Two Greek tanker ships in the port of Durrës ON PAGE 4 Two Greek tanker ships in the port of Durrës The government in the Eurodogana files ON PAGE 4

The repatriation of 320 Albanians is being prepared ON PAGE 4 The repatriation of 320 Albanians is being prepared Italian police “hunt” those who fled ON PAGE 4

The Vlora file Signatures for the creation of the PK ON PAGE 4 The Vlora file Signatures for the creation of the PK Çolia—a shelter where militants gather ON PAGE 4

of his European tour Nano: “I didn’t bring money” Van der Linden at the DP headquarters. Pollo calls for the law on the High Council of Justice to be reviewed by the Venice Commission. Arbnori is discharged from hospital The prime minister of the installed government, Fatos Nano, returned yesterday with an empty suitcase from his European tour, once again demonstrating the difficulties the new socialist administration is facing in its relations with the West. After Vienna’s cold reception, Nano had to make his way through Brussels along the same paths Albanian senior officials had trodden nearly five years earlier, both in relations with NATO and with the European Union. Upon arriving at Rinas yesterday, Nano said that the sole success of his visit to Europe had been the “unfreezing” of programs for Albania, temporarily blocked by the International Committee. His interview, in which the only phrase understandable to all sections of Albanian society was “I didn’t bring a suitcase full of money,” dismissed all the speculative claims made by the government and pro-government press, which had tried to present his visit as an extraordinary success. Because even if what Nano says about the unblocking of frozen international funds earmarked for Albania is true, this is merely a continuation of existing policy, for which Nano not only deserves no credit, but may even be said to bear responsibility. The aid programs for Albania were blocked at a time when Nano and other senior Albanian government officials were at the head of the gangs that burned Albania and plunged the country into chaos. Meanwhile, it has become known that the EU foreign ministers’ conference, scheduled to be held in Rome this week, has been postponed indefinitely. This also entails, by inertia, the postponement of the Brussels conference of donor countries for Albania, where what Nano and his press have announced is expected to become reality. So what success is Nano talking about? He has not brought a single new penny to Albania; instead, he has put at risk the deadlines and even the actual disbursement of the funds allocated to his country while he was serving a sentence for corruption in Bënça prison. Sources in Brussels say that Nano has merely received confirmation of programs drawn up under an agreement with the Meksi government, but has not requested any additional aid to mitigate the severe consequences of the rebellion, for which he bears one of the greatest responsibilities. What Albania is expected to receive, after the Greek calends, is nothing more than the already planned balance-of-payments support, which will be disbursed much later. This whole charade about the “great successes” of the prime minister’s European tour—during which he has been splattered across some of Europe’s most important chanceries—only further increases the burden of his government’s responsibility toward Albanians. At a time when Albania is facing an economic situation moving rapidly toward a critical point, with an unprecedented rise in the cost of living expected from October, our government officials are holding international aid hostage, even though it is seen as a reserve for the country’s recovery. The amoral revenge campaign against the opposition and Albania’s freedoms is the ugliest message the new administration is sending to Europe and the entire democratic world. Suppression of the opposition’s free speech, international concern over Nano’s dictatorship, blatant violations of press independence, purges in the army, and a wave of dismissals for political reasons throughout the administration are among the most important issues fueling the West’s concern about the revanchists. Nano returned yesterday empty-handed precisely because the reconciliation process has been frozen by the fierce revenge campaign being pursued by the victors, through both the courts and the Kalashnikovs. The prime minister of the installed government confirms the failure of his European tour

Van Der Linden: “The concerns raised by the Democrats will be subject to ongoing monitoring by the Council of Europe” Council of Europe reporters conclude their visit

Another massacre in Elbasan. A hail of bullets fired at the funeral procession Most of the victims had no connection whatsoever to the dispute More than five people were killed last night at around 17:30 in Elbasan. Several masked and heavily armed individuals opened fire on the funeral procession of Mezan Abazi, 48, who had been killed the previous day by the hand of the brothers of the soil. The armed men fired at the Elbasan Mercedes, license plate 1571A, ambushing it on Cemetery Road, at the bend near the old maternity hospital. They let the two funeral buses pass, then emptied a hail of bullets at the people in the “Benz” car. The funeral party was terrified at that moment as it saw the blood of the victims flowing like a river. Eyewitnesses say that five people died at the scene. A van transported the bodies of the dead to the hospital morgue. Police sources at the scene comment that this bloodshed may have occurred as part of a settling of scores between rivals. But most may have been completely innocent people, while Elbasan remains the bloodiest city. Agim KURTI

