The Prime Minister continues to treat Albanians with cynicism ON PAGE 4

48 police officers are dismissed in Lezhë; 20 others are hired ON PAGE 4

Minister Brokaj’s mines continue to kill ON PAGE 4

Since 21:00 last night, DP MPs Azem Hajdari, Vili Minarolli, Ylli Vejsiu and Shaban Memia have been confined in a hunger strike Tirana takes to the streets against teletur… The 33rd day of the Democrats’ protests Stop the information blackout

. The Brussels Conference was like the Rome one for the Albanian government. Once again, conditions and just enough money to keep up appearances. Nevertheless, the Brussels Conference showed that Europe is prepared to help Albania to the greatest extent possible, but only the Albanians must have another government. Although Europe is signaling assistance for the country of the communist rebellion, the Albanian government is not prepared to receive such aid. In the conclusions of the chairpersons of the Brussels Conference, the Nano government was once again reminded that, besides the political conditions, the Achilles’ heel of this government is the establishment of law and order. The international community has still not seen a serious effort by Albanian government officials to establish law and order. The very platform of this government for achieving such a thing is permeated by great doubt, leaving considerable room for crime in Albania. The main national roads, as well as the rural ones, remain unsafe, and almost every day there are murders, robberies, etc. The gangs in Albania have not disappeared; on the contrary, one gang leader has even been granted state authorization to establish a private police force. In other words, this could be read as a legalized gang that can act at any time, even under the cover of the law. Meanwhile, although the international community has provided a sum of 100 million dollars for the balance of payments, across the entire Shkodër–Sarandë corridor the smuggling of tobacco, as well as products such as oil, alcoholic beverages, etc., continues unabated. In this vast illicit market, the police have reported only three cases of people or vehicles involved in smuggling being caught. Everyone in Albania now knows that Albanian government officials encourage this phenomenon and also take part in organizing it and reaping its benefits. If Europe—and part of the money Albania needs—is [unclear]… it is reasonable that Albanians themselves should raise this money, in case the money from the schools… [unclear]. Donors, meanwhile, had already put forward such a proposal. For their part, they have established a microbusiness commission that will monitor the movement of money, just as they have had to recall an investigation opened in Italy into theft and corruption by the current Albanian prime minister, specifically involving Western aid. The chairpersons’ conclusions themselves found it very difficult to identify a concrete point of reference in the Socialist government. Almost all the paragraphs cite Nano’s promises, which is a major deficiency in an international confrontation. The Socialist government has been in office for more than one hundred days. It is unfortunate that it has found no direction; this has revealed its ability or the productivity of its new policy, to be used as a comma in the Brussels conclusions while… [?] turning off the expected aid as the most dubious ever given to Albania. This time, Europeans have come face to face with Tirana’s revolutionaries. They know well who they are and what weighs on them. It has also been seen what weighs on them. It is a fact that the donors have made a… [?] and put their hand on their heart for… [unclear], and have pointed out that the improvement in the situation is passing through the account number and Malaj, the money… [?] and the Albanian administration. But, alongside their government officials in Rome, someone has raised the alarm for Albania. For a little while, Albanians need… [?] the optimistic horizon of the West, to forget the 1.2 billion dollars released in their memory back in the spring of autumn, with their return to Rinas… [?] and how Nano promises citizens that an agreement will be reached, that… [?] cannot come to Albania, the current prime minister…

Relatives of the victims of the Otranto tragedy attempt to strike Meidani ON PAGE 3 Albanian President Meidani was attacked yesterday in Brindisi by family members of the victims of the Otranto tragedy, while he was near the Albanian ship from which the bodies of dozens of relatives and children drowned in ... continue to be recovered, and the leadership he represents, as the perpetrators of the Otranto tragedy. Italian television channels broadcast footage of Meidani being attacked by the victims’ relatives, with Dokle standing beside him. According to these television channels, Meidani managed to

