Lists of people who will receive state loans for losing their homes in pyramid schemes ON PAGE 7

The broom operation continues. Hundreds who were mistreated returned to Albania yesterday 12,000 Albanians expelled from Greece ON PAGE 4

A powerful speedboat is seized and 6 dinghies carrying clandestine migrants disappear Italian police arrest three traffickers from Vlora ON PAGE 4

By Sali BERISHA Yesterday, the foreign ministers of the European Union, meeting in Brussels, chose Kosovo’s capital, Prishtina, as the operational centre for the reconstruction of Kosovo, as the West’s gateway to the Balkans. In a historic decision, they decided today to make Prishtina the main centre for the reconstruction of Kosovo and the Europeanization of this region. For the martyred Albanians of Kosovo and the Albanian nation as a whole, this is the most joyful news since NATO troops entered Kosovo as liberators, and the greatest expression of confidence in the Albanians. With this historic decision, the West once again expresses its great respect and appreciation for the rivers of blood and tears, the suffering and sacrifices that the Albanians of Kosovo endured solely because they belonged to a different ethnic group, solely because they were not Slavic Orthodox. With this decision, the West also recognizes the Samaritan spirit of the Albanian nation and the way it faced, with extraordinary dignity, the cruelty and catastrophe inflicted on it by the barbarians through their “Horseshoe” operation. The decision of the European Union’s foreign ministers to choose Prishtina as the main centre for the reconstruction and Europeanization of the region is also a major obligation for Albanians, first and foremost in Kosovo: they must work closely together and cooperate with international institutions so that they live up to the West’s hopes for them. This decision is a message to all the citizens of Kosovo to avoid revenge and to entrust justice with punishing those who committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. Today’s decision by the EU foreign ministers is also a major obligation for Albanians in Albania: to make every effort to build in Albania the values on which all free Western societies are founded today. Once again, I express my deepest gratitude for this decision by the EU foreign ministers. I hope and wish that today the North Atlantic Council in Brussels will decide on NATO’s long-term presence in Albania, NATO’s long-term presence in Kosovo, and the integration of Albania and Kosovo, as well as the other countries of the region—Macedonia and, later, Montenegro—into the structures of the North Atlantic Alliance.

The European Union chooses Kosovo as the hub of the operational agency The European Commission, supported by most EU member states, for its part took the view that the agency should give priority to serving Kosovo’s reconstruction, putting an end to efforts to move the operational centre outside its territory ON PAGE 2

The President of the World Bank in Albania: Fight corruption in the judiciary and finance

The President of the World Bank in Albania: Fight corruption in the judiciary and finance in the judiciary and finance Wolfensohn: Six months for the government “Albania must solve its major problems with infrastructure, telecommunications, energy and education, not only because the World Bank demands it, but because this is the only way to find room within the Stability Pact” ON PAGE 5

Berisha calls for a long-term NATO presence in our country The chairman of the Democratic Party, Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha, yesterday called on “the North Atlantic Council to decide on a long-term presence of NATO units in Albania, being certain that this presence is essential for peace and stability in the region, is concrete assistance in Albania’s efforts to integrate into NATO, and is an obligation in response to the activity of pro-Serbian and pro-[?] lobbies in official Tirana.” Berisha emphasizes that “Albania is the first country in post-communist Europe to have requested NATO membership. During NATO’s offensive in the former Yugoslavia, Albania proved to be a de facto ally of this Alliance. Meanwhile, the attacks against the AFOR camps were organized by segments of the pro-Serbian lobbies in Tirana and have nothing in common with the friendly feelings Albanians hold toward the North Atlantic Alliance.”

The chairman of the DP Parliamentary Group explains the direction of the opposition MPs’ work as they return to parliament ON PAGE 3

The DP has promised to restore order in 3–5 months President Meidani and Prime Minister Majko are responsible for turning Albania “into a base for international terrorism” ON PAGE 3

The administrators of the “Cenaj & Co” Company sign off on another robbery of creditors. Goxhi is excluded from the list of debtors The chief supervisor of the pyramid schemes, Farudin Arapi, orders Goxhi’s liabilities to be written off, publicly rewarding the Socialist Party’s figurehead from the 1997 committees ON PAGE 3

ON PAGE 3

Today, 304 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 the crime that shook the entire Albanian world. The government of the former communists, which left the criminals who took the December Leader’s life free and undisturbed, shows Albanians that they have been and remain on the side of the killers, who have names and surnames but are untouched by those in power. Democrats and all Albanians who loved and honored Azem Hajdari cannot tolerate the criminals, who have captured and brought the criminals to justice, or else it must publicly declare that it itself carried out the murder of Azem Hajdari.

The Democratic Party spokesperson disputes the claims made by the pro-government newspaper “Koha Jonë” ON PAGE 3

We inform our readers that soon they will receive “RD” in a new look. A smaller format, with more information, more sections and greater visual appeal throughout the pages of “Rilindja Demokratike.” RD RILINDJA DEMOKRATIKE Is the war over?! Milošević surrenders NATO: Let us verify NATO continues bombing DP on the opposition’s return to parliament Political solution to the crisis Meksi: No new ideas Owner of a venue killed, another wounded Shpabia: Nano, Klosi and Meidani, the ones implicated in September 14

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