Mr. Vejsiu on the upcoming local elections An important task for the PD in this period remains selecting candidates who are capable, honest, and committed to the people. Page 2

Nano’s strategy for ruling the Socialist Party Clandestine politics After Leni Fishëri, it was Van den Bruk’s turn to become the focus of accusations by the people of Poli Q. and other opposition members. In an article published yesterday in the newspaper of Poli Q., it was said that Van den Bruk had greatly limited the level of the EU’s demands on the Democratic Party. This time, they did not use as many anathemas as in the case of Imani’s speeches about Leni Fisher, but they nevertheless did not abandon their craft of insulting as much as they can when Europe does not think in accordance with the clandestine figures of Albanian politics. The politicians of Poli Q. came to politics very late; with their anti-Albanian temperament, they would have been useful before 1990, perhaps with their communist freshness they could have prolonged Alia’s life by a few days. Sought out by the latter in Albanian politics, they remained in the role of actors whenever political movements arose, but always with Ramiz Alia prompting them from behind the scenes. Even today, they never miss an opportunity to poke their heads out and insult Europe’s diplomats, just as they previously acted against the USA, Germany, or any European political force that supported the democratic movements in Albania. No one has insulted America and its ambassador in Albania more than the left-wing opposition did during 1992, 1993, and 1994; nor has any harsh word been spared for international institutions and alliances such as NATO, etc. These politicians’ clandestine activity was not absent even when political references in Albania called for great care over the national question. The political and economic funding of the Greek lobby in America for the Albanian opposition took place precisely to such an extent that people from among them managed to kill Albanian soldiers in Peshkëpi, Gjirokastër. A political force’s lack of national dignity cannot be replaced by anything else—not by their dogmas about democracy and legitimacy, nor by their so-called struggle to restore Albanians’ faith in democracy. The only people who do not believe in Albanian democracy are ten people, as was said long ago by one of the skeptics yesterday in an interview given to a newspaper bought by the Soros Foundation in Tirana. The negative response to the rapid Europeanization of Albania is precisely where one can look for the daily political decline of figures such as the leaders of Poli Q. or the socialist opposition. Their failure to keep pace with what is happening in Albania today and their discord with Albanian aspirations would undoubtedly have their own political repercussions. In any country, politics produces outcomes that settle at the end of developments, but it is rare for them to result from the bankruptcy of further left-wing policies, as with Nano, Ceka, Pellumbi, Gjinushi, and their staff. So far, no progressive political movement has been evident on their side, apart from lamentations about what has happened and what will happen in Albania. They have not hesitated to cooperate with the most destructive elements opposing the aspirations of the Albanian nation, just as they have been hypnotized to the point of being led down a dead-end street by the idea of their political triumph. Since politics is a field of national interests, any deviation from those interests is at the same time a major break with the nation, the country, and the people who make up a country’s life. “Own goal” by the socialist councillors in the Municipality of Prrenjas Page 3 - The development of the “with or without Marx” issue has always opened the way for Nano to carry out reprisals against his declared rivals, as well as potential ones. For Nano and the clan sponsoring him in this venture, retaining the leadership of the left is vital, and for this he appears to intend to spare not even the Socialist Party.

Warren Christopher before Congress The USA will put pressure on Milosheviç over the Kosovo issue 1. In response to Congressman Tom Lantosh’s criticism of the Albanian authorities for what he described as authoritarian tendencies, and to his request that the American administration ensure that the Greek minority had its rights and that the press and judicial bodies were free, Mr. Kristofer replied: -I am disappointed with the direction developments have taken in Albania, particularly with the outcome of the recent elections. We believe they were not held under conditions that would allow us to consider them free and fair. Therefore, we have asked President Berisha to review aspects of these elections. I agree with you that the steps toward democracy are not as strong as they should be. 2. In response to Congressman Eliot Engëll, who had recently been in Kosovo, asking what position the American administration would take toward Serbian President Slobodan Milosheviç now that the USA has a permanent information office in Prishtina, Mr. Kristofer replied: -The presence of this office is only a means to achieve an objective, and that objective is to ensure better living conditions for the Albanians of Kosovo and a greater degree of autonomy, to the extent that they are able to organize and control their own lives. We will put pressure on Milosheviç on this issue. If the presence of a special envoy is deemed necessary in the future, I will recommend it. However, I think that for now I can exert the greatest pressure on President Milosheviç through the contacts that I, in my capacity as Secretary of State, as well as other senior American officials, have had with Mr. Milosheviç. Throwing mud at one another, but... from the same swamp

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Tritan Shehu in Ireland During his visit to Ireland, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mr. Tritan Shehu and the delegation he leads met at Ireland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs with Mr. Gei Micell, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. Mr. Micell began by welcoming Albania’s democratic achievements, its economic reforms, the deepening of privatization, its administrative reforms, and the preparations made by the Albanian government for the local elections. After hearing Mr. Shehu’s presentation on Albania, Mr. Micell, as chair of the EU Presidency, confirmed his commitment to placing the agreement on Albania’s association on the agenda as soon as possible. He said that the Irish government, as chair of the EU, would strongly support Albania’s full integration into these structures. They also agreed to strengthen bilateral relations between Albania and Ireland, establish a joint economic cooperation commission, and provide technical assistance from the Irish government to Albania in connection with EU membership. Yesterday, the delegation also met with the president and chief executive of the country’s leading national energy company. The meeting focused on greater Irish involvement in the development and privatization of the Albanian energy system. Yesterday, the delegation had a working dinner with Mr. Xhon Koner, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Irish Parliament, MP and politician. The delegation continues its meetings according to the agenda.

After Soros’s disbursement of 135 thousand dollars to the newspaper “Koha Jonë”

After Soros’s disbursement of 135 thousand dollars to the newspaper “Koha Jonë” Yesterday morning at the American Embassy headquarters, the editors-in-chief and publishers of the newspapers Albania, Dita Informacion, Gazeta Shqiptare, Republika, RD, and Poli i Qendrës presented their concerns about the state of the press and the situation created after the Soros Foundation disbursed a loan of 135 thousand dollars to the newspaper “Koha Jonë” to the chargé d’affaires of the American Embassy in Tirana and the head of the USA agency in Tirana, Carls Wallsh. In the conversation, which lasted about an hour, press executives emphasized the importance of newspapers’ survival for democracy in Albania and the threat to free speech posed by concentrating assistance and attention on only one newspaper. Newspaper executives expressed concern about manipulation and disinformation by people from the Soros Foundation in Tirana. After the issues had been presented, it was agreed that another meeting would be held in the near future.

Page 3 Laço mocks Nano “Nano—a mediocrity who is becoming an anonymous figure”