Three Socialist MPs seeking Italian money ON PAGE 5

Albanians seek rescue from the communist government ON PAGE 3

Persecution drives ten people out of Albania ON PAGE 4

millions that were stolen Smuggling concerns the US ON PAGE 4 Diplomats from the American embassy meet with senior officials of the General Prosecutor’s Office. The government obstructs investigations into the millions that were stolen

By Bardhyl LONDO The well-known Lab song “What did the eyes of Janina see?” has now begun to be sung differently: “What do the eyes of Albania see?” The person responsible for changing the song is the current Albanian prime minister. Now the inhabitants of this country called Albania, whom the prime minister calls “sisters and brothers” only when he appears on television to urge them to vote for his own seat, get frightened whenever the head of government speaks before a huge foreign audience or whenever he boards an airplane. They are afraid because they know the prime minister will let off one of his smoke bombs, leaving them ashamed to have such a prime minister at their head. [The text begins mid-sentence:] has understood that he no longer has the right to set foot in this city without fulfilling, at least in part, his bombastic promises. If that is so, then we must say that he will never set foot in Vlora, because he will never fulfill his promises—not those he has made, nor those he is making or will make. At this end of the century, Albanians feel poor, exhausted and, above all, exploited. After swallowing up the Albanians within the current borders with promises that will never be fulfilled, the prime minister is now using Albanians outside the borders as well, along with emigrants working in foreign countries. With a stroke of the pen, he denied their will, expressed in the elections of March this year, when they voted for [They] are afraid whenever the prime minister speaks before a foreign audience or whenever he gets on a plane, instead of [using] television to call on them to vote for his seat. drop one of his smoke bombs, making head. In the coming election campaign, the prime minister-designate dropped the smoke bomb of returning 100% of the money. Many Albanians believed this. That “bomb” was followed by another, just as enticing: creating 250,000 jobs. Now, all that remains of these promises is the bitter taste of disappointment, which is gradually turning into a boycott and a silent revolt against the current government. And while Albanians grit their teeth whenever the prime minister speaks, the latter continues to drop his “smoke bombs.” His latest statement was a smoke bomb. Whom should troubled Albanians believe now: the prime minister who invites Rugova to come to Tirana, or the prime minister who, shortly afterwards, [...?] What can Albanians think, finding themselves at one of the most serious and critical crossroads in their history, when all the main Western chancellery offices, including the American president, consider Rugova a worthy partner and open their doors to him, while the head of the Albanian government equates Rugova with zero? The ease with which the Albanian prime minister moves from one position to another is not merely an insult he directs at Kosovo or at some other figure in Albanian politics. First and foremost, it is an insult to the Albanian people themselves. Apparently, the Albanian prime minister thinks he can play with this people however he likes and as he pleases. He can promise them the sharing of the money in brotherhood and then take away even the little money they have managed to save so far. He can promise them jobs and increase unemployment. He can speak as “a mediator on the national question,” then change, deny and weigh everything differently. He can change, deny and weigh differently what he said before, and still feel no pang of conscience. No more than two days ago, the insulting slogan “Vora will vote like Vlora” appeared again. In the minds of those who put out such slogans lies precisely the idea of abusing Albanians, of using them as cannon fodder. What has the current government given Vlora, for it to use that city, with its traditions and clean history, as a crutch to keep itself upright? Nothing but the bitter taste of disappointment and exploitation. The current leadership has shown itself so ungrateful toward this city that the prime minister has “deigned” to tread ever so lightly on the real concerns, [and] it is clear that these issues [...?]. For the first time, the prime minister [...?] all Albanians, concentrating on Albanians within the current borders, while Albanians outside the borders are [...?]. They are Albanian only because of the violence inflicted on Albanians by the authorities denied their will, expressed in the elections in March this year, when they voted for Rugova as president. At a time when the entire international community is calling for action and working to stop Serbian violence in Kosovo, the Albanian prime minister declares the opposite: he appeals to Kosovo Albanians to stop violence against Serbs. But what terror have Kosovo Albanians perpetrated so far, when they are only defending their villages, homes and hearths, and when all the fighting has taken place in areas inhabited entirely or overwhelmingly by Albanians? The crossroads at which Albanians find themselves at the end of this century is decisive, and at the same time critical. The opportunity and circumstances are favourable and will not arise again. Every Albanian bears a responsibility of the greatest possible weight. But these circumstances could turn into a catastrophe. Apparently, the Albanian prime minister has chosen the latter. But do Albanians agree with this choice, knowing that tomorrow we will all stand before the common court of history? When Albanians open their eyes and look through all the Western world’s statements and those of the Albanian prime minister, will they feel the bitter taste of disregard and the lies of those who allowed themselves to be exploited by the government? Albanians are now waking up. Those within the borders showed this through the unprecedented boycott they dealt the current government on June 21. How can this government now feel supported when, even in its most trusted areas, fewer than half the population turn out to vote? A government abandoned, a state without citizens. Albanians outside the borders have understood this even better: not only do they have no confidence in the positions of the Albanian government, but their legitimate representatives have boycotted official Tirana and may never set foot here again except in extraordinary circumstances. Albanians working abroad have no intention of returning to Albania; on the contrary, those who are here are thinking of leaving—just leaving. Nevertheless, the government without a people and the state without citizens continue to churn out propaganda and statements that Albanians have no use for. The latter, along with their boycott of the current government and state, whenever they hear the prime minister, [...?] their new song: “Albanians and Albanians...”

