Arbnori meets with lawmakers in the US ON PAGE 2

The committee faces the citizens’ silent resistance ON PAGE 4

Bombs and a hail of bullets directed at the aid escorts ON PAGE 4

Armed gangs from Çërrik, instigated by Socialist leaders, once again used their weapons yesterday against citizens. Several bandits fired at the crowd of several thousand people who had gathered to greet President Berisha at the rally held in the city of Elbasan. This was part of a scenario prepared by leaders of the far left to cause bloodshed in Elbasan. For some time, they have been making their presence felt in this city in order to set it ablaze—a historic city for Albania, where the Democratic Party has always won. Two weeks ago, the massacre in Çërrik was prepared, in which seven members of the special forces lost their lives. The Albanian press also wrote about the possible betrayal by a Socialist government official, who had led these forces into a carefully planned trap. The district headquarters of the DP was also attacked several times, while dozens of anonymous phone calls full of threats were directed at DP members, supporters, and all decent people in this city. In the days before the rally, citizens were told not to go to the square because bombs had allegedly been planted there. The attack on the rally in Elbasan took place just one day after Nano and Gjishushi, having gone to Tepelenë, Vlora and Saranda, incited the rebels. This was also the macabre order Nano issued in broad daylight: to attack democratic forces wherever they could throughout the country. His meetings with the bandits who have killed the people of Vlora, Saranda, Gjirokastër and Tepelenë, and the total support he gives to the most violent section of a nation, speak for themselves. Fatos Nano does not care about ordinary people who may be killed; he does not care that the democrats of the south and all the people in this part of Albania are terrorized every day. He does not think that by inciting his bandits to spread terror wherever Berisha is, he is bringing his own political and criminal life to an end. This is the most “humane” way the Socialist Party has chosen to come to power. It is now clear not only to the people of Elbasan, but to all Albanians, that the leaders of the far left are people of violence and terror, opposed to peace and freedom, and against democracy and free elections. They want power through slogans, just as they took it in 1945. This is the tradition of dictators and dictatorships; it is also the legacy of their remnants, who are now armed to bathe Albania in blood. The PS gangs, spread throughout the areas where the Communists have had even minimal support, have no restraint when it comes to violence and terror. Thousands of people have been terrorized and robbed; thousands have been wounded, and hundreds killed because of the Communists’ armed uprising. Albania has become an arena where the Democrats’ tolerance clashes every day with the brutality of Fatos Nano’s Communists. Every day, the gangs of this criminal political apparatus attack Albanian democracy by every means. Hundreds of DP activists have been targeted with threats, robberies, or murder. Applying all the methods of the former State Security—from spreading panic among people through intimidation to executions—the heavy-handed enforcers of Communism, with Nano at their head, have laid the foundations for the greatest bloodshed this country could experience. The PS bandits are now the darkest part of Albanian history. They are no different from the gangs of Haxhi Qamil, nor from the criminals of Enver Hoxha. A man who hates democracy and the freedom of others seeks to rule the Albanian state. This is only his dream; the Berishas will prevail in the end. Those who fired in Elbasan, those who killed in Cërrik and Vlora, and the others who shot at DP leaders from the shacks of Galiçan are doomed; the people have prepared their sentence. Alongside them in line is their leader, the greatest of them all, with their twisted logic, drawn not from the bourgeoisie but from criminals, thieves, rapists and immoral people.

Pollo leaves Elbasan and goes to launch the campaign in Korçë Genc Pollo, Secretary General of the PD and candidate for parliament in Korçë, promised the people of Korçë yesterday immediate stabilization and solutions to real problems. ON PAGE 2 Terrorism does not dampen the enthusiasm of thousands of people from Elbasan

Elbasan. Left-wing extremists fire on the crowd gathered around President Berisha Berisha continues the rally to the cheers of thousands of PD supporters. 8 people have been wounded. The terrorist Ranxha is a friend of Dokle’s escort, Roland Xhepaxhiu. A white Benz carrying 4 men from Çërrik speeds away from the Castle Gate; on the way, they wound a police officer. Special report on page 3

