Thaçi’s deeds at the center of the world press For a week, prestigious international newspapers have been publishing lead stories on their front pages, making serious accusations against the current leaders of the KLA, as well as the Albanian government, over a campaign of denunciations and purges throughout the Kosovo Liberation Army, and over the killing of a number of KLA commanders. The American newspaper “New York Times” has not been alone in making its serious accusations. Reports and articles with the same tenor have also been widely published in the British press, including “Boston Globe,” “The Guardian,” and “Le Figaro,” as well as the Italian newspaper “Corriere della sera,” whose text we are publishing today. The world press’s interest in the situation within the KLA, the accusations against Hashim Thaçi and several other people, and the Tirana government’s implication in killings have been met with silence by Tirana’s government press. Meanwhile, the KLA leaders have not responded to the accusations that have been raised, and only Albania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has tried to distance itself from the killings, stating that it had no involvement in them. ON PAGE 2

The prosecutor in the Zani case is appointed to argue the charges against the former Socialist prime minister, convicted of theft ON PAGE 4

June 29 of this year found the Socialist bosses much richer than they had been two years earlier. . On June 29 of this year, the Socialist bosses were much richer than they had been two years earlier. During their time in government, they managed to steal around 300 million dollars from the Albanian state—roughly the amount of money the state needs to keep going for those two years. The Socialists, and especially their bosses, became rich through the organization, connections, and consolidation of the political and economic mafia in the country. Socialist MPs and some party leaders are now at the head of the trafficking of migrants, drug trafficking, etc., while they have consolidated their ties with smuggling and corruption at every level of government. But the Socialist bosses are now much further from the promises they made on June 29: returning the money lost in pyramid schemes, creating 300,000 jobs, and restoring order within 100 days. The money was not only never returned; the assets purchased with it were stolen by the Socialist bosses. Dozens of tenders for the sale of the assets of pyramid firms have bestowed staggering wealth on Socialist ministers and former ministers, bodyguards, and thugs who accompanied them and continue to accompany them in government. Over the two years, not only was not a single job created, but thousands of jobs were lost because of permanent instability. From June 29, 1997, until now, more than 2,000 businesses and foreign companies in the country have closed, while around 100,000 people who had been employed under democratic government have been left without work. People not only lost their jobs, they were also killed. Nearly 2,000 is the number of victims of Socialist misrule, with another 4,000 thousand wounded or maimed in armed clashes that engulf the country with the least state presence in Europe. Neither in one hundred days nor in seven hundred days was order restored, even in a single corner of the country. The state controls only the courtyards of the prime minister’s office and the presidency, while just a few meters away you can be killed by an antitank weapon. Today, 90 percent of private businesses are forced to pay extortion money to gangs linked to the police, and the gangs operating in the country are paid by [unclear] and in many cases consist of police officers and members of special units, while some areas of the country are ruled by armed gangs. People are unsafe, which has driven away domestic and foreign investment. The lack of security has closed hundreds of businesses, while no new business or investment has been registered in Albania since the country came under socialists’ rule [?]. Government officials from the Socialist Party and their allies speak openly about political killings, including the assassination of December leader Azem Hajdari, as well as a large number of leaders, activists, and supporters of the Democratic Party throughout Albania. The political prosecutor’s office and the courts, now under the President’s personal control, keep political prisoners in jail, while releasing thugs who have killed as many as forty people. The administration built by the Socialists is 90 percent corrupt, while drug smuggling by government clans, the Socialist Party, and their allies is eating away at the country. The regional mafia is present in the country everywhere, from the seats of regional [authorities?] and major tenders to exclusive control of tobacco, fuel, and other kinds of [goods?]. After two years in government, the Socialists are in their own [unclear] field. Conflicts among them, fueled by business interests. Conflicts among them, fueled by business interests. The [unclear] of control over [unclear] have made the clan groups turn on one another, taking each other’s heads every day, forgetting that power is for governing and not for [unclear]. Fatos Nano is a [unclear] from Vlora, here to manage the final split of people not only from the party, but from all the Socialists. Three or four hundred smugglers and relatives gathered from Fier to Sarandë could barely fill the steps of the sports palace, thereby expressing people’s indifference and impatience, even in what the Socialists called their stronghold.

