Who set fire to Tepelenë and what stance the Democrats took In the next issue of “RD” you will read: - Who destroyed and looted the Mezhgoran hospital. - The speech against officer Gjergj Mehmeti heard by the Committee. - How much money in lekë, pensions, wages and assistance was looted during the rebellion. - The names of the politicians who were associated with the rebels. - The arrest of 15 military personnel, and why they spoke out against the state. SPECIAL FEATURE ON PAGE 5

The aviators met with Ceka, Teta and a Greek diplomat. How the destination of the escape suddenly changed Copies of the criminals’ travel lists are in the offices of the Socialist Party in Tirana ON PAGE 5 This photograph is one of the typical pieces of evidence in the black file on the rebellion. Former Prime Minister Bashkim Fino and Greek consul Kanellos, in the company of Tepelenë’s chief of the komitet, Gjolekë Malaj, who is holding a “Tomson” submachine gun.

Berisha: The government has contracted the debt of the Albanians “To think that the DP entered the south through power is the same as thinking that Gjinushi and Ruçi are members of the DP” ON PAGE 3 Willson saved Albania, Klinton is saving the Republic of Kosovo The DP welcomes the meeting

Willson saved Albania, Klinton is saving the Republic of Kosovo Gjinushi and Ruçi are members of the DP The DP welcomes the Rugova–Klinton meeting ON PAGE 3

By Bardhyl LONDO Two days ago the Albanian prime minister appeared in a tracksuit at a meeting with his formally dressed ministers, alongside the head of the OSCE, who was also wearing a tracksuit. Of course, the prime minister has the right to choose his suits and clothes according to the occasion, although his advisers might tell him that a tracksuit suits the elegant head of the OSCE, who is in charge of everyone, but not our prime minister. In any case, nobody intends to dwell on this. What made an impression (of course, not in front of those innocent cameras, nor before the thousands of people watching television) was the prime minister’s speech after this talk. While the advisers may find it difficult to convince the prime minister that to wear a tracksuit one should be at least 170 cm tall, they must make it absolutely clear to him that, after the president, he may speak only when necessary and always addressing him as “Mr. President,” because the president represents everyone, including the prime minister. The majority, watching the scene described above, was left somewhat uncomfortable, because the institution of the Presidency was insulted there. Many remembered the scene when the president was “excluded” in parliament and, as he was climbing the stairs, the prime minister began his pathetic speech, addressing the newly returned president, and continued to treat the president as a “translator,” as if to tell him that he, the prime minister, was first and would remain so. It would be pointless to discuss all this if these scenes were viewed simply as matters of etiquette. But the harm is that what is happening today shows that the institution of the Presidency—and the president himself—is being disregarded. The president’s own act of summoning to his side all those ministers whom the prime minister dismisses is, more than an act of opposition, a kind of cushioning that the president is trying to provide within the ruling party, to avert possible conflicts and the airing of dirty laundry, which would create a great deal of trouble for this party, especially now, on the eve of the partial local elections. The disregard for institutions, especially when it comes from the prime minister, is a clear sign of the violation of democracy. And on the very day the prime minister “challenged” the president, the most basic rights of thousands of teachers were brutally violated. Education inspectors, as they are called, rushed around the schools and denied teachers the most basic right an individual has in a democratic society: the right to strike. For now, the directors of the education departments can boast, perhaps even brag about the violence they are inflicting on teachers, but they should know that they have violated democracy and will answer for it tomorrow. Whoever dismissed those directors who understood that they were dealing with free people should know well that they have violated the rights of all Albanians. The person who should set an example of respect for institutions and human rights is undoubtedly the prime minister. One would expect him, for instance, to reinstate the dismissed directors and take action against all those education inspectors who acted like hammers. But the prime minister did not do this, nor can he, because he is the first to violate institutions and at every opportunity makes others understand that he is Albania’s number one. The point is not simply that he delivered his speech while standing over Meladi, because, to be fair, the president should be mentioned and is simple, while the other speaks and makes a noise. The issue is respect for institutions and the example that those at the head of these institutions should set, regardless of how they were elected. We would gladly sift through all the prime minister’s utterances, and when we need an interpreter to understand them (as was the case most of the time), as if we were truly seeing good work. But so far Albanians have heard only speeches and have seen no hope for their lives. We are approaching the year 2000; Albanians want deeds, not speeches, Mr. Prime Minister.

The rule of police violence mistreats citizens ON PAGE 2

The SP has a monopoly over all smuggling Iron smuggling from Greece into Albania has begun to flourish considerably. This is because powerful people with influence in the SP have entered the game ON PAGE 4

Minister Teta in a trail of deception Minister Teta did everything he could to keep the meeting and discussion topic with the “Special Unit” from becoming public ON PAGE 4

Expanded meeting of the Lushnje branch of the DP ON PAGE 2

DP: The Constitution should be an act of compromise The president should have honorary and appointing functions, and limited executive powers, Berisha said ON PAGE 3

Fatos Kongoli’s name alongside Kafka and Céline. Success for the Albanian writer in France ON PAGE 11

105 days since the imprisonment of the former Minister of the Interior The former Minister of the Interior in the Government of National Reconciliation, Ali Kazazi, continues to be held in prison on ridiculous charges. He was detained on 14 February 1998 at the Milot Bridge, following the police ambush set for the December Movement leader, Azem Hajdari, in what was an evident attempt by the current state to incriminate the opposition. On 17 February, he was placed under an open-ended detention order. Kazazi comes from a family with well-known anti-communist traditions and is a member of the DP National Council.