The government’s smuggling operation tears apart the Gorricë customs post ON PAGE 4

Shehu: The HJC is killing the independence of the third branch of government ON PAGE 4 undertak-? before the fall of? acy, and itself? ullit, elec? cillit is? would be? lëhësit të? in place in the prime min-? of his, to? for fit-? last of? Arbnori,? tu me ve-? space? zites, ven-? progress in? national? shteve të? nes. la e? crisis social-?ocracy e? said Ber? related to? na në ad-? te motiv? luzur Nano.? collapsed in? po zënë? cilët u? dim gjatë? Compar-? a to do të? regjieshtish? gjenin in-? , që u? vendet? vendësuar? ne mësim? rkësim-? rdhur nga? zem-leni-? nar shkol-? practically? nuk mund? të gjejë më? ra garan-? khtimi i? ‘1991’.? e gjuha? e spastr-? adminis-? ncuar dhe? shumë nga? temi para-? E, do t’i? se Stras-? mbrojmë? tare dhe? rekë? përine.

VEFA: Administrators have no place with us. The Council of Europe discusses Arbnori today. Berisha at a press conference. Election law seriously violated in electoral zone 4. The Court of Cassation defies the Presidency

. While Arbnori enters the fourteenth day of his hunger strike, around sixty Socialist Party MPs cast their votes against the hastily proposed Arbnori Amendment. For not one of them is free speech—or even the life of the symbol of democratic resistance in Albania—worth defending. They have felt, and continue to feel, their inferiority in the face of Arbnori’s history; and, like Arbnori himself, they do not expect much objectivity from the majority of Socialist Party MPs. Naturally, public opinion cannot imagine that people who have occupied Parliament with the Kalashnikovs of their gangs would make even a minimal effort for freedom of the press and the media. Today is the last day for reason. The Socialists perhaps still have one final chance not to squander their temporary victories in the 29 June elections. They also have the opportunity to reconcile themselves with the resistance of others and with the modern concept of speech and the press, freedom of thought, and constructive opposition. This is the moment for the Socialists to react, even to the Kalashnikovs within their own ranks in Parliament, of which, unfortunately, there are many. It should also be understood that everything said in the name of free speech is not pressure. A hunger strike is a form of communication, even if it may appear harsh and is painful to undertake. It does not, in itself, carry a harsh message; it is a message to all those who, regardless of how they came to Parliament, have a duty to respect the opposition, its voice, and its alternative point of view. The majority’s vote is not always worthy of the majority, and this is also why governments change in a pluralist system. It shifts along with changes in society, and it is not in the Socialists’ interest for this vote, from the very first month, to cease representing the majority outside Parliament. The Socialists who do not understand such a problem, and the daily shifts in voters’ attitudes, have already lost the battle. Freedom of the press has never been hostage to parliaments, and the opposition has likewise never been hostage to the parliamentary majority. This is all the more true of today’s opposition, which operates on the basis of alternatives, not negation, and of solutions, not obstruction. It is entirely normal for people who stand up for free speech to emerge from the ranks of Democratic Party MPs. This should not surprise the other side. People who are prepared to criticize themselves in the name of the ideals of democracy can always emerge from the Democratic Party. Not every party that says it represents such an ideal actually has this capacity. Politics is thus tied to the ideals it claims to represent. The DP is, and has always been, characterized by a democratic spirit and a sense of—more than ever, it feels this to be true. This is continually demonstrated by other developments in reality, and especially by those who regard Arbnori’s strike as ordinary pressure. It is also demonstrated by those who wish the strike to begin in some other way and to carry a political sub-message. The Arbnori issue is no longer solely an opposition issue; it is a matter of state. In response to this, Albania’s state imbalances… are not considered… The important issue, which now seems to have… The honourable deputy will discuss the Arbnori Amendment. This is what we have…

