An unidentified ship has discharged lubricating oils at the quays and left . 20 tons of fuel spilled; Durrës beach at risk. The Harbourmaster’s Office sounds the alarm: Pollution is putting holidaymakers in the coastal city at risk. Page 11 Bashkim Fino and Ilir Meta on Durrës beach, after the alarm about the risk of sea pollution. Photo: L. FILOPATI

As soon as election campaigns begin and parties want the votes of ordinary people, parties of every colour become very affectionate, “popular” and “listen,” fuelled by the fire of their love for the people. They all shout in its name and for the people, but in essence, as soon as voting ends and the votes land in their hands, none of the parties cares any longer about those who gave them their votes. So this time, too, the people will hear the politicians’ “love” for them; they—that is, the parties—will raise their voices, supposedly shouting in the people’s name. All this will happen until 30 September. If, after 1 October, you happen to see a politician who cares about their troubles, or meet a government official or a party leader whom they trust, that will be the greatest wonder of this beginning of the millennium. Given what we have said and what has happened over these years, poor people and those who want a dignified life should not vote blindly. This time, votes are about managing their lives in villages or cities, so they should be more careful and vote for the individual who will represent them and solve their problems. Parliamentary elections are somewhat more political, while local elections, although politics is still part of them, have a more direct impact on people’s lives, because the problems in this case are more concrete—electricity, water, employment, roads, etc.—and after these elections they will fall under the jurisdiction of local government, not central government. So an individual favoured by public opinion is better than a candidate wanted only by their party. This is an opportunity for ordinary people to understand that they must be conscious of the vote they cast: perhaps they have looked at it before, perhaps looked at it first, but it holds their fate within it. So think carefully about whom you vote for. Better to think a hundred times, because afterwards no one is to blame for your future fate. The vote you cast on 1 October will determine your future for 2001 and beyond. If you want security for your children or for your own old age: Think a hundred times. People, think about whom you will cast your vote for! Not the parties, but yourselves, because the parties want you for only one day, just for the 1 October vote. Afterwards, the parties will gather in Tirana to celebrate or travel abroad, while you will once again be left without electricity, water or roads. You, ordinary people, will remain where you are, while the parties collect your votes to “mourn” your troubles from the expensive hotels of Rome, Paris, New York, Berlin, Athens, or even far-off Beijing.

Sarandë / Police arrest him. Teenager rapes his 7-year-old cousin. A 19-year-old deceived his maternal uncle’s daughter and then attempted to have sexual intercourse with her by force. Page 13

Russia / The entire fleet on alert. 100 Russian sailors trapped at the bottom of the sea. A nuclear submarine has suffered a malfunction at a depth of 150 metres in the Barents Sea. Page 22