Explosions and terror return to the southern city. Local власти hit Explosions and terror return to the southern city. Local authority hit Bomb at the Municipality of Gjirokastra

Powerful explosions in the center of Ksamil. The fate of the smugglers is unknown Two speedboats carrying narcotics have headed toward the shores of Corfu and came under a hail of gunfire from a Greek minesweeper Powerful explosions in the center of Ksamil. The fate of the smugglers is unknown Skiff war on the high seas Two speedboats carrying narcotics have headed toward the shores of Corfu and came under a hail of gunfire from a Greek minesweeper ON PAGE 4

Bon. The Political Committee of the Council of Europe meets: Albania, the main topic Black biography for the Nano government 3. Political murders in Tropoja and the Patos massacre are denounced. The left coalition government has violated the independence of the courts. Fulfilment of the demands of the striking jurists is requested. No socialist deputy supports the Nano government. Namik Dokle is at a loss for words; he did not have the courage to defend his boss Bon. The Political Committee of the Council of Europe meets: Albania, the main topic PD, not in parliament as an alibi for power Black biography for the Nano government 3. Political murders in Tropoja and the Patos massacre are denounced. The left coalition government has violated the independence of the courts. Fulfilment of the requests of the striking jurists is requested. No socialist deputy supports the Nano government. Namik Dokle is at a loss for words, he did not have the courage to defend his boss ON PAGE 3 Council of Europe rapporteur for Albania, Van Der Linden Council of Europe rapporteur for Albania, Van Der Linden

Detente between crime and government The three explosions in the city of Gjirokastra once again worsened the security situation in the southern city of the country. At the same time they demonstrated the failure of this government to solve the country’s most serious problem, restoring peace. The bombs were placed in the municipality headquarters of the city as well as in two other places, destroying a large part of the local government building and, together with it, several party offices that shared the municipality’s premises. In just the first days of this year, more than 50 people have been killed, while state crime reached its peak with the killing of the three founders of the PD in Tropoja and the murder of a citizen by the police in Patos. It has been more than six months since the socialists have governed the country, and during this entire period public order in Albania has not improved at all. Contrary to the people’s patience and the opposition’s calls for moderation and dedication to restoring order, the government side of politics has established order only for itself. So far no socialist has been killed, and equally no government official has been endangered. The same phenomenon has also occurred with all those gangs politically linked to the PS during the electoral campaign and which had the political elimination of this party and its satellites for terror and crimes during the months of rebellion. As if political support for the incoming government were not enough, it also organized and carried out the largest smuggling campaign. After five months’ preparation, not a single pack of cigarettes has been spared, and neither have alcoholic drinks and coffee, three of the most consumed products in the country, thereby realizing a turnover of around 200 million dollars at the expense of Albanians. The example set by the government in the fight against crime became a very black incentive for ordinary crime, which after a noticeable decline in the month of August again brought out heavy weapons throughout a vague neighborhood. This too is due solely to the current Albanian government, which with its govern- mental partners has institutionalized crime and spread it even into the layers of ordinary crime and beyond. Meanwhile, while the representatives of the communist rebellion arrived in the street and police, the police found itself betrayed at the post. In addition, the Minister of the Interior has words for designated government officials that speedboats for uniforms of the Čeka have gone by way of Kacavasta. Crime in these cases has found itself among the high-ranking Albanian officials. The government’s policy for restoring order was wrong from the outset. The action to close down weapons failed because it did not take into account the fact that weapons in people’s hands are not for committing crimes but for defending against crime. Criminals in Albania have always had weapons. As long as they are not caught by the police, regardless of the fact that the criminal’s weapon and the weapon in the citizen’s hands for self-defense, this is certainly a failure; and even more so should be the cases when support for weapons was declared political by the Minister of the Interior. This same minister continues to see order as if maintaining order were a Bolshevik war against the opposition, intentionally belittling the progression of the fight against crime from criminals to the opposition and its leaders. In January of this year there was a clear strategy for restoring order by several sectors of the Ministry of the Interior, and when every eye does not happen, crime is always the freedom of the officials. PD’s calls for free elections can never be a source of destabilization in the country, as is being slandered. But perhaps the government’s guilt in the PS, or the feeling of being involved in this desire to steal as much as possible, these party crime actors and the government which has caused damage between crime and government, is harmful; all the parts of life that are not under control and the punitive band of murder as a consequence of this détente have the duty to break it. Sami NEZA

The life of the jurists is in danger The Chairman of the Democratic Party visits the jurists on hunger strike

Berisha: I refused Meidani’s invitation because of the serious health condition of the strikers and the latter’s direct responsibility for the situation The Chairman of the Democratic Party visits the jurists on hunger strike “The opposition is with you” Berisha: I refused Meidani’s invitation because of the serious health condition of the strikers and the direct responsibility of the latter for the situation ON PAGE 2

