In Albania, you can be killed even while selling bananas The latest incident in the middle of Tirana definitively demonstrated the current inability of the Albanian state to protect the lives of its citizens. The accusation is blunt, but even anonymous public opinion—whose high degree of concern is made official precisely by the general force anonymity gives it, a force that is becoming ever greater against the state—may sound harsh to the ears of Albanian officials. Nevertheless, it can be neither louder nor more dangerous than the gunshots, which have emerged from the darkness where we had “got used” to hearing them until now, to become “civilized” in broad daylight, even in the middle of the streets and central squares of Albania’s metropolitan cities. This is not only no occasion to politicize the crime, much less its victims, but also no occasion to exploit it for genuine electoral purposes or for settling personal scores in the political world or within the upper echelons of the state pyramid. Above all, that would mean forgetting that the bullets poured from gun barrels in cases of mass terror make no distinction (as they have not so far) between ordinary citizens and their political beliefs or preferences. The specific professionalism of the security forces cannot be discounted, nor perhaps professional secrecy in the progress of investigations into acts of terror. But the continued silence and, worse still, the startling absence of results create the impression of manipulative mismanagement in the handling of “secrecy,” even of tiresome hiding behind it. The problem is not so much the officials’ clash of nerves with the press, according to the aphorism: “The greatest wonder lasts only three days!” For it is not merely the total number of crimes, and especially their marked concentration in time and across locations, that has made the press’s “scandal-mongering” no longer a curiosity, but a source of fearful concern for citizens. Now the fictitious sense of security that the phrase “Mind your own business—what does it have to do with you?” gave citizens in the cities has been completely stripped away by the monstrous fact that the victims of terrorist acts, especially lately, have been precisely the innocent people who were minding their own business, not the alleged targets of the shootings. Whatever the case, whatever is said, and whatever assurances are given, they are not merely failing to ease citizens’ heightened fear even minimally; on the contrary, they are increasing it, along with distrust in the state’s ability to confront crime. For its part, this has done everything possible to avert not only the necessity of taking the law into one’s own hands, but has also created among many Albanian citizens the idea that they need to arm themselves, adding a dizzying “revival” of the arms market to the many “flourishing” shameful markets that have taken root in Albania. Continued on page 2

The chairman of the Republican Party, Mr. Godo, and the deputy chairman, Mr. Mediu, received the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Albania, Ms. Marisa Lino, on September 18. Mr. Godo welcomed Ms. Lino to Albania. The American Embassy has been a strong supporter of the country’s democratic developments. Relations between the RP and the Embassy have always been open and friendly. Mr. Godo said he was convinced that these relations would be strengthened further. He also congratulated Ms. Lino on the successful elections in Bosnia, where the U.S. played a decisive role in ending the conflict and moving toward peace, something of particular importance for the entire Balkans. Speaking about Albania’s current political problems, Mr. Godo emphasized that the RP’s position, set out in the May 28 statement, is in keeping with statements by the American government. Regarding the local elections, Mr. Godo said that they are legally appropriate and fair. “I am convinced that the elections will be fair and free, and will be seen as a test of the country’s democratic governance.” Mr. Godo said that public order, the penetration of the Mafia, and corruption are among the most troubling problems. Ambassador Lino was briefed on the Republican Party and said she believed relations between the two countries would develop in the right direction. The American position has been made known, and the local elections will be a first step toward normalization. The U.S. and the Embassy itself will send observers to Albania and are ready to help resolve all the problems the country is experiencing. The meeting was open and cordial. The Ambassador said she would return soon for further meetings.

The U.S. Congress voted unanimously on Tuesday to grant Mother Teresa the title of “Honorary Citizen of the U.S.” for her work helping the poor and the sick in India and throughout the world. “Mother Teresa is a holy person. She has worked tirelessly for the sick and the poor,” said Republican Congressman Michael Flanagan of Illinois before the vote result was announced: 405 votes in favor and none against. The bill will now go to the Senate, where it will be approved. The Catholic nun, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1949. She runs 544 centers for blind children and the poor in more than 80 cities. Her work also includes the adoption of 1,500 orphaned children every year. Doctors in Calcutta say Mother Teresa’s condition is stable, but she continues to be under their observation. They suspect there are some spots on her brain, but there is no cause for alarm. Mother Teresa was admitted to the same hospital on August 20 because of heart problems, malaria, and pneumonia. Only four people have been given the title “Honorary Citizen of the U.S.” by Congress: Winston Churchill, Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, William Penn, and his wife Hannah, who helped establish the state of Pennsylvania.

P. 2