Dogs and blue uniforms take over the RTSH building ON PAGE 4

Price index: Inflation rises by 11.7% ON PAGE 5

Klosi intervenes to secure the release of his agent. Police had detained him with 1.5 kg of heroin SHIK directs the drug trade The heroin shipment belonged to the USA–Tirana route, which is controlled by the secret service ON PAGE 3

The ruling coalition’s request insults the vote of Albanians on 22 November, disregards the serious violations of the constitutional process and of the content of the Constitution approved by Parliament, and ignores the very concept of a referendum The government, panicked by the prospect of the referendum’s failure, invites the PD to an absurd round table: “Let us hold the referendum and then amend the approved Constitution” ON PAGE 3

By Sami NEZA Yesterday the governing coalition came forward with a proposal never before heard of for serious matters such as politics, or for serious products such as the Constitution. Arben Imami, one of the co-chairmen of the constitutional commission, has asked the opposition to sit down at the table and discuss how to change the Constitution, which the left-wing coalition has put forward for a referendum. Faced with such a proposal, the opposition can only conclude that it is dealing with a government that has not deserved the considerable attention it has received so far, attention demonstrated by the thousands of examples of efforts to correct its governance, as well as to correct its Constitution. For the first time, given its decision to abandon this field, with Parliament voting and the ballot boxes as the only remaining recourse, a referendum seems the most appropriate response to a Constitution that does not carry even the seriousness of a forestry law. The only principled aspect that makes Imami, or those close to him and standing alongside him in this proposal, seem reasonable is the fact that he wants to speak with the opposition about an important document such as the Constitution. Everything else in his proposal yesterday is a comedy, an anachronism, the fruit of their failure in the campaign for the Constitution, and an expression of the lack of approval they have encountered during meetings with voters. All the points mentioned above are embodied, first, in the fact that Imami is asking for dialogue with the opposition only one week before their draft—one that incorporates none of the opposition’s proposals—is to be put to a referendum; second, in the fact that the changes proposed by this round table would be made after the Constitution is approved in the referendum; and third, because Imami’s proposal, as he declared, is being made solely for the sake of the Constitution’s ethics—in other words, to create a veneer of consensus around it. Imami’s proposal gives the impression that the PD and the rest of the opposition only became visible in Tirana on Thursday, 13 November. Until that day, this party, together with its insistence on taking part in dialogue, its open invitations to discuss the draft Constitution, its presentation of dozens of alternatives through which it would seek consensus, together with its poor and its prisoners after his proposals, had not been alive to Imami, Godo, Gjini, Majko, Nano and many others, who had taken responsibility for the constitutional draft the day before. Or none of them had been alive to the opposition’s appeals and proposals, to its proclamation of the values of the constitutional text—the very fundamental pillars on which a country’s Constitution rests. Yesterday’s invitation to the opposition is the government’s constitutional commission’s last attempt to reduce the number of co-signatories to a document of this kind. Meanwhile, the attempt to set the matter aside and toss the ball into the opposition’s court when the game is already over is a ridiculous and equally cynical act—not toward the opposition, but toward their own product, the constitutional draft. Neither Imami nor their foremen, in their need to infringe Albania’s sovereignty, nor the devil of faith, property and the right to equal treatment before the law, can undo with a mere word what they have been making dirty for around a year or more. The blow they have dealt to the Constitution’s credibility, its function as an element of consensus and peace, and its regulatory role in the country’s political, economic and social life will have serious consequences for the country, allowing us to understand the continuities and the people who shaped it, as well as the aims of its text. The opposition’s merit is that it is able to convince people of the limits of the government and Parliament. It will also retain the merit of having, until now, finally rejected not only the anti-Albanian version of the Constitution, but also the clan, script or gang that has undertaken it.

Berisha in Madrid with European allies. Meetings with Fischer, Kosiga, Butilione, Kazini, Shtajner, Burton, Fraga, Moris, Hejz, Janaku Over the last five years, up until before 1990, there were only four killings following political trials, whereas during the 16 months of the governing coalition there have been 14 political killings without trial, dozens of other terrorist acts, 12 injuries, and dozens of political prisoners Yesterday in Madrid, the Governing Council began its proceedings. Their electoral. Mr. Berisha’s speech was followed with great interest; the participants praised

PD responds to the invitation from the co-chairs of the Constitutional Commission Bode, Beja and Kosovrasti denounce the exclusion of the opposition from the referendum process. Those in power are manipulating the process ON PAGE 2 Bode, Beja and Kosovrasti denounce the exclusion of the opposition from the referendum process. Those in power are manipulating the process

