“Union for Democracy” calls on the government to engage in dialogue and accept the demands of Shkodra’s representatives The criminal clique in power had targeted Shkodra so that, after striking there, it would have a free hand to use violence in the country’s other cities too, Berisha said ON PAGE 3

Prefect Podgorica resigns. After dialogue, the prefecture is unblocked. Ceka insists on keeping tension high in the city. The citizens themselves, supported by the political forces, establish relative calm. The state betrays the people of Shkodra. The third policeman is stopped. A major wave of arrests is expected ON PAGES 2–3 Tension again in the anti-Communist city. The government is not giving up violence Shkodra and all of Albania once again became, in recent days, proof of the Clique’s intolerance, its demagoguery, and its efforts to destabilize the country. At the same time, however, people had the opportunity to see the opposition’s democratic forces make titanic efforts to avert the bloody bloodshed in the offices of the Communist rulers. For about two days in Shkodra, Democratic Party MPs, its local leaders, and other leaders of the democratic political forces and religious communities of Shkodra managed to avert the catastrophe that the Albanian Communists had prepared for the city in order to take revenge on it. Meanwhile, Union for Democracy, by informing people about all developments in the city and making constant appeals for composure, calm, and a resolution through dialogue of the conflict provoked by the Government, managed to thwart the massacre scenario of the criminals in power. The citizens of Shkodra, too, with their strong sense of responsibility, which is characteristic of them, and with their calm and composure, showed that they were able to keep the city clear of the ongoing provocations by the installed government officials and their tools, such as Mithat Havari, who was used as ben-[?] gasoline to provoke the conflict. The situation in Shkodra nevertheless remains tense because of the Government’s obstinacy in refusing to engage in dialogue and resolve the conflict it provoked by peaceful means. The Minister of State, Kastrot Islami, and the Minister of the Interior, together with irresponsible MPs armed with Kalashnikovs, sought to penalize the opposition by accusing it of causing the situation that they themselves had provoked. They even declared that the law must be enforced, although the law has been violated by Mithat Havari through his insulting, threatening, and inflammatory comments toward the citizens of Shkodra; by the Minister of the Interior, who calls all those opposing the Clique criminals; and by the Government, which terrorizes the opposition and citizens with the violence it inflicts on them every day. These people should stand trial and answer for their actions and statements, not the citizens and the opposition, who have so far averted catastrophe and bloodshed. The relative calm in Shkodra, resulting from the Clique leaders’ unclear statements about calling for dialogue in response to the situation, constitutes a basis for the city’s stability. If the Government does not abandon its efforts to fully implement its destabilizing scenario, then the situation is unlikely to improve. But, at most, it can be said that the responsibility in every case lies with the Government, because the citizens of Shkodra, the religious communities, the local authorities, the local political forces, and the democratic opposition will expose the destabilizing scenarios that exist in the minds of Albanian government officials, who have now put themselves in the service of primitive revenge. The case of Shkodra is part of the government’s strategy to destabilize the country, to keep generations in the darkness of the gangs operating there and police-type structures, and to sow fear and panic among Albanians. Gjinushi’s statements and the provocation in Shkodra, occurring in the same period, show that this government is determined to crush the internal rebellion to the end using the same old measure of gangs and committees, which it has now converted into a Government with police. State Security and violence against the opposition and citizens. But the opposition’s peaceful efforts on the streets and at protests, its support, and their calm in opposing this dictatorial regime are a good sign that the Clique’s rule is beginning to give way to free, fair, and democratic elections.

Shkodra and all of Albania once again became, in recent days, proof of the Clique’s intolerance, its demagoguery, and its efforts to destabilize the country.

Socialist jurist Abdiu has even condemned people to hanging for the sake of free expression Socialist MP and Chairman of the Law Commission, Fehmi Abdiu, calls for the closure of private media Socialist Party MP and Chairman of the Law Commission, Fehmi Abdiu, has called for the parliamentary platform to be shut down ... as soon as possible. Earlier, the Minister of the Interior attacked the opposition press in various units ...

