A grand rally in the city of stone. The people of Gjirokastër against the Nanocrats Strong cheers for Bode, Hajdari and Buka. A technical government and new elections are demanded. The atmosphere of Gjirokastër extends to Lazarat as well The strikers defeat the government The government, which has managed to proclaim even its own defeat as a victory, to the extent that only a week later Prime Minister Nano calls the situation in agriculture “catastrophic,” is the same government that on the very same day declares that the situation created by the confinement of villagers because of the pyramid schemes is nothing unusual and that agricultural product prices are falling “as a result of market saturation.” This propaganda, aimed at convincing Albanians that things are “moving in the right direction,” despite no longer having the force of yesterday’s demagoguery, is still continuing. This persistence of the same mental state, at a time when its irresponsibility is making the situation in the country increasingly alarming, is proof that the Socialists do not draw lessons even from cases where their defeat is obvious. The OSCE has stated its view that the Nano government should step down. Equally important is that Albanian public opinion is increasingly understanding that the government in power is not only failing, but has become a danger to the country’s fate. This prevailing spirit of political events, which is making Albanians today more determined to remove from government those responsible for the disaster of the pyramid schemes, is also helping to dispel the fear of protesting against it. The Socialists’ chances of prolonging the survival of their power for a while longer have also been reduced by other factors, but the main one is the awakening of the country’s democratic spirit. As a result of this, it is now much easier for the losers of the May elections to be recognized as such and to leave the government. All signs point to this. Thus the protest by the women of Lushnjë and the farmers of Vlora against their Socialist government, which they voted for a few months ago, is taking place because it is unable to resolve even the serious food crises. The strike by university lecturers in Tirana, as well as the protests by teachers and students in many cities and areas of the country, are showing that the politicization of institutions of knowledge is increasing citizens’ dissatisfaction with government policy. Above all, it is being confirmed that, despite the government’s failed attempts to destroy the opposition, a real opposition has been created in Albania. This opposition is taking on the dimensions of a peaceful popular anti-communist and anti-criminal movement, which, if it continues at today’s pace, will very soon bring an end to the Nano government. The way Gjirokastër welcomed Mr. Bode and Mr. Hajdari in its center is proof of the new political climate in the country and a sign that southern Albania is leaving behind the fear imposed through weapons and is now seeing itself, in its political imagination as well, as part of a free democratic Albania. Amid cries of “Down with the Nano government,” “Nano, go,” “Hajdari, Hajdari,” “Bode, Bode,” “Down with anarchy,” the chairman of the PD parliamentary group, Mr. Ridvan Bode, MP Azem Hajdari, and the political leader of the Gjirokastër district, Sulejman [B]uka[?], were welcomed in Gjirokastër. On the rally podium, in addition to Professor Edmond Isufi and the chairman of the PD section of the city, Riza Tare, the following spoke on behalf of Gjirokastër women: mother [N]azmiye Golemi, the representative of the [i]ntellectuals [A]gim Llapashtica, on behalf of the village, the Albanian from Lazarat Bledar [T]rëndafili, student Elona [M]ataj, and the student of the [F]aculty of [J]urisprudence, Redion [S]hme. A greeting speech was also delivered by the PD veteran [D]erhemi [M]ullai, who said that Gjirokastër was and remained a symbol of democratic resistance. Criticizing today’s Socialist government, he said that “just like in 1944, when the Communists destroyed Albania, now the neo-Communists are destroying the homeland.” The chairman of the democratic parliamentary group, Ridvan Bode, greeting this grand gathering, thanked the people of Gjirokastër for the trust and support they have given the Democratic Party. “This trust and support brought the PD to victory in 1996. Today you have understood whom you voted for and what regime is coming back. Socialism today means poverty and misery.” He also spoke about the grave economic situation in the country, saying that if during the years ’92-’96 the annual income of each Albanian family increased on average by 68 percent, this year it suffered its first decline. “The Nano government promised us that we would eat with golden spoons, but today it has pushed approximately 350,000 Albanians below the poverty line, that is, under 2 dollars a day. Easing destitution and poverty was at the center of our policy and we fulfilled that promise. Yet today the number of the poor is not 350,000 but 1,250,000. You must bear all this in mind on Sunday when voting in the referendum against their constitution. Otherwise we will all be equally dead politically and humanly…” Addressing the people of Gjirokastër on behalf of the democratic student youth, the student of Jurisprudence Redion Shme also spoke, inviting them to break away from the mentality of narrow social groups and to vote for themselves, not for others. Last night’s rally of the Democratic Party created an enthusiastic and highly positive atmosphere in Gjirokastër. This was also shown by the sun, whose rays grew stronger and did not fade under hundreds of applause bursts and ovations, the universality of which shows that the people of Gjirokastër can no longer endure this government of primitives. Last night in Gjirokastër is being carried over to the village of Lazarat, where this afternoon a large gathering against the government is expected to show once again. At the center will be the problems of the farmers trapped as a result of the collapse of the pyramid schemes.