The former Socialist leader celebrates June 29 with the committees. Vlora: Give us back our money The chairman of the PS in Vlora does not deign to receive the former prime minister: “He is unwelcome in Vlora” ON PAGE 3

The Civil Aviation Union continues its strike. Brussels closes air routes with Albania Three former ANTA executives, now heads of private aviation agencies, and a director at the Ministry, Shuli, are taking control of air traffic. They have not landed or taken off an aircraft in ten years.

Berisha has a working dinner with US Ambassador Froweek On Monday evening, DP chairman Berisha had a working dinner with US Ambassador Mr. Froweek. They discussed developments in Albania and the region at length. Ambassador Froweek highly praised Berisha’s initiative and the decision of the DP National Council to return the DP to parliament on the basis of procedures. He assured Mr. Berisha of the special interest and commitment of experts from US institutions to establishing the truth about the murder of MP Hajdari. Berisha expressed his deepest gratitude to President Clinton, Secretary of State Albright, and the United States, which, with unwavering resolve, led NATO’s political and military campaign to liberate Kosovo. ... over Albanians more than anyone else in all our history. A visit by him to Albania would be a historic cultural event in relations between our two countries and peoples. I am convinced that Albanians would give him the warmest welcome befitting their most distinguished friend. The DP and relations with the US constitute the foremost of all priorities. Berisha stressed that the long-term presence of the US and NATO in the region is essential for peace and stability in the Balkans. The dinner also included discussion of the Stability Pact, security and law-and-order issues in the country, and the necessity of ensuring that the rule of law functions in Albania. The conversation took place in a spirit of complete understanding.

From the discussions of the members of the National Council ON PAGE 2

The “Dhjetor ’90” Group Welcomes Ambassador Froweek’s Commitment ON PAGE 3

Berisha Holds Telephone Conversation with Council of Europe Secretary General Valter Shvimer In a telephone conversation with the newly elected Secretary General of the Council of Europe, the Chairman of the Democratic Party, Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha, congratulated Mr. Shvimer on his election and expressed his conviction that the election of a friend of Albania and Albanian democracy to this post would contribute to closer cooperation between Albania and the Council of Europe. During the conversation, Berisha informed Mr. Shvimer of the DP National Council’s decision to enter Parliament and of the circumstances that made this decision possible. The Council of Europe Secretary General, Mr. Shvimer, said he considers it essential that the truth about the murder of MP Hajdari be uncovered, a matter on which the Council of Europe has repeatedly expressed its views. He supported and expressed satisfaction with the commitment of experts from US institutions to uncovering the matter, and welcomed the DP National Council’s decision for the DP to enter Parliament.

PD leader Sali Berisha yesterday welcomed the UÇK forces. In a press statement, he said that NATO’s announcements about the precise disarmament carried out by the freedom fighters, under the agreement signed with General Xhekson, are evidence of these fighters’ loyalty and sense of responsibility, and of their commitment to serious cooperation with NATO, which liberated Kosovo and is building there a free and democratic society. NATO in the region is essential for peace and for implementing the Stability Pact in the region. During the six-party dinner, the Stability Pact, security and law-and-order problems in the country, and the need for the rule of law to function in Albania were discussed.

Today, 288 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 successors in his murder and in this Albanian world. The government of the former communists, which leaves free and undisturbed 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 surnames but are not touched by those in power. Democrats and all Albanians who loved and honored Azem Hajdari cannot tolerate this crime under any circumstances. The government must either bring the criminals before justice once and for all, or publicly declare that it itself committed the murder of Azem Hajdari.

German military personnel pleased with the results in Kosovo ON PAGE 3

Policy of alienating national culture By Lazer STANI ON PAGE 7

DEMYC and the Council of Europe Youth Centre discuss Kosovo ON PAGE 3