The mayor speaks about the latest uproar at “Parku Rinia”: Behind every kiosk, a politician ON PAGE 5

Bank: “Loans will go to those whose business is doing well” ON PAGE 5

The Presidency of the Democratic Party informs all delegates and guests of its Special Congress that the date of the Congress has been postponed until the end of next week, because, according to the report of the Group of Doctors, the improving health of the Chairman of the Democratic Party of Albania, Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha, makes it possible for him to attend at that time. The exact date of the Congress meeting will be announced.

By Astrit PATOZI Albanian ex-communists are turning their eyes back to China, exchanging the West for the Far East, apparently convinced that Europe and the United States reject the idea of their remaining in power indefinitely. A few days ago, the Chinese deputy foreign minister received these invitations from official Tirana to build the Bushat hydroelectric power plant, while it is quite possible that other projects in Albania will also pass through Beijing. But what is striking about Tirana’s extraordinary readiness to entrust China with building a gigantic project of strategic importance to Albania is the fact that the door appears to have been shut on a World Bank project, under which, it is reported, around 120 million dollars would be provided to rehabilitate the entire Drin cascade, Albania’s main source of energy. In other words, the Albanian ex-communists have swapped New York, where the World Bank is headquartered, for Beijing, and seem to have rekindled the old Albanian-Chinese romance, as well as pragmatically seeking support in the East after the West’s rejection. This whole move, which has so far gone unnoticed in Albanian politics and the press in recent days, appears to be centered on recent political developments that have been unfavorable to the Socialist-dominated governing coalition. While the Tirana government is trumpeting the need for, and great potential of, a “Marshall Plan” for a country weakened by two years of governance and recent regional developments, the “Friends of Albania” met twice in one week to tell the Socialists that the West will not pour money into a political and ordinary mafia that controls the country and has made it one of the richest and most corrupt in Europe. The “Friends’” ultimatum, “either law and order, or not a penny,” was the public part of the message the governing coalition could have learned earlier through other channels, so that it could carefully turn the country’s course toward the lure of money. The visit of China’s senior diplomat to Tirana, and especially the agreement concerning the Bushat hydroelectric power plant, comes not long after the end of the war in Kosovo, during which, as is well known, China took a position that can only be described as being on the side of the Serbs. Before opening Albania’s gates to investment, Tirana’s leaders should have considered Beijing’s negative record throughout the Balkan crisis. They had a duty to remind China’s deputy foreign minister that his country took a disastrously one-sided position against Albanians during the events in Kosovo: at no point, from the beginning of NATO’s bombing of Serbia until Milošević signed the capitulation, did official Beijing acknowledge the merciless fact that Kosovars had been subjected to outright ethnic cleansing by the Belgrade regime. China raised its voice to the heavens after four Chinese citizens were killed when NATO mistakenly struck its embassy in Belgrade, but never considered it appropriate even to protest—or at least acknowledge—that in 1998 Albanians were killed and massacred by members of the Serbian police, army and paramilitary forces. It should also not be forgotten that Beijing considered NATO the aggressor and the Belgrade regime’s actions legitimate. In the Chinese-controlled press, there was not a single line about Serbian terrorism or ethnic cleansing, whereas this was not the case anywhere else in the world—not even in Russia, which had openly declared itself an ally of the Serbs throughout the conflict. And besides the fact that, by opposing Kosovo, China was automatically also acting against Albania’s interests, China became directly involved in the conflict by organizing a demonstration outside the Albanian embassy in Beijing, with “popular” protests against the Albanian embassy that had nothing to do with the wishes or permission of the authorities, further deepening Albanians’ negative view of official Beijing—not only over the Balkan crisis, but also toward Albanians in general and Albania in particular. (continued on page 5)

U.S. Undersecretary of State: Support for Albania only if there is democracy Loy: “Creating an independent judiciary is essential.” Meta: We have neither law and order nor security ON PAGE 3

Shocking figures on the rise in crime. In one week, 14 killed and 23 wounded ON PAGE 4

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The U.S. Secretary of Defense is visiting Europe ON PAGE 3

Crowds of people attack the refugee camp in Vlorë ON PAGE 4

The Chairman of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) writes to the Chairman of the PD The Chairman of the Democratic Party, Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha, has received a message of thanks in recent days from the Chairman of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), ëolfgang Schauble. Mr. Schauble conveys to Mr. Berisha his warmest thanks for the congratulations he received on the results achieved by the CDU in the European Parliament elections, and assures him that his party remains committed to its work for the stabilization and future of the entire Balkans.

The Democratic Party Congress is not a newspaper page ON PAGE 2

The Chairman of the Democratic Party, Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha, has received a message of thanks in recent days from the President of Alleanza Nazionale, Gianfranco Fini, who conveys his warmest greetings and thanks him for the congratulations on the results of the 27 June elections in Italy.

Crime is rising sharply in the capital. Havari counts the victims of his bloodshed ON PAGE 2

Today, 297 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 a crime known to all Albanians. The government of the ex-communists, which leaves free and beyond the reach of justice the criminals who took the life of the December Leader, shows Albanians that they were and remain on the side of the killers, who have names and surnames but are untouched by those in power. Democracy and all Albanians who want it to be honest have long made it clear that the criminals must be brought to justice—or the government must publicly declare that it was prepared for the murder of Azem Hajdari.

The “Djetor ’90” group will hold a silent protest on Monday, 12.7.1999, at 11:00, marking the tenth month since the execution by firing squad of Azem Hajdari, leader of the Student Movement. At the place where our hero fell, it will commemorate the leader of Albanian political pluralism. A press conference for the media will also be held in front of the Memorial. All those who were involved in this group are invited to attend.