Zabit Brokaj ordered the killings

Shkodra declares the victims of Agur Tafa martyrs ON PAGE 4

Edi Paloka headed for trial

Ceka is demanding, at all costs, the imprisonment of the RD journalist ON PAGE 4

The big companies are reduced to crumbs

The government’s usury top brass convenes ON PAGE 5

Pashko, a coup against Fino

The infighting intensifies. Smuggling divides the “comrades-in-arms” The Prime Minister, who plays both sides, has found himself in a difficult position amid this fierce rivalry among government figures, but in the end has decided to side with Pashko in order to strike at Fino ON PAGE 3

The government under scrutiny

The OSCE welcomes the Democratic Party’s decision to return to Parliament We will continue to carefully monitor the steps the Albanian government is taking to implement the recommendations of the three-parliamentary mission concerning the judiciary, civil services, the media and parliamentary procedures The OSCE Presence in Albania considers the Democratic Party’s decision to return to Parliament a positive and necessary step toward a sustainable democratic process and di- DP in Parliament. procedures

The Bosnia syndrome must not be repeated

“Union for Democracy” praises the Contact Group’s statement: A very important political response The usefulness of the International Community intervening “with determination and effectiveness” in resolving the crisis in Kosovo could have consequences many times more catastrophic than in Bosnia ON PAGE 3

Albania may ask NATO for military intervention

Teta imitates the opposition The left-wing coalition government yesterday joined the opposition’s assessments regarding the measures that the international community should take to stop Serbian violence in Kosovo and prevent the conflict from spreading to the Balkan region. When a foreign journalist asked whether the government would call for NATO troops to be deployed in Albania or Kosovo, the Secretary of State for Defense, Perikli Teta, replied: “Why not? Depending on how the issue is discussed, we may request the deployment of troops here or in Kosovo as well.” In all its contacts with the international community, the opposition has made clear that a decisive military intervention against Serbia could persuade Millosheviç to abandon the platform for creating a Greater Serbia.

The OSCE and the DP

... and the tripartite parliamentary mission concerning the judiciary, civil services, the media, and parliamentary procedures ... and the tripartite parliamentary toward a sustainable democratic process and political dialogue in Albania. In particular, we welcome the statement by the DP National Council, which says that the Democratic Party “is committed to using all democratic means to achieve its objectives,” a statement from the OSCE office in Tirana says. This action had long been called for by the international community, following the appeal by the tripartite parliamentary mission in January 1998 for the DP to return to Parliament. We will continue to carefully monitor the steps being taken by the Albanian government to implement the recommendations of the tripartite parliamentary procedures. The OSCE and its international partners have begun systematically monitoring parliamentary practice, as requested in the January 23 statement. We appreciate the importance of responsible conduct by all parties active in Parliament and hope that the legislature will continue its work and contribute to Albania’s political stability and development.

Teta imitates the opposition

Albania may ask NATO for military intervention the measures that should be taken to abandon the platform for creating a Greater Serbia.

Most of those killed were children, women, and elderly people

Horrifying images of the Serbian massacre in Drenicë ON PAGE 2

10,000 trade unionists heading for a strike

Wage indexation in line with inflation is being demanded ELBASAN — The independent trade unions are on the verge of an indefinite strike. This was confirmed today to “RD” by the president of the independent trade unions in Elbasan, Mr. Ismail Joll-Dashi. “In a petition we submitted to the Nano government,” he explains, “we are asking it to index current wages to prices. The 20 percent wage increase,” he adds, “is paltry and does not provide even the minimum means of subsistence for workers.” According to him, the independent trade unions have 10,000 members and operate in sensitive industrial sectors, where workers cannot support their families on the wages they receive. In a way, members of the confederation also agree with this union’s protest, as they are fully in agreement on the aforementioned point. “We are waiting for a full response from the central government,” adds the head of the independent union, JollDashi, “otherwise they will force us to protest within the democratic laws on strikes recognized by Albanian legislation.” Fatmir TERZIU

Last night, three killed in the city

Elbasan bloodied again Renato Hysen Agolli, 24, Julian Niazi Myrtezai, 24, and Mikel Genci Bitoci, 23, were shot dead last night in Elbasan. The incident took place at around 8 p.m. in the northern part of the city, at the point where three neighborhoods of Elbasan meet. This is the preliminary confirmation from the scene, provided by chance eyewitnesses who were unable to identify and explain the reasons for the killings, but clarified that the victims had been called by the surnames by which they were known. According to the source in question, several automatic-rifle magazines were emptied at the victims by unknown individuals in the darkness. Meanwhile, no one at the scene provided any explanations. Even after the killing, the police were unable to obtain any full official confirmation. According to an unofficial confirmation, last night’s victims were the result of a settling of scores between rivals. In any case, Elbasan remains under the widespread shadow of insecurity among its citizens about their lives, due to such frequent incidents. Last night’s events and the three victims have further heightened this insecurity among the city’s residents. E.D.

Lino accompanied on a visit to Albanian justice officials

Meeting between the President of the Court of Cassation and the U.S. Ambassador The President of the Court of Cassation, Avni Shehu, met yesterday, at her request, with the Ambassador of the United States of America in Tirana, Ms. Mariza Lino. During the meeting, the Ambassador of the United States of America asked about concerns facing the judiciary in Albania. They exchanged views on further consolidating the independence of the judicial branch in Albania.

Serbian massacres to be tried in The Hague

UN war crimes tribunal begins investigation into Kosovo The UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague is beginning an investigation into the forty-hour Serbian attack on ethnic Albanian villages in Kosovo. In announcing on Tuesday the decision to launch the investigation, Chief Prosecutor Louise Arbour said she expected full cooperation from the Yugoslav authorities. The tribunal is expected to gather and document evidence of the recent violence in Kosovo and will closely follow further developments there, Ms. Arbour said.

Rugova calls for greater pressure on Milošević

The President of Kosovo received Ambassador Gelbard ON PAGE 2

Nikë Vuksani, victim of police violence and terror

The political police arrest and torture innocent citizens ON PAGE 4

“Nano must keep his promise”

Albina Karamitro and Ridvan Bode visit the hunger strikers “ Nano must keep his promise” “Interruptions in the heartbeat could occur at any moment,” says cardiologist Osman Hodo ON PAGE 5

“They will regret having worked for the companies”

The government will soon introduce a law for company workers: Company employees go from co-administrators to suspects under investigation

Every visible word in the accompanying photograph

On the photograph’s page: the person shown is not identified by the visible text.