For the second time, the Nanocracy has confined MPs in a hunger strike Four Democratic Party MPs, Azem Hajdari, Vili Minarolli, Ylli Vejsiu and Shaban Memia, took up positions right by the main entrance to the RTV building to begin their hunger strike. Until late last night, they had remained hunched over in their chairs. Many people had refused to leave, staying beside them. Four Democratic Party took up positions right by the main entrance to the RTV building to begin their hunger strike. Until late last night, they had remained hunched over in their chairs. Many people had refused to leave, staying beside them. Many journalists followed their strike until late into the night. The police reinforced their presence around RTV, and Police Director Tusha was also there. Silence continued inside the TV premises. Here is what they told “RD”: AZEM HAJDARI: Albanian television has established a monopoly on deception and propaganda against the Albanian opposition and the parties that are part of the Union for Democracy. For 33 days, it has not broadcast a single report on the rallies taking place in Skënderbej Square. This shows that they put the Arbnori amendment, which had strong international support, on a library shelf. They deceived public opinion, as they do about everything, and today, when we came to protest in front of the television station, we demanded that the metropolis of darkness be broadcast, so that the people could demonstrate for freedom of speech. We gave the television station one hour. Meanwhile, Minarolli and Vejsiu met with the television director; they did not want to come out and hold the protest. This forced us to confine ourselves here on a hunger strike, to express our determination to defend the democratic electorate that gave us its vote. We are determined to continue the strike until there is an official statement on the Arbnori amendment. We are sacrificing ourselves in front of Albanian television, which is paid for by Albanian taxpayers, to defend the values of democracy. It broadcasts protests in Zaire and around the world, while, speaking through the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Defence and the Prime Minister, it manages to deceive public opinion and turn it against the Democratic Party. We will not allow the decisions of the National Congress of the Democratic Party to remain on paper. VILI MINAROLLI: In the view of the Democrats, the Socialist Party is using the same methods the communists used when they came to power against innocent anti-communists and nationalists. They seem to be following Pol Pot’s example in Cambodia, but we will not let them, because we are in the middle of Europe. SHABAN MEMIA: TVSH, turned into a telepuppet, compels us… [?] YLLI VEJSIU: Here the struggle is for a just cause: the right to the protection of human rights and the right to be informed. The information blackout that began on June 29 completely violates the opposition’s rights and deprives it of communication with its electorate. It is astonishing how those in power fear free speech. By silencing the opposition, they are trying to erase it from Albanian politics. Nano should not forget that in Brussels he was told that respect for the opposition is a condition.

Fatos Nano’s political police use violence against the peaceful protest Large numbers of police were parading through the streets of the capital yesterday to intimidate peaceful PD demonstrators near the KRTSH headquarters. All the intersections in Tirana had been blocked, while the arrests that… [?]

Albanian President Mej[d]ani was attacked yesterday in Brindisi by family members of the victims of the Otranto tragedy. Albanian President Mej[d]ani and children who mysteriously drowned on March 28 continue to be recovered. The victims’ relatives currently in the Brindisi area accused the Albanian President and the leadership he represents of being responsible for the Otranto tragedy. Italian television channels broadcast footage of Mej[d]ani him. According to these television channels, Mej[d]ani managed to escape the attack unharmed and then continued his official visit to Italy.

Berisha offers condolences to the Episcopal Conference and the family of the late Monsignor Frano Illia On this day of mourning, for you and the entire Albanian nation, I express to you and to all Albanian Catholic believers my profound sorrow and deepest condolences. With the death of Monsignor Frano Illia, the Albanian Catholic Church has lost its living martyr, while the Albanian nation has lost its distinguished son, the symbol of its unyielding resistance to the communist Calvary. Monsignor Frano Illia departs from us as a hero of Christianity, of faith in God, in one’s nation and in one’s country. His family, his friends, Albania and Albanians everywhere in the world will forever be grateful to Monsignor Frano Illia and will always take pride in the steadfastness of our great and indomitable priest and patriot, and in his glorious deeds.

Those in power order the blockade of the Democratic Party Leader Fatos Nano’s political police. The operation to block PD Chairman Sali Berisha was led by the chiefs of Tirana’s police, along with numerous other mercenaries infiltrated into the police and SHIK. After the police informed Berisha that they had been ordered to stop him, he got out of the car and walked to the MPs who had confined themselves there. The police also forcibly made the journalists move to the other side of the road. At around 9 p.m., opposite the Prime Minister’s Office, Çeka’s armed police blocked the road in front of the car of PD leader Sali Berisha, who was on his way to inquire about the hunger strike by the four MPs.