Elbasan gang boss Kateshi handcuffed at his home in Tirana Kateshi, accused of committing dozens of crimes with his armed gang in 1997, campaigned at the head of his gang in favor of PAD president Neritan Ceka in the elections in June of that same year. His swift release is expected, just like that of his colleague Zani Çau shi. Kateshi, accused of committing dozens of crimes with his armed gang in 1997, campaigned at the head of his gang in favor of PAD president Neritan Ceka in the elections in June of that same year. His swift release is expected, just like that of his colleague Zani Çau shi ON PAGE 4

By Astrit PATOZI The attacks by mobs of looters on AFOR camps brought back to Albania the fear of a resurgence of the armed gangs of 1997, while it seemed that the positive majority of the West had placed its hopes in Albanian generosity and hospitality toward those fleeing Kosovo during the Balkan conflict. But while the news about the communities in the camps in Vlora, Shkodër, Seman or Kukës is deeply humiliating and offends the dignity of every normal citizen, it is completely inexplicable that people are trying to present this situation as a thesis about the character of Albanians. It is still too early to say—and that day will never come—to look for “barbarians” in Albania, among an entire people, especially among the very people who only two months ago demonstrated the highest degree of humanity and civic values by opening every door of hospitality to their Kosovo brothers in distress. “Barbarians” should not be sought at all among those manipulated Albanians who, some out of poverty and some because of the criminality present in every person when the state is absent, followed the example of the police officers and the [unclear] in the heinous actions of looting the camps. The real “barbarians” are in Tirana, dressed in ties and expensive suits, who, in response to these dramatic events—which would have caused any government in the world to resign—yesterday called for an interpellation with the Minister of Agriculture, Lufter Xhuveli. “Barbarians” should be sought among the highest state officials, who, while the camps were being raided and Kukës airport destroyed, smiled at foreigners visiting Tirana, telling them that Albania had made great progress under their leadership, or, at best, quarreled and fought with one another over the vacant post of chairman of the Socialist Party. These are precisely the people truly responsible for the barbarities, in which the mob of looters were mere extras; while police officers were seen at the head of ordinary criminals, their bosses in Tirana did nothing, instead seeking a “Marshall” plan to extend their rotten-to-the-core rule by another two or three [years]. Albania has been turned into an arena for this kind of barbarity on three occasions, and in all three cases it was a place where people, at times linked to the old regime, exploited the grave weaknesses of state authority. The first was in 1991, when the dictatorship was collapsing and State Security operatives directed the opening of state reserve warehouses, following the Communists’ long-standing scorched-earth principle, in order to create the image that democracy was chaos, enemies and looting. Exploiting people’s feelings and citizens’ attachment to the state of the dictatorship of the proletariat, as well as their extreme poverty, the State Security agents of the time had little difficulty setting the machinery of looting and destruction in motion, since people thought they were destroying infrastructure that they had regarded as hostile for decades. The entire project of trying to spread terror seemed to receive a final blow on March 22, 1992, when the Democratic Party’s victory marked the complete overthrow of the communist dictatorship, after around 50 years of absolute rule. The second time was in 1997, when the leading figures of the opposition of that time stood at the head of the mobs and used burning and weapons looted from army depots across the country as a means of returning to power. Unlike in 1991, when the state was “silent heroes,” two years ago the leaders of the opposition at the time, now in power, publicly led the burning of municipalities, government buildings and weapons depots, and formed an alliance with the armed [groups/committees], signing a notorious document with them in Vlora that began to take shape on March 28. (Continued on page 2)

Government does not allow celebration of France’s national day “The French Embassy informs the Albanian authorities and its many friends that this year it will not hold its traditional reception in Tirana on the occasion of the July 14 National Day.” ON PAGE 3

Destruction, a scenario devised by intelligence services Bode: “The two-year record of the left-wing coalition’s rule is the most shocking evidence of what a people suffer when governed through armed gangs, rampant corruption, theft and trafficking. Normality can return only through conditions for new elections.” ON PAGE 3

The anti-kiosk operation moves to the area opposite the PD headquarters Large numbers of police officers, equipped with vans and police dogs, surround the square around the kiosks ON PAGE 5

The owner of Radio “Kontakt” was killed seven days ago Someone at the funeral told me that Ridi had given all his work materials to a stranger from Puka simply because he had become convinced that the man’s work had been damaged. And I have not known another person in Albania who would act that way with his own hands. Ridi had ... in order for a person in society to be awake in Albania; that is why someone rightly said that his death will be felt not only by Shkodër, but also by many cities in Albania By Agron BALA ON PAGE 7

The chairman of the PD Parliamentary Group, Genc Pollo, speaks about today’s meeting of the Parliamentary Group, the Special Congress and the cancellation of the visit by the U.S. Secretary of Defense ON PAGE 2

Constitutional Court President Fehmi Abdiu refuses to withdraw from the president’s trial To legally substantiate his request that Abdiu be excluded from the panel hearing this case, Avni Shehu cited as evidence several statements made to the press and media by Constitutional Court President Abdiu about this case ON PAGE 4

Today marks 300 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 those responsible in the crime that shook the entire Albanian world. The government has manipulated the whole truth and [unclear] the criminals who took the life of the opposition Leader; it shows Albanians that they have been [unclear] and are on the side of the killers, who have names and [unclear], but are not touched by those in power ... The government must either answer, but they are not touched by those in power. ... (Continued on page 2)

Argument over a television antenna. A 60-year-old kills his neighbor and then commits suicide Yesterday at around 3:30 p.m., near the Army House, close to “Rinia” Park in Elbasan, citizen Albert Doko, 36, was shot with a firearm; he then killed his neighbor Ujkan Mulaj, around 60, who shot himself. Yesterday at around 3:30 p.m., near the Army House, close to “Rinia” Park in Elbasan, citizen Albert Doko, 36, was shot with a firearm; he then killed his neighbor Ujkan Mulaj, around 60, who shot himself ON PAGE 4

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Delegates and guests of the Special Congress are hereby informed that the Congress will be held on Saturday, July 17, 1999, at 10:00 a.m. in the hall of the Opera and Ballet Theatre.

On Wednesday, July 14, 1999, at 11:00 a.m., the Parliamentary Group of the Democratic Party will meet in Durrës. The preliminary meeting will take place at the premises of the PD Durrës branch headquarters.