Chairman Berisha received Ambassador Shtudman, Director of ODIHR. Cooperation between ODIHR and the government is not political support for it, the ambassador says ON PAGE 3

According to experts, mixing cocaine with colored drinks causes extremely serious problems for drug users ON PAGE 3

Europe and the entire international community are openly expressing their concern about the situation in Albania. At a meeting yesterday, the Chairman of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, met with the director of ODIHR, Shtudman. The latter clearly expressed the skepticism of European institutions about the situation in Albania, and particularly about the country’s current government leaders. The head of ODIHR’s description of the left-wing leader who also heads the government was neither more nor less than a comparison of Nano with the dictator Millosheviç or with Lukashenko, former head of a coalition. Such a comparison is also, in itself, a clear signal that no one in Europe is satisfied with the Socialists’ leadership in Albania. The grave state of public order and security, with the number of incidents continuing to exceed that of other months, is the result of political measures. These have plunged Albania into a deep crisis that cannot be dealt with through institutional steps or blind commissions, but requires a strong political solution such as new elections. Just over a month ago, Malloi, a senior State Department official, said at the end of her visit to Albania that the rule of law was not functioning in the country. She presented damning facts about the government and a lengthy conversation with the prime minister did nothing to change her opinion of the country’s profound crisis. She pointed out the conflicts in the country, which were confirmed not many days after her departure from Albania by the killing of three DP members. While the Albanian Parliament in Tirana discusses the issue of public order for only 45 minutes, the number of people killed and the first deaths of January have already exceeded even the time spent warming the Parliament’s seats. Public order, under the direction of the irresponsible Minister Nertan Çeka, has taken on the appearance of his own party. The situation is desperate for the state and for citizens inside Tirana’s ring road. In the rest of the country, the Minister of the Interior has appointed gangs and masked men, accompanied by violence from police in uniform, identified and recruited from criminal circles during the communist rebellion. While the country suffers from a severe suffocation of security, the current government has created, through a series of violations, a situation in which the state itself breaks the law. The hunger strike by eight jurists is also a product of this violence against the law. Their demands concern the government’s serious legal violations, the state’s brutal interference with judicial independence, and systematic violations of constitutional laws. The Council of Europe has undertaken a mission to secure the adoption of a resolution by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe as soon as it convenes, in support of the Albanian jurists confined on hunger strike. The resolution calls on the Albanian government to refrain from interfering in the judicial system and to respect the standards for membership in the Council of Europe. Following the failed attack on the Constitutional Court, this is a grave precedent against the judicial system, carried out by the current state. In these circumstances, not only is there no question of aid, but it can be said that the country is close to being abandoned by the international community. It is difficult for Europeans and Americans to trust the revolutionary government of Fatos Nano, and when they do not trust this government, Albanians should have abandoned it.

A ship carrying 2,500–3,000 cases of smuggled cigarettes is seized The Ministry of the Interior takes action to release the cigarettes A ship carrying 2,500–3,000 cases of smuggled cigarettes is seized Minister Çeka is concerned about the cargo The Ministry of the Interior takes action to release the cigarettes DURRËS — Four Italian patrol boats intercepted a ship carrying 2,500–3,000 cases of smuggled cigarettes near Karavasta. The ship, named “Demon”, is expected to enter the port of Durrës at around 00:30, while port authorities have received numerous calls asking for its release. Reliable sources at the port of Durrës report that the Minister of the Interior’s driver called the port’s highest authorities and the Police Directorate at around 19:00 yesterday, asking them to make sure to contact Çeka. Initial information indicates that no ship carrying smuggled cigarettes has been seized in the port of Durrës, so Çeka’s concern can only be explained by the cigarettes intercepted by the Italian patrol boats. A.L

The prime minister orders the heads of Teleturpi ON PAGE 2

The DP convenes its Department of Economic Policies Under the leadership of the Chairman of the Democratic Party, Mr Sali Berisha, and Ms Albina Karamirato, the Department of Economic Policies met yesterday afternoon. Other experts from the country, banks, finance, investment, the budget, fiscal issues and privatization also took part. Berisha emphasized the main tasks of this department, which is responsible for the country’s economic reform and fiscal and monetary policies. First, it must prepare the DP’s governing program in all areas of reform. Accordingly, the department’s work through groups and subgroups covering every aspect of reform, the study and evaluation of the DP’s program, and the preparation of the relevant decisions and laws are urgent tasks for the department. Second, an important objective of the department is to establish connections with all local and foreign specialists who will be involved in implementing the reform. The DP’s Secretary General, Mr Ridvan Bode, emphasized the need to improve the legal framework deficiencies identified in the implementation of successful economic policies. Ms Albina Karamirato, recognizing the department’s real potential in its qualified experts, affirmed the department’s commitment to developing alternatives and the DP’s governing program, preparing projects and developing expert analysis.

The health of the striking jurists is deteriorating The health of the jurists confined on hunger strike has deteriorated on the eighth day of their strike. Last night, at around 20:30, Agim Ibraj, a judge at the Lezha Court, suffered serious complications and was rushed to hospital. The striking jurists’ health has worsened each day, putting citizens’ lives at risk. Meanwhile, the indifference of the installed government is seriously endangering the lives of the jurists, who have immunity. Through its silence, the government of this entrenched clan is allowing the police pressure exerted on the judges through the Directorate to continue, seemingly intent on placing their lives in danger. Last night Judge Ibraj ended up in hospital in very serious condition, transported by ambulance. It is suspected that Ibraj suffered internal bleeding because of the prolonged lack of food and nourishment.

The Pogradec and Korçë police exchange fire with each other ON PAGE 4

LIBRARY TIRANA ANNOUNCEMENT On Thursday, 15 January 1998, at 11:00, the National Council of the Democratic Party will meet. The Council will discuss “The DP’s positions and alternatives in response to the profound worsening of the overall crisis in Albania”. Members of the DP Parliamentary Group are also invited to attend the meeting.