On 20 February, all together in defense of democracy, against neo-dictatorship! Today, on 20 February at 12:00, a major rally will be held in “Skënderbej” Square to commemorate the historic day when the symbols of the communist dictatorship were toppled, and the day the busts and living symbols of the dictatorship were overthrown. Citizens of Tirana! Let us all come together in “Skënderbej” Square today, 20 February, in defense of democracy, against neo-dictatorship! All together, for our freedoms and rights!

Delvinë: Enterprises become unusable ON PAGE 5

Scandal in Rambouillet: Russian Ambassador Majorski has distorted the agreement’s constitutional principles Under the new constitutional principles, Albanians are hemmed in by a bicameral parliament, where they are on an equal footing with the other minorities in Kosovo, while the review of Kosovo’s status after three years is being called into question. The draft was unilaterally changed by Ambassador Majorski, while Hill had gone to Belgrade two days earlier. The Albanian delegation is united against the draft. SPECIAL REPORT ON PAGE 2

Student Kozeta Hyseni brutally murdered near the building where she lived Yesterday, a 20-year-old girl from the city of Vlora was brutally murdered on the grounds of the “Studenti” campus. Her name is Kozeta Hyseni; she was a second-year student in the Language and Literature department and lived in building 25 of the “Studenti” campus. Kozeta Hyseni was found murdered with bladed weapons at 4 a.m. yesterday by police near the Palace of Culture in this campus. Her roommates say that unknown persons came looking for her in the evening, around 23:00, and she never returned. Police arrived at the scene in the early hours of the morning. It has not yet been established who committed the crime or what the motives for this murder were. As usual, the perpetrators fled in an unknown direction. ON PAGE 6

By Mero BAZE. Rambouillet, 19 February. The latest changes to the constitutional package and the ill-informed treatment of the Albanian proposals in Rambouillet mark a delicate moment, which embodies the outcome of the diplomatic struggle waged by both sides in the talks up to now. The Albanians, with the Americans as unconditional allies, advanced their main demand concerning a referendum in Kosovo, and left the referendum and the review of Kosovo’s status after three years as secondary demands. The Serbs, for their part, with the Russians as their principal allies, as well as the hosts of the talks, proceeded by strongly opposing the demand for NATO’s presence in Kosovo and, behind the scenes, worked to undermine the Albanians’ main demands: the referendum and Kosovo’s status, as well as the constitutional principles put on the table on 6 February. One day before the agreement is to be signed, it appears that the Serbs have managed to get the maximum they could out of this conference, where they had deployed their most politically inferior contingent, while the Albanians are being pushed out of the game despite having rallied the maximum of their political forces. But for the Serbs, as had been warned, more important than the diplomatic balance is the spin that will be put on the agreement’s outcome—that is, who will be considered its winner and who will be held responsible for its failure. Given the way the Serbs and their delegation have handled matters, and the position in which the Albanian side has been left, there is a strong chance that no one from the Albanian delegation will sign. At that very moment, the Serbian side will begin signing, and the Albanian side will lose the formal international support it has had until now, returning to Kosovo, where continued war and massacres await it. In other words, up to now, more than Kosovo’s future status, what has been sought—and found—are the “culprits” who would be made to account for these talks. The Serbs are doing everything to convince people that the talks, by the logic of events, will fail and that the Albanians can be declared responsible. Faced with this situation, the options are very limited, and making a decision carries historic responsibility. The Albanian delegation, which, according to its contacts with the Albanian press here in Rambouillet, remains united in opposing this offer, still has several strong arguments in its favor. The most important argument is the statements made by co-presidents Cook and Vren, as well as mediator Hill, who have said that the constitutional section is not negotiable at Rambouillet, since it has already been agreed in Prishtina. In this way, the Albanian side should not even consider the section prepared by Ambassador Hill as changed, after he worked on it through the night, with the “will” inspired by the idea that he was serving his nation against the US allies in Rambouillet. Meanwhile, the conduct toward the Albanian delegation in Rambouillet, as well as several publicly insulting actions by the Russian Majorski against Albanian political figures and intellectuals, are clear symptoms of the Cold War’s emergence within the Albanian factor. For this reason, the authority of the international community is ultimately at risk unless it intervenes to preserve the talks’ original contribution. If the negotiation process is not restored as a process with the prospect of being conducted by the Albanians’ own government and through their own self-determination, it is not a process worth investing in. By noon at the latest, the Albanian side must make the historic decision to sign an agreement that definitively closes the way to a process that respects the present-day and historical reality of the Albanians. Despite its responsibilities in ensuring the process functions, it has its own power and authority; if it cannot use them to change what remains after its opponent has undone things, then at the very least it must stand up and halt the talks. The Serbian side, as well as the international community, want an excuse at noon on Saturday not to intervene against the Serbs, and the Albanian side must not give them one under any circumstances. If this draft proceeds to a vote, the Albanian delegation must categorically demand that the talks be suspended and that all the factors that led to this mistaken historic decision be calmly examined. This could lead to failure, but the international community must make its position clear in support of the rights of Albanians in Kosovo, rather than turning them into people without authority and with no way forward in Prishtina. To avoid an Albanian “culprit” being named at noon on Saturday, which would spare the Serbs from bombing, it is better for the talks to remain open than for the process of definitively closing off the prospect of Kosovo’s independence to remain open.

