Trade unionists at the Mjekës Military Factory resumed their strike indefinitely Another 500 Ferrokrom trade unionists are on a one-hour strike. Tobacco and cigarette workers who are union members in Librazhd also announced a strike yesterday. Another 500 Ferrokrom trade unionists are on a one-hour strike. Tobacco and cigarette workers who are union members in Librazhd also announced a strike yesterday ON PAGE 4

Rebellion amid fires and the looting of weapons

Working lunch between Berisha and U.S. government envoy Soderberg. Kosovo and the situation in Albania discussed U.S. government envoy Ambassador Nensi Soderberg, who is visiting Albania as part of a regional tour, invited yesterday the Chairman of the Democratic Party of Albania, Berisha, to a working lunch. During the lunch, which lasted around three hours and was also attended by the U.S. Ambassador in Tirana, Mariza Lino, they discussed the U.S. government’s growing interest in the latest developments in the Kosovo crisis, concrete options for international and U.S. involvement in this issue and effective forms of such involvement, problems concerning the dynamics and substance of the Albanian-Serbian dialogue and the positions of various political forces in Kosovo, and the importance of coordinating the efforts of those forces and states in the region that are interested in peace, stability and European integration. U.S. government envoy Nensi Soderberg and DP Chairman Sali Berisha dwelt at length on the current domestic situation in Albania, on concrete issues relating to the political landscape and political parties, the economic, financial and legal situation, and the Democratic Party’s options and recommendations. The interlocutors also discussed elections, transparency, the constitution, crime and organized smuggling, disarmament of the population, etc., as well as other issues of particular interest. The talks were frank and took place in a friendly atmosphere of warm understanding.

The Prime Minister is preparing the farce of his retrial Sanhaku has said that he will soon submit a request for the retrial of the Nano case, having received assurances that the law on changes to the Court of Cassation will be approved by Parliament ON PAGE 4

Human rights and the committees for their protection By Pjetër ARBNORI ON PAGE 2

Lecturer Kreshnik Çollaku elected Forum chairman The “Democratic Student Forum” was established. The founding meeting was also attended by DP Chairman Berisha and other leaders of the party ON PAGE 2

Thousands of citizens from Fier demonstrate against the government of misery and smuggling FIER — A magnificent rally of the Union for Democracy in Fier. Yesterday afternoon, more than five thousand citizens gathered in the city’s central square to demonstrate against poverty, economic misery, rising prices, unemployment, the flourishing of smuggling and crime, thieving government officials, and the government of Fatos Nano’s deceit. Also participating in the rally were Rridan Bode, Secretary General of the DP; Leonard Demi, Secretary for International Relations; December Movement leader Azem Hajdari; Democratic Party leaders; Gasper Mani, Chairwoman of the Democratic Women’s League, Antoneata Luli, etc. After opening remarks by the local leaders of the DP in Fier, DP Secretary General Rridan Bode addressed the gathering and said that protests against poverty, misery and smuggling, and against a government of crime and deceit, were taking place throughout the country. The senior DP leader said that this government, which promised high wages and increased pensions, promised to return people’s money and create jobs, and promised to establish law and order, had instead even stolen the deposits citizens still had, increased unemployment, and lowered wages and pensions, plunging Albanians into utter misery and economic catastrophe. Bode then discussed the causes of the crisis and stressed that it could be overcome only through new, free and general elections. Bode said the opposition supports the strikes and demands of trade unionists, teachers, civil servants, pensioners, health workers and all other union members, who are protesting the government’s deceptions and demanding that their requests be met. After him, Secretary for International Relations Leonard Demi addressed the rally, focusing on the major problem the Nano government had brought about through its position and policy, which is national in scope. Demi said that through its stance toward the opposition, constitutional laws and institutions, the political killing of opposition activists, and its censorship of justice, the Nano government had become a major international problem. He said the international community supports what Albanians themselves choose and called for ongoing protests to lead the country to the necessary new elections. December Movement leader Azem Hajdari, greeting the gathering, said in his speech that political and economic protests and strikes of all kinds were the best and most democratic way to remove the government, through the organized and anti-popular violence Albania had experienced. He called on citizens to unite and demonstrate in full solidarity until the government was overthrown and democratic values established. The December Movement leader said that throughout the country, from Saranda to Tropojë, Albanians were demanding every day the departure of the government of gangs and organized crime, the government of political misery, the government that kills its political opponents, and the government that had deceived Albanians and continued to deceive them. He assured the citizens of Fier that the DP and the Union for Democracy would be at the forefront of the protests and demonstrations to overthrow the government. Other leaders of the Union for Democracy who were attending the rally also addressed the gathering. Throughout the rally, anti-government chants against the Nano regime, cheers for the DP and Berisha, and calls for new elections did not stop for a single moment. “RD” correspondent

Major conflicts at the top of the financial sector. The story began in December 1997 Bundo denies receiving money from the “Silva” company. “The accusations come from the state’s independence [sic], which wants private insurance licenses. I know them and the companies where they have been put up.” ON PAGE 3

The “Union for Democracy” is completing preparations for its campaign. Most candidacies have been determined Fourteen parties, trade unions and political associations will support the opposition coalition in the local by-elections ON PAGE 3

In Durrës, the Education Director retaliates over the strike The Director of Education for the Durrës district, Lavdosh Beqiraj, threatened yesterday to dismiss two union chairmen from secondary schools. The reason was their involvement in the national teachers’ strike held three days ago. He pressured the unionists, telling them he would transfer them to Ishem or Manzë, at the far edges of the Durrës district. Beqiraj was recently appointed Director because of his Enverist devotion. He is a former Sigurimi agent and is known in the city as an extreme leftist.

The Buna Bridge is at risk of collapse under the weight of transport vehicles ON PAGE 7

103 days since the imprisonment of the former Interior Minister Ali Kazazi, former Interior Minister in the Government of National Reconciliation, continues to be held in prison on ridiculous charges. He was detained on 14 February 1998 in Ulenë, near Miloti, following a police ambush carried out on the day of December Movement leader Azem Hajdari, in an apparent attempt by the current state to incriminate the opposition. On 17 February, he was placed under indefinite arrest. Kazazi was arrested despite coming from a family with a well-known anti-communist tradition, and he is a member of the DP National Council.

War, rallies and visas against democracy SPECIAL FEATURE ON PAGE 5 Tomorrow in “RD” you will read: - Who burned down the DP offices? - Who called in the specialist soldiers by force, and why? - How and by whom were the Tepelena police station and courthouse burned? Where did the files from these institutions end up? - How was the movement of the population inside and outside the district carried out? - When the road gangs appeared, they began looting travelers and families.

Durrës: Scandal involving state reserves. Senior government officials in a corruption scheme ON PAGE 3 Trade unions file a complaint with the prosecutor’s office over the government officials’ theft