Pickering: We do not support those who do not fight corruption

The U.S. Undersecretary of State reacts harshly to the government in Tirana on page 2

Nano openly supports Pollo

Brawl in the Socialist Party Parliamentary Group on page 4

Everyone stands with the artists

The protest gains momentum and solidarity with the hunger strikers grows Ilir Meta: Let them die, as in England on pages 6–7 Message from the Presidency of the Republic of Poland to Berisha

Why is the artists’ strike political?

Astrit PATOZI If we had a normal prime minister, Ilir Meta should have apologized to all the artists, writers, painters and musicians in Albania, whose work and the institutions where their art was created he had left in the hands of a man who calls to mind the forgotten cannibals of centuries past. But even that would not be enough. He should apologize a thousand times to those he had insulted by calling them tools of politics, when it is politics that should listen to artists. But more than anything else, he should bow before them to offer another apology; he should bow before them to apologize because he sent in police batons against people who had held in their hands only a conductor’s baton and the scores of operas and musical arias on page 5

Chirac’s party will expand cooperation with the DP

Message from the Presidency of the Republic of Poland to Berisha on page 4

Fatos Nano, parallel prime minister

The Democratic Party responds to the creation of the commission on the Stability Pact on page 3

The SP and the PSD expel the PAD from the coalition

on page 3

The Writers’ and Artists’ League is also heading toward a hunger strike

on page 7

The government is protecting Azem Hajdari’s killers

Today, 500 days since Azem’s murder Every day that passes since the murder of Azem Hajdari, the symbol of democracy and pluralism, proves the Fatos Nano government’s manipulation concerning those who succeeded him in the grave crime of all Albanian history. The government of the former communists, which leaves free and unpunished the criminals who took the life of the December Leader, shows Albanians that they have been and remain on the side of the murderers, who have names of their own but do not belong to those in power. Democrats and all Albanians who loved and honored Azem Hajdari cannot tolerate this fact under any circumstances. The government must either at least apprehend the criminals, or first punish those who themselves committed Azem Hajdari’s murder.

Saturday, January 29, 2000

Year IX of publication No. (2450) SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 2000 Price: 20 lekë (250 drachmas) EDITORIAL OFFICE ADDRESS: 10 “Xhorxhi Martini” St. - Tel.: 323 55 / Tel & Fax: 303 29 / (Marketing) 323 57 E-mail: gazetard@albaniaonline.net Account No.: 5092/116 - BKT No. 1, Tirana Editor-in-chief Astrit PATOZI Deputy editors-in-chief Sami NEZA, Shemsi PEPOSHI