Voting is manipulated; Berisha’s people triumph. Page 3

BY TEODOR KEKO Yesterday, all the main Albanian media reported the long-awaited and humane news that the jurists’ self-sacrifice had ended, which also means the end of the hunger strikes, or other hunger-strike actions, staged across the country. This news would have been most welcome if the agreement between the disagreeing parties had been made by the Albanian parties themselves, without an “outside” arbitrator. But when you hear that once again the OSCE was in the middle of the “arbitration,” you feel a little ashamed. I have the impression that Albania and our politicians are making a complete laughingstock of themselves with this OSCE business! Whenever a conflict occurs in Albania—even an ecological conflict—it probably won’t be resolved for 100 years unless the OSCE representative comes to Albania. As if the person who arrives by “plane” were Messi, carrying the remedies for healing in his [text unclear]—but they are proving realistic in showing that they have no idea about that elementary formula which they ought to know like their ABC: compromise. Things have reached the point where Vranicki and others have “mid” from Labëria to Tropojë! There would be nothing surprising if some big Albanian were to phone Vranicki and plead: “Please, call that Muco in the South, because he won’t come out for [unclear] from the strike.” And Vranicki... What a disgrace! The OSCE might as well set up its headquarters in Tirana! At least it could give the money from its “varovingove” to the “main” political parties, so they could invest it in “achieving compromise.” Because this quarrel, judging by appearances, has neither really begun nor ended. Yesterday, for example, another new quarrel broke out. Someone from the PS said that if the Constitutional Court does not carry out the rotation, Parliament will deal with the latter. Before he had finished, the PD jumped in and said: if Parliament deals with the Constitutional Court, we will not implement the Troika agreement... In short, tomorrow the OSCE will be back in Tirana again, and the day after tomorrow the OSCE will be back in Tirana again! We, as a people, are not such clowns, such buffoons, and so lacking in character. We have proved in terrible times that we know how to solve our problems at home, not in the marketplace. Our politicians should also follow this tradition, lower the volume a little, and stop going to Europe over nothing. Otherwise, if they do not understand partnership and compromise, they should disappear from the political scene, because they are good for absolutely nothing else. They aren’t even good-looking. And if they don’t leave on their own, we’ll remove them! Let’s write a letter to the OSCE and tell them: Either get rid of these people for us, or we’ll go on hunger strike!... Don’t make us angry! That’s all we’re saying!

Army counterintelligence checks border areas. P. 11 Army counterintelligence checks border areas The depot attack, the hand of the UDB P. 11

Speedboat goes missing, another tragedy in Otranto. P. 2 Speedboat goes missing, another tragedy in Otranto 9 Albanians disappear at sea P. 2

Continued: f...[?] Fake visas, alarm in Italy P. 7 Statement by the Macedonian leader welcomed in Tirana Kosovo: We don’t want to be saved by Gligorov P. 4 Die, report of the Ministry of Defence Criminal proceedings against arms traffickers P. 6 Another manager at the frightening newsroom of TV Rrjedh takes charge of information P. 25

At the Prime Minister’s Office: Stop miniskirts and trousers that sexually arouse government officials

“The operation to suppress the protests in Vlora and other cities was conceived and directed by Berisha’s general” Secret documents discovered in the ministry’s archive “The operation to suppress the uprising in Vlora bears Agim Shehu’s signature”—this is what emerged from the investigation of documents at the Ministry of Internal Affairs concerning last year’s unrest. The investigation into 1997 appears to be reaching a final resolution. Although the parliamentary commission tasked with investigating the causes of the unrest between February and November seems to be in a state of lethargy, an entire file of evidence is bringing to light the names of the big players involved at the time in authorizing military actions in the South. P. 2