The European Democratic Union supports PD

Message from the Chairman of the PD Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha, addressed to the police forces on the 85th anniversary of their creation Message from the Chairman of the PD Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha, addressed to the police forces on the 85th anniversary of their creation PD supports the police On the occasion of the 85th anniversary of the creation of the Albanian Police, the Democratic Party extends to you, the police officers of the Law Enforcement Forces, and to your families its best wishes. Today, Albanians with reverence look back on the persecution and sublime sacrifices of dozens and hundreds of law-enforcement officers who sacrificed and gave their lives in defense of brotherhood, property and the lives of citizens, as well as the regular maintenance of order in Albania. You celebrate this 85th anniversary at a time when criminal groups have turned their weapons against you, at a time when the Albanian government is the main organizer of massive smuggling in the country and in the region. All this makes your work harder and threatens it. The Democratic Party assures you of its full support in your noble efforts to restore order. It considers that the source of crime, organized crime and the high level of criminality that have covered the country is not in the lack of professionalism or commitment on your part, but in the backward policies of today’s rulers, in their cooperation with the gangs and the committees. Once again the Democratic Party wishes you: Happy anniversary of the creation of the Albanian Police!

PDSH denounces the placing of explosives in Gjirokastër PD denounces the placing of explosives in Gjirokastër Ceka’s statements, support for terrorism PDSH strongly condemns the placement of explosives in the Municipality of Gjirokastra as a result of which important areas of this municipality were destroyed, the offices of the PS headquarters as well as other premises. PDSH condemns the placement of other explosives in the district of Gjirokastra which were intended to destroy the atmosphere of leniency and discussion for the residents of this district and considers these acts a direct continuation of the activity of the committees and of the bands of today’s power that seek to keep the south under terror and hostage to their anti-Albanian policy. PDSH also denounces the strategy of violence and tension pursued by the PS and the coalition government of the left as a whole, which through attacks on the opposition, PDSH, not only are they ignored and further shattered, but also through response to the ongoing criminal activity of the gangs with which the left coalition is in power. The general declaration is underlined by Berisha on state RTV PDSH considers these as direct support for terrorism and encouragement of criminals and as sending bands and their thugs. PDSH distances itself from all these acts of terrorism and expresses support for the law-enforcement forces, denouncing the government and the vote as the main cause of the destabilization of Gjirokastra. With these acts they have sought to turn the city of honest people into one of disorder through the appeasement and negotiations between smuggling clans in government. For these reasons the honorable one asks that the two bodies of control inspect the situation and the police restore control in this district of Albania. PDSH expresses full solidarity with the citizens of Gjirokastra, the municipality and requests from the government the unblocking of funds for putting the municipality in working conditions and in the service of its citizens.

Statement of the parliamentary group of the Democratic Party Statement of the parliamentary group of the Democratic Party Technical government is the only solution for order The Parliamentary Group of the Democratic Party firmly distances itself from every act of violence, crime and terror that seeks to destabilize the country. It is concerned about the intensification of these events and denounces the authorship of the criminal acts displayed from Gjirokastra all the way to Tropoja. Neither politics nor the demagoguery of the governing leftist coalition are suitable instruments for bringing the situation under control. On the contrary, the coalition’s platform in the fight against crime, the contrived diversity within this coalition in the fight against the mafia, trite slogans and the revenge calls of the Minister of Order, as well as the latest statement of the socialist parliamentary group, primarily aim to cover up the real traces of crime, its organizers and to pass the blame and the consequences to the Democratic Party. Before replying, the Parliamentary Group of the Democratic Party, and likewise before sending again and as much as the differences of the forces of the Democratic Party and its parliamentary group, must present before the Albanians the responsibilities that have turned the Albanian parliament into an instrument of attacks on institutions, of blatant government violations of constitutional provisions and a series of other laws, into an arena for the killing of opposition parliamentarians and not, as in Albania, into an executive and minimal body, which is not the headquarters of crime, smuggling, regional trafficking and anti-Albanianism. The unfounded accusations, the nervousness of the government officials and of the parliamentary majority sprung from the barrels of Kalashnikovs, the vertical criminalization of state structures in terror and smuggling, show that the crisis of governance of the left coalition has reached its peak and this coalition has lost every possibility of continuing its mandate. The solutions are not demagogic declarations, but a political round table, with the urgent task of transferring the executive into the hands of a Technical Government, as the only possibility for restoring order under control, for bringing back public calm, as well as control over smuggling traffic. The Democratic Party is ready to give all its support. The solutions are not demagogic declarations, but a political round table, with the urgent task of transferring the executive into the hands of a Technical Government, as the only possibility for restoring order under control, for bringing back public calm, as well as control over smuggling traffic

NATIONAL LIBRARY TIRANA NOTICE On Thursday, 15.1.1998, at 11:00 a.m., the National Council of the Democratic Party will meet. The Council will discuss “The positions and alternatives of the PD in relation to the deepening and serious worsening of the comprehensive crisis in Albania.” Members of the PD Parliamentary Group are also invited to attend the meeting.