DP, National Council, Berisha’s first victory. Elections: Laçi and Shkodra again without MPs. Forlani: Ciao Albania Page 2

“Are we going to be the opposition or not?” With this question addressed to the National Council, Sali Berisha made his first appearance yesterday before his party as an opposition leader, and no longer as head of state. The first meeting of the highest body of the former ruling party was also the first occasion on which the former president drew the sword he had put aside back in 1991, when he was building his power from parliament. But times have changed, and yesterday Berisha had to shout at many of his people, still stunned by the result of 29 June. The Palace of Congresses relived the same moments as in the old days, when the PD had time to deal with internal enemies, while the strong leader of the largest opposition party once again used his ability to impose his will to save what remains of the party founded in December 1990 from disintegration. To be or not to be. And if so, what should it be? This was yesterday’s dilemma for the PD, a dilemma that lasted not just a little while, but a full seven hours. Set against a backdrop of enemies, old grudges and clan warfare—which are routine procedure in Mr Berisha’s party—yesterday’s meeting of the Democrats claimed its latest victim. Former Prime Minister Aleksandër Meksi was definitively left out of the group tasked with preparing the party congress, something that may be considered a preliminary step towards his final removal. But Meksi was not the only one defeated. What was expected to happen did not happen. The revolt by the district branches never materialised, and Berisha had no difficulty controlling the hall, despite the party’s confused state and the mountain of responsibility resting on his shoulders. The lesson of what was seen yesterday is the familiar one: those who have always said that the Democratic Party is fatally bound to the fate of the man who dominated it for five years were the winners. The condition of the party in the South occupied a great deal of the PD Council’s time yesterday. Despite Berisha’s enthusiasm for rallies in the cities of revolt, few people in the assembly hall can have dared to imagine one taking place soon south of the Shkumbin River. But that does not mean Berisha is wrong. The PD leader has understood that the party’s condition and its ability to respond as an opposition in the future will depend, above all, on its ability to rebuild its nationwide structures in the south of the country. Yesterday, the PD National Council was the first test Berisha successfully passed as opposition leader. Once again, he proved that he is the only leader capable of imposing his will on the party, dispelling yet again the doubts of those who see him as defeated. If this does not happen now, when he has foreseen the defeat in the early elections, it is hard to see it happening later, when Berisha and the loyalists around him begin to think about rebuilding.

ALBA chief, General Forlani, leaves Albania last. Photo: REUTERS

Ministry of the Interior uncovers it in the South Pages 6–7

Assistance begins. Review of VAT and customs duties Page 7

Commission head faces 5 years’ imprisonment Page 6

Police and buses from Tirana to Vlora. Flowers and tears of joy in the city of revolts. Ministry of the Interior: “We arrested the gang leaders”. Zani to “K”: “They betrayed us”

August 1997. Indizi ne ... chëin ... onorar ... organizzato ... R.S