Citizens of Elbasan protest against the minister ON PAGE 4 Citizens of Elbasan protest against the minister Petition: Çeka must resign ON PAGE 4

Italian politicians react to the Albanian government ON PAGE 4 Italian politicians react to the Albanian government Block aid to Albania ON PAGE 4

The DP will denounce the amendment of several laws before international courts. Today, a round table of parties on Arbnori’s hunger strike. The imprisoned Mandela is becoming further internationalized.

The initiative of the lawmakers and President Meidani paved the way for the installation of dictatorship in Albania. With his proposal to amend the law on the High Council of Justice, he proposes that the majority of the kalashnikovs deepen its move toward the independence of the judicial system. The President of the Republic showed that he is merely a humble servant, securing unlimited power for Nano. By amending the constitutional law on the High Council of Justice, the socialist majority in power marked the greatest institutional regression for the future of Albanian democracy. Placing justice under the political power of the socialist majority and its executive has direct consequences not only for the judiciary, but also for the future of Albanian democracy and for the political credibility of the executive in the eyes of international opinion. Without dwelling at length on the concrete consequences of amending the law on the High Council of Justice—which have been discussed in recent days both in Parliament and in the press—it is necessary to understand the consequences, on the international stage and in the organizations of which Albania is a member, of the political system in power controlling the justice system. The Council of Europe and other international organizations’ concerns about the judiciary’s full independence from parliamentary and executive structures of the Democratic Party during its time in government were taken into consideration, and the law on the justice system was prepared, now lying in the Court’s files. The Albanian experts, jurists, and foreign experts who helped prepare the law were guided by the principle of democratic systems: to grant the justice system full independence. The socialist majority not only disregarded all this work and serious investment, but, on the contrary, with the primitive mentality that accompanies it, took the final step to overturn even the existing law. During the parliamentary debates by most of the deputies of the kalashnikovs, it was clear that their concern was not justice and its independence, but political control through the executive and the ideological passions of the ex-communist majority. A typical example demonstrating this is the speech by one of the key leaders who should not have been among the rioters in Vlora, the local leader of the socialists in that city, Eduard Alushi. Now, after the amendment of the law on the High Council of Justice, the socialists can rest assured that at last they face no legal obstacle to political purges at every level of power, including the judiciary. But Albanians will ultimately pay for their ambition to control everything—to purge the administration and control RTSH, SHIK, the State Audit Office, the Prosecutor’s Office, the Central Bank, and other institutions—and for their efforts to amend laws and remove their leaders. The cost of this payment, whenever the socialists change laws unconstitutionally, is incalculable—especially with the amendment of the constitutional law on the High Council of Justice. Politically and institutionally, the way has been opened for the final installation of a political dictatorship by the socialist regime in power; internationally, Albania risks not only the foreign aid it so desperately needs, but total isolation. The opposition promised yesterday that this law, which seriously undermines the independence of the justice system, violates the international conventions Albania has signed, and paves the way for the installation of dictatorship, will be taken to Strasbourg. This is the only way to defend the independence of the courts and the prosecution service. SH. PEPOSHI

The head of EDU, Mock, and Johnsson, Deputy Secretary-General of the European Inter-Parliamentary Union, comment on Arbnori’s hunger strike ON PAGE 2 The head of EDU, Mock, and Johnsson, Deputy Secretary-General of the European Inter-Parliamentary Union, comment on Arbnori’s hunger strike Nano, you are responsible for Arbnori ON PAGE 2 Pjetër Arbnori is known in the international arena as an unfailing defender of democracy. Not only as a symbol of democracy in Albania, not only as a former senior statesman of Albania, but above all as a personality who

Statement by the PDSH Parliamentary Group. The space available to the opposition is shrinking further Yesterday in Parliament, the Socialist majority’s position was once again confirmed: it would not respect the agreement signed on June 23 between PDSH and PSSH, under which the opposition was to be given leadership of the State Audit Commission and a substantial share of the chairmanships of Parliamentary Committees. Yesterday, Socialist representatives made clear that they had excluded PD from the State Audit Commission, while giving it the chairmanship of 3 of the 13 committees in total. This constitutes an open breach of the agreement, and for this reason the Democratic deputies elected to the parliamentary bodies in question will not carry out their functions. The Democratic Party calls for the roundtable initially organized by the Community of Sant’Egidio to convene again to discuss implementation of the agreement.

