Milošević’s army bombs Albania. War and bloodshed on the northern border. The Padesh outpost is shut down for several hours ON PAGE 3

The law that sought to restore the dictatorship returns to parliament ON PAGE 3

Berisha condemns the Junik massacre and the military attack in Tropojë The chairman of the Democratic Party, Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha, strongly condemned the Junik massacre, in which thousands upon thousands of Albanians were subjected to ethnic cleansing over the last two days, as well as the Serbian military attack on Albanian territory, in the village of Padesh. The concentration of Serbian military forces along the Albanian border, the attack on the border post, and the entry of Serbian military units into Albanian territory at Padesh constitute a condemnable act of aggression and a grave violation of the territorial integrity of the Republic of Albania by the authorities in Belgrade. This is further evidence of Milošević’s determination to spread the conflict in the Balkans. The indifferent and irresponsible stance of the Tirana government toward these acts once again demonstrates its complete failure to govern the country, if not its collusion with the authorities in Belgrade.

The leader of the Democratic Party speaks about the meeting with EU representatives ON PAGE 2

The leader of the Democratic Party, Fredi Oll, and the representative of the Democratic councillors meet Mr. Pulver

The Albanian opposition and the European Troika are forcing the country’s highest state institutions to send the new law on SHIK back for review. Through a decree, the President of the Republic returned to Parliament the law that 100 percent of the majority’s MPs had voted for. Known until now as the Law of political inquisition and state persecution, the law on SHIK was defeated not because of Meidani’s determination to preserve democratic values in state institutions, but only because the opposition’s resistance and international pressure were strong enough—and this time, insurmountable. The new law on SHIK exemplifies the logic and thought structures of Albania’s current rulers, who, unfortunately, have overpowered socialist MPs with all the force they could muster. Boycotted by all branches of power, this law found support only in Parliament, which passed it immediately, without any serious discussion. The new law on SHIK is not merely an attempt by the country’s prime minister to concentrate all power in his hands; it is also a consequence of the anti-democratic conduct of Albania’s current rulers and lawmakers. For more than a year, a good number of the laws introduced by the government have been distorted by the one-party Parliament, while many other laws have been violated by Albanian legislation and replaced by other laws signed by the communist dictatorship in the country. The law on SHIK is also part of this anti-democratic façade that the government and Parliament have mounted against institutions capable of strengthening the Albanian state. The content of this law amounted to a usurpation of people’s rights and freedoms, while restoring the State Security Service in every respect—not only in its personnel, but also in its methods and actions. The creation of such an apparatus means establishing a violent regime, continuing the strategy of physically eliminating the opposition, and subjecting ordinary people—and even politicians and other prominent figures in the country—to psychological and physical violence. The Albanian opposition and Tirana’s Democrats protested outside Parliament on the day it was approved, while they had already spoken out at the beginning of the former communist government’s rule about its anti-democratic and anti-Albanian content. By returning the law, Meidani performed only a procedural act. He has no say in influencing—if he intends to influence—the authors of the law on SHIK to change it. He returned it only because, under that law, even the President himself would automatically be assigned a duty and might even be forced to testify if a State Security agent asked him to do so. The Albanian President has now passed dozens of laws and decisions that have seriously undermined and violated democracy and the country’s democratic aspirations. This return does not change the ideological nature of the law or its complete disregard for people who are trying to restore dictatorship in the country. The new law on SHIK was so out of step with the times that even the authors of such laws, such as Fehmi Abdiu and Namik Dokle, spoke out against it because of the dangerous precedent of its use by the State Security Service and the dictatorship. The Albanian opposition once again showed that it is capable of confronting the dictatorship emanating from the Prime Minister’s Office and its plague—SHIK, the Ministry of the Interior, TV, etc.

The Democratic Party says Ceas’s mission is being called into question Democratic Party Central Committee member Albina Karamirto said yesterday that, during the meeting between the representatives of the European Troika and Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha, European officials had expressed their appreciation for the Democratic Party’s decision to take part in the constitutional process. Karamirto explained that the issue of the Democratic Party’s boycott of the Albanian Parliament had been discussed only briefly ... ON PAGE 3

Parliament “successfully” brought its first summer session to a close by passing three highly controversial laws, but without the opposition present. One of these laws, which has caused concern among the public, is Law No. 8391, dated 6.8.1998, “On the National Intelligence Service.” The passage of such a specific law is significant not merely in technical terms, given the sensitive field in which it operates, but also because of the concern such a law raises among the Albanian public, even if it were perfect... ON PAGE 8 The MPs have knowingly agreed to violate citizens’ fundamental freedoms and rights through this law.

The chairwoman of the Tirana District Council protests the Nano government’s disregard for local government In her capacity as chairwoman of the National Association of District Council Chairs, Këllezi says she will inform senior local-government authorities in the Council of Europe about the escalation of violations of the laws governing the functioning of local government, so that they learn that our government officials sign one thing in Strasbourg and implement another in Tirana. ON PAGE 2

Lushnjë MP Ilir Bano denounces the backward governance of the left-wing coalition “Today’s rulers are pursuing the same governing platform as the Party of Labour, with the aim of impoverishing the people to the bone so they can remain in power as long as possible, just like their predecessors.” ON PAGE 2

Grassroots Socialists support Pellumbi’s attacks on the Socialist Party leadership According to sources in the Socialist Party, disagreements arose among party members during the Conference, and, according to those sources, a considerable number of them supported MP Servet Pellumbi’s positions. Socialist Party sources say that, during the Conference, those present demanded an explanation from Finance Minister Arben Malaj... ON PAGE 3

The government abuses funds withdrawn from local government ON PAGE 5

Law-enforcement chiefs are replaced; crime rises in the country ON PAGE 4

The City of the Millennium cries out again: “A little light, a little light, brother!” The City of the Millennium cries out again: “A little light, a little light, brother!” Shkodra gets only one hour of electricity a day ON PAGE 4