Statement by the Chairman of the Democratic Party of Albania, Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha At the Crans Montana Forum, Prime Minister Nano described the President of the Republic of Kosovo, Ibrahim Rugova, as a man reduced to a person “absolutely without any real authority”. Prime Minister Nano described the President of the Republic of Kosovo, Ibrahim Rugova, at the Crans Montana Forum as a man reduced to a person “absolutely without any real authority”. This statement came just two days after Rugova was received at the highest levels in Bonn and Brussels and met twice with the U.S. ambassador to the UN, Riçard Hollbruk. Over the past two months, President Rugova was received at the highest levels at the White House, at UN Headquarters, at the Élysée and at 10 Downing Street, at the German Chancellery, at NATO Headquarters and the European Commission in Brussels—all as evidence of the regard shown by the leaders of the largest Western countries and institutions for President Rugova’s political line, and of their commitment to a political solution to the Kosovo issue. It was precisely during this period, when Millosheviçi became convinced that the Contact Group and President Rugova were serious and determined to pursue a political solution, that he launched a campaign of mass destruction of villages and towns and ethnic cleansing of Albanians in Kosovo, in order to block the political process, thereby demonstrating that he is determined to oppose a political solution. Nano’s description of Rugova as a person “absolutely without any real authority” is intended to provoke the West into thinking that Rugova is not the person it should receive and cannot be Millosheviçi’s political partner in a political dialogue. The Albanian Prime Minister claims that he is trying to “influence the UÇK factions to moderate them” and that he has information that the UÇK has “the ability and authority to integrate into a process of talks”. I agree that the UÇK should be integrated into the process of talks, but its authority must not be used by Nano or anyone else to devalue the political mandate won in the elections of 22 March this year. On the contrary, it should be used to encourage rapprochement and cooperation between UÇK groups and Kosovo’s political, parliamentary and non-parliamentary forces, and UÇK’s recognition of the political mandate of the latter, in favor of a swift resolution of the Kosovo issue. Furthermore, Nano’s call for the Kosovo issue to be resolved within a democratic framework, “whether in an administration or a local parliament”, not only runs counter to the demands of Albanians in Kosovo, but is also unsupported by Western calls for expanded autonomy or a republic within the former Yugoslavia. Nano’s position does not encourage dialogue between Albanians and the Serbian side; on the contrary, it blocks it. Always remaining committed to a political solution to the Kosovo problem, I believe that the formula of talks without preconditions set out by the Contact Group is the one that should be accepted and can bring progress in dialogue between the parties to the conflict.

Today, the second round of elections. “Union for Democracy” is confident of winning the municipalities of Shijak and Vorë ON PAGE 2

The conflict between Malaj and Bundo has been going on for six months. Who will pocket the state company’s millions of dollars? ON PAGE 3

The finances of Balli Kombëtar are being emptied. The money goes to “E Djathta e Bashkuar”. Abuses and scandalous expenses by Abaz Ermenji ON PAGE 2

The prominent PD activist, Eqerem Shyqja, has died ON PAGE 2

Berisha welcomed the Hollbruk - Demaçi meeting The chairman of the PD, Sali Berisha, welcomed the meeting between Richard Holbrook, the U.S. ambassador to the UN, and Adem Demaçi, chairman of the Parliamentary Party of Kosovo. The meeting between Hollbruk and Sabit Demaçi, the Albanians’ symbol of resistance and struggle for freedom, represents an important development in the multilateral dialogue taking place to resolve the Kosovo problem. Demaçi’s active involvement, his moral credibility, the superhuman sacrifices he has made for freedom of speech, the dignity and freedom of Albanians, and his courage and bravery are today more highly valued than ever by Albanians in their struggle for the freedom and human and national rights that are theirs by right. The chairman of the PD, Berisha, also welcomes the emergence of cooperation between Demaçi and other political forces and the Kosovo Liberation Army in the interest of a just resolution of the Kosovo problem.

Brazil, or the World Cup Phenomenon -Italy–Norway 1–0. The Azzurri like Ferrari -Brazil–Chile 4–1. Brazil, master on the field -Who will win today? (Analysis) -France at the feet of Djorkaeff. The Inter player: “The real World Cup starts for us today” -The Paraguayans are not afraid. Chilavert, the symbolic goalkeeper, openly declares: “France poses no problem for us” -“Prince” Schmeichel gives Denmark encouragement. “We are more concrete than Nigeria” -Finidi: “Danes, prepare for defeat.” The Nigerian striker speaks before the match -Italian defender Bergomi sees Brazil and Argentina as World Cup favourites SPECIAL FEATURE ON PAGES 10–11