Ceka Seeks to Put the “Constitutional Court Elders” in Jail ON PAGE 2

Rival Gangs Clash in Vlora ON PAGE 4

Investing in Bonds: A Long-Term Risk ON PAGE 5

The leader of the Socialist Party, Fatos Nano, took a step back yesterday after making his criminal-electoral promise in Vlora to return the money lost in pyramid schemes, proving that his supposedly responsible statement was a cruel mockery of the people of Vlora, who are among the biggest victims of Albania’s pyramid schemes. Just one day after launching the great fraud of the blank cheque, Nano “forgot” to mention again, in Gjirokastër and other cities in the South, the story about returning the money people had lost in the pyramid-scheme epidemic. In addition to disappointing the people who had expected to hear the “miracle” of returning the money repeated in Gjirokastër and elsewhere, the Socialist Party issued a perfunctory press statement that sought to relieve Nano of the heavy burden of deceiving all Albanians, but especially the people of Vlora, to whom he said he would resolve the issue of their money. Nano’s immediate retraction of his irresponsible statement explains in detail the cynicism and complete criminal complicity of the Socialist Party in a scheme intended to fan the flames of a new rebellion in Albania. Reluctantly confronted with the challenge of the June 29 elections, the Socialists have considered the theft of Albanians’ votes through the great blank-cheque fraud to be their only escape from a crushing defeat—the blank cheque that their leader, Fatos Nano, waved before the people of Vlora the previous day. Exploiting the legitimate concern over the money lost in pyramid schemes, Nano and his associates Majal, Dokle, Gjinushi, etc., are devising an ominous and vile plan to…”, Perhaps it was the reaction of the crowd in Vlora, who heard only the part where he spoke about the money, that prompted Nano to respond and partially back away from repeatedly exploiting the shared misfortune of Albanians. In any case, he has incurred the wrath of Vlora more than of any other city in Albania, because he mocked in the most insulting way the people most severely affected by the collapse of the pyramid schemes, and the place where the rebellion caused the gravest consequences and the greatest destruction. People in Vlora now have, just a few kilometres away, across the PS border in this city and other southern cities, a man who has insulted them more than anyone else in the world, treating them like children whose votes can be won only by waving a blank cheque in their faces. The great fraudster is now before the eyes of all Albanians, most of whom are among the victims of the pyramid schemes. They watch on their television screens the man who publicly lied to them and could fool them again, given the utter disregard for them that he displayed over the pyramid schemes, while the Albanian state has still not recovered the debt of 7 million dollars he stole during the 1991 Italian aid scandal. Meanwhile, the Socialist Party’s statement that the press distorted Nano’s words is perhaps the most laughable lie told in Albania in the entire century, since his promise to return the money was reported as such by the entire foreign and Albanian press, including the Socialists’ own newspaper, “Koha jonë,” as well as BBC radio. The pro-communist newspaper “Koha jonë” wrote yesterday that Nano would return 100 percent of the pyramid-scheme money, exposing as a fiasco all efforts to distance Nano from the great blank-cheque fraud. Fatos Nano cruelly mocked all Albanians, but especially the people of Vlora, because he first spouted his nonsense in their city. The only people not offended by this bogus promise are the gangs of the southern committees of the 16th, who have no need to wait for the money, since they have already looted so much, along with many families. They are the only ones opening the way for the great fraudster, Nano, in the cities hardest hit by the organisation of the rebellion, which has 16,000 protagonists on the blank-cheque mission.

The PS statement seeks to free Nano from the burden of the crime. Where will he find the money when he has yet to repay the 7 million dollars stolen from Italian aid to Albania? Nano lies and gravely insults Vlora. The PS leader “forgets” about returning the money in Gjirokastër Berisha: The DP does not promise the impossible

Looted Villagers Pay for the Socialist Party Secretary’s Drinks Socialists Gather the Gangs in Cërrik The lukewarm reception he was given by the PS headquarters in Elbasan forced Mejdani, in the end, to argue heatedly with PS locals. During the argument he said: “Why should you eat the village food in Elbasan with the villagers from my area?” And immediately after the argument, at the head of the trio Ruka, Apostoli and Lakrori, Mejdani set off for Cërrik. “Here is Mejdani, the man among men!” the PS’s Mejdani boasted when he saw the gang’s armed men. ON PAGE 3

Thousands of citizens have witnessed the terror along the Tepelenë–Saranda route at the hands of the people who accompanied Nano yesterday. Many of them have been robbed, raped, beaten or killed. Nano is safe Bandits Protect the PS Leader from Saranda to Tepelenë ON PAGE 3

Ersekë, DP Chairman Tritan Shehu presents the parliamentary candidate I came here to introduce the DP’s parliamentary candidate, Eduart Ypi, a well-known intellectual and one of the leading figures in the economy in recent years, confident that he will find your support, Shehu said at a meeting with voters in the town of Ersekë. ON PAGE 2

The DP chairman invited to Greece At the invitation of the “Nea Democracia” Party, Democratic Party chairman prof.dr.Tritan Shehu set off for an official visit to Athens, the PDSH spokesperson announced. In addition to meeting with the chairman of the “Nea Democracia” Party, Mr. Karamanlis, DP chairman Shehu will also hold many other meetings with senior officials in Greek politics and government.

Pridom resigns from monitoring the June 29 vote “Committees drive out the head of ODIHR” “There can be no monitoring and free elections as long as committees and armed gangs exist” Brajan Pridom, the general coordinator of ODIHR’s electoral activities for the Albanian elections, resigned because of the difficulties facing the observer mission in areas occupied by the committees. The reasons for the senior official’s departure are now clear, although the official wording coming from the OSCE regarding the reason is “personal.” Yesterday, it was reported that Pridom did not agree with holding elections in Albania on June 29; “then the Albanians encountered many difficulties.” According to a reliable source, who asks not to be identified for the time being, the true reasons for Brajan Pridom’s departure lay behind the word “difficulties.” “The senior official believes that there can be no free elections and fair electoral campaigning as long as the committees and armed gangs continue to exist,” the source says. Such a statement becomes more credible if we consider the “welcomes” given to OSCE representatives. In Tepelenë they were obstructed by Malaj’s men; in Sarandë they were not provided with working conditions, while in Tepelenë the committee leaders gave them only ten minutes for “legjendërimi.” Thus, in several cities, representatives of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights have been considered “persona non grata,” and some of them have even been threatened with physical elimination. Faced with this situation, Brajan Pridom chose to resign. A. NDROQI

PS leaders nominated in committee-controlled areas have sealed their illegality, even if they “win” PS leaders who have been nominated in committee-controlled areas have sealed their illegality, even if they “win” All the PS leaders have stood as candidates in areas controlled by the committees, including the fugitive from prison who is chairman of that party. As is known, the rebel committee bosses have repeatedly declared that they will not allow the DP to campaign in those areas. ON PAGE 3

ON PAGE 5

President Berisha gets Laç, Rubik and Mamurras on their feet