Albanian usury: the Tokyo–Chicago–Istanbul triangle. The Greeks: “Xhaferi fell out with us when the state got involved”

Berisha protests in Laç The Albanian election campaign is beginning to resemble a game that at times seems like a children’s game—easy to follow, naïve, sincere—and at other times like an unsolvable crossword puzzle. For three months, the parties and the government circled a table and pretended to make decisions to save the nation. Exactly three months later, the players are tired; the game is over. So, for the first time, Berisha’s DP “betrays” him and makes a decision in favor of the Socialists (and, undoubtedly, the Democrats too). The small parties, who resemble sleepy, naïve children, wake from the dream in which their nanny, the DP, and Auntie PS have rocked them. The old man of the Constitutional Court, Rustem Gjata, waved the decision in his hand ironically, as if to say: “But this was a game, you little rascal!” In this children’s game played by grown men, Vranici has also been assigned a part; this time he opened his bag only at the Presidency, the government, and the headquarters of the DP and the PS. He had brought no chocolates from Aunt Europe for the little ones. The all-Albanian-style campaign continues to entertain itself on the stage of an absurd theatre, where the actors sometimes vent their anger and quarrel, and then start again. The little ones have huddled together in shock, while the big ones continue the race according to the director’s instructions. The people fill the squares, sweat in the halls, listen to the politicians’ bluster, nod their heads, and return whence they came. In the Socialists’ and Democrats’ campaign, there is a great deal of noise about the “blank cheque.” Nano was reminded of March 22, when Berisha’s party won with a colorless cheque under the slogan “we lead, the world helps us.” Nano had been carrying the cheque in his briefcase for days, waiting for the chance to make it public. Namik Dokle’s response in Flag Square was the most exciting moment for the Socialist leader, so he had no reason to keep hiding the cheque. The declaration was public: We will get back 100% of the money lost. Nano’s philosophy is simple: I will return the money you lost. Nano’s philosophy is simple: I promise you the money, you give me your votes. And then? Then...? Just as the DP crossed the river after March 22, so will we. Berisha gets jealous over the cheque being stolen and rushes to Laç, where he declares Fatos Nano a cheque thief. It is reported that Berisha did not say a word about Vision 2000 or the DP’s cheque. He merely attacked the SP’s thievery. For his part, Nano also waved the cheque in the city of Gjirokastër, in the presence of the committees.

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At around 11:00 on Monday, citizen A. M. quarrelled with his mother over problems that are still unknown. During the quarrel, he shot her with a firearm. At the time of the crime, A. M.’s wife was not at home. Their young son, after hearing his father quarrelling with his grandmother, ran quickly to his mother to tell her what was happening. When the son’s wife arrived at the scene at the house, they saw that their son-in-law’s mother had been shot three times by him. They quickly took her to hospital. When they returned from the hospital, they found that their son-in-law had died, having shot himself with the same weapon he had used to shoot his mother. Neither the son nor the mother could be saved, despite the medical assistance they received.

In the photo: Malaj and Nano

The DP cannot collect enough signatures. The CEC found the seal. The Ballists reject Berisha.

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Inside DBSH announces candidacies in 115 electoral districts Page 11 Albania beyond dreams, leeks, Kalashnikovs and elections Page 8 6 tons of hashish confiscated Page 10 VEFA and SILVA liquidate Pages 6, 9, 11