The armed gangs of '97 return. Këlonët Ulitans: NATO troops are not there to punish gangs, but for a humanitarian mission Crowds led by police forces and state officials topple dozens of trucks in broad daylight in Vlora, Seman, Elbasan, Peshkopi, Shkodër, Ura e Matit, etc. ON PAGE 3

After Hillary Clinton and Albright, now the American Secretary of Defense also refuses Tirana "Our armed forces from Albania will leave, sooner or later, from the US, when the ruined relations of Tirana have made it so impossible to visit Albania" ON PAGE 3

The mayor of Tirana denounces the centralization practice of the coalition government ON PAGE 2

U.S. Secretary of Defense William Cohen cancelled his visit to Tirana, making clear the disappointment of the United States with the way the Albanian government handled the issue of the withdrawal of U.S. helicopters. This strong message, from the interview Mr. Cohen gave yesterday on "TV Klan", would be understood even more clearly than in the subtext of the statement by Pentagon spokesman Kenneth Bacon. A shocking message for Albanian public opinion. Even more shocking, apparently, for the Albanian government. Cohen, after explaining that the reasons for cancelling the visit to Albania had nothing to do with the firefront in Kosovo, but with the "growing anxiety" and the "uncertainties" in the situation in Albania, sent a clear message to the NANO government and especially to the opposition. He stated that the United States strongly supports the Albanian people and its government, but cannot remain in Albania much longer if they see that the Albanian people and its government are not interested in a long-term relationship with the United States. Indeed, to remove any doubt, Mr. Cohen said that this applies to every country where the United States operates. He stated that the Albanian government did not know how to cooperate with NATO troops, with AAFOR and with the United States embassy to ease the problems created by the arrival of Kosovar emigrants and the crisis in Kosovo. He implied that if the NANO-S government showed more willingness to help these troops and to stop the smear and anti-American campaign, what is happening today would not have happened. Further on, Cohen, who is known as the politician closest to the American administration in Tirana, stated that the Albanian government must treat the opposition as a legitimate and necessary part of Albanian democracy. Which means that the fierce campaign by the NANO government against the opposition is incomprehensible. He also expressed concern about the electoral process, saying that conditions must be created for free and fair elections. Which means that the government must abandon manipulating them. Finally, Mr. Cohen insisted on the vital role that Kosovo has for the Albanian nation. But he clearly let it be understood that Albania must not fall prey to unbelievable nationalist adventures, but must support peaceful solutions to the Kosovo issue under the backing of NATO and the United States. ON PAGE 3

The ceremony marking the departure from Albania of 24 American helicopters and 4,000 AFOR soldiers is a severe and incomprehensible public rebuke in relations with allies. The government of Nano is to blame for this sudden and suspicious distance that is taking place in relation to NATO troops, jeopardizing international support and the return of insecurity to Albania. It is the government of Nano that is maintaining an arrogant and crude attitude toward our great allies. After several days, when all Albanian opinion, but also the Western chancelleries and even the left-wing press itself, discovered that the provocation and pressure exerted on NATO forces, with the aim of preventing their mission to monitor elections in Albania, was directly sponsored by the Nano government, which has not officially apologized to the allies, we are instead served a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a way to throw dust in the public's eyes, claiming that the issue would supposedly be resolved. Not only has nothing been resolved, but today, after the modest ceremonies for the departure of the 24 helicopters from Rinas and the departure of the 4,000 soldiers and officers of AFOR, this distance between the Albanian government and NATO appears even deeper. The growing questions and suspicions as to whether Nano's government is seeking to put Albania back on the path of self-isolation, destabilization and departure from the Euro-Atlantic allies increased yesterday because of the provocative and absurd stance of the Albanian Prime Minister himself. Ilir Meta, at the government meeting, described NATO's election-monitoring mission as definitively resolved, on the condition that the invitation from the Albanian government had first been made official. This constitutes an understandable justification for the scandal caused by the government itself and at the same time an even more worrying signal in relations with the allies. ON PAGE 3

A year has passed since the day of the "murder of the century" ON PAGE 3

Political comedy: "This spirit of incriminating the social democratic government is deliberately and legally violating" Political comedy[?]: "This spirit of incriminating the social democratic government is deliberately and legally violating" Furier: The majority is responsible for the attacks against the opposition ON PAGE 3

The day after tomorrow, delegates and guests of the congress will take their seats in the Congress hall, before 5 p.m., when it will begin. 09:30 and 10:00 in the hall of the Opera and Ballet Theatre.

Italian quality upholstery, up to 6 tons It trades and distributes exclusively all kinds of oils? with first-class? Italy const[?] do 6tn guarantee. Lemons this way? from? The carrying rolls? ADDRESS Durrës, former teachers' building 052 - 267 78

KOKE EXTRA VJERA ELEK-KORÇA N.F FIER Tel. 0643-2779

Yesterday in the district, on 14 July 1999, at 10:00 in the Directorate of O? Durrës the parliamentary group of the Democratic Party meets. The preliminary meeting takes place at the headquarters of the PD branch in Durrës.