[?] According to international laws and rules Smuggling makes money before ’92 ON PAGE 2

While Albanian justice has done so much, sources from European organizations show that the Albanian mafia has extended its tentacles all the way to the Nano government The money from the Nano government’s smuggling in Europe’s banks While Albanian justice has managed to understand it in time, sources from European organizations show that the Albanian mafia has extended its tentacles all the way to the Nano government ON PAGE 5

In the early hours of the morning, military forces fired weapons against a group of civilians armed with automatic rifles who were trying to enter the unit to steal weapons. It is understood that the government is treating the event more as an invented attack and not as a real act. ON PAGE 3

The murderers of the murdered?! The Investigative Commission was needed for the truth [something else?] ON PAGE 2

The murderers of the late Ibrahim Rugova should be investigated by humanity ON PAGE 3

Immediately after the editorial and continuing our struggle against the OSCE and the anti-democratic, pro-communist government, the staff of the free newspaper “Koha Jonë” became part of a new debate with writings that sought to declare us defeated and confused. Its publishers have found a new means of silencing us: slander and the construction of another political reality. But their aim is not to defend the values of the free press, much less democracy; it is only to defend a government that has lost the trust of citizens. In this sense, the attacks against “Koha Jonë” are not only against us, but against every free word in Albania.

OSCE in defense of the rule of law Evers: Judges’ concerns, included in the response Spanish delegates among the OSCE and striking communist citizens. News: Last hour News: Last hour In danger of presidential dimensions [?] Sources from the diplomatic district assert that dozens of places and rooms are being reserved at the “Sheraton” hotel for the Spanish delegation expected to arrive in our country today to state their sure assistance regarding the issue of the judges’ strike. It is not excluded that this visit may also be linked to the referendum expected to take place tomorrow in our city. ON PAGE 4

Tomorrow, a major rally of the Union for Democracy and other right-wing parties 7th year of publication No. 122 (1844) Saturday 31 January 1998 Price: 20 lek 1000 lire 250 dr[h]m “RD” comes to life on 5 January 1991. Those were the days of Skanderbeg Square, a square swept by peaceful popular crowds through which free people won free elections. For this square, the time of “RD” is as old as political pluralism, to the point that it will manage to survive while first and foremost reflecting the truth of democracy. From today “RD” is new. In view of the difficult road it has traveled, and in line with the pace of Albanian democracy’s progress, it has changed its style and the way it expresses itself, together with its entire world. It is an “RD” that is 7 years old, yet shows no wrinkle of any kind. The years of its life are proof of maturity. The ability to survive shows not only its strength, but also the strength of the ideal that has kept it alive. The moral and professional values of “RD”, earned over these difficult years, are now discernible to everyone. For this reason, readers of “RD” and all Albanians are invited to send the newspaper their opinions about its qualities and its name, together with suggestions for further deepening and improving them. All your remarks and suggestions will be published in the new “RD”. NATIONAL LIBRARY TIRANA

The judiciary’s first challenge to political power The first victory has truly been achieved through the mobilization of lawyers and the judiciary. The conflict not only ended with concessions that went beyond that line, but also created an irreversible precedent in the face of grave injustice. The Constitutional Court, which appears once again to be the main component of this transformation, is winning its comeback. This process can wait, it has managed to establish a balance between the authority of the judiciary and the need to protect this authority from abuses by politics. Anyone who tries to approach and impose one-sided solutions on the judiciary will be faced with a corps of judges who know how to defend their rights and dignity. ON PAGE 4