Kavaja is out in the streets. Thousands of protesters against arrests and the clique’s terror over the opposition. “Nano, keep your hands off the democrats!” ON PAGE 3 Mr. Kavaja under stress

On Thursday, a big PP rally in Tirana The leadership of the Democratic Party calls on all democrats of Tirana, the membership and supporters of the Democratic Party, former victims of the communist regime, representatives of various associations and all the citizens of Tirana to take part in the protest against communist terror. “Skënderbej” to protest against communist terror, with which Fatos Nano’s neo-communists are governing the country. The protest will take place on Thursday, 27.08.1998, at 7:00 p.m. in “Skënderbej” Square, to become closely acquainted with the decision of the National Council of the Democratic Party “To make it impossible to continue the criminal, anti-national rule in Albania” and to learn about the new political platform of the DP, which will lead Albania to victory and democracy in the country. All structures of the Democratic Party of Tirana, branch no. 1 through branch no. 35, are engaged with the representatives of various associations as well as with all the structures of the Youth Forum and the Women’s Forum of the Democratic Party for the organization of the grand protest on Thursday. The invitation to take part in Thursday’s protest is being made through leaflets, banners and posters, but the citizens of Tirana will also be called through loudspeakers that will pass through all the streets of the capital. Everyone in protest for the victory of democracy is today the slogan of the democrats of Tirana from the center to its outskirts, from young men and women, students and teachers, former political prisoners and the politically persecuted, those unfairly dismissed from work and the unemployed of all categories, pensioners and disabled people, who have now understood that the rule of Fatos Nano and the SHIK secret police linked to ordinary crime, trafficking, murders and the mafia has seized power by force, violence and political terror. Everyone to the square! Thursday’s protest will be a powerful demonstration of the determination of the united opposition and of all the citizens of Tirana to overthrow the new communist dictatorship. It will also be the best response to the deceptive propaganda of the neo-communist power, which has launched a smear campaign against the Democratic Party and the entire Albanian opposition, trying to present them as “coup” forces. In reality, part of the coup and the coup plotters are only the government of Fatos Nano, which through its anti-constitutional activity is leading the country toward the abyss, and the monolithic, delegitimized parliament that emerged from the manipulated elections of 29 June 1997. As is already known, many opposition deputies from all over Albania will come to Tirana on Thursday to take part in the protest against the new communist dictatorship. This protest has also been joined by the “Union of Independent Trade Unions of Albania”, which, in a statement, has called on all its members to take part in the protest. The chairman of the Democratic Party, Mr. Sali Berisha, as well as the main leaders of the opposition will address the protesters with their speeches on Thursday. Also, hundreds and hundreds of young men and women from Tirana are preparing for the great evening of Thursday’s protest “by all means” at their disposal. With their mass participation, the citizens of Tirana will prove that they not only do not recognize, but deeply despise and hate the new dictatorship, camouflaged in the guise of a “rule of law state”.

The American ambassador Mariza Lino speaks about developments in Albania. The courts are the place for the clarification of justice, not for political warfare “Madam American Ambassador Mariza Lino spoke about the latest developments, particularly some harsh measures taken by the government against the opposition force. She said that Albania and its government must do more to respect the law, adding that peace and calm must be established in the country. “Has this government done enough against the people suspected... ON PAGE 4

The accusers and the blame-shifters demonstrate that the affair of the arrest of the honorary president of the PD and deputy Tritan Shehu, and of the opposition leader, is a hasty move by the government in Tirana. On the one hand, the American administration is expressing irritation over the arrest of Azem Hajdari and Tritan Shehu, after which senior officials of the European Union and other international organizations are also expressing concern. Under these conditions and under this strong international pressure, Prime Minister Nano is trying to find a way out and lay the blame on others for what he has called a “misunderstanding”... ON PAGE 4

The extraordinary meeting of the National Council of the PD analyzes the serious situation in the country after the political imprisonment of its leading figures ON PAGE 2

After the interview with the US Ambassador, the clique’s prime minister tries to excuse himself ON PAGE 2

The legalist MP, in an interview on TVSH about the arrest of the former Xhaxver, political revenge The education of the former prime ministers is denounced as a process that does not provoke pressure on justice but rather incites the opposition, and at the same time the opposition is addressed through the use of political force. “The arrest of the former prime minister is denounced as a political act ordered by the government and not as a proper process of judicial independence” ON PAGE 3

PD chairman Berisha denounces before the press the political orders of the opposition and of all oppression ON PAGE 4

Diplomatic corps, tendency to abandon Tirana The statements of right-wing professional analysts are being confirmed, namely that soon a large part of the diplomatic corps will leave Tirana for security reasons. In this way, the isolation of Tirana as a center of diplomacy would in a sense be achieved, turning the country into a target of secret diplomacy. Also added, in a comment by “RD”, is that next week the US ambassador will return to Albania, as he is temporarily in his own country for family reasons. His return would be seen as a positive element in this situation. In a statement to “Voice of America”, the Vatican ambassador in Tirana, Monsignor Ivan Dias, declared that he too had received instructions from the Vatican to leave Albania temporarily. Likewise, the ambassador of Macedonia left Tirana two days ago. “RD” had also recently obtained the same information regarding the ambassador of Bosnia. Meanwhile, the ambassador of Ukraine has also decided to leave Albania. According to “RD”, the ambassador of Bosnia and the ambassador of Ukraine are leaving on “instructions” from their respective governments. The main reason for the diplomats’ departure is the severe climate of political insecurity in Albania, created after the political arrests of recent days and the complete lack of security conditions for the foreign personalities currently in the country. What is most important, and what best confirms the climate of political insecurity in Albania, is the fact that, according to well-known diplomatic sources, there has been an official request from a large group of diplomats to carry firearms with them. According to the same sources, even though the government’s official stance has been categorically negative, SHIK has allowed them to be equipped with personal weapons. If officially confirmed, these reports would demonstrate an unprecedented situation not only in Albania but also in other countries of Southeastern Europe. The very fact that the diplomatic corps is attempting to leave, even partially, from a country in which it is accredited and carries out its activities, is a very serious indicator of the degradation of the security situation and the lack of political normality in Albania. ON PAGE 3