Delegation of European socialists in Tirana: Solidarity with the opposition PSE: We will monitor the free elections On Saturday and Sunday, from the camp of the left in Europe, the secretary-general of the PSE, Fransua Vallen, as well as Andersen, Rolle, and Piantini, respectively representatives of the social-democratic parties of Sweden, Germany and Italy, arrived in Tirana. Tomorrow the head of this delegation, the PSE vice-president, Akile Oketo, as well as a representative of Pasok, will also arrive. The delegation began its first official activity last night with a meeting with the chairman of PSD, Skënder Gjinushi. From the outset, the PSE mission declared to journalists that it was concerned about the political and legal reasons that continue to keep the imprisoned socialist leader, Fatos Nano, behind bars. “This concern,” said Vallen, “is also growing because the Albanian Ministry of Justice did not accept our request to meet with Bençe and the chairman of the PS, Fatos Nano.” Later, the European socialists, after praising the achievements of PSD, criticized the third violation of the constitutional right to vote, the disregard for the rules of the political game, and promised their solidarity with the Albanian opposition, the drafting of a resolution for Albania, and their participation in monitoring the free elections. From last night’s meeting of the PSE delegation with Gjinushi photo A.BABANI page 3

TV reveals the “secret” “The Institute for Strategic Studies, in cooperation with the American Republican Institute, carried out a poll some time ago,” said TVSH last night. What until yesterday had been called “the American poll for the Albanian parties” is given the seal of “Mehmet Elezi” by the state TV. page 4

After the convention is signed by the justice ministers

The former President returns to the Prosecutor’s Office over the events at the United School For 150 minutes the former head of state under questioning by the investigative group Page 2 Ramiz Alia leaving the prosecutor’s office photo A. BABANI

A new era begins for Greece Papulias and Venizellos are missing from the new Cabinet Yesterday the new Greek cabinet, posing for photographers at the Presidential Palace after the swearing-in ceremony photo Reuters page 9

page 5

From Sukthi to Rrashbull page 6

The trial over the 800 thousand dollars comes to an end The head of the account department of Banka Tregëtare and his employee are in handcuffs After many court hearings, the trial over the “Epidamn” company scandal has concluded at the Durrës Court. Yesterday the panel of judges decided on five years’ imprisonment for the two defendants on the charge of “abuse of office”. The event that put the head of the account department of Banka Tregëtare Durrës and the bank employee in the dock took place on 9 October 1994, when the ship “Lido” entered the port of Durrës with a cargo of 5,200 tons of oil on behalf of the company “Epidamn”. page 7

Elections in Palestine page 12

Alia’s Boshnjakur intervention interrupts the song Page 19