PS: Unexpected decision, fear of a major defeat Six for Albanians BY ANDI BEJTA The completion of the CEC, the signature of the two fellow citizens, and the exclusion of four opposition ministers from the interim cabinet led the Democratic Party to make an unexpected decision. As early as the first hours of yesterday morning, the country was shaken by the unexpected statement of the party’s chairman, Sali Berisha. Detached from the agenda of the Milosevic-Holbrooke meeting, Mr. Berisha announced that the decision of the PD and its allies would be to boycott the elections, by withdrawing from the responsible commission. This decision opens a new debate about the path the country will now take. This comes just a few days after the international community, especially the Americans, stated that all political forces in the country should enter the local elections. At the same time, the impression is created that the PD’s withdrawal from the responsible commission is linked to their exclusion from the interim cabinet. The situation created will be a test for the country and Albanian politics. If the socialists continue with the electoral process without the main opposition, the country will enter another political crisis. The Sali Berisha-Jadrin Shehu-Milosheviç-Yeltsin-Mu[?] adhur[?] meeting dominated all the attention of yesterday’s press. The Albanian concern was not only about Milosevic’s position, but also about the reactions of the opposition. In this context, the statement made yesterday by Mr. Berisha carried great political weight. PS representatives called the PD’s decision a hasty and senseless move, linking it to fear of losing the local elections. NATO planes in the sky The Serbs fire on the ground Albanians Çeka-Malaj war, now new accusations The mystery of the secret file Former Interior Minister: The smuggling slips have 10 numbers with the Prosecutor’s Office. Who seized 200 tons of cigarettes

BY ANDI BEJTA The completion of the CEC, the signature of the two fellow citizens, and the exclusion of four opposition ministers from the interim cabinet led the Democratic Party to make an unexpected decision. As early as the first hours of yesterday morning, the country was shaken by the unexpected statement of the party’s chairman, Sali Berisha. Detached from the agenda of the Milosevic-Holbrooke meeting, Mr. Berisha announced that the decision of the PD and its allies would be to boycott the elections, by withdrawing from the responsible commission. This decision opens a new debate about the path the country will now take. This comes just a few days after the international community, especially the Americans, stated that all political forces in the country should enter the local elections. At the same time, the impression is created that the PD’s withdrawal from the responsible commission is linked to their exclusion from the interim cabinet. The situation created will be a test for the country and Albanian politics. If the socialists continue with the electoral process without the main opposition, the country will enter another political crisis. It seems that, even though this issue was one of the main topics of yesterday, it did not manage to overshadow attention from developments in Kosovo, where, through the mobilization and the statement of U.S. President Clinton, the West hinted at a military response. Meanwhile, relations between the PD and NATO were also entering another stage. American policy, through the NATO chief, was sending clear signals about where Albanian leadership should stand. Under these circumstances, the PD’s decision to leave the responsible commission was seen as another attempt to further tense the situation. In this climate, yesterday’s meeting in Moscow, where names such as Milošević, Yeltsin and other Western diplomats crossed paths, gave even greater political weight to developments in Tirana. Apparently, this is a period in which Albanian politics and regional developments are intertwining more strongly than ever.

Page 4 NATO planes in the sky, the Serbs fire on the ground

The mystery of the secret file On Saturday, the cigarette-smuggling war broke out. For the second time, Çeka-Malaj denounce the act of the accusing side by naming authors. Both sides made accusations, naming people linked to the cigarette trade. One of the main questions, according to them, is how these payments were made and where the resources came from. Yesterday it was stated that the authors were not responsible only for this trade, but may also have links to other sectors of the economy. The mystery concerns finances, tied to suspicions of official corruption and the role of the Prosecutor’s Office in the investigations. Former Interior Minister: The smuggling slips have 10 numbers with the Prosecutor’s Office. Who seized 200 tons of cigarettes Ce[?]ka-Malaj for the second time accused, asking for answers about the path of the goods, the payments, and possible political ties. From the very first moment the scandal erupted, the public has been confronted with successive statements suggesting that the dossier is much broader.

Page 2 Beqeja near the border, The Serbs, attack with wounded drones Page 9 Conversation of the secret car Assassination of the bosses of Coca-Cola Page 11 Former editor-in-chief of “Shqipëria” Bashaku i[?]m from “Gazeta” Page 2 Former general i[?]vezion ië sentenced to 25 years in prison New accusations against Agim Shehu Page 7 Police arrest 7 people weapons and bullets found Gang of robbers captured Page 6 HARRY LENA SHP. P.K. GJIROKASTER Offers you iodized salt N I K H SALT According to international standards and UNICEF Telephone 07236 3612