Physical violence is inflicted on the cameraman and his camera is smashed ON PAGE 4

Special prosecutors have no evidence to investigate the political prisoners ON PAGE 4

Political prosecution threatens the Judiciary of the chairman of the Legalists ON PAGE 4

Parliamentary parties organize the second rally today under Berisha's motto, “One nation, one stance” ON PAGE 3 The Secretary for International Relations, Demi, and PD Presidium member Butka welcomed the initiative put forward by the Contact Group for Kosovo, considering it a step in the right direction toward putting an end to the massacres committed by the butcher of the Balkans, Millosheviç, against Kosovo's Albanian population

Hunger-striking students meet the Minister of Education. Ruka blames the rest of the government for missing the deadlines “I have issued the orders to implement your demands, but there have been delays at the other levels of government,” Minister Ruka told the students ON PAGE 2

Bufi, the bogeyman of Albanian industry Yesterday, a one-hour strike over unpaid wages ON PAGE 5

By Mehmet KRAJA For the third time during this century, the Albanian question has become the subject of an international conference. The first time in London, the second in Versailles, and the third time again in France, this time in Rambouillet, in a medieval château that has significance for the history of France, whereas most Albanians did not even know it existed. Some say this is a coincidence, that the latest developments in Kosovo and their significance in the Balkan region conditioned the interest of the international community and of the relevant decision-making actors in taking hurried action, without dwelling much on historical parallels and connotations. However, if today's world, driven by pragmatism, is not inclined to concern itself too much with historical memory, for us Albanians these developments have a meaning. 1. Historical mists It is now established in our history that, at decisive moments, others—not we ourselves—have determined our fate, and that others have made unjust decisions in our name. Put more bluntly, it has by now become firmly embedded in our minds that, unfortunately, at momentous times, such as the national conferences of this century, decisions were made at the Conference of Ambassadors in London and the Peace Conference in Versailles. Is the Conference on Kosovo in Rambouillet of equal significance, and will it bring one chapter of our nation's history to a close? Will it correct past mistakes and injustices, bringing our millennium to a close with a new perspective, or will it follow, with unfailing inertia, the well-worn path of fatalism and pessimism for the present and the future? It will not be enough simply for this conference to conclude in order to form a clear idea about these matters. As usually happens with events of this kind, years must pass before things are finally clarified. Yet the event, despite the great unknowns it carries with it, is far too important to leave us indifferent or not to bring us out into the squares and into all kinds of debate. Perhaps all that is happening is not history, but merely a mistaken projection of it. Perhaps “superstitions” seek to offer unfounded explanations for developments that have become straightforward. If historical mists still swirl in our minds, then the idea that history might repeat itself in that medieval château near Paris—naturally with new actors and circumstances—seems to impoverish us. The silence is striking: a very attentive silence, as Albanians and the whole world have been relieved by the quiet supporters, and by this mane of hair that easily creates the illusion that history is being repeated or corrected precisely now and in this place. Perhaps these are dilemmas, just as they were dilemmas for contemporaries in those circumstances. Nevertheless, it is striking that this conference on Kosovo is being held precisely in France, but with an Albanian co-chair and with the Albanian side in first place and the international side in second. In addition, on the eve of this conference, a message comes from faraway America, one that in some way defines the limits of the commitment, recalling President Wilson's earlier commitment to Albania. The guarantees are assured. For Majko, Albania's integrity is guaranteed. For us who live here and often do not understand what is happening to us, these words do not seem to carry much weight; perhaps we have no ears to hear what is happening and no eyes to see clearly enough. 2. Dualisms as an unfinished process Nevertheless, in these circumstances, the greatest dilemma remains Kosovo, a high point where all the parabolas of the crisis of the Albanian spirit converge. (Continued on page 3)

The Speaker of Parliament defends his seat in the face of a motion to remove him

Today at the auction center: New tender for borrowers’ assets Today at the auction center: New tender for borrowers’ assets Creditors heading for a hunger strike ON PAGE 5

Today, 146 days since the murder of the December Leader Every day that passes since the murder of Azem Hajdari, the symbol of democracy and pluralism, proves the involvement of Fatos Nano’s government and his successor in the crime that shook the entire Albanian world. The government officials and former communists, who openly and undisturbedly protect the criminals who took the life of the December Leader, show Albanians that they have been and remain members of the killers’ camp, whose identities are known, but who are untouched by those in power. Democrats and all Albanians who loved and honored Azem Hajdari can in no way tolerate this fact. The government must either capture the criminals and bring them to justice, or publicly declare that it itself carried out the murder of Azem Hajdari.

The Speaker of Parliament defends his seat in the face of a motion to remove him of a motion to remove him Frightened Gjynushi inflates the powers ON PAGE 3

The DP Chairman assesses the latest developments in Kosovo at a meeting of the International Board of the “Shuman” Institute “Milosevic is the most serious obstacle to implementing the agreement and to every step toward stability in the region” Yesterday, DP Chairman Sali Berisha called on the international community to deploy NATO troops in Kosovo, considering this action an indispensable condition for achieving lasting peace in Kosovo. The DP Chairman made this statement in Brussels, where the meeting of the International Board of the “Shuman” Institute was being held, chaired by the chairman of the board, Mr. Wim Van Welzen. The meeting presented the Institute’s annual activities in the areas of training and exchange of experience among young politicians, its work on integration into European processes, and the election of a new board chairman. A delegation from the Democratic Party also took part in the meeting, consisting of DP Chairman Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha and its Secretary General, Mr. Ridvan Bode. On behalf of the participants, Mr. Wim Van Welzen asked Mr. Berisha to give an overview of the latest developments in Kosovo. Among other things, DP Chairman Berisha stressed that the Rambouillet meeting represented the result of the international community’s most vigorous efforts to resolve the Kosovo issue. The Albanians would be represented there broadly. “But the real success of this factor [is unclear in the source]. First, NATO’s presence in Kosovo is an indispensable condition for implementing the agreement. Second, and to every step toward stability in the region,” Berisha said. At the meeting, Berisha held talks with the senior leaders of the “Shuman” Institute. They agreed to help train DP politicians and specialists in various fields and to put this into practice very soon. The Albanian delegation also held talks with the other delegations present about the situation in Albania, the opposition’s harsh living conditions, and the situation in Kosovo.

Meeting on the occasion of the 8th anniversary of the founding of PD - Tepelenë ON PAGE 2

50,000 homeless people across Albania ON PAGE 5

Yesterday, the roundtable of political parties on Kosovo

Members of the Democratic Party are hereby informed that on

The Albanian parliamentary parties who met yesterday call on all citizens of Tirana, students, school pupils, associations and political parties to take part tomorrow at 12:00 in a demonstration to be held in Nënë Tereza Square in front of the University of Tirana in support of the Rambouillet meeting, calling for the Kosovo issue to be resolved on the basis of the principle of self-determination.