The customs director powerless in the face of crime ON PAGE 4

VEFA posts notice of money repayments beginning on October 1 ON PAGE 5

Fino and Malaj keep secrets from the official press ON PAGE 5

The head of the Court of Appeal is dismissed because he had convicted Nano of corruption. President Meidani concerned about Prelë Martini’s WC; Tirana Chief Prosecutor Adnan Xhelili is removed

Today marks six months since the Otranto tragedy, when 84 Albanians, mostly from Vlora, were swallowed by the waves of the Adriatic, shot at and beaten as they pursued their shattered dream of escaping the terror of the rebellion in their cities. Six months later, as we respectfully commemorate the memory of the innocent victims, most of them women and children, we are overcome by profound regret at the fact that the instigators and perpetrators of one of the greatest tragedies Vlora has suffered in its history have today risen to the highest levels of power. The bodies of the suspects still lie in the blue depths of Otranto, and investigations into fully uncovering the truth about those responsible for this crime have sunk with them. With the most shameful and appalling events of the past days in Albania. Now we can recall once again the statement by former President Berisha, who called the Otranto event a terrible tragedy, while demanding an international investigation to fully clarify the circumstances and causes that led to this mass disaster, as well as to establish each party’s responsibilities, including financial obligations. But Berisha’s initiative was followed by a four-hour meeting of Fino’s government, which descended into a demand for a bilateral investigation, while in fact preventing the event from being uncovered. Despite strong insistence from Foreign Minister Starova, Fino’s predominantly Socialist cabinet concluded in favor of a bilateral investigation, which ultimately sank together with the Otranto tragedy, along with the parties’ obligations im-? in this great human drama. Fino, therefore, whose side Nando stood by in those cases, thus closed the investigation that would have led to identifying Skënder Gjinu[s]hit and Arbën Malajt, who controlled the profitable companies belonging to the convicted men and who failed as the horror unfolded. There are now dozens of facts proving that the prime minister from Vlora, Zani Çau[s]hi, was the executor of the Otranto tragedy and of the trafficking of emigrants during the unrest. The millions earned from transporting people in [illegible] to the shores of Italy were divided up, with a share for Gjinushi’s squares, exposing today the leaders of the [illegible] and their installation, as well as [illegible] recorded [illegible] and others from the tears of Vlora’s mothers, now [illegible] for the Socialist Party’s campaign. Six months later, we recall the verdict of the people [illegible], which concluded the declaration of justice? about the truth for the deceased and beyond? all of Gjinushi, Malaj and the committee? of the Vlora tragedy in the next tragedy? of Otranto is a thing of the past, and thus in tribute? [part of the text illegible] The Otranto tragedy destroyed it, the place where things were put at stake, and many of its citizens. (continued on page 3)

Berisha: Azemi will recover; Parliament will not

Film footage sheds light on the crime scenario in Parliament New evidence concerning the political crime against Democratic MP Azem Hajdari. The Leader of December, who left the Military Hospital yesterday, says he has an accomplice in the crime, [unclear], who more precisely [unclear] Mazreku’s crime, namely [unclear] told the killer “sherë”. Azem Hajdari says he has complete evidence proving that Mazreku’s accomplice in the crime planned in Parliament is an employee of the Ministry of the Interior, whose name he will provide to the prosecution authorities. According to Hajdari, the evidence he has fully proves that Mazreku committed the crime in collaboration with another person. At a press conference he will hold on Monday at the hospital where he is continuing his treatment, MP Hajdari will present evidence to journalists and make public the name of the person who helped Mazreku commit the crime in Parliament.

Berisha before journalists. He welcomes Secretary of State Albright’s interest in democratic processes in Albania Yesterday, the leader of the DP, Sali Berisha, addressed several important issues in Albanian politics at a press conference, emphasizing above all the Socialist Party’s position on the pyramid-scheme problem, the DP’s position on Parliament, comments on the Council of Europe resolution on Albania, and other political developments of recent days. ON PAGE 3

The Council of Europe resolution, Europe’s final warning to the Albanian government

Protests continue in “Skënderbej” Square

In New York, she appeals to Fatos Nano Prime Minister Nano was received coldly by US Secretary of State Madeline Albright. The top US diplomat asked Nano to respect the line of reconciliation, saying there had been serious deviations by the new Albanian administration. The well-known anti-communist Albright could hardly approve of the revanche pursued by Fatos Nano’s government, which had gone as far as physically eliminating the opposition. She also raised at the meeting the issue of the promise to return the money, which Nano made during the election campaign, causing the Albanian prime minister to evade the cold truth. ON PAGE 2

The head of SHIK, a victim of the State Security Service The former head of SHIK in Vlora, Shkelqim Agolli, was one of the first witnesses who could have revealed the unvarnished truth about everything that happened in the city of rebellion, and for precisely this reason he was eliminated. Someone is trying to present the crime as a suicide ON PAGE 2

Nano’s revenge falls mercilessly on the courts and the prosecution service. Meidani’s High Council begins political purges