Press conference by Prime Minister Nano — Once again against usury . Investigations into dirty money. The pyramid schemes have laundered money. Page 3.

Despite the violence used against the Albanians of Kosovo in Prishtina, Albanians should, in a way, say “thank you” to the Serbian regime. Albanians won what they wanted: the discrediting of Belgrade’s primitive policy. Serbian policy in every corner of the Balkans where Serbian is spoken suffered various blows and lost credibility on every level. On the same day that Albanians in Kosovo were mistreated, opposition rallies were held in Belgrade and in the Serb Republic of Bosnia, and SFOR peacekeeping troops seized four television transmitters, thereby putting an end to Serbian propaganda against NATO. In this way, the International Community, led by the USA, discredited the Milošević regime on both fronts: showing the Serbs its teeth, making it clear that the Dayton Agreement, signed by the Serbian head of state, Slobodan Milošević, would be implemented to the letter, and at the same time delivering a moral blow to them in Prishtina. For Milošević, 1 October 1997 in Prishtina is like 28 May 1996 in Tirana for Berisha. Albanians showed the world that it is difficult to hold a dialogue with the Serbs and that such a regime can still create problems for the Balkans. Meanwhile, Tirana’s three-month-old foreign policy also achieved, in a way, its first moral success against Serbia. The unprecedented Milo-Milutinović meeting gained a different meaning, which could be summed up as follows: Tirana extended its hand to Belgrade to open Albanian-Serbian dialogue in a civilised manner, while Belgrade brutally shut that door in Prishtina. The International Community and public opinion as a whole understood better than ever who the Serbian regime is, and that without continuous international economic and political pressure on Serbia, the Dayton Agreement cannot be implemented. The greatest pressure will probably, as always, be initiated by the Americans, the architects of the Dayton Agreement, for whom its incomplete implementation would be a major moral failure, just as the Europeans’ failure to end the war in Bosnia was. At the start of his second term, President Clinton made it clear that American policy would deal with the Balkans more seriously than ever. And the first signs have appeared. But what place does Kosovo have in American policy? Is it merely a means of exerting pressure on the Serbian regime, to compel it to respect the Dayton Agreement, or a land where there will be more ... has the right to live in the future with what it has gained for now morally[?]? Or a little of everything? In the face of the American political formula for the Balkans, Albanian politics on both sides of the border has little left to do. Like Rugova, Milo too has given signs that he will shape Albanian policy on the basis of the recommendations in every bulletin published in Washington. But Albanian policy should be independent of major moves that ask for less than could be asked for. After the latest violence in Prishtina, Albanians have every reason to raise the “stakes” over Kosovo, regardless of what they may gain.

Photo G.Shkullaku Prime Minister Nano during yesterday’s press conference

Mystery in Laprakë. “Perhaps they wanted to destroy the military aircraft.” . The dangerous explosives were placed by several masked individuals. Mystery at the Aviation Field yesterday in Laprakë. It was 11:30 when a group of masked individuals, moving with lightning speed, stopped their car near an aircraft and, after leaving on the ground a sack containing explosives, left in a mysterious manner. P. 2

In Sarandë, one of the blue-uniformed officers is wounded . Anti-tank attack on the police station. P. 11

Meeting with Fatos Nano after his return from the USA . Incident in the Congress Hall. P. 3

Interview with Foreign Minister Paskal Milo . Belgrade promised; we are waiting. P. 4

Parliament approves the Lesi proposal . Investigations into the months of uprisings. P. 5

Police crackdown on smuggling in Vlorë . Cigarettes worth 1 billion lekë burned. P. 15