Gjana: The division of Tirana is political

The governing coalition against international charters for local government on page 2

Justice in the clutches of the mafia

Topalli comments on the forced resignations of prosecutors on page 3

DP denounces the corrupt procedures of the “Meta” government

Bode: We will not recognize the illegal privatizations Drug trafficking: Why the Turk Xhevdet Çelik was ensnared and why the prosecutor in the case resigned Drug barons hold high-ranking positions in the government on page 6

The Socialists have reduced real wages

By Omer STRINGA What is the truth about the trends in wages and pensions over the last three years? There is no need to present figures, because Albanian citizens understand this phenomenon from their own wages when they sit down to eat. The Socialist government’s inclination over the past three years to increase wages and pensions has been minimal. In their three budgets, increases in wages and pensions of 5%, 6%, and 8% were planned on page 5

The government wants complete electoral chaos

Shemsi PEPOSHI Bashkim Fino expresses [duje] determination by the Socialist government to carry through the electoral chaos that began with the approval of the Electoral Code and the CEC. Mr. Fino said that the government would pass two draft laws on administrative division and the Municipality of Tirana when the elections are very close on page 5

The government protects Azem’s killers

Today, 676 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 governments of the former communists, which have left the criminals who took the life of the December Leader free and unpunished, show Albanians that they have been and remain on the side of the murderers, who have names and identities 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 capture the criminals and bring them to justice, or publicly declare that it itself committed the murder of Azem Hajdari.

Meta, wielding a rubber baton in Vlora

on page 7

Fists fly in the Socialist Party over the mayor

The internal battle over local-government candidates is heating up on page 4

The son of the Socialist Party chairman is arrested

He had stolen a bull in a village and evaded the police on page 6

Announcement

On 21–22 July 2000, a seminar will be held on the topic “Youth and its role in the upcoming elections in Albania,” attended by the chairpersons of the Republican Youth Forum, who will be present (in their absence, another delegate). The meeting of chairpersons will take place at the Democratic Party headquarters, Durrës Branch, at 12:00 on 21.07.2000. The seminar will be held at the premises of Hotel “VELESHTA”. The Executive Board

Notice

As part of preparations for the election campaign, we are organizing a meeting on Thursday at 11:00 at the Democratic Party headquarters in Tirana with all DP deputy chairpersons from the districts, department heads (and members, if they wish), and members of the Tirana DP departments. The DP chairman, Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha, will attend this meeting.