He provoked the falistë and the hypocrisy of Nano's invitation. Berisha: The opposition is not a façade of the government. The demand that Albania be helped remains firm He provoked the falistë and the hypocrisy of Nano's invitation. Berisha: The opposition is not a façade of the government. The demand that Albania be helped remains firm The government of Fatos Nano tried to falsify[?] and the political hypocrisy of the Albanian opposition, by offering it a reserve seat at the donors' conference without foreseeing any request or declarative arrangement that this opposition in fact represents the majority of impoverished and miserable Albanians, but not to become a façade part of the government delegation, without a democratic mandate given by the angry electorate. Berisha made these thoughts known yesterday during a press statement, immediately after the Albanian prime minister Fatos Nano had informed the PD chairman by phone with the invitation to become part of the Albanian delegation to the donors' conference, which will meet in Rome on 16 October. The chairman of the Democratic Party, Berisha, informed Prime Minister Nano yesterday that he and the Albanian opposition have an unchanged position that aid for Albania cannot be used for politics, rejecting a façade participation in the government delegation organized urgently for political consumption on the eve of the Rome meeting. By means of a phone conversation with Prime Minister Nano, Doctor Berisha requested that the opposition be represented at the donors' conference independently of the government, with its own separate demands and ideas concerning the country's recovery. Doctor Berisha told Mr. Nano that at this summit the opposition considers it essential to respect certain demands, mainly humanitarian, related to emergency measures of assistance for the population, the functioning of the rule of law and of the economy, the opening of the process for free elections, as well as support for Albania on the road to democratization and Euro-Atlantic integration. Berisha informed Mr. Nano that the opposition is not a façade of the government and therefore cannot take part in a delegation where its participation has no defined status and where free speech is not guaranteed in order to present its own positions. At midday, the PD press office released a second statement regarding participation in this conference. It says: "On 15.10.1997, during the morning, the Chairman of the Democratic Party, Dr. Sali Berisha, held a telephone conversation with the Prime Minister of Albania, Mr. Fatos Nano, at the latter's request. In the telephone conversation, the Chairman of the Democratic Party reaffirmed his unchanged position that the Albanian opposition cannot become part of a government delegation, without a democratic mandate from the angry electorate and without a defined status for its participation. In particular, the Chairman of the Democratic Party, Dr. Berisha, asked Prime Minister Nano to fulfill the request made several times by the PD and the Albanian opposition that the opposition delegation take part separately in the conference in order to present independently its positions, assessments, demands and ideas for overcoming the crisis in Albania. The Chairman of the Democratic Party reiterated his firm position that the Albanian opposition will not become a façade part of the government delegation at the donors' conference. The Chairman of the Democratic Party informed the Prime Minister of the country that the Albanian opposition remains completely steadfast in its demand to help Albania and Albanians and that although politics cannot be made with Albania, Albanian politics is being played with not a little at the expense of Albania and Albanians". In the evening, Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano sent an official letter to the chairman of the Democratic Party, Mr. Berisha, inviting him to take part in the government delegation to Rome. At the end of the invitation letter, the Nano government declares that on the basis of the assessment of the Rome conference and its recommendations, the government commits itself "to advance the process of constructive political dialogue", as well as "to strengthen efforts to respect human rights, the independence of institutions, the rule of law, freedom of movement and expression". Prime Minister Nano also declares that the government "will do everything possible to achieve the necessary political consensus to advance democratic, legal and economic reforms." Smith, Berisha: We have helped us out of the political non-consensus game to overcome the crisis in Albania

The Nano government is emptying the Rome conference Donor countries lower the level of representation A. XHOMANI The Albanian government under heavy accusations The delayed notices and preparation have postponed the mekatër[?] of the conference in Rome to help Albania, forcing important countries and international institutions to lower the level of representation and reduce participation. Thus the major propaganda efforts of the Nano government to present this conference as its own success have also failed. Although the donors devalued the conference to such a degree, according to a diplomatic source it is claimed that Albania's representation at the Rome conference will have the status of a meeting of regional importance and not a high-level donors' gathering as initially planned. According to diplomatic sources and official notices, Italy will be represented at this conference by the secretary general of the Foreign Ministry and not by the minister or the prime minister, as had been announced earlier. The USA will also be represented by a deputy/assistant secretary of state and not at the highest level. According to the same sources, the European Commission will be represented by a director general and not by the responsible commissioner. Reductions in the level of representation have also been recorded from other major European countries. The delayed announcement and the lack of a clear program for the conference have created the impression of poor and unserious organization. Diplomatic sources claim that some countries have expressed reservations because of uncertainty about the use of aid and the lack of guarantees for political and economic reforms in Albania. In diplomatic circles it is said that even the formal and last-minute inclusion of the Albanian opposition did not convince international partners that the government is ready for genuine political dialogue. Meanwhile, in a statement distributed by government spokesmen, an attempt was made to present this lowering of the level as a technical procedure and not as a lack of interest. However, the facts show otherwise. ON PAGE 2

In the third week of demonstrations in the capital The prime minister leaves through the back door of the Palace of Culture Protests continue in Skënderbej Square, Nano's Pyramid heading toward "bankruptcy" Even last night in Tirana the protests against the government and against Prime Minister Fatos Nano continued. Yesterday afternoon the protesters gathered in the city center and marched toward Skënderbej Square shouting against the prime minister and his government. The crowd of protesters, according to what was seen in the square, was determined not to allow the normal development of the activity planned by the prime minister in the Palace of Culture. As a result, Prime Minister Nano was forced to leave through the back door of the building, escorted by a large security force. According to witnesses, for several minutes the main entrance of the Palace of Culture was blocked by protesters, who were holding placards and shouting slogans against the government. The police intervened to keep the passage open, but tension remained high throughout. The protests in Tirana have entered their third week and it seems that citizens' dissatisfaction with the government is not fading. Organizers have warned that the demonstrations will continue in the coming days. Meanwhile, public opinion is increasingly commenting on the so-called "Nano Pyramid", which according to critics is heading toward "bankruptcy". ON PAGE 2

, An open letter to the President, the Speaker of Parliament and the Prime Minister ON PAGE 2

42 employees on hunger strike Violent police brutality in Tirana against the residents of the Agricultural Institute of Kamza ON PAGE 2

A verdict against spokesperson Suda is expected on Monday The Prosecution seeks 5 years in prison A verdict against spokesperson Suda is expected on Monday ON PAGE 4

The cigarette trafficking has gone to the law of revenge of the stolen The national band outside the governments The cigarette trafficking has gone to the law of revenge of the stolen ON PAGE 4

Decision on the names of the creditors and Erve Hoxha Ala: "Two newspapers with one diary with us yesterday" Decision on the names of the creditors and Erve Hoxha ON PAGE 4

The Deputy President of the Italian Senate writes to PD: The Deputy President of the Italian Senate writes to PD: "Resist against the communism of power!" Anti-Western politics often support the for its own as to the new enterprise of revolu- -tionary mentality and a revani- ... ON PAGE 2