The riflemen and commissars are being called in to rebuild the Albanian army. ON PAGE 4

Imami calls for parliament’s powers to be curtailed ON PAGE 4

The Nano government fails to provide premises for the Council of Europe ON PAGE 4

. Berisha at a press conference. The Interior Minister will block aid to Albania. No guarantees for restoring order. The police are idle; the gangs are at work. Today, seven days on hunger strike Today is the seventh day of Pjetër Arbnori’s hunger strike. A day earlier, DP deputies, together with members of the “League for Television,” which, drawing on Western European experience—specifically the French model—sets out the parameters for the opposition’s representation on state media, [acted]. In short, it divides the airtime for information among the opposition, the parliamentary majority and the government, allotting one third to each. This came after the government’s deafness in response to a strike such as Arbnori’s and, moreover, as a civic obligation on the opposition’s part not to leave the country in the hands of terrorists and to ensure information, unlike what is happening with the Nano-Gjinushi-Meidani troika and their fanatical people at Television, according to Mazi. Meanwhile, amending this provision also meets Arbnori’s condition for ending his strike, something that is the duty of all Albanian society, not just the opposition or parliament. Is Arbnori’s strike pressure? There is no doubt that it is pressure, and very strong pressure, but not pressure to gain an unfair advantage: it is pressure for a right that Arbnori understands better than many politicians in Albania. A man instinctively opposed to violence has considered self-sacrifice more reasonable than its repetition in Albania’s miserable prisons, as has happened to thousands of others. What Arbnori is doing for information in the country is the greatest investment one person can make in his country’s future. Naturally, this investment is not easy. Facing him is the communist clique and people with wooden logic like Skënder Gjinushi and Namik Dokle. Such a sacrifice seems incomprehensible to both of them. It seems incomprehensible because neither they nor the others of their kind value freedom of speech and information. Neither was brought up to defend these values as much as they were brought up to suppress them. Both have demonstrated this through their actions, and both have repeatedly gone out into the open market, selling themselves publicly and shamefully. Neither of them would agree to sacrifice even an hour for the right to speak, even for themselves, let alone for others. There are dozens like these two in the parliament of Kalashnikovs and in Nano’s legitimate government. The struggle for rights and freedoms, equality and commitment to a democratic life and democratic media is foreign to them, and will remain so. Arbnori has not moved any authority through his commitment to building democratic values and further institutionalizing them; they have been moved only by their own maximum gains. To them, Arbnori’s action seems absurdly sentimental, while to anyone who follows the struggle for equal rights and freedoms for all, it is a rare act of self-sacrifice. Everyone in politics and the media should remember this act as a symbol that shines a light for them. His strike is just such a thing, as Skënder Gjinushi rightly puts it, and this means there are ways out in Parliament. His strike is devastating and a value for everyone. At last, someone was found in Albania who is willing to die for the word, even though there are also people in Albania willing to die for a piece of its [unclear] line. The cases of Gjinushi and Arbnori are two actions that [unclear] toward the most opposite extremes. The first suggests activation and overthrow; [unclear] makes his own [unclear] of ignoring, perhaps [unclear] the right path toward values and change with their objectives. Albania, like every country, touches these few women. Arbnori belongs to this world [unclear]. Sami NEZA

Interview with Pjetër Arbnori during the hunger strike Illegally taken out of the “prison”—the former Central Committee of the PPSH, now Parlia- Interview with Pjetër Arbnori during the hunger strike “They threatened to drag me out of the strike by force” Illegally taken out of the “prison”—the former Central Committee of the PPSH, now Parlia-

- How does Pjetër Arbnori feel today? - I began the hunger strike on August 19, and nevertheless I feel well. This is relative, because when it comes to my health I have always used the word “well.” I never complain. I can explain that I feel throbbing in my temples, general weakness, dizziness, cracking joints, a cracked tongue and a bitter mouth. None of these are severe. The main thing is that my state of mind is very good, my determination is strong, and my humor is lively, as always. ON PAGE 2

The President of the German Bundestag, Rita Sussmuth, writes to Arbnori In a letter that the President of the German Bundestag, Rita Sussmuth, sent to MP Pjetër Arbnori, former President of the Albanian Parliament, she thanks him “warmly for the cooperation over the past years, achieved through understanding.” The President of the German Bundestag writes, “I remember as if it were today our meeting in July 1994, on the occasion of my very impressive visit to your country, after I had previously had you as a guest in Bonn. I regret very much that your official return visit to Germany, which we had envisioned together with Ambassador Zaganjoni, could not be carried out. Taking this opportunity to thank you once again warmly for your congratulations on the occasion of my 60th birthday, I remain with my best wishes for your continued political and parliamentary activity for the good of Albania and, bearing in mind the moving path of your life—which is at least as important—with wishes for your personal and family well-being,” concludes the letter from the President of the Bundestag to Arbnori.

