Hot spots, beyond the observers’ sight. Lazarat, Tropoja and Kukës are erased from the electoral map Doris Pak: Albanians, go and vote! I am saddened by the Democratic Party. Without a Constitution, foreign investors will not come.

P. 9

Trying to write about the Other Albania,

Trying to write about the Other Albania, especially today, when media images around the world have unfortunately equated Albanians with the new barbarians, may sound like a national adventure, or at the very least, propaganda. Nevertheless, it is never too late nor inappropriate to ask the question: Does the Other Albania exist? Is Albania only the land of Kalashnikovs, the land of the “boat people,” the land of blood feuds, the land of pyramid schemes, the land of pothole-ridden roads? Is there anything else, beyond these things, in what the media has already dubbed the European Far West? Are there other people from this country, who are called neither Fatos Nano nor Sali Berisha? Are there other people in Albania besides those who shout at election rallies? In other words, is there any Albanian who is not a “communist rebel” or a “democratic bandit”? Do beautiful girls, love poems, literary evenings, books, paintings exist? Or are we dealing with a cultural and intellectual desert, where everything has dried up and died? Does another Albania exist, then? Usually, when Albanians want to show the Other Albania—that is, cultural Albania, or what is called Albanian civilization—they hasten to mention a few names. First, the name of Mother Teresa, who was born into an Albanian family in Skopje and who, although she spoke only a few words of Albanian, did not hesitate to Continued on page 4

Page 7 Medu in Strasbourg: An international court would stop criminals in power in their tracks Begeja: YES to the Constitution — room for national unification P. 3

Viz: Medi Belortaja

17 Special feature on foreign observers No hope for Ali-muçajn The plaintiff from the President’s Cabinet in court The robbers split up The fuel robbers are arrested Spahiu and Shehu remain in prison Page 13 Northern roads blocked Dardha does not have its tail behind it The drug addict’s drama in the courtroom Pages 5–6