Armed revolt on the brink in Kukës over water shortages caused by a village clan blocking the water supply The three Gërdhuqi brothers were executed last night at 7:30 p.m. at the Mifol Bridge, Vlorë Pages 9–10

As a result of a certain disappointment with the left-wing coalition’s government, Albanian public opinion

As a result of a certain disappointment with the left-wing coalition’s government, Albanian public opinion has for some time also been looking toward the opposition, first and foremost the DP, as the country’s main opposition force and the most likely alternative to replace the socialists. left-wing coalition’s government, Albanian public opinion has for some time also been looking toward the opposition, first and foremost the DP, as the country’s main opposition force and the most likely alternative to replace the socialists. This is also the main reason why Albanians and, naturally, along with them, DP activists and the electorate in general are closely following the steps this party is taking regarding the changes announced by its leadership as part of its democratization, as the USA and Europe are calling for. As is known, in such cases, a lack of experience has made it customary to take guidance from models in other countries. The statutes of sister parties in the West have been adopted as models by Albanian political forces. In the DP’s case, the statute of one of the Western parties that are members of EDU could serve as a basic document for shaping the character of the future DP. But, in this regard, a frightening danger is strangely emerging: prominent people are taking Milošević as a model and trying to learn from him?! Reliable sources in the DP say that DP Secretary General Ridvan Bode has obtained a copy of the statute of the party allied with the Belgrade dictator, “Nova Demokracija Serpska,” in order to make appropriate changes to the DP statute on its basis. This Serbian party, together with Milošević’s wife’s JUL grouping and Šešelj’s radicals, are the closest allies of the man who massacred the Kosovars, especially from March to June 1999. What is even more astonishing is that this fact is in complete contradiction with the fiery nationalist words and tireless calls against “the Saddam of the Balkans” that the DP leadership has issued unstintingly in recent months, during the conflict in Kosovo. Leaving aside this paradox, it is astonishing that the statute of a party with no experience—and one that, in terms of democratic standards, may be even further behind the DP—is being taken as a model to present at the DP Congress on 30 September. This may have been the only reason that prompted the DP’s organizational secretary to seek help from Milošević’s ally. The new DP statute has been a bone of contention within the DP, since Berisha wanted to give himself more power and control everything in the DP by appointing the secretaries and department heads, while sidelining the leadership and MPs. Bode has shown excessive zeal and taken a model from the last communist regime in Europe, perhaps without his boss’s knowledge. Until this scandal was made public, only veteran Vejsiu, Berisha’s longtime fellow traveler, had spoken out from the DP leadership, saying that we should take our bearings from sister parties in EDU. Given the situation in which the largest opposition party finds itself, it would be better to create room in the party’s governing forums for all currents. This would be one of the most effective ways to save its organizational structures from manipulation by particular individuals. If the “Bode” project is approved at the Democrats’ Congress, the DP will lose its chance to win the elections again, because Western countries fear such power in Berisha’s hands. It would therefore be more reasonable for Berisha to have less power, so that the opposition can regain considerable power—if it is power. Naturally, a modern statute would benefit the broad masses of Democrats, even though leader Berisha would lose some power. It would be better for the DP electorate to consider the possibility of shaping the party leadership as the times and the DP’s Western friends demand. The two major parties, the PS and the DP, find it difficult to win or retain power with Nano and Berisha, who generate conflict, although they are not identical as politicians. The Democrats want to return, but with Berisha they will find it difficult. With Arbnor or Pollo at the helm, the Democrats could return to power. Otherwise, they will remain shadowed by opposition.

The Deputy Speaker of Parliament sues in court the journalist who accused him of smuggling Page 2

One of yesterday’s victims, Gjik Gërduhaqi, when he was on trial with Zani in Tirana