Page 2 Mezini has spoken; the “stained” candidates of 26 May are burned, 31 candidates out of the race. The alarm at the CEC continues, delays everywhere. Foresti, farewell “Mezini” storm over the opposition The delay in giving answers about the names of candidates submitted by the parties marked the first phase of the service that the “Commission for the Verification of Figures” was providing to President Berisha. The second phase has begun with the delivery of the long-awaited answers to the parties. The storm from the “Mezini” commission, as last year, seems this time too set to wreak havoc among Berisha’s opponents, without sparing his own “prodigal sons.” The first answers sent by this commission to some of the parties show that almost all those penalized in the previous elections will once again be deprived of the right to stand as candidates. So far, the only exception has been made for some officials from the communist governments of recent years, which may be part of an agreement between the two big players. The immediate conclusion that can be drawn from this is that the extensive publicity given to the so-called “softening” of the absurd genocide law, or the verification of figures, is merely a farce—or, rather, one of Berisha’s usual traps, into which the opposition has fallen, as it has on other occasions. On the other hand, it is striking that even those who have only recently shifted into the anti-Berisha camp are expected to have problems with the “Mezini” commission, which does not even take into account the fact that a year ago it gave them the green light to run as candidates. Meanwhile, just as last year, the commission in question has given the go-ahead to people who continue to serve Berisha to seek the electorate’s votes, regardless of whether they were zealous collaborators of the Sigurimi or held some other position falling within the scope of this law. Perhaps, confident that their past will remain concealed, they are precisely the ones calling for the strengthening of the anti-genocide law and everything else relating to restrictions on the right to stand as a candidate. Thus, once again, it is becoming perfectly clear that the so-called “Commission for the Verification of Figures,” like all the bodies or institutions serving Berisha—and even more so, the law that led to the creation and operation of this commission—is a pistol in the hands of the head of state, used to get rid of those he dislikes. This explains very well Berisha’s insistence on not repealing this antidemocratic law, as well as the insistence of one of his lackeys, who is clamoring for the law to be strengthened. Keeping the genocide and verification-of-figures law in force is one of the shortcomings of the 9 March agreement, and the opposition is now paying for it. G.L.

Thousands of Albanian emigrants yesterday afternoon in Athens’ Omonia Square, at the opposition rally Photo REUTERS

54 tons of money on the brink of scandal Page 11

The Albanian capital under terror Page 9

Mass desertions in the battalions of the Republican Guard. After the Elbasan incident, 60 soldiers hand over their weapons. No one agrees to escort Berisha to Fier

At 11:00, the opposition parties are holding a major rally in the city of Lezhë. The rally will take place in the city’s main square. On this occasion, the candidates for parliament will be introduced. The rally will also feature a speech by Nikollë Lesi, an independent parliamentary candidate for constituency No. 17, who is supported by all political parties except the PD.