Yesterday at the Presidency, the 25 members of the Council of Ministers were appointed Serreqi, Musaraj, Shehu, etc. leave. Zhulali, Laço, Xhaja, Panariti, etc. remain Speculation about the next government has come to an end. The 25 names making up the second Meksi cabinet have now been made public. President Berisha announced yesterday afternoon the government that will lead the country following the 26 May elections. Sixteen ministers and nine state secretaries are preparing to take their seats around the oval table of the Council of Ministers. The leader of the DP, Tritan Shehu, holding two posts—that of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs—is expected to be the leading figure in the second Meksi cabinet. From the first Meksi government, the names carried over to the second are Zhulali, Minister of Defence; Suzana Panariti, Minister of Industry; and Maksim Cikuli, Minister of Health. Abdyl Xhaja has once again retained the post of Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy. Teodor Laço will be Minister of Culture, Youth and Women. Godo, Melo, Selfo, Bushati and Ajazi are left empty-handed — page 3

The doors are shut and guards at Bënça are increased Neither family members nor anyone else is allowed to visit the imprisoned PS leader Yesterday, news of an unexpected development emerged from sources close to the family of the Socialist Party chairman. Bënça Prison has hermetically sealed its doors to Fatos Nano. Neither family members nor anyone else is allowed to meet with the imprisoned leader, immediately following the decision of the General Steering Committee of the Socialist Party, which sidestepped his motion. As he awaits the PS Congress, scheduled for 24–27 August, Nano will have no opportunity to contact people. Vague reasons, while indicating 6 August as the earliest possible end of the isolation, have blocked Nano’s communications. But it seems the isolation of the PS motion proponent will continue until after the Congress, where his views will be set against those of the four Socialist deputy leaders. This isolation comes immediately after the prison doors had been partially opened to Nano, temporarily and to a limited extent. From there, he sent his motion; from there, he spoke to the press and to the radio station “Voice of America,” and communicated freely with his family—to such an extent that it seemed the doors had opened at least halfway. But that is not what happened. A visit by his family was interrupted by the guards at the high-security prison, who used the order to stop Nano’s visits as a barricade. (continued on page 3)

Trial date announced for the “five masterminds” of Internments and Expulsions Yesterday, after 45 days, they were allowed to meet with their lawyers and relatives Haxhi Lleshi, Manush Myftiu, Zylftar Ramizi, Aranit Çela and Rrapi Mino are accused of having, “while holding high state positions, ordered the mass internment and expulsion of Albanian citizens for political reasons.” They will be tried by the Court of Appeal at 9:30 on the 22nd of this month. — page 2

From Monday, at the Prosecutor’s Office over the events in “Skënderbej” Square The list of “organizers” includes Pëllumbi, Dokle, Pashko, Ceka, Legisi, Majko, Apostoli, Gjinushi, Imami, Gonxhe, etc. From the square named after Albania’s national hero to police cells, and finally to the offices of the capital’s investigators and prosecutors. This is the route that has begun and that, it seems, will be completed in a few days by the leaders of the opposition. “They led the illegal rally in Skënderbej Square” and “against the manipulation of votes by the party in power”—these appear to be the grounds for this latest action by the investigative authorities. Page 2

European concern over “epizootic aphtha” Croatian and former Yugoslav embargo on Albanian meat; Macedonia also on the “blacklist.” 80,000 ECU for 250,000 vaccines Albania is once again at the center of attention of EU bodies. This time, the subject is not the 26 May elections, but “epizootic aphtha,” an animal disease also known as “plasi-a.” Although preventive measures were taken after it was detected several months ago in some areas of Albania, the virus has unfortunately spread to neighboring countries as well—to Greece and especially Macedonia. Page 5

Conservatives against the “Nano” Motion Elbasan: after the rivals’ quarrel, the innocent suffer A woman and two children passing nearby are injured. Page 6