Albanian crisis the subject of debate in Strasbourg. National reconciliation process supported Berisha’s envoys Pollo and Spahia sought, through an amendment, to have the Council of Europe play the leading role in conducting the elections in Albania Votes in favor: Genc Pollo, Ali Spahia and a deputy from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Page 3

. Instead of a political solution, it used repression. Page 4

Yesterday morning, a fundamentalist gang set up an ambush at Qafa e Koshovicës, on the national road leading to Vlora. The gang, led by Nikollë Ndoci, a former officer of the public order service (SHIR), prevented Skënder Gjinushi, Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, from proceeding to Vlora, threatening him, and detained passers-by. After this, Skënder Gjinushi went to the Department of Public Order, where he learned that they knew nothing about the ambush. The Fier Department of Public Order had issued no instructions and had received no notification about such an incident. Gjinushi was able to continue to Vlora only after the intervention of the police commissioner of this district. (Continued on page 5)

Yesterday at noon, at the Ministry of Defence, Minister Vukaj received a special military mission from the Western European Union, with representatives from 10 European countries, including France (WEU chair), Denmark (OSCE Chair) and the Netherlands (EU Chair). The mission also includes civilian experts on policy. After welcoming those present, Minister Vukaj spoke to them about the situation the army had experienced and was currently experiencing, the measures taken, and the objectives pursued in the interest of improving the situation. The mission’s representatives, for their part, asked for clarifications about the situation in the army and sought the Albanian side’s views on matters related to military policy. Speaking about the population’s arming with weapons taken from military depots, Minister Vukaj stressed that the people were interested in protecting themselves from armed gangs. He assured them that Albania had not had a civil war and would not have one. Referring to the multinational force in Albania, Vukaj stressed that the army would benefit greatly from its support. The WEU representatives, after thanking the Albanian side for its detailed presentation, offered the necessary recommendations for re-establishing the military police, based on the best achievements in their countries. Correspondent of “Zëri i Popullit”

AT THE SPA HEADQUARTERS Yesterday, the Chairman of the SPA, Fatos Nano, and the SPA Secretary for Foreign Relations, Maqo Lakrori, received the Finnish Ambassador, Tapio Saarela, at the headquarters of the General Steering Committee. Mr. Nano and Mr. Lakrori briefed Mr. Saarela on the SPA’s views and positions regarding the political crisis in Albania, the holding of free and fair new parliamentary elections within the timeframe provided for in the March 9 agreement, and the SPA’s vision for the country’s future government, on as broad a political basis as possible. The meeting was held in a warm and friendly atmosphere. SPA spokesperson

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EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid Ema Bonino states : Albania needs democracy more than bread. Page 12