While the people suffer from unemployment, public disorder and a lack of prospects, ministers quarrel over appointing people to customs offices and police stations Pages 2–3

BY ENKEL DEMI Yesterday, Tirana woke up to long queues for bread. People rushed to buy bread in bulk, flour, pasta and rice. Yesterday, there was no war, no moment of political crisis, no day laden with the stress that Albanians have grown used to lately. Quite simply, there was no electricity. An unprecedented power outage paralyzed the entire life of the country. Bakeries were unable to produce enough bread, while other productive activities came to a complete standstill. A terse announcement on official Television dropped a bomb on the peace of Albanian families. People rushed to take precautions, accustomed to emergencies, their memories haunted by the long queues of old. KESH has not yet provided the necessary explanations as to why such a drastic measure was taken to cut electricity on such a large scale. The minister Buft, who is always associated in Albanians’ memories with famine, did not accept such responsibility either. KESH officials were content to hold a meeting and then say that the lights’ switch had been released and this would not happen again. None of the Corporation’s leaders explained why better planning had not been done to get through the crisis; instead, total chaos ensued, the economic cost of which must truly be high. Yesterday was a day of low productivity everywhere. People could not have a coffee, get warm, or carry out their daily tasks; worse still, they were forced to ration bread by weight, as in the postwar years. Yesterday’s story borders on the absurd. It seems as if someone felt like adding yet another hardship to the lives of people exhausted by the lack of security in their lives. Many of the queu… [the end of the column is illegible]

“BREAD” “If he won’t see us, we’ll stand in front of his car...” At last, the association based in Vlora that is seeking the truth about those who drowned in the Otranto tragedy, led by its chairwoman Drita Banaj, has decided to travel early this morning to Prime Minister Majko’s office. Last night, Banaj confirmed to “Koha Jonë”: “There are more than 52 of us, family members of those who drowned in Otranto, and we will ask Majko for the following: 1) That the trial which has begun in Brindisi be held in a neutral country, that is, neither in Italy nor in Albania. The government must intervene on this. 2) That the Albanian state represent us at the trial, since 81 people drowned. 3) Why has the Minister of Justice not sent anyone to represent us at the trial that has begun in Brindisi, as officially decided? 4) At the trial of 22 January 1999 in Italy, it was not officially decided. 4) At the trial of 22 January 1999 in Italy, it was not officially decided, as it had been officially decided. 4) At the trial of 22 January 1999 in Italy, I don’t believe… [damaged/partially illegible lines] If the Prime Minister does not see us, then we will stand in front of his car as soon as he comes out of the office. He should not forget the promises he made publicly!” B. B. Today: 52 people from Vlora will try to enter Majko’s office. “If he won’t see us, we’ll stand in front of his car...”

The power outage brings long queues for bread and activates night-time thieves