Pollo and Minarolli paid their respects at the International Centre of Culture in Tirana, where a large photograph of Mother Teresa has been placed Today, the funeral ceremony of the Albanian Saint Mother Teresa TIRANA, 12 SEPTEMBER, ENTER/ - Former president Sali Berisha, leader of the Democratic opposition, paid his respects on Friday at St. Thomas’s Church in Calcutta. Among dozens of distinguished figures from the political and social worlds, Berisha was the first Albanian to pay tribute before the body of the Albanian saint, Mother Teresa. Mr. Berisha wrote in the condolence book, “For all Albanians who feel ashamed by the dictatorship’s stance toward the great Albanian woman.” Berisha arrived there two days ago. Meanwhile, in Tirana, Secretary General Genc Pollo and Secretary for Public Relations Vili Minarolli paid their respects at the International Centre of Culture in Tirana, where a large photograph of Mother Teresa has been placed. Mother Teresa, Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, born to Albanian parents in Skopje, a Roman Catholic nun, died in Calcutta last week at the age of 87. Tirana. The Secretary General of the Democratic Party, Genc Pollo, pays tribute to Mother Teresa

Those in power seek to wash their hands of the crime The Secretary of State at the Ministry of the Interior, Rendi Legjisi, tried yesterday to cast a fog over the publicly organized escape of Vlora’s top bandit, Zani Çaushi. In an interview given by yet another government figure heavily implicated in the events in Vlora, Legjisi told ATSH that Zani had been helped by certain sections of the police to get away. Legjisi made this statement to throw smoke over the real story of how Zani Çaushi was provided with passports and a foreign visa by the heads of the current administration. Meanwhile, his accusation that part of the police is implicated is another pretext for continuing the purge among the blue uniforms. L.R

The next round of anti-opposition slurs sticks in the throat of the pro-government press ALITALIA responds to speculation by pro-government newspapers ON PAGE 3

The violation and undermining of local government’s independence continues ON PAGE 3

During the election campaign, Nano promised creditors who lost money in the pyramid borrowing schemes a 100 percent return Today the slogan directed at the government returns: “We want our money” “Vefa Holding” have decided to go on hunger strike until their demands addressed to the “Nano 3” government are met. The creditors’ protests began in Tirana two weeks ago, immediately after the socialist government’s decision to appoint an administrator who would take charge of all the borrowers’ contracts at this company. The legal right granted by the government to the administrator during the transparency process has been regarded by creditors as a bad sign that the state would take ownership of them and then allow the company to go bankrupt without conditions. The creditors sent a petition to the prime minister several days ago. They asked to meet Nano but communicated with his adviser. Their ultimatum was: “If the government blocks Vefa’s money and denies it the right to return our money, we will go on hunger strike.” The Tirana creditors said that this would be a peaceful protest. In March of this year, Albania was swept by a wave of unrest because of the closure of the borrowing schemes. The protests over the pyramid schemes began peacefully in the city of Vlora, but were later manipulated by extreme left-wing forces and turned into violent protests, bringing massive destruction to the country. As a result, today 1 million amë are in the hands of Albanians. During his election campaign, Nano, now prime minister of Albania, promised creditors the return of 100 percent of the money lost in the pyramid schemes. Migen DEMIRXHI

Serious traffic accident in Papër One person was killed and three others injured yesterday in a serious traffic accident when two trucks collided on the Elbasan–Peqin national road, near the village of Papër. According to information from the Elbasan rural police, the collision occurred because the truck drivers were careless while overtaking. The location where one of the drivers attempted to overtake makes him liable under the traffic regulations. Experts who arrived at the scene have not yet officially confirmed the true cause of this road accident. Within the span of a week, this accident, which occurred on Saturday morning, marks another incident on the road linking Elbasan with Tirana, Durrës and Cërrik. Before this, Vladimir Moli, 24, was hit and killed, and more than 10 people were involved in accidents. Most have escaped the danger of losing their lives, but suffered serious injuries to their bodies, limbs and heads. A. SELA

Tirana. The Secretary General of the Democratic Party, Genc Pollo, pays tribute to Mother Teresa