Prosecution: We will investigate why the Guard troops were sent ON PAGE 6

The Prosecutor’s Office has the names of the officials ON PAGE 6

7 million ECU lie idle in the coffers of GTZ and SME ON PAGE 5

Brokaj, Ceka and Dredha at the home of Vlora’s gang boss. The government is preparing to pardon the gang leader. Lefteri terrorizes the Çole neighborhood

ON PAGE 3

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Namik Dokle yesterday called for the imprisonment of the editor-in-chief of “Rilindja Demokratike”. . Deputy Speaker of Parliament Namik Dokle yesterday called for the imprisonment of the editor-in-chief of “Rilindja Demokratike” in one of its newspapers, thus becoming the latest in a series of people trying in vain to put pressure on the opposition press. Meanwhile, the official information media reported that the chairman of the PS parliamentary group, Pandeli Majko, is also preparing a similar lawsuit against “RD”. The reasons Dokle and Majko have suddenly flown into a rage and are now calling for journalists to be put in handcuffs have to do with accusations that they were implicated in the looting of pyramid-scheme money last year. A large number of politicians were involved in the scandal of exploiting their names and political positions to withdraw money in advance from the rentier firms last year. In the list of 182 names, which Farudin Arapi is reluctant to publish, the socialists are at the top; that is why “RD” Editor-in-Chief Astrit Patozi is now facing five court cases, all brought at the request of senior officials, on the most absurd charges. Likewise, many of its journalists—Edi Paloka, Shemsi Peposhi, Migen Demirxhi, Rexhep Polisi and Vulnet Elbasani—are wandering the corridors of courts and prosecutors’ offices for the same reasons. About a year ago, a police car fired a machine gun and wounded journalist Muji Buçpapaj, while Vulnet Elbasani, Shemsi Peposhi and Rexhep Polisi were brutally mistreated by uniformed men, solely because they were journalists for “Rilindja Demokratike”. We remind Dokle, Majko and the others that we are not at all impressed by the fabricated and rigged political trials they are plotting to handcuff the free speech of the opposition press. Before they call for what is supposedly a ... trial of journalists, the socialists who stole, killed or organized massacres last year must prove otherwise before the public and before the many witnesses they have now made testify. As for the trials involving “Rilindja Demokratike”, we are telling the officials now that none of us needs a lawyer to defend ourselves against those seeking to silence the truth. This whole affair is further proof that the socialists are beginning to feel the clothes getting tight on them now that the crimes and thefts of last year, as well as the smuggling and abuses of their time in power, are coming to light. And, of course, these things are especially damaging when said during election campaigns, not only because they affect election results, but because more people find out about the scoundrelly deeds. We will go to the courtroom with Dokle, Majko, Ceka, Malaj, Nano and all the others, perhaps accompanied by police officers, but meanwhile it will be very difficult for them to face the people they have deceived so much in so little time. “RILINDJA DEMOKRATIKE” the first, [text begins mid-sentence] over the usury schemes during the previous year. A large number of politicians were implicated to obtain money in advance from pyramid schemes during the previous which is why the reaction of those implicated is entirely predictable. But the reasons for the government’s increased pressure on the opposition press lately go deeper than Dokle’s, Majko’s or some other Socialist’s smear campaign: after robbing Albanians themselves and then calling for threats against Berisha and the DP government, they now want to present themselves to them as saints. Lawsuits and proceedings against “RD” have increased especially since publication began of the “Black File” on the rebellion, whose many pages often mention the names of Fatos Nano’s government officials. During this period there has been a greater intensity of threatening phone calls and direct and indirect threats, and the faces of Fatos Klosi’s agents have been seen more often around the newsroom. Another reason for Dokle’s, Majko’s and other Socialists’ nervousness is the election campaign, facing which reminds the government officials that, while last year it was easy for them to deceive people reeling from losing their money or stunned by the terror of the rebellion, now they stand before the Albanian people in a worse position than defendants in the dock.

Successful meetings of the Albanian opposition delegation in Paris The opposition is the most trustworthy representative of the Albanian side in the Kosovo crisis Berisha: In Kosovo there are two armies, one that kills and rapes, and the other that is defending itself against this atrocity. I cannot equate them either in politics or in history. France is asking Berisha to influence the political and military actors in Kosovo to coordinate with Western policies. The West has lost hope that the Albanian government can have even the slightest influence on the Kosovo crisis. The head of economic liberalism in France, Madelin: Europe is...

