Another tragedy on the coast of Vlora. The speedboat collides . ON PAGE 4

Intensive Serbian artillery bombardments on Albanian territory ON PAGE 4

Interview with the President of the Supreme Court, Avni Shehu, given to “Voice of America” ON PAGE 3

The first man of the Albanian state is slowly becoming the main destroyer of the Albanian state as well. Having been in a destructive position since his very first day as President, in recent days he has become a nightmare not only for the country’s other officials, but for all Albanians, once again blocking the decree dismissing the Minister of Public Order, Petro Koçi. During the period of a blockage that has now lasted three days, gangs have been highly active throughout the country. The day before yesterday, tragedy struck the arrivals from Kosovo: three of them lost their lives and several others have disappeared after a traffickers’ speedboat carrying clandestine migrants collided in Vlora. Extortion rackets have increased considerably, targeting even local government officials, while a certain solution involving the departure of the Minister of Public Order has been proposed to the President. Nevertheless, the President of the Republic has no intention of signing such a decree until the final day of the legal deadline. Perhaps he will not sign Koçi’s dismissal even on that day, bringing other kinds of crises onto the Albanian political scene amid a major pan-Albanian crisis. Albania’s Presidency has continually been a hotbed of destabilization in the country. Scenarios have been devised there that have subsequently degenerated into persecution by the state and its institutions, while the President of the Republic’s circle has gradually taken shape and consolidated—a circle that includes such all-rounders as Koçi, allies of the speedboat smugglers such as Gjinushi, and allies of the gangs in the south and north such as Brokaj. Rexhep Meidani, presenting himself publicly as a man of NGOs, allows dozens of villages in the north of the country to be trampled underfoot by the Serbian army. The result of his absurd stance as Commander of the Albanian Army has been the evacuation of around 15,000 residents from villages on the northern border and the creation of a buffer zone along Albania’s border with Kosovo, by the Serbs and this year by Meidani himself. He has continually attacked the independence of the justice system in general and the courts in particular, an attack that continues today with the efforts to unlawfully dismiss the President of the Supreme Court, Avni Shehu. At meetings of the High Council of Justice he behaves like a prosecutor, something confirmed by many judges whom he has dismissed for clearly political reasons. The President of the Republic, Rexhep Meidani, together with former Prime Minister Fatos Nano, are building a political prosecution service, one of the most active components in destabilizing and destroying Albanian institutions. His opposition to the Prime Minister began on the very first day Majko was appointed head of government. Meidani opposed the dismissal of the head of SHIK, Fatos Klosi, on the anti-Albanian pretext that certain foreign secret services were demanding it. He systematically [unclear] efforts to reduce political tensions in the country, taking persecutory actions against the opposition together with his mafia clan and openly protecting the killers behind the terror against Azem Hajdari. At the head of the Ministry, nothing is being done other than keeping the gangs, mafia, and anti-Albanian, ideological and Eastern groups in control of the state. This is open opposition to every effort to bring about even a relatively stable government in the country; it is the desire of the President and those close to him to preserve and consolidate their clan within the government, prosecution service, courts, and everywhere else where the destabilizing signature of the President of the Republic is needed.

Exclusive. The President of Kosovo speaks about the beginning of the bombings, the days in prison in Prishtina, the unity of political actors, the return of the displaced and the path to independence ON PAGE 2 Those who want to become chiefs must do something for Kosovo. The greatest resistance is for Kosovo to be full. Tirana must respect and support Kosovo’s institutions. Independence remains my constant position; only the ways of achieving an independent Kosovo may change

MP Gjana denounces the “Agreement of Ohrid” proposed by official Tirana

Berisha and Arbnori bid farewell to Ambassador Lino Meeting with Ambassador Lino DP, an unwavering friend of the USA Yesterday afternoon, the chairman of the Democratic Party, Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha, accompanied by a member of the DP leadership, MP Pjetër Arbnori, met with the US Ambassador in Tirana, Ms. Marisa Lino. The meeting dealt extensively with the problems of the conflict in the region and the situation in Albania. There was extensive discussion of the situation in Albania, the lack of the rule of law and public order, corruption, the DP’s positions on parliament and on dialogue with the country’s other political forces, as well as the crisis in the country and the possibilities and ways to overcome it. The meeting also discussed those arriving from Kosovo, the possibilities for and political necessity of dialogue and cooperation among political forces, Kosovo’s institutions and the KLA, and ways and possibilities of overcoming the difficulties and disagreements currently existing among them. During this extensive exchange of views, Berisha, having expressed the DP’s deep gratitude to President Clinton, Secretary of State Olbrajt and the USA for their firm stance in the attacks against the dictator of Belgrade, assured the American Ambassador that the DP was determined to support Western standards and had been and would remain an unwavering friend of the USA. Wishing Ambassador Lino success in her next assignment, Berisha assured her that the DP had worked and would continue to work so that the friendship and cooperation between our two countries and peoples could reach new and excellent levels.

Today, 248 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 Albanians that they have been and remain on the side of the killers, who have names and identities but are untouched by those in power. Democrats and all Albanians who loved and honored Azem Hajdari can under no circumstances tolerate this fact. The government must either capture the criminals and bring them to justice, or publicly declare that it itself committed the murder of Azem Hajdari.

Meidani prepares to appoint judicial commissars ON PAGE 2

Political prosecutors seek Thaçi’s services against the Albanian opposition and Kosovo’s nationalist democrats ON PAGE 3

The “Ohrid” proposed by official Tirana The murder of Drago Voshina marks the kidnapping of 23 DP leaders, activists and local government officials Governance by pact with crime “At a time when innocent citizens are being killed, at a time when respected local government officials are being killed, when masked men and gangs are swooping down like a pack to loot aid for the war refugees arriving from Kosovo, their leaders at the Ministry of Public Order hand in their resignations one after another, in the most irresponsible manner.” ON PAGE 3

Kavajë Municipality and the District Council name the 27-year-old from Kavaja, who volunteered for the ranks of the KLA, an “Honorary Citizen” ON PAGE 7

If you wish to contribute money for the exhausted children of Kosovo, you can deposit your contribution into account number 34220/00/0376 at “Dardania Bank” in the name of the association: “The Children of Kosovo, Our Children”.