Here is the language used by the “intellectuals” of the PS committees and Mr. Fino Open provocation The Democratic Party of Albania reminds Mr. Fino that such statements encouraging the armed committees are an open and harmful provocation to the overall spirit of political dialogue and the restoration of constitutional order in the country The Democratic Party of Albania has just become aware of the responsible statement by Prime Minister Bashkim Fino, according to which the leaders of the armed committees are “intellectuals and honest people,” and immediately considers it a biased statement to the detriment of the 9 March agreement and the holding of general elections. The Democratic Party of Albania notes with concern that Mr. Fino and his Socialist Party have on other occasions openly expressed their sympathy for these illegitimate committees, which have blocked the activity of local government and that of political parties in several districts of the country. The Democratic Party of Albania, which has demanded and continues to demand the disbanding of these committees and the distancing of the prime minister and the Socialist Party from them, takes this opportunity to remind Mr. Fino that such statements encouraging the armed committees are an open and harmful provocation to the overall spirit of political dialogue and the restoration of constitutional order in the country - states the statement of the DPA. Tirana, 29.04.1997

President Berisha received the ambassadors of Australia and Tunisia Australia has followed with particular admiration Albania’s ability on the path of democracy and a market economy led by, said the Australian ambassador, Mr. Rory Steele, to President Berisha in the Tuesday morning meeting. In this thorough conversation, he said that Albania will know how to overcome its difficulties in achieving stability and will be a factor of peace in the Balkans. President Berisha stressed that Albania will overcome the difficulties created by a rebellion that failed. I want to assure you, he said, that Albanians are determined to continue on the path of democracy and integration.

It is too late to talk about the honor and character of the people of Vlora, Mr. Prime Minister Vlora is the city that in the democratic movement always rose to its feet for its liberation — just as a reminder, Mr. Fino — it rose for its sons and daughters who were crucified by communism like Christ, it rose for its sons and daughters who were killed, shot, and dragged through the streets by communism. Vlora is the city that opened the doors of prisons and the shackles of the soul, just like all of Albania, and for the honor of its helmets. These days it will praise those who set it on fire, who brought in the horde of division, forgetting its history and that of all Albania. You call them “Rescue Committees” in foreign parliaments, committees made up of intellectual and honest people. You are mistaken, Mr. Fino. The real Vlora, though small, knows them well and knows what to call them, Mr. Fino: - “Burial and Destruction Committees.” These committees are led by traffickers of women, who shake hands in front of foreign television cameras with criminals like Zani; they are former secretaries of the Party of Labour who dream of meetings like Kadare’s “Night with the Moon”; they are former Sigurimi officers, etc., who in an old-fashioned way seek to separate Vlora from all of Albania, just as once Enver’s volunteers sought Vlora as the capital by “forgetting” that the flag in Vlora was raised from the blood and efforts of all Albanians with the hands of Ismail Qemali and Isa Boletini. They are the same “Committees” that call on people to keep their weapons because they will kill the democrats. The democrats made reconciliation on 2 March 1992, and did not kill their persecutors but left them to justice. The Vlora citizen knows that these “Rescue Committees,” Mr. Fino, will have their say on what happens, and on the enverists cast into the ranks as moles or Trojan horses within the PD. But as head of the Government of National Reconciliation, respect the institutions for which the people vote, because Vlora knows well that these Committees issued ultimatums with automatic weapons to leave within 24 hours. As head of Government, act against these criminal gangs and leave Vlora in peace, so that its own voice may be heard, that its wounds may heal, and that it may live in the time of democracy. ELONA VLORA

Berisha writes to the heads of the IMF and the World Bank The President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, as part of his efforts to involve international institutions and experts so that control and transparency over the pyramid schemes can be ensured, has these days written to the Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund, Michel Camdessus, asking that the team of experts that had been agreed upon by mutual consent on 9 March in Albania now come, and with a larger number of members. In this letter, President Berisha emphasizes that control and transparency over the pyramid schemes are very important for the stability and future of the country. The fact that Albania’s finances are now being run by a minister from the former opposition makes the transparency process regarding these companies more credible. But, President Berisha stresses in this letter, the involvement of international institutions and teams in this process is irreplaceable. On these issues, President Berisha sent a message some time ago to the President of the World Bank, James Wolfensohn, in which he assures him that all documentation on the pyramid schemes will be made available to experts from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank for their assessment. The President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, as part of his efforts to involve international institutions and experts so that control and transparency over the pyramid schemes can be ensured, has these days written to the Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund, Michel Camdessus...

Within 15 days it will be possible to inspect the ships that sank on 28 March. This was decided yesterday by the Brindisi court prosecutor Leone De Gassi, who is handling this investigation. Everything will be carried out with the technical assistance of an Italian firm specialized in operations at great depths.

At the Tuesday morning credentials presentation meeting, the ambassador of Tunisia, Mr. Youssef Ben Haha, expressed his satisfaction that the Albanian reality he sees is far from the image he had formed from the media, and assessed that Albanians have all the necessary potential to overcome difficulties. President Berisha noted that, with the results of the upcoming elections, Albanians will confirm their orientation toward the market economy and integration into Europe.

In response to the article in “Zëri i Popullit” “The police that costs the government millions of dollars” In response to the article in “Zëri i Popullit” “The police that costs the government millions of dollars” Only Malaj knows the reasons for the non-functioning of the customs service With the exception of PKPK Vlorë and Sarandë, the border police service is uninterrupted and guaranteed in accordance with all laws and rules governing this service. Despite all the promises and statements made, it is only the Ministry of Finance that has not organized its customs services; only Minister Malaj knows the reasons for this Despite serious difficulties, the Ministry of the Interior has taken all possible measures and has ensured the smooth functioning of work at the border police checkpoints. This service, entirely dependent on the police directorates of Vlorë and Sarandë, has not been hindered by the activity of the so-called “Committees of Salvation,” because these in turn have declared that the border police service is necessary and is paid for by the state. Nevertheless, because of the actions and recent statements made by the Ministry of Finance and by the so-called “ZP” regarding the clashes in customs, confusion has been created. On the one hand it is said that everything is proceeding normally, while on the other there are interventions and orders that do not comply with the law and the rules. The problem of “trading” the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of the Interior has become a source of controversy in the press. Representatives of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of the Interior wanted to use the expression “ZP” to describe the dispute in the border services. Meanwhile, in the Republic of Albania, and at the same time that so much debate has been created, the decisions that have been taken must be respected in the interest of the state and the citizens. On the part of the specialists of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of the Interior, this issue was mentioned and drafted at the end of March 1997. Its approval was awaited from the Minister of Finance, Mr. Arben Malaj. Recently, this “trading” has not yet been ratified, but it is approved.

“Death or freedom,” for overthrowing the government On page 8: Horoscope and Crossword PAGE 3 On page 8: Horoscope and Crossword

Leka I for RD Emigration, friends and enemies of Leka Zogu PAGE 4

Full support for the political line of the PD and President Berisha PAGE 3 The free vote will never be for the communists