Tomorrow schools across the country will close ON PAGE 7

Local elected officials face growing pressure from the Socialist government ON PAGE 4

Revolts break out among employees guarding institutions ON PAGE 5

Berisha meets Grubmajer. The Majko government is a government of continuity, not change . Political dialogue based on the Council of Europe resolution. The envoy of the Austrian presidency of the EU, Ambassador Grubmajer, and Austria’s ambassador in Tirana, Ridel, invited the chairman of the DP, Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha, accompanied by DP deputy chairman Genc Pollo and DP presidium member Pjetër Arbnori, to a working lunch. During the lunch, the situation in Albania was discussed, with particular focus on the lack of dialogue and the high degree of polarization and conflict, as well as ways to overcome the crisis. At the meeting, Berisha first stressed that political dialogue is vital to resolving the crisis. So far, we have not refused any invitation to dialogue from political forces or the President of the Republic, and since the June 29 elections we have initiated at least seven rounds of dialogue at the table with parliamentary political forces. But all our invitations, Berisha told Ambassador Grubmajer, have been rejected by the governing coalition party. On August 15, I invited former Prime Minister Nano to hold talks together on the constitution, and on August 31, international experts were also invited. The invitation to the constitutional round table... round table was derailed, as the Council of Europe resolution also points out, by the after-midnight arrest of six former senior DP officials on the absurd charge of crimes against humanity. After Fatos Nano’s resignation, the DP and I immediately called for political dialogue and for a round table of the parties chaired by the President of the Republic, or for the latter to consult with the political parties about the new government, declaring that the DP would not join the government but was ready, on the basis of negotiations, to support an anti-crisis package for the new government. We issued this call because consultations by the head of state with political forces on forming a government have been a constant norm in Albanian politics from the late ’90s until ’97. In this way, all round tables of political forces up to March 9, 1997, when they formed a government with a mandate broader than that of the President, were convened by the head of state. But this time, despite the deep crisis the country is going through, the prime minister and ministers were appointed without any parliamentary consultation, closing the door to consultations. Nevertheless, I wish to declare that we support political dialogue and believe that this dialogue should be based on the Council of Europe resolution on recent developments in Albania, which the DP and I consider a serious document on the basis of which fruitful political dialogue in Albania should be established. This resolution, voted for by all parliamentarians from the Council of Europe countries, clearly sets out the path for political dialogue in Albania. The DP believes that the constitution, which should not be determined by the Council of Europe resolution, must be a component of the political forces’ dialogue package. At this meeting Berisha stressed that he had nothing personal against former Prime Minister Nano. But he could not accept his position in Crete, the logic he used with the LUCK, setting it against Rugova, nor the violence and terror against the opposition, the high-level corruption and government smuggling, or the violation of constitutional laws and inter-party agreements. Berisha stressed that the level of conflict in the country remains high for many reasons. First, because Hajdari’s killers are free and under full official protection. Despite calls from the international community for an urgent investigation and the great importance of the matter, no action has been taken. Second, although Nano resigned, the man most loyal to him took his place, and in his first statement he pledged to continue everything without change. Third, in this government all the important portfolios are held by non-Albanians. I recognize the rights of minorities and support their full respect, but I cannot accept the fact that the majority, which makes up 96% of the population, is being discriminated against. Fourth, the Minister of Public Order is one of the organizers of the burning of public institutions in Fier, the organizer of criminal gangs, and we have documents and evidence for all of this. Another major factor in the conflict in Albania is the existence of gangs used by government officials for political terror. Before Mr. Hajdari’s murder, at least eight other DP activists and leaders had also been killed. We will continue our commitment to an independent international investigation into all these events. Berisha also stressed that RTV has been transformed into an institution that sows hatred every day by blocking the opposition’s opinions and positions and manipulating news related to the opposition. Therefore, we will continue peaceful protests until an acceptable political solution is reached and democratic standards are restored. At this meeting Berisha also stressed that the DP is against all violence. It has agreed with all those friendly countries and international institutions that condemned violence by both sides on September 14. The DP unequivocally condemned the violence in the resolution adopted by the DP National Council after the events of September 13–14. Mr. Grubmajer and Mr. Riedel praised the DP’s willingness to engage in dialogue on the basis of the Council of Europe resolution. They also stressed the great importance of guaranteeing opposition rights in media that are government instruments, as well as swiftly investigating the events and internationalizing the murder of MP Hajdari, and the opposition’s participation in the constitutional process and in parliamentary proceedings. The participants were open and friendly.

