Last night, two statements by the American Ambassador in Tirana and Hombah, Special Coordinator for the Stability Pact, paralyze Berisha Today the National Council of the DP must seriously reflect on the chaotic state in which this party finds itself and take measures to return to being a dignified Opposition pages 2, 3

By ALEKSANDER Çipa The Albanian opposition is surrounded by the victory of the governing party. And this truth has brought the issue back-[?]

The Albanian opposition is surrounded by the victory of the governing party. And this truth has brought the issue back to the dilemma: what will the opposition do? to the dilemma: what will the opposition do? The way out becomes even less feasible for the leader of the Democrats, Berisha, when he sees that the most important international institutions and active diplomatic players have rushed to express their assessments of the 1 October electoral process. Faced with the opposition’s claim of manipulation, official opinions and assessments from external actors are pouring in, further reflecting the challenge directed at Mr Berisha. Indeed, their assessments and impressions of this process have been conveyed in unison over a period of three days. This picture leaves the opposition leader himself even more diminished in his actions and in his position so far of contesting the elections. With this closure and aggressive silence, the former President does nothing but give even more ground to doubts about the opposition’s future political fate. The reactions of some in this opposition who, at least so far, have spoken out about their actions—most notably the reformers and the United Right’s candidate for Tirana, Dashamir Shehi—may be seen as the first attempt at reflection. However, their specific weight within the opposition’s grassroots remains modest. On the other hand, Mr Berisha’s position, which has not been fully expressed, and his retreat into a ring of silence have left the opposition camp in a “moment of waiting” for a decision. Berisha himself may divide his encirclement, perhaps his last, into two possible alternatives: (Continued on page 3)

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Two days before the elections, it had been torn down by someone in Laprakë and, according to reports, the van arrived late Interview/The former chief of Police Station Number Three, Nikolë Vatnikaj, says that all insinuations linking him to Sali Lusha are slander Page 9