The former head of the Secret Service, Arben Karkini, recalls his appointment, how he worked and how he was dismissed ON PAGE 3

PD statement. Protest against killings on the Albanian-Macedonian border The Democratic Party protested forcefully on Sunday against the criminal act by the Macedonian army, which killed two Albanians and wounded another in the Ra- [sic] icë area. All the evidence points to the killing, without warning, of unarmed Albanians. Such criminal acts have been repeated again and again on the Albanian-Macedonian border, incidents that show that the Macedonian state is not only uninterested in good neighborly relations with Albania, but is also bent on provoking incidents and worsening the situation. Unfortunately, such incidents have not been strongly condemned even by the current Albanian government, which has made a policy of “good neighborly relations” with Macedonia one of its priorities, thus sacrificing Albanian blood. We call on the government to take a firm stand against these acts and immediately adopt all measures to ensure that they are never repeated. The Democratic Party offers its deepest condolences to the victims’ families and, at this difficult time, stands by the residents of Rajcë, assuring them that it will fight by every means to ensure that those responsible for these acts receive the punishment they deserve.

Those named in the motion against the PD leader deny responsibility, including many of the people mentioned in it Four people whose names were mentioned as signatories on a list calling for a motion against the current leaders of the PD have denied being the authors of that letter, which has circulated in several daily newspapers. Lumturi Bllalli, Ismail Begu, Xhavit Begu and Ramazan Begu said yesterday that they had not authorized anyone to speak or write on their behalf in any newspaper. “We do not know of any such group of ‘rebel insurgents’ or ‘factionalists’ mentioned in the article. Strangely, in this ‘group of 52’ I see people who have left the PD or others who were positioned there first, while among them...” [text cut off/illegible] “We think that other elements are behind this group, people who do not have the courage to come forward to pursue their own aim,” states the denial issued by four of the people named on the list. “As for me, I have the civic and moral-political courage to express my views freely and openly in the structures I belong to, because the PD offers democratic space for free expression, with a letter on the eve of the party’s internal election campaign,” says Lumtur Bllalli, denying the report that he, too, had drafted the letter attached to the petition.

Human Rights Watch Helsinki calls on the Albanian authorities to investigate the wounding of journalist Buçpapaj TIRANA - The organization “Human Rights Watch Helsinki” called on the Albanian authorities to investigate the wounding of journalist Muje Buçpapaj, publicly announce the results of the investigation and bring those responsible before the courts. The New York-based human rights organization issued a strong appeal to the Albanian government to guarantee respect for freedom of expression in the country. A statement by the organization says that a number of incidents involving the mass media in Albania underscore the importance of ensuring freedom of the press and speech in the country. “As a member of the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Albanian government has a duty to ensure that Albania’s laws and government practices concerning human rights comply with international standards,” the organization said. The organization’s statement mentions several recent cases and incidents that the government must address. Journalist Muje Buçpapaj of “Rilindja Demokratike” was wounded on August 21 while walking near his home in Tirana. According to the Buçpapaj family, individuals in a police car opened fire on Mr. Buçpapaj, wounding him in the leg, “Human Rights Watch Helsinki” said in a recent letter to the editor. Journalists from “Rilindja Demokratike” and “Albania” have complained about the distribution of their newspapers; the organization said that “the government should take the necessary measures to enable the press and media organizations, regardless of their political affiliation, to operate without hindrance.” “If individuals are controlling or obstructing the distribution of newspapers, the government should take appropriate legal measures,” it said.

Second day of the hunger strike Sixth day of the hunger strike Second day of the hunger strike; Sixth day of the hunger strike

Arbnori remains shut in on hunger strike. DP deputies announce the “Arbnori Amendment”