Bashkimi për Demokraci is organizing a rally today, 18.06.1998, at 10:00, in Flag Square to present its candidate for mayor of Vlora, Mr. Servet Kodheli. Bashkimi për Demokraci invites all of you to this square to demonstrate in support of victory, against crime, against fraud over the return of the money, against government smuggling, and against the daily impoverishment. The rally is being held with police permission.

Today, June 18, at 17:00, the expanded meeting of the DP activist body will be held at the headquarters of the Tirana DP branch. Members of the National Council, chairpersons, deputy chairpersons and secretaries of the districts where partial local elections are being held, and of the branches supporting them during the campaign, are hereby notified, as are local government leaders affiliated with the DP in these same districts. Members of the campaign’s working and coordination groups should also attend the meeting. The Presidency of the PDSH

European support for the DP’s election campaign Forza Italia at DP meetings ON PAGE 3 Pollo continues election meetings in the municipalities of Bushtricë and Sineballaj The June 21 elections: a punishment for Nano ON PAGE 2

Protest by the Association of Albanian Journalists Opposition journalists at the courthouse The Association of Albanian Journalists notes with deep concern that the authorities have increasingly been sending opposition journalists to court. The editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Rilindja Demokratike” has been sued by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Namik Dokle, for defamation in connection with his duties. According to the official news agency, Dokle’s actions are expected to be followed by those of the Socialist Party secretary, Pandeli Majko. The editor-in-chief and a journalist from “RD” have been taken to court following publication of the article “Socialists stole Albanians’ money,” which concerns the electoral activity of Bashkimi për Demokraci in the municipality of Greshicë, in the district of Mallakastër. The Association of Journalists notes with concern that cases of journalists being taken to court—those who do not work for the government media—have increased greatly since the press law was repealed. Journalists are taken to court under the criminal code. The editor-in-chief of “Albania” and two other journalists from the newspaper regularly receive summonses every week to appear in court, without being informed of the plaintiff. The director and editor-in-chief of the newspaper “55” have been sued for “inciting fratricide,” a phrase concocted by anonymous left-wing extremists in Vlora who carried out the revolution of the previous year. The Association of Journalists notes that the abolition of the press law was merely a deceitful government demagoguery. Now, in the absence of a press law, journalists are tried as ordinary criminals. The Association of Journalists calls for the suspension of the campaign of trials against journalists and an end to the paradoxical situation in which journalists receive more summonses to court than invitations to press conferences.

Regarding people with the same names... The Ministry of the Interior, prompted by misunderstandings that have arisen over Albanians sharing the same names, and drawing on the relevant experience, states that Ridvan Peshkopia, who is accused in Italy of being a trafficker, is not this Ridvan Peshkopia, the politician, but another Ridvan, who was indeed born to the same parents. However, this present-day Ridvan, who has been involved with the PD and then moved over to the AD, was also elected to its senior bodies. There is also the case of Ridvan Peshkopia, who self-promoted himself to general in the south during the previous unrest, and our Ridvan Peshkopia: despite having the same father, the same mother, and belonging to and leading the same party. The same can be said of Arben Malaj; there are two of them who, strangely, have the same parents: one was the mastermind behind the pyramid-shaped flag, and the other is a minister. Most astonishing of all, there are apparently also two Bashkim Fino, of exactly the same height and build and with exactly the same biography. In these circumstances—concludes the Ministry of the Interior’s statement—it can safely be said that there are also two governments: one anti-smuggling government, a good government that runs the country, and another government of smuggling and corruption which, despite having these names, has no connection to the others. It is simply a coincidence of names...

Italy tames the Lions SPECIAL FEATURE ON PAGES 10–11 - Italy–Cameroon 3–0. The Azzurri take a confident step toward qualification - Chile–Austria 1–1. Balance and a draw - The midfielder in the champions’ spotlight. Zinedin Zidan, this great master - Müller is unstoppable... Germany is reliving its youth - Nigeria is aiming for the semi-finals. Olish: “Revenge tastes sweet” - Hoddle swept up in euphoria: “England will finish off its opponents with goals” - Croatia: 100 million lire for every player if they reach the quarter-finals - Argentina’s famous striker, Batistuta, speaks: “This will be our World Cup” - Brazil warns its opponents and throws down the gauntlet