PS gangs terrorize PD candidates The armed gang of the Tepelena committee ambushed yesterday the Democratic Party’s parliamentary candidate for the Saranda-Vurgu area, Flamur Shehu. A group of four or five unwashed, unshaven men, bearded like their leader Nano, forced the Democratic Party candidate, Mr. Flamur Shehu, to get out of his car and turn back. One of them, holding a Kalashnikov, asked Mr. Shehu for his documents and, recognizing him, told him that since he was a composer, he would not mistreat him. “You must go back the way you came, otherwise we’ll kill you on the spot,” said the man with the Kalashnikov. Forced by the weapons the terrorists were carrying, the Democratic Party candidate returned to Tirana without meeting his voters.

Shehu in Greece: PD certain of victory Yesterday afternoon, on his return from Athens, PD Chairman Tritan Shehu met with media representatives in Thessaloniki. The journalists were interested in current problems in Albania: the election campaign, the issue of observers, communication between political forces, and the programs these forces are offering to get the country out of the crisis. There was particular interest in the statement made by Socialist leader Nano in Vlora. Mr. Tritan Shehu said that the Democratic Party is committed to an election campaign and to a certain victory in the June 29 elections, but that some areas held hostage by rebel committees are a problem. He said the PS is still failing to distance itself from these gangs and committees, and is also refusing to sign the social pact proposed by the Democratic Party. Regarding Nano’s statement in Vlora, Mr. Shehu said it was a dangerous, demagogic statement that would bring nothing but destabilization to the country. Mr. Nano, Shehu said, is convinced that his party faces certain defeat, which is why he makes such statements, with the aim of keeping the fire burning even after the elections. In contrast to irresponsible statements and adventurism, the Democratic Party has a realistic emergency program aimed at minimizing and eliminating the destructive consequences of the communist rebellion, as well as compensating those who suffered losses after being drawn into pyramid schemes. “We are certain of victory,” Shehu said, “because we have a moderate alternative, while those who go hand in hand with the gangs have an alternative of destruction.”

Presidency lawyer Ilir Rusmajli sheds light on the truth about the Rome meeting. “Government and Finance Ministry experts rejected the IMF and World Bank proposal” ON PAGE 5 While the truth about pyramid schemes is being greatly distorted, with the President’s institution also being accused in this confusion, the Socialists are seeking to remove from legal responsibility the role Malaj has in ensuring transparency about the pyramid schemes. Their sole aim is to prevent Albanians from getting an answer about where their money went, and instead to keep them living with uncertainty—a situation that served the Socialists and the armed wing of the PS in creating chaos in the country.

OSCE spokesperson in Tirana says Pridhom left for personal reasons. — OSCE troika meeting next week The OSCE spokesperson in Tirana said that Pridhom had left for personal reasons. Muraj, the OSCE spokesperson in Tirana, has dismissed as untrue a statement in a Tirana newspaper claiming that Pridhom’s resignation was connected to the international community’s predetermination of the election result. Muraj also reiterated that the reasons for spokesperson Pridhom’s departure from his post were personal. He says the OSCE spokesperson’s role is simply to monitor the elections, not to predetermine their outcome. Meanwhile, yesterday the OSCE announced the name of Pridhom’s successor. The OSCE’s chief observer will be Toni Ualsh, who prefers not to comment on his predecessor’s departure. Pridhom has said that one reason for leaving his post was disagreement over the conduct of free and fair elections, which, he says, are being obstructed by armed groups. As a result, the chief observer says, elections in Albania cannot be held unless security has been guaranteed throughout the country. He compared the situation in Vlora to that of Baghdad during the Persian Gulf War. Pridhom’s resignation came after several observer missions in the south of the country failed, when rebel committees led by the PS forcibly stopped OSCE missions. In any case, Pridhom’s resignation appears to have prompted a meeting of the OSCE troika, which Ualsh has also confirmed will be held next week in Vienna. He says he is traveling throughout the country to make this the main issue of the campaign, and that ODIHR considers this mission a difficult one for the organization’s election observers.

The PS severs ties with the PSD ON PAGE 2

Terrorism does not dampen the enthusiasm of thousands of people from Elbasan