At customs, smugglers make the rules

People from the anti-smuggling unit also implicated in smuggling on page 8

Rama, agreement with the Serbs to build a church

Minister of Culture renews relations with Belgrade on page 13

The “eighty-lek notes” are back

“Union for Democracy” denounces the legitimization of Sigurimi agents in the “State Police”

Anti-opposition

editorial By Sami NEZA When the Democratic Party drew up a platform for restoring public order and presented it to the government, during the several days when the government said nothing about this proposal, crime was more cowed than ever. The platform was quite courageous and serious, leaving no room for any negative interpretation, much less for a DP expansion into the Socialists’ power. Former Interior Minister Koçi immediately rejected it, encouraging the mafia, whose presence he himself would confirm three days after his dismissal by former Prime Minister Majko. The pact for order was one of the many political altruistic gestures by the DP toward the worst government of the Albanians, and it was rejected institutionally as well. Crime recovered once again, finally seeing that the opposition—or, in other words, the only opposition to crime in Albania—was not considered in the fight against the mafia and crime in the country on page 3

Today, a large rally in Fier

Citizens of Fier! “Union for Democracy” invites you today, November 27, at 12:00, to the central square of the city of Fier for the protest rally calling for new elections. Only new elections are a hope for you, thousands of unemployed people, whose numbers grow every day with the ruin of the pan-

Berisha - Ahrens, meeting on corruption among those in power

Heads of international institutions meet with the chairman of the Democratic Party Berisha also meets with the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe in Albania, Ms. Reyhan Arkan(t), and the Ambassador of Poland, Chodokowski on page 3

The government protects Azem Hajdari’s killers

Today, 439 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 shocked the entire Albanian world. The governments of the former communists, which leave free and unaccountable the criminals who took the life of the December Leader, show Albanians that they have been and remain on the side of the murderers, who have specific names but are untouched by those in power. Democrats and all Albanians who loved and honored Azem Hajdari can in no way tolerate this fact. The government must either catch the criminals and bring them to justice, or publicly declare that it itself committed the murder of Azem Hajdari.

Year IX of publication No. (2399) SATURDAY 27 NOVEMBER 1999 Price: 20 lek (250 drachmas) EDITORIAL OFFICE ADDRESS: 10 “Xhorxhi Martini” St. - Tel: 323 - 55 / Tel & Fax: 303-29 / (Marketing) 323 - 57 E-mail: gazetaed@albaniaonline.net and rildem@icc.al.eu.org Account No.: 5092/116 - BKT No. 1, Tirana Editor-in-Chief: Astrit PATOZI Deputy Editors-in-Chief: Sami NEZA, Shemsi PEpOSHI

Why the EU chose Macedonia and rejected Albania

numbers grow every day as the Albanian economy continues to crumble. The DP explains the reasons for the West’s cooling toward official Tirana Why the EU chose Macedonia and rejected Albania on page 4

Demi becomes Godo - opposition

Paskuqan group section expresses regret over its member on page 5

Announcement

On Sunday, 28.11.1999, at 14:00, activists of the Tirana branch of the DP are organizing a commemorative gathering on the occasion of November 28, Independence Day and Liberation Day, in the PDSH meeting hall. All members and activists of the DP’s Tirana branch are invited to attend.