The presence of the Albanian government at the donors’ conference begins with a public deception Rome greets Nano coldly The ghost of the “white check” returns. Pashko: We expect to receive 1 billion and 200 million dollars. On 4 April 1996 President Berisha declared that 1.2 billion dollars had been guaranteed for Albania’s infrastructure Monsignor Palji seems to be touched with respectivity. San Clemente and the Franciscan convent in Rome, seat of the Albanian Institute “Nënë Tereza”, became yesterday the first stops on Prime Minister Nano’s pilgrimage in the Eternal City. After this, following the homage at de Rada’s grave, the first meeting was also held with the Prime Minister of Italy, Romano Prodi. The meeting between the two prime ministers was brief, 12 minutes, and the head of the Albanian government received from it no concrete answer regarding the request of the Albanian government for a meeting with the Italian President Oskar Luixhi Skalfaro. It is unofficially reported that the Italian president will not receive Nano. This has caused all kinds of different comments to circulate about the true level of acceptance that the Italian state is giving Prime Minister Nano. The comments have suggested that this treatment is consistent with the current level represented by Albania in the eyes of the world, a country totally ruined, with a government emerging from disputed elections and with a continuing political and moral crisis. Meanwhile Prime Minister Nano stated to journalists that 1.2 billion dollars have been guaranteed for Albania’s infrastructure. It is worth noting that he revealed this figure not very carefully, because according to what Italian government officials claim, this donors’ conference will take place in 2-3 weeks. So there can still be no decisions of this kind. In any case, this statement leaves plenty of room to recall that the Albanian government acts with the same delusional optimism that characterized Berisha’s previous government. On 4 April 1996, the then Albanian government was propagandizing that the G-7 countries had guaranteed 1.2 billion dollars for Albania’s infrastructure. At the time this figure was labeled a “white check” for Albania. Prime Minister Nano yesterday also had another meeting with the Mayor of Rome, Francesco Rutelli, and today he will take part in the donors’ conference. Only after this forum will any official statement be made regarding Italy’s aid to Albania.

Yesterday’s act by the “PD” was uncovered. Vote and revolt for PD in Vlora, and a well-known Vlora native speaks out EN KOÇEN Yesterday’s act by the “PD” was uncovered. Votes and crimes denounced by the people of Vlora at the front After yesterday’s act by the “PD”, the people of Vlora denounced it and the well-known Vlora journalist declared yesterday that “we call on everyone to calm down.” Sali Berisha is presented every day in the PD assembly as the force of the center and anti-communism. In this phase the Assembly’s propaganda failed in the face of the leadership of the national organization of yesterday’s supranational body. In this propagandistic phase he has devoted unchanging attention to today’s session of the Assembly. He leads the permanent and disorderly revanchist proceedings of the session. Democrats: he has devoted unchanging attention to today’s session of the assembly. One minute of silence for the victims of the communist rebellion

Monsignor Palja meets with the Albanian prime minister Monsignor Palja told journalists that he was informed by the Speaker of the Albanian Parliament that he and other clerics together with him, the first among them and some of his Orthodox colleagues from Erseka, had been unjustly arrested. In his appeal to Italian President Oskar Luixhi Skalfaro during his visit to Albania on 29 June 1991, four days later, it was stated that they had suffered 200 years of persecution from the communist regime. After yesterday’s meeting with the Albanian prime minister in Rome, Mons. Palja said to journalists that the new government must bear in mind that with the agreement signed with the Holy See (meaning the one with the Berisha government) a good thing is being done and not a bad one. In response to the question of whether he agreed with Prime Minister Nano’s recent criticism that that agreement is a farce, Mons. Palja said: “With the agreement with the Vatican, a great step has been taken. Those who think this is a deception are themselves deceivers and ignorant. They have not even read that agreement.” For his part, Prime Minister Nano told journalists that this agreement is a legal anomaly signed because of the adventurism of the Meksi government. According to the Italian press, he did not hold yesterday’s meeting with Mons. Palja in the premises of the Albanian embassy in the Vatican, as had originally been planned, but at the “Excelsior” hotel, where the Albanian prime minister is staying. The reason for this, according to the correspondent of the Italian newspaper “La Repubblica”, is that the Albanian embassy had not finished its reconstruction, having been completely destroyed during this year’s Albanian civil war. In the photo, Prime Minister Nano and Mons. Palja.

The National Council determines the candidacies for the next chairman of PD PD leader Sali Berisha presents the responsibilities of the Assembly. PD - the force of the center of the national side. In this propagandistic phase, the Democratic Party has devoted unavoidable attention to today’s session of the Assembly, which the democrats have circulated in order to expand the base of decision-makers Yesterday the National Council of the Democratic Party met to determine the agenda of the work of its National Assembly, which begins today. The Council approved the list of delegates and the work program, also determining the candidacies for the new party chairman. At the center of attention are the names of Pjetër Arbnori and Sali Berisha. Yesterday’s “PD” news was widely commented on as an open political clash in the party leadership. Democrats consider this a new stage of reorganization after losing power. On the agenda are also discussions on the statute, the role of the opposition, and the stance toward the socialist government.

ON PAGE 2 The democrats were not bothered by the criminal gangs of PPS The next PD conference was held. One minute of silence for the victims of the communist rebellion!

Police car hit Tirana - masked individuals fired on the law-enforcement vehicle, leaving two people dead and another wounded. The incident occurred in the evening hours and, according to preliminary sources, the perpetrators immediately fled the scene. The police have begun investigations.

Flëm Ruka, property robber ON PAGE 4 The naval fleet feels on strike ON PAGE 5 Today they are selling “Skënderbe” with us