Over the last five years, up until before 1990, there were only four killings following political trials, whereas during the 16 months of the governing coalition there have been 14 political killings without trial, dozens of other terrorist acts, 12 injuries, and dozens of political prisoners Yesterday in Madrid, the Governing Council of the European Christian Democratic Union and the 12th Congress of the Christian Democrat International of Europe began their proceedings. At the Council’s plenary session, an issue concerning Albania was added outside the agenda. At this session, the chairman of the Democratic Party, Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha, spoke; he is attending as a guest together with the Democratic Party’s International Secretary, Dr. Leonard Demi. In his speech, Mr. Berisha stressed that the Albanian opposition is at risk of falling into a neodictatorship, which is not based on a military or police apparatus, but entirely on the government’s gangs, through which the authorities control the drug and arms trade, smuggling, prostitution trafficking, and the trafficking of undocumented migrants. Berisha pointed out that in 1986 Albania was undoubtedly the harshest dictatorship in Europe, but it must be acknowledged that injuries, and dozens of political prisoners. Special prosecutors’ offices and the old state security service have returned in Albania, and September 14 gave the clearest moral proof of the government’s conduct: after firing on a funeral, they fled within half an hour, while it was the democrats who defended the institutions, and now they are the ones being imprisoned on the absurd accusation of attempting a coup d’état. What is happening in Albania today is the consolidation, through a constitution, of the totalitarian regime of the gangs, which has presented a plan for inequality among Albanians before the law and for the destruction of their faith, nationality, property, and electoral institution. considered the Democratic Party’s stance heroic, expressed deep indignation at the government’s deeds, and voiced their full support for the Democratic Party’s positions. During their stay in Madrid at the Congress Centre, Berisha and Demi held various highly important meetings with the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Leni Fischer. At these meetings, Berisha briefed Fischer on the extremely conflictual situation in Albania and on the violations of the referendum law, including the removal of the quorum, as well as the removal of accountability for the accusation and the expenditure of citizens. He informed her of the Democratic Party’s reservations about articles that conflict with the European Convention on Human Rights, the government’s support for gangs, the complete absence of public order in Albania, and the failure and paralysis of the rule of law in Albania. Ms. Fischer showed great interest in Mr. Berisha’s analysis, spoke highly of it, and undertook to conduct a very thorough examination of the situation in Albania. Mr. Berisha also held separate meetings with former Italian President Francesko Kosiga; the Secretary-General of the Democratic Union for the Republic, Roko Butilione; the Secretary-General of the Italian Christian Democratic Party, Pier Ferdinando Kazini; a representative of Forza Italia; representatives of the Austrian People’s Party, Shtajner; Irish Prime Minister Xhon Burton; the International Secretary of the Spanish People’s Party, Fraga; the International Secretary of the French Democratic Force, F. Moris; the CDU Foreign Secretary, Hejz; the chairwoman of the New Democracy delegation from Greece, Marieta Janaku; and others. These meetings discussed in detail the terrorist activity against the opposition, and its repression, killings, and imprisonment by the government. They also discussed changes to the referendum law and the exclusion of the majority from decision-making. The articles that discriminate against Albanians before the law and the articles restricting property declare Albania a country there and appropriate the institution of elections. All those with whom they spoke considered these articles and amendments undemocratic and unacceptable in a free society. They expressed great appreciation for the PD, its stance, and the difficulties it faces. They assured the PD chairman of their full support for the Democratic Party and its positions, and said that this support would continue to grow. It was agreed with representatives of sister political forces that delegations, information, etc. would be exchanged. The meetings were very fruitful. Photograph of Sali Berisha at a meeting

Today, 62 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 manipulation by Fatos Nano’s government and its irresponsibility in the crime that befell the entire Albanian world. The government of the former communists stands alongside the unshot criminals who took the life of the December Leader, showing Albanians that they have been and remain on the side of the murderers, who have names but are not touched by those in power. Democrats and all Albanians who loved and honored Azem Hajdari cannot tolerate this fact under any circumstances. The government must either capture the criminals and bring them to justice, or publicly declare that it itself committed the murder of Azem Hajdari. Portrait of Azem Hajdari

The OSCE ambassador in Shkodër. Meeting with anti-communist associations, local authorities, and the PD branch Prefect Laçaj: I thank the leaders of PD Shkodër and the Anti-Communist associations, who played a decisive preventive role in ensuring that the situation did not deteriorate

The emigrants: The government insults us, our families, our work, and our blood by excluding us from the voter lists ON PAGE 7

The PD National Council will meet soon to make the appropriate decisions in response to the government’s attempts to delegitimize the voting process Bode, Beja and Kosorvasti denounce the exclusion of the opposition from the referendum process. Those in power are manipulating the process ON PAGE 2

PD Deputy Chairman Genc Pollo and other PD leaders denounce the governing coalition’s anti-national draft constitution Democratic Party leaders held various activities yesterday and met with voters in several districts of the country. PD Deputy Chairman Genc Pollo was in the municipalities of Durrës, Vili Minarolli in the municipalities of Elbasan, and Albina Karamitro in the municipalities of Peqin and Kavajë ON PAGE 2

Protest procession by the political group “Dhjetori ’90” One of the leaders of the December Movement, Gjana, has warned that the group will continue to intensify its protest ON PAGE 7 Photograph of protest participants

The Electoral Headquarters of the PDSH is organizing a very important meeting on Monday, 16.11.1998, at 11:00, at the PD Headquarters, for: 1. The chairpersons of the PD branches in the districts. 2. The deputy chairpersons and members of the PD on the District Commissions. 3. Municipal Commissions. The meeting is being organized to determine the final measures for the proper conduct of the referendum process.