Italy expresses concern over Arbnori’s hunger strike. Message from the Italian Prime Minister to Berisha Italy expresses concern over Arbnori’s hunger strike. Message from the Italian Prime Minister to Berisha Prodi warns Nano Italy yesterday expressed its concern over the hunger strike of Democratic Party MP Pjetër Arbnori, thus joining the widespread international concern over the violation of human rights and freedoms by Albania’s new rulers. The leader of the Democratic Party, Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha, received a message from Italian Prime Minister Prodi confirming support for the Democratic Party’s concern about the events that led to MP Arbnori’s prolonged hunger strike. The full text of the message reads: “Regarding your letter of 25 August, I wish to confirm to you that Italy is concerned with everything relating to the respect of human rights and democratic freedoms. You are well aware of the efforts Italy has been making for some time to support the democratic development of the Albanian nation. I wish to assure you that this policy is being pursued in practical terms, and that I have raised the matter about which you wrote to me with Prime Minister Nano.”

Good night, Princess! The fairy tale is over. (Feature on page 7)

Press conference by PD Leader Sali Berisha. PD again calls for the adoption of the Arbnori Amendment At yesterday’s press conference, Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha expressed to journalists his solidarity with MP Pjetër Arbnori’s hunger strike and criticized the dangerous practice of the Socialist majority of passing laws simply to remove heads of institutions, in order to achieve its “witches’ aims,” such as destroying Albanian diplomacy by dismissing ambassadors for partisan reasons. Berisha also answered journalists’ questions about public order, disarmament, people being dismissed from their jobs for political reasons, etc. ON PAGE 3

Laurent Fabius and Doris Pack send messages of solidarity with Pjetër Arbnori His blood pressure continues to fall significantly, accompanied by a drop in his heart rate to a minimum. His breathing is becoming increasingly difficult, bringing him close to requiring oxygen. Meanwhile, a sudden rise in temperature has been observed. The headache has persisted for almost the past 24 hours, even after taking a painkiller. ON PAGE 2

Oil workers set five conditions for the government. Deadline: September 5 PATOS, SEPTEMBER 1, ENTER/- The independent oil workers’ union based in Patos warned on Monday that it would launch a general strike unless the problems it had set out in a five-point petition addressed to the country’s highest authorities were resolved. The union said that “certain groups have launched an unrestrained campaign, through their loyal militants, to secure the union for the government, in complete violation of Albanian norms and laws.” It demanded that workers’ wages and supplements be paid, since oil workers receive their wages a month late; that an employment contract for 1997 be signed; and that the government waive the excise duty for Albpetrol, which is being privatized and has contracts with foreign companies. The independent oil workers’ union said it expected a response by September 5, since otherwise it “will escalate its actions using all democratic means, up to and including a general strike.”

Meidani publicly misleads his fellow citizens Meidani misleads the public, including on Radio “Tirana.” He stated that the opposition press had been distributed regularly in Vlora. Meidani visited Vlora yesterday, took a look at the boulevard where newspapers are sold, and then told the state radio station run by Martin Leka that the opposition press had been distributed there alongside the pro-government press. A teacher from Vlora called the “RD” newspaper’s editorial office yesterday to say that Meidani was publicly misleading his fellow citizens. “It is not true that the opposition press has arrived in Vlora. I saw the President’s motorcade, and then the place where the newspapers are sold. Today is Monday, and there are no newspapers; yesterday, too, there were only “Zëri i Popullit” and “Koha e Jonë”. Since today is a day off, there were only “Eros” and a few magazines. “Albania” and “RD” have not arrived.”

Interview with Albert Rakipi, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Albania ON PAGE 6

Today, 2 September, at 7:00 p.m., the Democratic Party, Tirana Branch, will organize a silent, peaceful demonstration in solidarity with Mr. Pjetër Arbnori’s hunger strike and his just demands. The gathering will take place in front of the DP of Albania headquarters, and participants will proceed in an organized manner to the headquarters of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, where Mr. Pjetër Arbnori has taken refuge. Members, activists, and supporters of the DP of Albania are invited to take part. The Presidium

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