5 people lose their lives in the village of Kalivaç View of the flooded city of Laç

Flooding again. And again in Lezhë, Laç, Mamurras, Mirditë, Shkodër. The consequences are tragic. 5 people lost their lives. Hundreds of others have had their homes, land, and crops flooded. Roads have been destroyed, bridges have been damaged. There is no need for any further comment. Sudden, torrential rains have struck unexpectedly for yet another time in these past two or three years, but the whole matter has been dealt with by a television report or two, and that is all. The government and its specialized agencies have never seriously considered restoring the destroyed drainage pumps and the vital drainage systems to working order. And the consequences recur whenever it rains—the damp never reaches the comfortable homes of Meksi and his ministers—while the unfortunate residents of the flooded areas are forced to submit to fate and hear the President’s plea, “May God bless you.” The painful tragedy accuses once again. Those who destroyed the national wealth, those who uprooted communism by wrecking factories, plants, drainage pumps, schools, mines, and oil wells, under the protection of state indifference, are known. Those who are unfit to govern are known too, as are those who go to Laç to engage in politics at holy sites, and who remember ordinary people only when election campaigns approach. So there is no need to name names. We do not want to politicize the disaster, but we take this opportunity to tell Mr. Sali Berisha not to waste his energy attacking the opposition, not to think only about how to divide Albanians into enemies and friends, but to think a little more about how to solve this people’s problems; to think more about preventing the fertile lands, nourished by Albanians’ hard work over the years, from being flooded; and to direct funds where they are most needed, where people’s lives are most at stake.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Dylber Vrioni signed in London the final agreement for the repayment of Albania’s foreign debt. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Dylber Vrioni signed in London the final agreement for the repayment of Albania’s foreign debt, paying 96.4 million dollars to Charter Hause Bank. Following this payment, Albanian official authorities state, the Republic of Albania has no further obligations to these banks.

Intensive contacts between the Committee for the Freedom and Rights of Members of Parliament and the Council of Europe The Inter-Parliamentary Union prepares for the Bucharest meeting, 8–12 October Read on page 3 View of the flooded city of Laç

Although the situation in the southern Balkans appears stable, two developments could spark the sixth Balkan war of the century. - The first is political and ethnic tension in Kosovo. Belgrade continues its repressive policy toward the Kosovars and has recently tightened its control over humanitarian aid. Consequently, the moderate Kosovo leader Rugova is under pressure from radicals within his leadership. The second development is the economic crisis in Macedonia. The effects of his party, the second development is the economic crisis in Macedonia. The effects of the embargo against Serbia and the Greek embargo against Macedonia are catastrophic. Around 25% of workers in Skopje have not received their wages in recent months. A tougher preventive-diplomacy policy is needed, with greater participation by the European Union. Read on pages 2–6

Who threatens and who is destroying national culture Dr. Bahri Beci and the discussion on the national literary language A tale about old Dumbabe and young Dumbabe Read on pages 7, 8, 9, 10 On the 85th anniversary of the birth of Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, Sister and Mother Teresa Read on page 12