The presidential newspaper “Albania” paved the way for the placement of explosives in the center of Tirana. Around 20 injured. This is what Berisha’s newspaper wrote one day before the explosion:

On 2 June 1997, at the “Freskia” Café-Bar, at 12:40 p.m., a powerful explosive device detonated, injuring 20 customers and service staff at the establishment and completely destroying the premises. The bomb in the middle of Tirana, near the Ministry of Defense and the central headquarters of the PSSH, at a venue frequented by PSSH members, supporters and leaders, is a serious criminal act that was forecast for two days running by President Berisha’s newspaper, “AL- “ALBANIA”, in retaliation against the PSSH Presidium member and State Secretary at the Ministry of the Interior, Mr. Lush Përpali. Berisha and his clan, as they bring about their shameful end, want to turn Tirana and Albania into scorched earth. To achieve this sinister aim, they have not been content with the years-long violence and brutal terror against the opposition and its leaders; now they also seek to commit unprecedented criminal murders in the history of this country. Having been crushed as a politician of dialogue and turned into a spent political force, he organizes and directs political crime against the political victors of the socialist opposition. The PSSH Presidium directly calls on Berisha, as the inspirer, leader and organizer of political crime in Albania, to abandon this macabre practice, which is good for neither Albania nor Albanian democracy, nor Berisha himself—not only as president, but simply as a human being—if anything human and Albanian still remains in his conscience; and to withdraw his criminalized gangs from the crime carried out by the black hand. We call on him, before it is too late, to abandon the scenario of terror and political assassinations, which have been in preparation and under testing for some time. The PSSH calls on the Albanian people, all political parties, members of the PSSH and the PD, and members of every other party to distance themselves from these criminals and serious crimes, and to do everything possible to prevent them from being committed against any Albanian. Enough Albanians have been killed by Berisha’s black hand, from Tropoja to Sarandë, from Korçë to Vlorë; enough blood has been shed among Albanians. Now we all need peace and calm, and free and fair elections! The PSSH Presidium Tirana, 2.6.1996

His Excellency Mr. Lionel Jospin Chairman of the French Socialist Party Paris Your Excellency, I warmly congratulate you on the sweeping victory of the French Socialist Party and assure you that this victory constitutes a major step forward for Albania [?]. We are determined to further intensify and broaden cooperation between our two sister parties, which will serve to further strengthen the traditional historical ties between our two peoples and countries, and between all forces that sincerely aspire to peace and integration in Europe. Yours, Fatos Nano Chairman of the Socialist Party of Albania

LUSH PERPALI RESPONDS: Yesterday, after the notice was published saying, “Lush Përpali’s restaurant will be blown up” Yesterday, after the notice was published saying, “Lush Përpali’s restaurant will be blown up,” I telephoned its director, Ylli Rakipi, and asked him to take measures to prevent such a thing from happening. I telephoned the commander of the Republican Guard thing from happening, since the article in that newspaper attributes the act to the Guard’s soldiers. I also telephoned Police Station No. 3. These calls were made several hours before the explosion occurred. On Monday morning I also submitted the relevant complaint to the Prosecutor’s Office. Pages 8–9

Socialist rallies in Korçë and Fushë-Krujë: Pages 2–3

A few hours after the explosion (Photo: ROJTER)