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Berisha: I would be ashamed to go to Vlora. Armori strike: a solution is expected today. Prodi: the final signature for 10,000 refugees . Yesterday’s visit by President Meidani to Vlora is the first by an Albanian head of state since November last year, when former president Sali Berisha took his final leave of the people of Vlora. At the time President Meidani was visiting the city of Vlora, his predecessor said, “I would be ashamed to go to Vlora.” According to the leader of the PD, the reason is that “not all politicians can go to this city,” as was the case in his time. But this claim, made public yesterday by the “anti-Vlora” man, is not entirely true. Vlora has kept its doors open to all Albanian politicians, without excluding any part of the political spectrum. The fact is that politicians of every hue have gone to the city, a bastion of revolt against Berisha and his regime, including foreign politicians, as in the case of Italian Prime Minister Prodi. To be truthful, it must be acknowledged that the only politician unwelcome in Vlora is the leader of the PD, Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha. A politician unable to take a step back, he chose confrontation instead of dialogue with the people of Vlora, as though he were dealing with a handful of politicians from the then-opposition whom he was used to “crushing underfoot.” Thus, it is understandable that the people of Vlora would not open their doors to those who declared war on them—the architect of the massacre, for whose success he would not have spared tanks and heavy weapons, or even chemical agents. But that was not all. Vriba, throughout the election campaign, never ceased making insulting accusations against the people of Vlora, calling them rebels, linked to mafia gangs, or even agents of foreign intelligence services. The people of Vlora also feel insulted by these things. The people of Vlora also resent someone else. Around April or May, Berisha promised he would go to Vlora, but he did not keep that promise either. This fact makes one think that perhaps Berisha himself is unable to go to the city where the overthrow of his rule was set in motion. Indeed, it is hard to imagine him doing so even if an opportunity arose to go there. This is because the PD leader himself feels guilty toward the people of Vlora and lacks the courage to make a public apology; perhaps he still has that characteristic merit of his, or perhaps he is retaliated against, as most of his former associates have also experienced. Otherwise, he would not have wanted to eliminate even the fox in Aesop’s fable. Berisha truly complained about the visit to Vlora, judging that Meidani’s visit to Vlora would ... [illegible sections] ... the purpose of this visit, during which the current head of ... [illegible sections] ... with a political framework ... “Vlora of the Flag,” as ... [illegible sections]. Keeping to Mr. Meidani’s character, ... [illegible sections] ... Berisha in Vlora. But will ... [illegible sections] ... react positively ... GAVROSHI LEVONJA

Evening Standard DIANA: A TRIBUTE Evening Standard — DIANA: A TRIBUTE

Evening Standard DEBEN The princess’s death dominates the press and London. Photo: REUTERS

Kalashnikovs from the south heading to the Legionnaire Page 17

30 cigarettes seized; 6 trucks sought Page 6

The heads of state in the city of revolts Page 5