Bezhani sent shivers through those in power and politicians The Nano–Berisha meeting, an alibi for the Socialists. The Democratic deputy recounts his smuggling. Page 4 [Cartoon: signed “MIMOZA”]

The process of governance and the development of democracy in Albania are colliding with trends toward international supervision and punishment. This has also recently been the case with the phenomenon of corruption and crime in general, which has prompted the main European bodies to take action. But what deserves greater emphasis is the unprincipled political conduct of the government cabinet, which adopts entirely manipulative positions, giving corruption a dialectical justification. Prime Minister Nano has treated the fight against corruption as an expression of liberal democracy, as a political commitment rather than an institutional one. Indeed, by apprehending sporadic groups of smugglers operating outside the government corruption chain, Nano and his ministers have rushed to deliver “lessons in democracy” and speak of “institutional schemes” in the fight against organized crime. Thus Continued on page 3

Cinderella in the Hit Parade … and Luciano Pavaroti, competing with one another to sing a duet with her. Papadhe Klintoni attend her concerts... Continued on page 19

ON FIRE The Fierza hydroelectric power station and Lushnja Plastics 600 young people drugged at Elbasan hospital Italian patrol boats turn back a battalion of clandestine migrants at Sazan Page 2 PR: The next paradox: the Prime Minister shifts crime to the North Mediu: The coalition around Nano is nonexistent Berisha: Now let’s organize the protests with celebrations Conflict intensifies among the Coalition parties Gjinushi: The Socialists have scored more own goals Pages 3–4 MASKED MEN abduct two young people. The killer who fired 40 bullets is caught 500 children in hospital because of the heat Kosovo: Children, victims of the horrors of war Pages 5–7

Exclusive for “Republika”: an interview with Moris Dryon, author of the novel “Great Families” and now permanent secretary of the French Academy. Vath Koreshi: “Nonconformism must not take on the color of arrogance.” Short stories, essays and poems by Moikom Zeqo, Alban Bala and Alphonse De Lamartin, as well as travel notes by Naun Kule

The youngest child, and the fourteenth of an illiterate mother, is a great gift: a heavenly voice that has begun to burst onto the public scene over the past two years. Today Celine Dion, thanks to the vocal timbre featured in the film Titanic, is the singer who has sold the most records in the world: 80 million copies. Barbara StreI- The child singing.