“Suspension of Albania from the Council of Europe”

A letter from Swiss politician Ryfi arrives from Strasbourg on the strong decision The majority motion in the Parliamentary Assembly of the CoE is coming soon The first signs that Albania might be expelled from the high-level European organization appeared after the elections ended, but the latest news arrived yesterday. A letter from Strasbourg, received at the Socialist Party headquarters, makes public the concern, as well as the insistence of the CoE majority that the country responsible for the major fraud on 26 May be punished as soon as possible. Following Dokle’s detailed account of everything that happened that Sunday, and Brussels’ and Washington’s positions on the Albanian elections, Strasbourg is now very close to its final decision. Rufi, one of the leaders of the Parliamentary Assembly of the CoE, assures the Albanian Socialist Deputy Chairman that nothing in Albania is over. —————— page 3

Europe summons the Albanian parties

On Monday in Strasbourg Europe summons the Albanian parties CoE Parliamentary Assembly session to confront the parties over the elections in Albania page 4

3,000 hunting cartridges seized

The dealers are arrested 3,000 hunting cartridges seized The goods had come to Albania from Turkey page 2

Sentenced to 36 years in prison

Gjirokastër, Cannabis Sativa Sentenced to 36 years in prison Eight Albanian traffickers facing serious charges

Yesterday, the defense hearing for Murra, Cami, Nebo, Bengasi, Loka and Asllani

Strong reaction from the US State Department

The system was to blame for the internments

Yesterday, the defense hearing for Murra, Çami, Nesho, Bengasi, Loka and Asllani The system was to blame for the internments Today, the accused will have the final word; the Prosecution sought 122 years in prison “The four former First Secretaries of the PPSH in the districts and the two other former officials of the Ministry of Internal Affairs accused in this case implemented the laws of the time. They were not at fault for the internment and expulsion of Albanian citizens for political reasons; the communist system was to blame.” This was the essence of the defense presented yesterday morning at the special hearing held at the Court of First Instance by the lawyers for Foto Çami, Prokop Murra, Muho Asllani, Qaqo Nesho, Dilaver Bengasi and Zef Loka. page 2

“The May 26 elections in Albania are invalid”

A sharp reaction from the U.S. State Department Burns: “The U.S. suggests finding a solution through the international committee” A sharp reaction from the U.S. State Department “The May 26 elections in Albania are invalid” Burns: “The U.S. suggests finding a solution through the international committee” Declaring that the cycle of parliamentary elections in Albania had ended and that the parliament resulting from these elections would convene on July 1, Berisha thought the international community would be presented with a fait accompli. However, this mechanism did not work either. “The opportunities provided for the repeat vote on June 16 in Albania were not sufficient to offset the irregularities that made the May 26 elections invalid,” declared U.S. State Department spokesperson Nikola Burns. page 3

Italy takes the plane, Saki is waiting...

Last night at the European Football Championship Italy takes the plane, Saki is waiting... The Czech Republic and Portugal qualify Klinsman consoles Kieza after last night’s match Reuters pages 22–23

Police chief arrested

Je... 86 years in prison Eight Albanian traffickers receive heavy sentences page 6 Pogradec, “epaulette corruption” uncovered Police chief arrested Four charges for taking over the police station page 9 Tomorrow: EU high-level meeting in Florence Europe in search of the new century Among the topics: “Mad Cow” as well as the situation in the Balkans, from the processes in the former Yugoslavia to the Albanian transition page 15