At least one dead and seven injured. A non-hospital source reports three dead A major armed clash between two rival groups in Elbasan. Hospital sources report at least one dead, while the number of injured stands at seven. Last night, at around 19:45, near a billiards hall in the “Beqir Dardha” neighborhood, an armed confrontation began between two groups, some of whose members are believed to belong to the Cerma gang. They fired at each other without restraint, while residents near the scene say there were also bomb explosions. The city police intervention managed to prevent an even greater bloodbath, but five police officers were injured in the meantime. We are informed by Elbasan Hospital that the officers are out of danger, as are two other injured civilians. Meanwhile, other sources from Elbasan say the number of dead is as high as three. This is the second time in just a few days that the city of Elbasan has become an arena for armed clashes, with many victims.

A Greek delegation has to come to the PD headquarters for the television station, occupied by the majority, to cover the Democratic Party’s international activities. For the first time, this television station broadcast an international event last night—specifically, the meeting that the Secretary-General, Geno Pollo, held with Kostandupolos, leader of the Synaspizmos Party. At the same time, for the first time, a Greek [delegation] finally managed to break through onto Albanian television from the PD headquarters. This television station has now blocked all information relating to the international activities of the largest opposition party. It did not broadcast the meeting with the political director of Germany’s Foreign Ministry, the meeting with representatives of the LDK, and there is no question of [messages] or letters from senior leaders of international institutions and heads of state.

Late last night, the FRPD chairman refuted the news and statements concerning the so-called signatories within the structures of the Youth Forum. “The speculations in the press and media, as well as any signed statement, do not represent the legal structures of the FRPD, which has officially determined its position at meetings of its highest decision-making Forums: for the reorganization and consolidation of the PD, to which I am also making a concrete contribution,” FRPD Chairman Afrim Krasniqi told RD.

Pollo meets Kostandopulos Yesterday afternoon, at the PDSH headquarters, its deputy chairman, Genç Pollo, and board member Maksim Çikuli received a delegation from the SYNASPIZMOS Party, headed by its chairman, Mr. Kostandopulos. After expressing his pleasure at the delegation’s visit, Mr. Pollo told his Greek guest that although PDSH is now in opposition, it wants the friendly Albanian-Greek relations of recent years to continue—relations that culminated in the “Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation,” concluded in Tirana by the presidents of the two countries in the spring of last year. We welcome the party’s commitment and the personal role it plays in legalizing Albanian emigrants in Greece, and we would like the procedures begun two years ago to be completed. Mr. Pollo then said that the Greek minority in Albania, during the Democratic Party’s time in government, gained increasingly greater freedoms, and the country adopted European standards for the treatment of minorities. Mr. Pollo then briefed his guests on the political situation in the country and PDSH’s positions. For his part, Mr. Kostandopulos expressed his pleasure at visiting Albania at precisely such a special moment. He hopes that the Albanian-Greek talks concerning [the matter] will now proceed. He stressed his desire for friendship between our two countries to continue and for his country to support Albania’s integration into Europe. Mr. Kostandopulos also said that a solution to the problem of Albanian emigrants in Greece would be in the interests of the political, economic, and social aspects.

Pashko draws closer to Nano’s chair. He arrived in Tirana yesterday State media announced yesterday the return from America of Gramoz Pashko, the economist of the “blank check.” According to state sources, he will be at Nano’s side to advise him on economic reforms. From the publicity state media is giving to Pashko’s return from America, it also appears that very soon he will be the person who will bring Nano into his government. Pashko could not accept [unclear] in his government. Pashko could not accept what was simply said to have been in power for a time. been in power for a time. been in power for a time. Pashko could not accept these positions while being, at one time, one of his advisers; (ala) Daut Gumeni is coming. It is understood that Pashko will not be like that; he hopes that very soon he will be more than an adviser.

The Democratic Party of Albania has invited all the parliamentary parties of Albania to a round table today, 29.08.1997, at 10:00, at the Palace of Congresses, to discuss the possible selection of the majority-opposition ratio in presenting their activities on the state electronic media.

Today is the tenth day of Pjetër Arbnori’s hunger strike. Berisha meets with journalists

unfailing defender of democracy. Not only personality who has suffered greatly for his worthy convictions. Mr. Arbnori, like many other Albanians, deserves better treatment from the authorities. As the new leader of Albania, whose influence is known to extend beyond the constitutional limits of your office, I personally ask you to assume responsibility for Mr. Arbnori’s well-being.”

The Socialists are adopting confusion, thereby carrying out a sham process of transparency, the outcome of which will be a long requiem for the buried savings of 200,000 Albanians and the thousands of objectives of the pyramid firms and investors. ON PAGE 5