Today political approval for the Albanian government is expected in Rome Guarantees are being sought for the management of the aid: We will not waste it like previous governments Page 3

Judging from the developments so far in the PD, it seems that Sali Berisha’s election as chairman of the PD was more than certain, and the congress itself, to be held soon, would be nothing more than a formality. Until yesterday, and even in the final moments of yesterday’s meeting of the party’s national council, no candidacy appeared on the horizon that could give Berisha pause. But, unexpectedly, at the end of the meeting, the candidacy of the former speaker of parliament, the “Mandela of Europe”, Pjetër Arbnori, is proposed. Indeed, among the current figures of the PD, his candidacy is the one that could seriously threaten Berisha. Without mentioning the past, only a short time ago Arbnori became a symbol with his successful hunger strike, imposing himself through the “Arbnori” amendment. It is not excluded that Mr. Arbnori may play the role of a puppet candidate in the spectacle of Berisha’s coronation on the throne of what remains of the former PD. Yet the former speaker of parliament, who over these years has perhaps sacrificed more than was necessary for the PD and for Berisha, would hardly agree to put at risk 28 years of communist imprisonment for a former secretary of the PPSH, now on the brink of political bankruptcy. But more than that, the seriousness of his candidacy is reinforced by the recent positions of the “Mandela”, especially after his hunger strike, positions that have not been in unison with those of the “deity”. The man who attempted pluralism under the regime of E. Hoxha, unlike Berisha, could not reconcile himself with a party without factions in a democratic system, not hesitating to highlight positively the experience of the socialists, something he repeated again at yesterday’s meeting. Likewise, unlike Berisha, who has committed all his forces to turning the party into a “party of protest”, Arbnori showed yesterday that he preferred parliament as the place where politics should be carried out. On the other hand, he, conscious of the fact that with Berisha at the helm the PD will continue its roll toward the abyss, perhaps has decided to speed up the party with which he realized his aspirations for democracy. As things stand, by having a figure like Arbnori at the helm, the PD has a good chance of remaining acceptable for an alliance with the right, without which left-wing rule can hardly even be imagined. With Arbnori at the head, the PD would surely regain its foreign friends as well, driven away by Berisha. After yesterday’s meeting, the PD leader’s next trip to Rome may also acquire another interpretation. Having publicly presented his request to be seen face to face, Berisha did not want to be absent from yesterday’s meeting of the national council, perhaps because he may have sensed something about the “Arbnori” candidacy. GAVROSH LEVONJA

Shkëlqim Xhabafi, one of the police’s most wanted men, killed yesterday in Kombinat Photo G.Shkullaku

Serious accusations against Alimuçaj: “Lawsuit in the Constitutional Court” “The VEFA company has laundered dirty money, and for this act BTSH has accused it before the Constitutional Court. Bank director: “I know nothing” The government is leveling serious accusations against the company VEFA, accusing it of money laundering. According to ATSH, “the company ‘VEFA’ has laundered dirty money, and for this act the Albanian Commercial Bank has accused it before the Constitutional Court. The news was given on Thursday by the spokesperson of the Albanian Government, which has taken Vehbi Alimuçaj’s company to court.” P 11

Beqiri(?) incident. Suspicion over Izet Haxhia Police: Berisha’s bodyguard wanted P 9

89th anniversary, flowers and people in the Sharra cemetery P 4

National Council calls for a return to parliament P 5

320 workers suspend work: Meet the demands P 13

ON 9 NOVEMBER The “Projekt Jon” concert First collaboration: Ardit Gjebrea with “Koha Jonë” READ PAGE 18

SHIK and the Republican Guard are accused P 2

RESTARTS The new season of TELEBINGO Read on page 7