Vranicki cancels his visit to Vlora and Shkodër. Meets again with the President and the parties. Vlora is left holding flowers for Vranicki SHIK withdraws 4 million dollars from the banks without the permission of the Fino Government Pages 2, 9

The former chancellor “opens” the ballot box Yesterday Vlora was betrayed again, tragically. Its betrayers were Sali Berisha and the Italian ambassador Paolo Foresti. The victims left in the field of this vile betrayal are Vlora and Europe’s envoy, Franc Vraniski. Here is how it happened: Mr. Vranicki publicly declared that he would visit Vlora, as well as Shkodër. In fact, the visit to Vlora was scheduled to take place yesterday. But, strangely, the helicopter carrying Vranicki did not set off for Vlora and Shkodër. So the visit was canceled. This caused great confusion and, at the same time, insulted Vlora and Shkodër. Vlora, recently proclaimed one of the centers of true Albanian civic spirit and meanwhile envisioned as a future capital, was “cast” into a black pit yesterday. Vlora never deserved this. Nevertheless, Vlora is at the forefront of the progressive spirit that placed Albanian civic courage in a position of honor. Just two days earlier, a letter from Vlora had reached Vranicki, inviting him to Vlora, thanking him for everything he had done to stabilize Albania, devastated by Berisha, and assuring him that Vlora supports the Government of Reconciliation and the principles of Europe. Yet yesterday Mr. Vranicki was forced to turn his back on the Vlora he had promised to visit. Why did this happen? This is where the Berisha–Foresti betrayal lies. According to entirely reliable and highly confidential inside sources, the night before last Mr. Vranicki was subjected to unprecedented pressure. While guns thundered in Tirana, organized by Berisha’s gangs, in closed rooms the Italian ambassador Foresti was pressuring Vranicki. We learn that Foresti told Vranicki: “I cannot guarantee your journey to Vlora. You could be killed there by the ‘volunteers.’” Meanwhile, when he saw that Europe’s envoy was not quickly backing away from going to Vlora, the Italian ambassador added: “You can go to Vlora, but only dressed in bulletproof clothing, wearing a helmet and riding on tanks.” Vranicki is said to have replied firmly: “I would go to Vlora only in civilian clothes.” But even the prospect of civilian clothes frightened Berisha’s Party. Representatives of that Party told Vranicki that they had reliable information that the committees of Vlora and the South were made up of bandits and mafiosi. Yesterday Vlora was betrayed again; Vlora is bearing the heavy burden of all of Berisha’s blackmail. The cooperation of the Italian diplomatic representative with the Berisha regime, hated by Vlora and all of Albania, is a betrayal of the entire Albanian people, who are seeking to win freedom and democracy as a people in Europe’s family. After what happened to Vlora, Berisha and his Party could cause another great tragedy. Europe must not be unsettled by its own scum, even if they are ambassadors. F. FRROK ÇUPI From the October 1996 elections Photo: M. Paloka → find more information? From the October 1996 elections. Photo: M. Paloka

The newspaper “Koha Jonë” wishes all Muslim believers, at home and abroad, a happy Eid al-Adha. May this day bring peace and kindness among Albanians.