The Chigi Palace publishes the text of Prodi’s decree ON PAGE 4 The Chigi Palace publishes the text of Prodi’s decree Here is how the March refugees will be deported ON PAGE 4

. The majority passes its own law on the state media. VEFA takes the government to court. The communist revanche reaches the grassroots; district councils face political purges. Last night, calls against communism rang out once again in Tirana. The previous night, thousands of capital residents marched along “Dëshmorët e kombit” Boulevard, from the Democratic Party headquarters to the People’s Assembly, beneath the windows of the cell where Pjetër Arbnori has been confined for two weeks. Last night, after five years, Democrats came together again in opposition and, keeping the same pace as in those unforgettable days, reminded the communists now installed in power that they would not allow democracy to be violated at any time. The central figure of last night’s demonstration was Pjetër Arbnori—the same man who laid the foundations of communism some 40 years ago, and the same man who in ’91 and ’92 was among the organizers and leaders of protests in Albania until the communists were removed from power. Leading the demonstrators were the leader of the student movement, Azem Hajdari, and one of the founders of the DP, Genc Pollo. As always, the leader of the DP, Sali Berisha, joined them. Last night Tirana once again showed the real opposition: a steadfast opposition, beginning with the assurance that it would not allow any attack on its citizens or on the citizens of all Albania by the communist government in power. They now have a shield for their democracy and freedom: the Democratic Party and its ideals. Today marks fifteen days since the Mandela of Albania confined himself in a hunger strike. The cause is freedom of speech. People willing to sacrifice themselves for freedom of speech have always emerged from the democratic forces. This is precisely what the communists cannot understand—the deputies of today, who came to Parliament at the muzzle of a Kalashnikov. This is why they have lost their reason and still think that people have forgotten the five years of democracy, the aspirations for a good country and a good life, with all rights and freedoms equal for everyone. Last night, the citizens of Tirana made their voices heard. They were the first to rise up against the communist dictatorship, and they will likewise continue to be the first to rise against provincial communist remnants wherever they may be—in the President, the Prime Minister, the Speaker of Parliament, or the heads of cooperatives, who have filled almost a third of Parliament. The time of evil determinism is over. People, too, have begun identifying the authors of this year’s acts of terror. This is happening not only in Tirana, but also where the communists have shed more blood than anywhere else—in Vlorë, Shkodër, Pukë—while increasingly using innocent people as cannon fodder to bring gangs and gang logic to power, using crime as a mechanism of governance. Arbnori’s fifteen days on hunger strike have shaken the conscience of thousands of Albanians. These signals came precisely from the man who has suffered this country’s captivity more than anyone today, the red orphan, the man who knows best the earliest symptoms of a dictatorship. His knock was more convincing, and his response to dictatorship more accurate. It would be to the credit of the Socialists or the parliamentary leaders to make the same move that Arbnori was using to condemn the disfigurement of the free media, but, as they also did last night, Arbnori’s hour did not become an occasion for a double-faced media; the face of the ruling position taking the place that properly belongs to the opposition. The truth of Arbnori’s self-sacrificing act is living proof that they have never intended to be democratic, nor have they… Thousands of Tirana citizens protest in front of the People’s Assembly headquarters. Today is the 15th day of Arbnori’s hunger strike

Arbnori is defending the freedoms and rights of all Albanians Berisha comments on the arbitrary decision of the Kalashnikov Parliament What is your comment on Parliament’s decision? Today they showed once again that they are allergic to the opposition’s voice. A great, incomprehensible fear has

What is your comment on Parliament’s decision? the opposition’s voice. A great, incomprehensible fear has gripped the Albanian majority over the opposition’s voice, over its necessary space to express positions, alternatives, and so on. I express my deepest regret. In the compromise proposal, we agreed on other formulas, but what we could not accept was crossing every boundary, which would have amounted to major discrimination against the Albanian opposition and against freedom of speech and expression. This Parliament lacks the will to take such steps. On the one hand, opposition members are attacked with weapons, in the streets and so on; on the other, the space for information is being shut down. This is a very negative development that demonstrates the great lack of integrity among today’s rulers. It shows that they are deeply troubled and very afraid of the spoken word. What will happen to Arbnori now? Arbnori is determined to stand by his demands. He is defending this country’s sovereignty. He is defending the freedoms of all Albanians. We tried to make the majority understand that this is not a trivial matter. It concerns the sovereignty of a nation, which rests on two pillars: the vote and freedom of speech; it rests with the governing side and with the opposition. They have completely violated the opposition’s access to information. This is a sad event for information and for freedom in Albania. I am convinced that no one will approve such a thing, which penalizes the freedoms of Albanians. SH.P.

Scandal! 200 Greek soldiers are staying illegally in Albania ON PAGE 3 After the end of the “Alba” mission, no official document has been made public that would declare the Greek military presence on Albanian soil lawful. In this photo taken in Greece, the words can be read: “Long live the Army of the Confederation of Southern Northern Epirus.” Brokaj: I don’t know how many foreign soldiers there are in Albania

The Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe gives Gjinu(sh)i a dressing-down Rapporteur Van Der Linden to spend 10 days in Albania. Monitoring Committee meeting today Yesterday, the Council of Europe expressed deep concern over recent events in Albania. At a meeting of Europe, it was decided that the special rapporteur for Albania, René Van Der Linden, would arrive in Tirana within the next 10 days, whereas under normal procedure he should have come in January of next year. Meanwhile, the Council of Europe Bureau decided to send a letter to Parliament Speaker Skënder Gjinushi, asking why the leadership had prevented representatives of the Democratic Party from going to Strasbourg and had allowed only Namik Dokle to attend, whose presence had not been necessary at all. As reported, Dokle was not even given the floor, and the only trace left by his visit to Strasbourg is the withdrawal of the deputies from the People’s Assembly. According to the program, the Council of Europe’s Monitoring Committee will meet today and is expected to devote very extensive attention to the situation in Albania. It was this concern that compelled Europe to request more detailed information about what the former communist rulers are doing as they seek to return to power by force, prompting the urgent dispatch of rapporteur Van Der Linden to Tirana. A.GJ.

Pollo on the meeting of the Foreign Policy Committee ON PAGE 3

The Democratic Party of Albanians in Macedonia described the Macedonian police operations as “hunting expeditions” and blamed the Macedonian authorities Macedonia tries to justify the killings of dozens of Albanians ON PAGE 4

Pjetër Arbnori, with his son, greets the protesters gathered in front of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly Photo: A.FUSHA Pjetër Arbnori, with his son, greets the protesters gathered in front of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly. Photo: A.FUSHA

Democratic men and women of Tirana! Today and every day, everyone gather in front of the Democratic Party headquarters at 7:00 p.m. to protest peacefully in support of the hunger strike of Europe’s Mandela, Pjetër Arbnori, who has been confined there for two weeks to put an end to the shackling of the rights and freedoms of all Albanians by today’s rulers.

Thousands of Tirana citizens protest in front of the People’s Assembly headquarters. Today is the 15th day of Arbnori’s hunger strike