Opposition: We will not enter polling stations without conditions. The Election Commission must be dissolved DP: “We will not accept pressure. Back down or you will suffer defeats” Opposition: We will not enter polling stations without conditions. The Election Commission must be dissolved Nine parties threaten Berisha DP: “We will not accept pressure. Back down or you will suffer defeats” page 3

Everything seems like an adventure film. Rambo is missing, but Afghanistan is full of tragedy, exoticism and international entanglements. It involves special UN envoys seeking to reconcile tribes that are killing one another, Afghan guerrillas fighting for power after the communist government was overthrown in 1992, and even Washington and Moscow are not absent from this adventurous setting. They seem to have a certain convergence of interests in this theatre of war and conflict, which has existed since the Cold War. And in this atmosphere, worthy of exotic films and “Indiana Jones” episodes, Albania also makes an appearance. Here, our small, unknown, poor country meets all the requirements for such films. Weapons that are fuelling the Afghan war, which is approaching its tenth year, have supposedly come from Albania, says the ROJTER agency in a report from Islamabad. And the plot becomes even more complicated when the agency mentions five Russian pilots who were captured during an operation while they were “transporting weapons obtained from Albania to deliver them to Kabul”. According to the British news agency ROJTER, the pilots and their cargo were captured by a group of guerrillas from the Taliban Islamic movement. They spotted the transport planes carrying weapons from Albania and forced them to land in the city of Kandahar. The whole incident took place a year ago, that is, in 1995. The Taliban Islamic movement has always refused to cooperate with the United Nations in its peace efforts as long as Rabani and Masot remain in power; they have sworn to impose strict laws against Islamists throughout the country. According to the British news agency, “Holl spent an hour and a half [with?] Russian [pilots?] who were transporting weapons obtained from Albania to deliver them to Kabul and were forced to land in Kandahar a year ago.” As the report indicates, the weapons were intended for the team currently ruling in Kabul, the Afghan insurgents. One could therefore assume that Albanian weapons arrived in Kabul under an official agreement. However, our government has officially denied that it had denied [?]... (Continued on page 24) VLADIMIR PRELA

Yesterday in the Philippines: A worker takes cover, threatened by the latest earthquake Shamata begins replacing his subordinates Storm at the Ministry of the Interior Several department directors and the spokesperson for the public order ministry are dismissed The first to open the “list of purges” carried out quietly by Minister Shamata is reportedly the Director General of the Directorate of Road Traffic, inkl. E. Kazazi. He was known as a “strong hand” in this department, thanks to his professional abilities and knowledge of the many problems of heavy road traffic. Kazazi was also part of the working group that drafted and adapted the Republic’s new Road Code, together with the former Deputy Minister of Transport, Mr. Fehmi Godo. reuter page 7

Yesterday, marathon meeting of the SP leadership. Amendments to the Statute New structure proposed: Chairman, Secretary General, and two secretaries page 3 Yesterday, marathon meeting of the SP leadership. Amendments to the Statute The chairman to be elected at the Congress New structure proposed: Chairman, Secretary General, and two secretaries page 3

Suspect A. Basha takes another action “This instrument is against humanity,” judge three former First Secretaries Suspect A. Basha takes another action The accused in the Kaloshi case on hunger strike “This instrument is against humanity,” judge three former First Secretaries

17 years for Piro Kondi and Qirjako Mihali page 2

REPORTAGE - At the place near Albania’s second-largest customs post page 11 REPORTAGE - At the place near Albania’s second-largest customs post Smuggling shuts the gates at Kapshticë page 11

Organizers before the press about the concert at Qemal Stafa page 20 Organizers before the press about the concert at Qemal Stafa 15–20 dollars to see “La Bouche” page 20