Socialist jurist Abdiu has also sentenced people to death by hanging for the sake of free thought The Socialist Party MP and chair of the Law Commission, Fehmi Abdiu, last night called from the parliamentary podium for private radio and TV stations in Albania to be shut down. During a debate in Parliament concerning the events in Shkodër, MP Abdiu persistently attacked the independent Albanian media. He accused it of inciting the unrest in Shkodër and took a notebook from his pocket containing several laws which, according to him, prohibited such activities. In recent days, private media have continuously reported on events in Shkodër, thereby countering the information and disinformation coming from the state media and the left-wing “independent” media. Abdiu’s own colleagues have also done everything they can to ensure that the information environment in Tirana is shaped as much as possible by state-media disinformation and information of the kind used in psychological warfare. The Socialist MP indirectly named the radio and TV stations that should be shut down as soon as possible. Three days ago, the Minister of the Interior attacked the opposition press for inciting unrest, while still having made no decision to remove the Shkodër police chief, even though people were fired upon from the courtyard of the Shkodër police station. The Albanian Socialists’ desire to silence the free press is among the many vices they inherited from the one-party regime. Political proceedings against independent media in Tirana and the surrounding area are expected to begin today. The journalistic community has regarded Socialist jurist Abdiu’s request as particularly brazen. This is because this important Socialist Party leader has also signed death sentences by hanging. The last time Abdiu signed an order to take the lives of opposition figures was in 1988, when he sentenced to death by hanging the poet and anti-communist from Kukës, Havzi Nela. The state’s attempt to shut down the private media is a warning of further destabilization in the country. S.N.

The state uses censorship against the media in Tirana The state blocked all of Radio “Kontakt”’s telephone lines throughout yesterday and the day before, because of its live broadcasts of events in Shkodër. This private radio station is the only private media outlet that has managed to cover these events through a team of journalists who reported directly from the scene throughout all the days of the state’s attack on Shkodër. The real information, gathered from all sides, was what irritated SHIK and the Ministry of the Interior. Through their surveillance and control system, they managed to block the station’s communications with citizens and its correspondents in Shkodër and other districts. They also took the same action against the newspaper “Rilindja Demokratike”, whose phone lines were shut down for long periods over the past three days. Last night, also called for private radio and TV stations to be shut down.

Strike by the persecuted throughout Albania ON PAGE 4 The Austrian People’s Party condemns the political killings of opposition figures ANNOUNCEMENT On Thursday, 22 January 1998, at 12:00, an expanded meeting of the Tirana branch of the Democratic Party will be held at the Women’s Cultural Centre, lëvje-Tiranë (Pallati i Pioneerëve), with the following agenda: - The general crisis affecting the country and the role of the DP in overcoming it. Section chairs, secretaries and members of section leaderships, as well as the leaderships of subsection groups, are invited to attend.

Last night, by order from above, the Albanian-language broadcasts of “Voice of America” were also interrupted. The 8:30 p.m. news bulletin was not heard by listeners tuning in to the station. As soon as the report on the situation in Shkodër began, the broadcast was cut off and did not resume. This did not happen to the BBC, which was able to freely broadcast its version of the situation in Shkodër and the response of the political establishment in Tirana. The same measures were also taken against Radio “Kontakt”, whose phone lines were cut, and against the newspaper “RD”. Meanwhile, senior PS officials have called for all private radio and TV stations to be shut down.

A magnificent start on the road to the European Championship finals Rraklli 14’, 62’, Bushi 64’, Ogun 72’, Halili 87’ A decisive victory for the Albanian national team. In Antalya, Turkey, our team played one of its finest matches last night, with goals by Rraklli in the 14th and 62nd minutes and Bushi taking the field in one of the best line-ups of recent years. The ten [players] showed extraordinary commitment and a very mature technical and tactical approach. The result is undoubtedly excellent, given the abilities and quality of the Turkish footballers, whose performances in European championships have been praised by experts. It was strikingly reminiscent of the 1980s, the golden years of Albanian football, when the national team under Rreli competed honorably for a place in the World Cup finals in Mexico. Considering the opening of the European Championship qualifiers and the experts’ assessment of our national team, this is a very good start for our players. The match in this friendly on the road to the European Championship finals The second half looked almost the same as the first, with good organization, especially in defence, and good circulation of the ball across all areas of the pitch. The Turkish players tried to organize themselves with their [unclear in source], which was quite similar in terms of execution. Then came the 62nd minute, and Rraklli scored again. It seemed that at last victory for us was inevitable, and Bushi made it certain by sealing the third goal two minutes later. It was all over, and not even Ogun, with his goal in the 72nd minute, could do anything, as Halili scored the final goal in the 87th minute and the crowd erupted in cheers. Edmond SHKALA

Photo: ARMANDO BABANI From yesterday’s gatherings in front of the Prefecture of Shkodër