President Meidani at the Council of Europe Summit in Strasbourg, invited by President Chirac Page 2

Tirana Police Directorate Chief, Mr. Pashk Tusha, speaks out Page 3

We draw attention: Shkodra in antk[h] We draw attention: Shkodra in antk[h] The DP holds public order and local government hostage Page 6

SHKODER—The chairman of the DP branch for Shkodra, Orm Rusi, resigned from this post yesterday. This was announced last night by a source from the leadership of the DP branch in this district. The source said that Rusi submitted his resignation yesterday morning at the DP district activists’ meeting, attended by Jemin Gjana as a delegate. The meeting had been convened to review the work carried out so far, but immediately found itself faced with Mr. Rusi’s resignation. The source from the DP leadership said that Rusi explained his resignation by saying he was tired from the work and stress during these six months in the post. But this explanation seems scarcely to have been believed as the real reason that led Rusi to resign. He had been elected to this post six months earlier. He had publicly declared several times that he would work to reform the DP branch in Shkodra. He had also declared that he would distance it as much as possible from extremism. However, time showed that Mr. Rusi not only failed to achieve these aims, but that extremist factions would come to dominate almost the entire DP branch in Shkodra. Indeed, some time ago these factions had called on Rusi to resign. It was these extremist factions that forced Rusi to make several dubious statements recently—statements that pushed coexistence in Shkodra to the sidelines. These statements were not only poorly received by public opinion, but also prompted reactions. Thus, Mr. Rusi could no longer continue to serve as a spokesperson for the DP’s extremist factions. So he chose the path of resignation. In other words, it was a resignation imposed by the extremist wing led by Sali Berisha in this party. Sali Berisha has great hopes that this extremist faction, which has long put down roots in the DP branch in Shkodra, will also elect him chairman of the DP once again. Correspondent of “Zëri i popullit”

As ATSH reports, the “Movement for the Reform of the Democratic Party” does not recognize the 20–21 October congress and is already considering another extraordinary congress of the DP.

As ATSH reports, the “Movement for the Reform of the Democratic Party” does not recognize the 20–21 October congress and is already considering another extraordinary congress of the DP. This was stated on Thursday afternoon by one of the Movement’s leaders, Arben Meçe. “After the congress announced by Berisha,” Arben Meçe said, “we will declare ourselves a faction and work as such within the Democratic Party. We will try to create institutions in the DP, with or without Berisha.” Arben Meçe, also one of the leaders of the “December ’90 Movement,” invited the DP leadership to an open debate on the latest political issue. He accuse[...] the 20–21 October congress of being illegal. “The dates of the assembly should be set by the National Council, not by Sali Berisha; he is not even the party chairman,” Meçe said. “But the DP is now operating according to military practices, on the basis of orders and appointments.” “Berisha says he supports freedom of speech, but does not say which institution protects freedom of speech in the DP. We are working to create such an institution. At the beginning and at the end, we will propose no alternative candidacy to Berisha, except perhaps that of some unserious figure.”

The state and crime cannot cooperate Page 5

Berisha and paid hecklers Page 3

Italian Prime Minister Prodi resigns Page 11