“Union for Democracy” will organize a rally tomorrow, on 23 July 1998, at 10:00, in front of the Parliament building in “Fan S. Noli” Square to protest against killings, political imprisonment of opposition members, and the information blackout.

On Friday, 24 July 1998, at 19:00, “Union for Democracy” will also organize a protest rally in front of the RTSH building in “Italia” Square against the information blackout and the failure to implement the “Arnbori Amendment.”

Imami, Peshkëpia, Ruçi and Brokaj command from a distance SPECIAL REPORT ON PAGE 7

Pashko puts up 11.5 million lekë in paper money to take possession of a VEFA factory ON PAGE 5

The draft law on public and private Radio-Television does not include the Arnbori Amendment. DP MPs respond The US State Department and the European Parliamentary Troika gave strong support to the Arnbori Amendment and have repeatedly reminded the government to respect the agreements reached with the opposition ON PAGE 3

At least 100 Albanians killed and massacred. The Serbian army also suffers heavy losses Rahovec, Kosovo’s Srebrenica

Lulëzim Çollaku is given his final farewell ON PAGE 4

The Minister of Justice states at a press conference that corruption has spread to all levels of the Albanian justice system

The Minister of Justice states at a press conference that corruption has spread to all levels of the Albanian justice system system Kondi: “This Government is corrupt” Minister Kondi says that so far he has received only praise from the President and the Government for his decisions to dismiss judges and employees of the Tirana property-registration office ON PAGE 4

Security-service operatives and recruited journalists come to the Prime Minister’s aid The Prime Minister is trying to wash his hands of his irresponsible positions on the Kosovo issue SHIK operatives have been activated in recent days to stage fabricated stories focusing on the “patriotic” activity of Prime Minister Fatos Nanos, in an attempt to minimize the irresponsibility and violence of the Prime Minister’s position on recent developments in Kosovo. The Albanian government press has also joined this dirty game, maintaining a direct line to the former security-service agents now in Fatos Klosi’s SHIK, through a number of easily manipulated journalists and newspapers. After the crude fabrication about the arrest of a young Kosovar living in Belgrade who, according to the government-friendly press, had tried to enter the Prime Minister’s villa, SHIK’s special reports are now trying to create the impression that the opposition is fomenting a campaign against Nano among the people of Kosovo. Some journalists who openly cooperate with SHIK have been writing for days as though this were true, although the issue exists only in the minds of Fatos Nano and Fatos Klosi. Meanwhile, it is the Albanian Prime Minister himself who brought it up in a meeting with Greek Foreign Minister Teodoros Pangallos. Having always ended up sidelined and despised for his apathetic positions on Albanian issues, Fatos Nano is trying to impress Westerners by means of his accusations against the Democratic Party. In his meeting with Pangallos, he complained that the opposition was inciting the people of Kosovo against the Tirana government, referring to an archived [?] briefing that he himself had ordered through young SHIK officers who control several pages in the daily government newspapers. At a time when a clear position is expected from him on what is happening in Albania and the region, the Albanian Prime Minister is demonstrating his complete incapacity by blaming everyone for all the problems caused by inaction and bad governance, while the Democratic Party has also made its final break with the illegitimate rule of Albania’s former communists. It is clear that such a thing completely shocks Westerners who come to Albania; they do not wait to learn about the situation from articles planted by SHIK in the government press. Besides its direct contacts with the Democratic Party and the opposition in general, Europe has dozens of other ways to find out what is happening in Albania and on its northern border, and what role official Tirana plays in all this. Stories about Kosovars arrested outside the Prime Minister’s villa may be believable only to some fanatical pensioner from the Socialist Party who understands only the old language of “Zëri i Popullit,” but they cannot go any further. Because to think that Fatos Nano is in danger from Belgrade because of his positions on Kosovo is a crude lie, just like Nano’s recent accusations against the opposition at his meetings with Westerners. A.GJ.

Yesterday, the opposition leader, Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha, was invited to lunch by the Swiss ambassador in Tirana, Mr. Fëler. During the lunch, they discussed at length the dramatic situation in Kosovo, the war taking place there, Millosheviç’s aims, and the need for a more rapid and active international stance. They also discussed the situation in Albania, the deep economic crisis, and other important factors affecting the situation. The lunch took place in an open and friendly atmosphere.

The donor conference for Albania fails According to government officials’ announcements, a conference of donors from the European Community countries had been scheduled to take place in Tirana yesterday to decide on the aid that would be given to Albania. In reality, no such conference was held in Tirana yesterday. There were no Community donors in Tirana yesterday... ON PAGE 3

Here’s how many thousand dollars the prime minister’s chief debtor paid to prevent the newspaper “Koha Jonë” from going bankrupt “Ben Blushi’s spokesperson’s team has been appointed to head the newspaper’s key departments” ON PAGE 3

Gani and Shemsie Kadria are seeking acquittal in exchange for their silence about today’s government officials who took millions from the pyramid schemes. Let all the blame fall on Gërxhallin. Also involved is the prefect of Vlora, Tare Hamo, who took 48 thousand dollars for himself despite having no deposit at all with “Gjallica.” A secret meeting between Lefter Petoshati and Skënder Gjinushi ON PAGE 2

Yesterday, in Rahovec REUTERS

The World Bank stated yesterday, in an official announcement, that the government must fight corruption in the country with dedication, and that it is very important for the well-being of Albanians to improve as a result of this sustained commitment. A day earlier, representatives of the World Bank had held a one-on-one meeting with the Prime Minister and his staff... ON PAGE 5

The third National Meeting of local elected representatives of the political grouping “Bashkimi për Demokraci” will be held today, 22. 07. 1998, at 11⁰⁰ in the hall of the Opera and Ballet Theatre (Palace of Culture). Alongside the local elected representatives, members of the Democratic Party’s leadership will also attend the meeting.