OSCE and the SP blame each other

Spokesperson Porta admits that the draft electoral code was given only to the government on page 2

Wages and pensions have increased by only 2%

Another mockery of pensioners and public-sector workers by the government on page 4

Vlorë Police against the “Guardia di Finanza”

Speedboat operators rebel again. Police side with them An Italian police officer is seriously injured Speedboat operators rebel again. Police side with them Vlorë Police against the “Guardia di Finanza” An Italian police officer is seriously injured on page 7

Meta becomes a packet of caramels

By Shemsi PEPOSHI on page 5

The road potholes return to topple Meta

on page 5

The government protects Azem’s killers

Today, 673 days since the murder of the right-wing leader Every day that passes since the murder of Azem Hajdari, symbol of democracy and pluralism, proves the involvement of Fatos Nano’s government and that of his successor in the crime that shook the entire Albanian world. The governments of the former communists, which left the criminals who took the life of the Right’s Leader free and unpunished, show Albanians that they were and are 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 this fact under any circumstances. The government must either apprehend the criminals and bring them to justice, or publicly declare that it itself committed the murder of Azem Hajdari.

Autumn will drive the Paskalët out of Dibra

Meetings are held by DP branch activists in Mirditë, Pukë, Gramsh and Peshkopi on page 6

Ciampi, a soldier in Albania

on page 15

SOS for the Albanian army

on page 15

The Albanian section of the French “Palme d’Or” is established.

A group of distinguished Albanian intellectuals founded the French Palme d’Or section yesterday. It was an initiative of members of the “Palme d’Or,” who received this title from the French Academy, and who gathered at Hotel Dajti the well-known intellectuals Prof. Dr. Koli Xoxe, historian Prof. Dr. Mentor Petrela, neurosurgeon and dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Prof. Edmond Tupja, translator and distinguished linguist in the field of the French language, Prof. Dr. Nestor Tereska, distinguished doctor in the field of kidney diseases, Prof. Marenglen Gjonaj, lecturer at the University of Tirana, etc. Prof. Dr. Marenglen Gjonaj was elected chair of this section, Prof. Koli Xoxi deputy chair, and Prof. Drita Hadaj and Prof. Dr. Mentor Petrela members of the board. Z.LL.

Lyric poetry in bad times

Visar Zhiti on pages 12–13

The alarm is ringing in the Bolshevik slaughterhouse

Bislim Ahmetaj on page 14

Europe close to the Balkans, Albania far from Europe

Llesh Kola on page 18

Notice

The members of the National Council of the PDSH are hereby notified that on Monday, July 17, 2000, at 11:00, a meeting of the Council will be held at the PDSH headquarters to discuss preparatory measures for the autumn election campaign.