The parties’ roundtable is a good omen for resolving the country’s major problems Statement by PD chairman Sali Berisha at yesterday’s press conference ON PAGE 3

Malaj: The government does not pay taxes. The budget deficit is 49 billion lekë. Bode: The Socialists are rolling the economy into the abyss

The Albanian opposition once again demonstrated its unwavering determination to defend the values of democracy in the country, while it is becoming increasingly clear that the power installed by Fatos Nano will yield ground only if forced or placed under strong pressure. The sublime hunger strike by four Democratic Party MPs showed Albanians and the West that Albanian democrats will use every means and make every sacrifice to prevent a new socialist-communist dictatorship from being installed in Albania. The Socialists’ retreat and the signing of an agreement to respect the opposition’s freedom of speech in the state media are another important victory for the Democratic Party and all its allies in the Union for Democracy, as well as its natural allies. The hunger strike by MPs Azem Hajdari, Vil Minarolli, Ylli Vejsiu and Shaban Memia received strong support from Albanian public opinion and the press in general, because of the just cause they defended, which stood in even greater contrast to the authorities’ barbaric treatment of the strikers and their demands. But while there is no disputing that the strike and its outcome were an important victory for the opposition, it must be stressed that its success came after great human suffering, and could have ended in unforeseen consequences had the parties’ roundtable been delayed even a little longer. Just like Pjetër Arbnori’s hunger strike—he is now identified as the Mandela of Europe—which he began by bringing himself millimetres from death because of the government’s escalating cynicism and inhumanity, accepting only the conditions, the latest case also proved that the opposition must make great sacrifices to defend Albanians’ freedoms, whose systematic violation began with the organization and direction of the armed rebellion and has continued to this day with increasing intensity. The success of the hunger strike, which forced the four Democratic Party MPs to endure the most inhumane conditions and the lowest provocations from today’s authorities, is in a sense a powerful appeal to all Albanian democrats. They must understand that preventing the country from being drugged and ensuring that the values Albanians built over five years are not exploited cannot be achieved merely by being defeated; they must always be firmly united, since the administration installed by Fatos Nano, in only three months of existence, is showing that it intends to go all the way—to reach the end of the armed course that was crowned by the murdered and violated elections of 29 June. The unstoppable revenge of the former communists, spreading alarmingly into every cell of the Albanian state and society, will not be stopped only by democrats willing to make sacrifices. The slogan of the Democratic Party’s Fourth Congress—that the elections of 29 June were not elections—has meaning only if Albanian democrats, in the near future, stand up against the former communists’ attempt to install a new dictatorship in Albania. The opposition must engage in protests against the violent attempts at smuggling and super-profiteering to recover the money that was lost; indeed, this is not all, since it has not yet turned its hand against political opponents. This is a great victory in defining the central character and philosophy of Albanian society as an opposition. This stance is Albania’s only salvation.

Mazreku in handcuffs, a Socialist Party MP

On Saturday at 5:00 p.m., a grand rally at “Skënderbej Square”

He was demanding the return of the money as promised

The political parties at the negotiating table on 28 October 1997 reached a full-consensus agreement that: 1. Within one day, the Governing Council of RTSH, pursuant to Law No. 7524 of 19.12.1991, “On the Status of RTSH,” and the additional amendment No. 8243 of 17.9.1997, “On an Amendment to the Status of RTSH,” shall draft the relevant regulation to provide the time slots and equal conditions stipulated by law for coverage of the activities and opinions of the government and the opposition. 2. To monitor implementation of the law, a permanent monitoring commission shall be established by consensus. Until it is established, this role shall be performed by the relevant subcommittee of the Central Commission for the recent elections. The signatory parties are: The Socialist Party, the Democratic Party, Balli Kombëtar, the Legality Movement, the Republican Party, the Christian Democratic Party, the Social Democratic Union Party, the Democratic Union Party, the Union for Human Rights Party, and the National Unity Party

He was seeking the return of the money, as promised by the Prime Minister ON PAGE 3

Local government threatened by the Government The minister for socialist reforms, Arben Imami, unveiled a plan to dissolve the district councils in an attempt to further centralize and control the legitimate local government elected by the vote of 20 October. At a preliminary meeting at the Durrës District Council, Imami did not state a definitive position, but said that the Socialist government was facing the dilemma of “dissolving or keeping the district council.” The meeting, closed to the press, was preliminary because Imami did not state the Socialist government’s objectives regarding the dissolution of the district councils. But by presenting this objective as a dilemma, he made clear that the Nano Government was discussing the possibility of dissolving the district councils. ON PAGE 2

PD: If the agreement is violated, “non-stop” protest outside RTV PD will not allow its electorate to remain for long the victim of Nano’s mega-deception over the return of money lost in pyramid schemes PD: If the agreement is violated, “non-stop” protest outside RTV Political mafia dominates Albania PD will not allow its electorate to remain for long the victim of Nano’s mega-deception over the return of money lost in pyramid schemes ON PAGE 3

The trial of Mazreku begins under tight security ON PAGE 4

15,600 is the number of returnees. 134 yesterday alone ON PAGE 4

The replacement is considered an ineffective method ON PAGE 4