. For the second time in a week, Berisha returned to Tirana from his vacation on the Ionian coast. But while a few days ago his punch was taken by the right-wingers, yesterday, at the fourth conference of the Tirana DP, the Socialists took that punch. Berisha described the Socialists’ efforts to prevent approval of the law on human rights and freedoms, their efforts to keep the country out of the Council of Europe, and many other such actions as the bankruptcy of Socialist politics. In his view, from a party headed by former State Security chief Gramoz Ruçi, nothing other than destructive actions can be expected. page 3 Berisha and Gramoz Ruçi once posed together; today they are enemies

Club president Metush Seferi and coach Muça speak to “KJ” Sport — Football page 12

Pays 700,000 lekë TIRANA — Another former member of the Blloku has opened his purse. It is Rita Marko, the third Blloku member to have begun paying his financial obligations to the state. Yesterday afternoon, the former Deputy President of the People’s Assembly paid the first installment, 700,000 old lekë, and still has two more installments to pay. After Foto Çami, who paid the entire fine of more than 2 million lekë, and Manush Myftiu, R. Marko is the third to have complied with the enforcement ruling. Apparently the poorest is Adil Çarçani, the former prime minister, who was unable to pay the amount, and for this reason the bailiffs seized his household belongings. Z.D

VLORA — 40,000 narcotic plants uprooted and 550 families identified as cultivating drugs is the 40-day tally of anti-drug operations by law-enforcement forces in the Vlora district, a source at the police station said. The cultivation area includes all the villages of Vlora, with the exception of the villages of Himara and Narta, the source added. August will be the second phase of the anti-drug operations, which will deliver the final blow to drug cultivators on the eve of September, which also marks the start of the cannabis sativa harvest season. The tally of 30,000 plants and 400 families reported by Mr. Mulosmani for these weeks has been augmented by 10,000 plants and 150 families, while operations continue in the villages of Vlora. Tuesday’s operation in the village of Vranisht is singled out; according to the police-station source, Mr. Mulosmani himself took part. S.HIBRO

President Berisha has not abandoned his vacation, and returned only for the Tirana DP Conference. In his office he received the American actor of Korça origin, James Belushi. Following his earlier meeting at the Presidency with Michele Placido (known as Commissioner Cattani), this is Berisha’s second meeting with stars of the cinema, and perhaps their first with a head of state. After the customary greetings, Belushi is said to have left the president of his ancestral homeland a memento, but neither journalists nor photojournalists were present at the time. Belushi speaks exclusively to “KJ” about his visit to Albania. Read more on page 14. Berisha and Belushi during yesterday’s meeting photo A. BABANI

Afghanistan: The Russian plane loaded in Albania still in the hands of its Afghan hijackers page 3

The prosecutor who asked for Nano’s release on appeal page 3

Following the impounding of 30 private speedboats page 3

Two speedboats seized at Karaburun Two speedboats off the coast of Karaburun fell into the hands of the border police on Tuesday, a source at the police station said. The number of speedboats seized by law-enforcement forces over the course of two days has thus reached six, the source added, but the situation with speedboats making illegal crossings will continue. S.H