Berisha warns the great powers not to play with Kosovo’s independence The chairman of the Albanian opposition, Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha, again warned yesterday the great powers, who are discussing Kosovo’s future in Rambouillet, that Albanians in Ball-

Former prime minister’s theft case stalls in court Legal experts say that all procedural actions carried out to date in connection with Nano’s case are invalid; even the so-called defense evidence must be resubmitted by the new lawyer, who has not yet been announced. ON PAGE 6

They would not recognize anything but Sali Berisha, again warned the great powers yesterday, as they discuss Kosovo’s future in Rambouillet, that Albanians in Albania, Kosovo, and wherever they are in the Balkans and the diaspora will recognize no solution for Kosovo other than its independence. “The Democratic Party, expressing its deep concern,” former President Berisha said at a press conference, “once again calls on the great powers to recognize the rights of the Albanians ... ON PAGE 3

The number of businesses is three times lower than in 1995 ON PAGE 5

An unexpected statement by the prime minister. Majko: We support an ethnic Albania, but for now we will abide by the parliament’s resolutions Prime Minister Majko expressed his concern yesterday over the deadlock in the talks in Rambouillet, as well as certain issues put forward by the Serbs, and reiterated the call for all Albanian political forces to unite. Majko said that the absence... ON PAGE 3

FRPD condemns the student’s tragic murder FDS: In protest for life FRPD condemns the student’s tragic murder Petro Koçi must resign FDS: In protest for life ON PAGE 3

The northern city experiences darkness and terror ON PAGE 6

Today marks 161 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 its successor in the crime that shook the entire Albanian world. The government of the former communists, which leaves free and unpunished the criminals who took the life of the December Leader, shows the Albanians that they have been and remain on the side of the murderers, who have names and surnames but are untouched by those in power. The Democrats and all Albanians who loved and honored Azem Hajdari can never tolerate anything like this. The government must either arrest the criminals and bring them to justice, or publicly declare that it itself committed the murder of Azem Hajdari.

The DP Secretary for Public Relations praises the realistic statements on the prosecution service by the Council of Europe representative, Papakostandinu One of the DP’s most senior leaders, Vili Minarolli, has called for several prosecutors to be prosecuted. By taking the side of the failed left-wing coalition government, they have become responsible for the general crisis gripping the country. According to him, the record of these prosecutors has also been noted by the Council of Europe representative in Albania. “A realistic statement by a politician who now knows the situation in Albania.” ON PAGE 4

Tirana DP structures discuss the current situation The sections and subsection groups of the DP in the capital are holding meetings with Democrats to address the most urgent problems that have shaped the situation. The Kosovo issue, the lack of public order, political imprisonments, and acute socioeconomic problems have been discussed in recent days by the sections and subsection groups in Tirana’s Zone 50, where a member of the National Council also took part... ON PAGE 4

Businesses hide from licensing authorities Smuggled coffee has been found in cafés in central Tirana. Sources from the Directorate of Taxes and Duties said yesterday that smuggled coffee is circulating in cafés in central Tirana; meanwhile, measures have been taken against the cafés, but no measures have yet been taken to seize the contraband brought in by those supplying the smuggled coffee. Sources from the Tax Directorate said that determining the origin of the smuggled coffee is the responsibility of the General Directorate of Customs and the customs police. In an operation carried out yesterday, the tax police, in cooperation with Customs... ON PAGE 5