Difficult coalition consultations cast aside Fino, Islami, Tefa, Kondi, Malaj ON PAGE 3

A commando soldier opens fire without warning, killing a 35-year-old mother Roza Mehmetl, a mother of two from Tirana, died instantly after a bullet passed right through her neck. The body of the 35-year-old was taken to the hospital morgue and, later that same day, her relatives transported her to the family home. The soldier who fired a burst from his automatic weapon was immediately relieved of duty after the tragic act. ON PAGE 2

The prime minister of the criminal government is finally forced to leave. The opposition considers his resignation overdue. . Pandeli Majko, the Socialist Party’s new candidate for prime minister. Majko is known as a person with serious psychological problems, because of which he lost a year of schooling. Meanwhile, he has been involved in oil smuggling with Montenegro. Fatos Nano is gone. The news circulated throughout yesterday afternoon in the country’s political circles and was officially confirmed at around 22:00 by a senior Socialist Party official. According to sources from the Socialist newspaper, Fatos Nano’s departure from the head of government was justified by his inability to form a cabinet that he himself would lead. Heated debates throughout the day involved not only the parties in the governing coalition over the names, but also Fatos Nano and Rexhep Meidani at the Presidency. Nano’s resignation, though overdue, finally came. His removal from the leadership of the country came as a result of the continuing popular revolts against his regime. During more than a year of misgovernment, citizens continually protested against the Nano regime and his clique: against the destruction of their fundamental freedoms and rights, the destruction of economic life, insecurity and political crime, and poverty reaching the limits of economic misery under Nano’s government. Nano’s ouster came as a result of the firm and uncompromising stance of the Albanian opposition, which systematically exposed, with facts and arguments, the country’s entire political mafia, led by Nano and his clique. The Albanian opposition led and directed the country’s strongest movement against the Fatos Nano regime. Its powerful resistance, maintained even through self-sacrifice in service of the country and democracy, was paid for with the regime’s murder of the December Leader, Azem Hajdari, and with political imprisonment, terror, and state violence organized and incited by Nano. The prime minister was ousted after strong international pressure. After the West described Nano’s government as the most corrupt government on the continent, a government of drugs and smuggling, political crime and the mafia, it crossed him off and excluded its leader from all negotiations and references concerning Albania. During the serious events of mid-September, no Western government or chancellery referred to Fatos Nano; all openly said that Meidani should take charge of organizing political dialogue among the parties to lead the country out of the crisis. All these factors made Nano’s departure from power possible, a departure that Albanians widely consider the beginning of a resolution to the crisis in the country. Unfortunately, however, Mr. Nano, even as he leaves, is trying to leave the crisis behind him. He and his party appointed Majko as prime minister, demonstrating that the Socialists lack the will to resolve the crisis. Apart from Mr. Majko’s mental and psychological problems, and whatever the truth may be, he is also one of the well-known oil smugglers. Above all, Mr. Majko is a man with an inadequate political character. The crisis that Nano is trying to keep alive in the country through his efforts to form a Socialist government is the final bill that the disgraced former prime minister wants to leave to the Albanian people. Until now, Albanians have paid the bill for Fatos Nano’s rule: in addition to the abuse of the Albanian state and the theft of millions for personal gain, there are the wounded, a ruined economy, economic misery, poverty, organized crime, and a political mafia. He must not try to deepen the crisis and make the people pay the bill. The severe crisis in the country, caused by Socialist rule, cannot be overcome or resolved by simply replacing one individual with another. The crisis in the country is political and can only be resolved politically, without excluding any political force in the country, but rather by seeking everyone’s contribution to overcoming it—not with a Socialist government, but with a government of all Albanians. S.H.P.

On Nano’s resignation, Berisha praises Meidani’s role The Democratic Party spokesperson reports that, when asked about possible developments following the prime minister’s resignation—

An insufficient measure to overcome the crisis Prime Minister Nano’s resignation is far too late. He should have resigned at least a month earlier so that political tensions would not have occurred. So that the killing of the symbol of democracy, Azem Hajdari, would not have happened; so that the arrest of six senior Democratic Party officials would not have happened; so that the arrest of the chairman of PLL, Eqrem — The solution has come only from the majority, from the Socialist Party; that is, a solution has been offered only by the majority. Therefore, we think it is not a sufficient measure to ease the crisis situation and hasten a final political solution to the crisis. The Albanian opposition’s position must remain consistent with the demands it has made.

The Democratic Party spokespersons report that, when asked about possible developments following Prime Minister Fatos Nano’s resignation, the chairman of the Democratic Party, Mr. Berisha, stated: “It is too early for me to give a full assessment. I think the President of the Republic played a role in Nano’s resignation, a role that I appreciate, and with this intervention, as is his duty, he has opened the way to a political solution to the deep crisis the country is experiencing and to resolving the major problems of public order, the constitutional process, and other major issues. chairman of PLL, Eqrem Spahiu, and many other opposition figures would not have happened. Nevertheless, although late, Prime Minister Nano’s resignation is a step toward resolving the crisis in the country, but it is not enough to overcome the crisis and conflict that is intensifying in Albania. The opposition political forces have called for a solution acceptable to all political forces, both government and opposition, to be reached through discussions at the political round table. must remain consistent with its demands to lead the country toward a political solution and broad political support for restoring public order, involving all political forces in the constitutional process, and adopting the constitution; then, gradually, preparing the conditions for new, stable, and credible political elections in the future. So I think this is not the final solution; it is only a step toward resolving the situation.”

A message of peace to Albanians from Azem Hajdari’s family ON PAGE 8

There is no real opposition without Berisha, declares the President of the Albanian American Civic League (AACL) on CNN ON PAGE 3 “Azem Hajdari had accurate knowledge of the location and identity of the Greek and Serbian operatives in Albania”

Citizens of Tirana and all of Albania! Everyone in the squares against Fatos Nano’s clique! On Wednesday, September 30, at 5:30 p.m., all of Tirana in “Skënderbej” Square. The final hour has come! The squares of democracy are the squares of victory! Today Albania needs us! Everyone to “Skënderbej” Square!

“Albania”: Fino should explain where he got the money for two apartment buildings in Tirana The trial against the newspaper was held in secret without notifying the newspaper about the trial ON PAGE 3