Vranitzky removes the left’s roadblock for the 29 June vote The Democrats welcome the OSCE envoy’s report. The Socialists place new conditions on the International Community. The International Community said yesterday that the debate on reorganizing and holding the elections was unfinished, as it appeared to be trying to find a compromise between senior party officials. In addition to representatives of France, Italy and Albania, who worked together for several hours, the US delegation appeared to be particularly active, seeking to finally break the political deadlock by asking the Albanian parties to make the final concessions. At the end of Thursday’s marathon meeting, the International Community proposed creating a joint working group with three representatives from each side, who would decide directly on procedural issues concerning the electoral process, while a second group made up of right-wing and left-wing parties would decide in principle on the issue of the referendum and the election date. Both working groups will continue the talks tomorrow, Saturday, while the OSCE special envoy himself, Franz Vranitzky, will arrive and stay in Albania until Sunday. Vranitzky’s report to the OSCE was judged acceptable by international actors and by representatives of both sides. The Socialists, seeing this as a new victory in their favor, continued their own blockade yesterday by clinging to the term “socio-political” from the government, which was included in Vranitzky’s report. Meanwhile, representatives of the government side welcomed the clear signal that, in the new electoral package agreement, the possibility of a referendum with a set deadline can be examined and that the election date will remain 29 June. A clear sign that the PS was preparing to enter the elections, despite its public refusal, was the interview given on Wednesday evening by the head of its parliamentary group, Servet Pëllumbi, to the Italian private station TV 7. In the interview, Pëllumbi stated that the elections could be successful as long as they were under the supervision of international organizations and that the PS’s participation in this conditioned process could not be avoided. Today, one of the PS representatives at yesterday’s meeting, Spartak Ngjela, is expected to go to the party’s Steering Council and persuade it to accept the International Community’s new procedural package. By B. Mustafaj The surprise brings the Elbasan Sports Palace to its feet

State money almost ready for the PS headquarters Socialist Arben Malaj, minister of administrative offensives, appeared yesterday before the foreign press and chose to tell Albanians that his administrative offensive is somewhat risky[?]. PD: this is political revenge The dismissed officials must be reinstated to work ON PAGE 5

The dismissed officials must be reinstated to work ON PAGE 5

Much more determined to take Preso, but they came out of it in vain with visas and no bread Secretary General of the PD Genc Pollo welcomes the decision of the PS to enter the elections During a meeting with students, the chairman of the PD, Sali Berisha, said that “he feels sorry for the Socialists’ decision, because they clearly understand that such a decision is a trap for them. Nevertheless, they made the decision late and tried to sabotage it. Even with the votes of their representatives in the foreign media, they declared their desire to block the 29 June elections once again.” Genc Pollo said that this decision is a realistic step. ON PAGE 4

No speculation and circulation of Shqipëri Malaj replaces officials with PS militants without having a governing mandate. In these moves, driven mainly by personal dissatisfaction, the replacements have affected not only the minister’s direct subordinates, but all levels of the administration up to senior officials. They have been replaced by political militants (known mainly through their campaign activity): 11 enterprise directors, 5 directors in the Ministry of Finance, and 50 officials in the General Directorate of Taxes. What stands out is the fact that all these appointments are being made mainly from among arrivals from the southern districts and those who are now known PS militants. None of the replacements have yet received the blessing of Prime Minister Fino, and they are being carried out out of political revenge. The situation is extremely dangerous also in the customs offices, where there is no longer a single experienced specialist to confront smuggling and drug routes. This blatant blow against the Albanian administration has gone so far that it is known that for the Director General of Civil Aviation a forestry engineer has been appointed, for the head of the BSH a forestry engineer is still missing, while for the Minister of Finance, Arben Malaj, it is said that he is replacing bank directors with cooperative economists. These moves have brought a new wave of dissatisfaction in the administration and have been interpreted as an attempt to completely purge the administration before the 29 June elections. By S

Commentators from the South are transporting terror to other cities ON PAGE 2

The murder of the Greek Consulate guard in Gjirokastër begins to be clarified ON PAGE 2

No “green light” for creditors’ lawsuits against the fund companies

Committee closure They close the committee in the boycott dilemma PS leaders ON PAGE 3

Accountability Radio Deutsche Welle, BBC, and KJ ON PAGE 4

The Social Democratic leader gathered 150 people in the district of Vlora ON PAGE 5

Malaj replaces officials with PS militants without having a governing mandate ON PAGE 5