Yesterday, some of our colleagues, while railing against the “Alliance for the State” governments, pretended to speculate that perhaps in Albania in ’97. We should no longer be blamed for not taking stock of what happened in ’97, but, as a reminder, we have taken stock of the political situation, editorial THE PEOPLE’S VOICE FORGETFULNESS, THE THRESHOLD TO THE RETURN OF EVIL FOR ALBANIANS 1 million weapons, 1,200 criminals at large, all the banks looted Yesterday, some of our colleagues, while railing against the “Alliance for the State” governments, pretended to speculate that perhaps in Albania in ’97. We should no longer be blamed for not taking stock of what happened in ’97, but, as a reminder, we have taken stock of the political, economic and social situation in June ’97: 1 million weapons taken from depots, starting with pistols and ending with rocket tanks;[?] 1,200 released prisoners who had returned to their deadly activities; More than 20 police stations destroyed, and courts and prosecutors’ offices burned down as well; The roads completely under the control of masked gunmen, and every day more than four people were reported dead throughout Albania; More than 20 branches of the Savings Bank and the National Commercial Bank looted and completely burned down; Just as many branches of the State Treasury looted and burned down; Three months’ wages and pensions unpaid; The dollar exchanged at a rate of 1 USD = 1,720 lekë; Two-thirds of customs offices and tax offices burned down and destroyed. Knowing this much is enough to judge that the country was in a state of chaos[?]. Nevertheless, the folk saying “Goodness has no end” continues to ring in our ears.

facts & remembrance

Socialists should speak and work for the citizens People should understand what we have done INTERVIEW The great writer Dritëro Agolli analyzes the promises and achievements of socialist governments and excuses no one’s negligence Dritëro Agolli assesses 3 years of socialist governance • Socialists should speak and work for the citizens • People should understand what we have done People should weigh things up and judge for themselves. The struggle the PS must wage is to get everyone to take part in the vote. Because if they do not do this, the balance will tip to the other side. Because the PD, with Berisha at its head, will be the one that [unclear] everyone to vote; if these people do not vote, they will very soon feel what they have been serving. The PS leadership should aim for this, and the congress we are holding today should aim for this too: we should not speak empty words, but explain things and speak sincerely about our achievements and failures. INTERVIEW ON PAGES 2–3 In the photo: Dritëro Agolli

Tomorrow: PES conference in Tirana Press conference by International Secretary Arta Dade PAGE 5

THE MURDER MURDER OF THE GREEK BORDER GUARD: DEVOLLI SEARCHES FOR THE ALBANIAN KILLERS Around 40 people suspected of the murder PAGE 14

EURO 2000 FOOTBALL THE TULIPS WITHER, THE HEROES OF ROME RACE ON Italy holds out with 10 players for 100 minutes, wins on penalties PAGE 16

Tirana today: the 4th Congress of the PSSH City and Countryside

SPECIAL COVERAGE ON PAGES 3, 6, 7 Archival photo showing a crowd of people and several armed individuals.

MUNICIPALITY TIXHJA, THE CHAIRWOMAN OF THE TIRANA DISTRICT WHO LEADS THE CROWD TO THE MONEY Tirana: local officials rushed to the money allocated for village roads PAGE 9