The presidential decree on the Permanent Electoral Commission will be annulled pages 3, 5

“We consider it a cooperative round table,” was the Democratic Alliance Party’s official position regarding the call for a meeting of the political parties yesterday at the Presidency. The former PD MPs who had tabled a motion, on the only occasion they have found themselves face to face with their former leader, issued a statement in harsh tones and made no attempt to take part in the interparty talks. In their place, the Albanian liberal democrats sent a document, hastily submitted, containing the relevant amendments to the law. They believe these changes could prove decisive in modernizing the situation or in finding a way out of the political crisis that has gripped the country for three months. Nevertheless, they say that all this could be a game played by those in power, although they are not prejudging it. The possibility that the round table might be used to serve demagoguery, both abroad and at home, is one of the factors that has deterred AD from taking part in the meeting convened at the Presidency. The only Albanian party which, four years after its founding, has for the first time been invited to talks by the Albanian President has, most unexpectedly, decided to examine the cards placed on the table. The reserve card of the August 1992 motion-makers was to establish bilateral contacts, with each party meeting the president separately. They have recently opposed the idea of a huge round table bringing together 14 different parties under President Berisha’s direction. Above all, the Democratic Alliance now seems to be opposing even its allies, given the opposition’s insistence on beginning dialogue at a round table. A few months ago, the latter had attempted something similar in terms of the number of participants to the right-wing round table, but also under the direction of the head of state. PAD was also the initiator of the opposition parties’ round table on the issue of 26 May, despite the risk of a cooperativization of

The broadcast is being challenged via Eurovision, in exchange for 1,500 exhibition visitors As is known, “Miss Europa 96” is being held in Tirana on 27 and 28 September. The production team, directed by the renowned Vera Grabocka, is making the final preparations for this major show, but their program also includes the European contestants’ rehearsals, or opening appearance, in traditional Albanian folk costumes. The costumes are kept in the storerooms of the Folklore Institute in Tirana, but the institute’s director, Agron Xhangolli, refuses to lend them for this major show, using the absurd justification that “the costumes are for exhibitions, not for Miss.” Xhangolli’s reasoning does not fit with the format or the type of show, since there is no better “exhibition” of our clothing than on the bodies of the beauty contestants; there is no better opportunity than “Miss Europa” to show the beauty of our national costumes to nearly 200 million viewers through nine European state channels and ten private ones. It is hard to believe that Xhangolli’s exhibition, which can be seen by only 1,500 people a year, could reach 200 million viewers live via Eurovision. This is the best opportunity to show the world who we Albanians are, in this field too. Xhangolli should feel ashamed, along with those members of the Academy of Sciences who signed the refusal to lend the old costumes. Nevertheless, the costumes belong to the state, and the state is ours, says a member of the “Miss Europa 96” staff. We therefore call on state institutions to intervene and resolve this misunderstanding with Xhangolli.

When everyone thought Berisha had left the meeting

The resolution does not provide for a round table chaired by Berisha page 5 Kukës, Yugoslavs complain about illegal crossings 25 incidents at the border The Albanian side has recorded four violations, including one killing page 12 Official ceremony for those appointed by the High Council of Justice The 15 new judges: “We swear...” Yesterday at the Tirana Court, following the latest appointments of the “black robes,” the number of judges and assistant judges reached 50 page 2 The small “pocket” of “Meksi 2” opens Money in dribs and drabs for the homeless page 10