Tonight, a night of candles for the political killings

At 8:00 p.m., everyone to “Skënderbej” Square Today, 31.07.1998, at 8:00 p.m., “Bashkimi për Demokraci” is organizing a major protest rally against the killings, imprisonment, and violence being perpetrated against the democratic opposition. People will protest in silence in the square and light candles, then march with the candles burning in their hands to the Prime Minister’s Office. Everyone together in “Skënderbej” Square, against crime and criminals! Everyone together, with a candle for the victims of the new dictatorship! Kavaja too protests with candles The Kavaja branch of the Democratic Party is organizing a candlelight demonstration today at 8:00 p.m. in the city’s main square to protest against the regime of Nano’s political killings.

Nano must stop the violence and smuggling!

The Tirana government in the West’s sights. The USA, Italy, and Austria concerned about the situation in Albania

Bode: Secret report on the government mafia

PD obtains information on corruption and smuggling by senior officials The Secretary General of the Democratic Party, Ridvan Bode, said yesterday that his party possesses a secret report documenting the involvement of the country’s highest-ranking officials in smuggling and corruption. At yesterday’s press conference, Bode disclosed the existence of a secret report that will be published soon and which, according to him, highlights that corruption and criminal infiltration in Albania have reached the highest levels of government.... ON PAGE 3

The opposition’s opinion, of great value to the Constitution

Statement by the OSCE office in Tirana. The Prime Minister’s press is contradicted The OSCE Presence in Albania wishes to respond to several articles in the Albanian press that do not accurately reflect the OSCE Presence’s position regarding the Democratic Party’s proposal for a round table on the draft constitution. Contrary to what may ... nongovernmental organizations, dozens of legal experts, hundreds of interested citizens, and international constitutional law experts have taken part in a comprehensive program of views and public debates on the Constitution. The opinions of “Bashkimi për Demokraci” on the draft at a meeting of ... draft. Therefore, the meeting should not be seen as a substitute for the Commission

Coopers & Lybrand: No money for creditors

Parliament approves the theft of property The government does not give Pricewaterhouse Coopers permission to publish the information from the first phase of transparency. The government does not give Pricewaterhouse Coopers permission to publish the information from the first phase of transparency Coopers & Lybrand: No money for creditors Parliament yesterday, with half of the deputies present, approved the law on the sale of the assets of non-bank legal entities that took loans from the general public. Farudin Arapi, head of the supervisory group for the transparency of the pyramid companies, told the Albanian parliament yesterday that the law aims to sell the companies’ properties within this year. Arapi claims that through this sale creditors will be repaid the money collected by the usury companies. ON PAGE 5

of great value to the Constitution

the draft constitution. Contrary to what may have been said in the press, the OSCE Presence welcomes the idea of a meeting on the Constitution as a final opportunity to include all political forces, and particularly the largest opposition party, in the constitution-drafting process before the parliamentary debate. The OSCE notes that, with the exception of “Bashkimi për Demokraci”, all the major political forces, many a separate meeting, together with the final comments of other interested groups, would be of great value to the Constitution and would ensure that the interests of all Albanians are represented in this important and historic process. The OSCE believes that this meeting should take place before the full parliamentary discussion of the draft planned ahead of the debate and vote. for the Constitutional Commission or the full parliamentary process. The OSCE hopes that the format of the separate meeting will not become a bone of contention between the political parties. The OSCE supports any practical format that brings together all interested forces to offer constructive views on the current draft constitution.

Compromise, in the interest of resolving the Kosovo issue

Berisha welcomes efforts to form a new government in Prishtina Opposition leader Sali Berisha welcomes the efforts and positive steps taken recently in Prishtina to form a new government, which he hopes will include representatives of parliamentary political forces and the KLA. Institutionalizing the commitment, wisdom, and courage of the Albanians in the government of the Republic of Kosovo at this critical moment for the Republic of Kosovo is the wisest decision; it marks the triumph of major interests over secondary divisions, and this is what the entire Albanian nation expects today from Kosovo’s political figures and its fighters. Concessions and compromises with one another in the interest of resolving the issue are simply evidence of their high degree of responsibility and their determination not to paralyze, but to move forward with a fully representative and negotiating delegation for Kosovo. Berisha also called on the Albanian political forces to cooperate on this major issue.

Italy: Nano must stop drugs

Two resolutions of the Italian parliament put Prodi on the spot: Nano must burn the drug plantations in the south and block the trafficking of drugs, clandestine migrants and weapons through the Port of Vlora No Italian lira can be made available to the devastated Albanian economy unless the Nano government proves that it is capable of breaking free from the influence of the Mafia ON PAGE 3

The 120 thousand dollars save Nano

The Albanian prime minister calmly continues his work. No comment, while the drug scandal involving his son continues to reverberate in Greece Drugs, in the literal sense of the word, are not something unfamiliar to the Nano family. On the contrary, they are so familiar that their use and, worse still, their distribution are no longer considered crimes ON PAGE 3

Violence against journalists again

Journalist Bedri Myftari beaten Illegal action by the Vlora prosecutor's office against the newspaper “55” ON PAGE 2

Nano had Gjuzin killed

Democrats in Kavaja condemn the killing of the DP activist The prime minister fired through the hand of his prison friend, who was in a military vehicle with state license plates ON PAGE 2

Brzezinski: Do not tolerate political terrorism!

Former adviser to President Carter writes to Arbnori “I will speak with my friends in the U.S. government administration so that they become more involved in addressing the government's terror against the opposition in Albania” Former National Security Adviser to U.S. President Carter, Zbigniew Brzezinski, in a letter to Democratic MP Pjetër Arbnori, expresses his concern about state violence against the opposition in Albania. In response to a message he received from Arbnori at the beginning of this month, Brzezinski says that “the incidents you described concern me greatly.” “While I understand that the situation in Albania is very unstable, there can be no more government tolerance of political terrorism directed against the opposition,” Brzezinski states, expressing his willingness to keep the course of events in Albania under observation. Brzezinski emphasizes that he will pay particular attention to the government's treatment of the opposition and will discuss all the concerns raised by the Albanian opposition with his friends in the U.S. government administration, who, he says, should become more involved in this issue. Brzezinski also emphasizes that the issue of democracy in Albania will remain a matter of particular importance to Americans.

Two men in conversation, in Tirana.

Ruçi organizes the attack on Leonard Demi

The black dossier of Saranda. The Socialist Party gives a clear directive: “Bashkimi për Demokraci” must not be allowed to campaign. Shlabi orders: “Prepare 200 coffins for supporters of the Democratic Party” Ruçi organizes the attack on Leonard Demi SPECIAL REPORT ON PAGE 8 Photo of a crowd and a person.