The photograph shows a crowd of protesters; a banner reads: “FREE EKREM SPAHI”.

“You can no longer continue with such farces in foreign policy, which have been discredited by the entire domestic and international public, and Milo is regarded by foreign analysts as Albania’s Greek foreign minister” ON PAGE 3

Government authorization for the arrest of politicians and journalists Prime Minister Pandeli Majko called on Saturday for corrections to be made in sections of the Albanian police forces, the Ministry of Public Order reports. At a meeting held on Saturday with senior officials of the Ministry of Public Order, the newly elected prime minister, accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Ilir Meta and Minister of Public Order Petro Koçi, asked the ministry’s personnel to protect institutions and fight crime and other forms of trafficking. Majko ordered the police forces to seek permission from the government before making arrests of politicians and journalists, as had been the practice during Nano’s rule. The new Minister of Public Order, Petro Koçi, promised that during his tenure he would devote himself to the genuine depoliticization of the security forces. The Albanian prime minister also held meetings on Saturday with the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Finance.

Today, 22 days since the murder of the December Leader Every day that passes since the murder of Azem Hajdari, the symbol of democracy and pluralism, proves the involvement of Fatos Nano’s government and his successor in the crime that shook the entire Albanian world. The governments of the former communists, which leave free and undisturbed the criminals who took the life of the December Leader, show Albanians that they have been and remain on the side of the murderers, who have names and identities but are untouched by those in power. Democrats and all Albanians who loved and honored Azem Hajdari can under no circumstances tolerate this fact. The government must either capture the criminals and bring them to justice, or publicly declare that it itself committed the murder of Azem Hajdari.

ON PAGE 4

Gaqo had no right to sign contracts as a minister The opposition will take the matter to court over violations of constitutional provisions by former minister Apostolli. After the Nano government had resigned—that is, at a time when he no longer held a mandate as minister—Apostolli signed three contracts worth 34 million ECU with a Greek company, a Macedonian company and an Italian company for the construction of important roads belonging to “Corridor Eight.” Reliable sources close to the Ministry of Public Works said that Gjinushi’s maneuvers to delay the formation of the government for as long as possible had the sole purpose of giving Apostoli time for the foreign companies’ specialists to arrive and sign these contracts. But Gjinushi and Apostoli had also forgotten that although ministers had been asked to remain in office until the new government was formed, their signatures on tenders were no longer valid. His carelessness is also apparent from the fact that, after signing the contract worth 34 million ECU, or 50 million dollars, Gaqo went alone—not with the other ministers—to the presidency, where Medja(...) thanked him for a “job well done” and accepted his resignation. Jurists say Mediunit’s action was also unconstitutional, since when the prime minister resigns, the entire government is automatically considered to have resigned, as it was notified, and it is inconceivable for the ministers to go to him and, amid all this carelessness, submit their resignations. We will ask Mr. Medjani whether, if Apostoli does not resign, he will again be given the missing mandates so that he can govern as he pleases. This makes Gaqo look like a “big coward,” especially given the further fact that none of the other ministers went to Medajn to submit their resignations. Why, as the judge says, do Gaqo, Mediantino, Mano, Tela, and edhori(...) continue working as ministers, while their resignations have not been accepted by the president? These things can be said of a government of parasites such as this one was.

Majko begins his work by encouraging terror against the opposition. The story of the plundering of millions from Apostoli’s tenders Majko begins his work by encouraging terror against the opposition. The story of the plundering of millions from Apostoli’s tenders The government of continuing smuggling

Yesterday, in “Skënderbej” Square. The rain did not stop the Democrats’ protest Berisha: The people of Kosovo, who are defending their land, have been betrayed by Nano Photo: Albes FUSHA Major row in the Prime Minister’s Office Nano refuses to vacate the office for Majko Berisha: The people of Kosovo, who are defending their land, have been betrayed by Nano