Terrorism puts the special forces in motion. MP Lesi is threatened; those arrested are released Attack on Arbnori foiled Another scandal at TELEKOM: 200,000 dollars for 12 vehicles, two would not start. The Ministry is concealing corruption through privatization. A contract suited to the industrial mafia Norway asks for the weapons that killed Hajdari. Human trafficking: his second area of interest, p. 2

By Dalip GRECA In Albania, the branches of government are entirely exposed to criticism and thoroughly corrupt. A combination of their temporary nature, extreme politicization, and greed to grab a piece of something has pushed citizens’ distrust of their rulers to an extreme. The upheavals in the executive branch, appointments and dismissals after every election campaign, have brought crisis to all three branches of government: the legislature, the executive and the judiciary. Indeed, the latter, ranked as the “Third Power” (not in terms of importance), has been one of the most talked-about and accused over these eight turbulent years of plunder. In short, it has sold justice as cheaply as a chicken; depending on the price, a criminal has emerged as an angel. The fourth estate remains the most credible. It can neither degenerate nor abuse its power; it has an absolutely incomparable influence on society, whereas when it is misused, it becomes a mechanism that fuels and manipulates baseless opinions. The most typical example is the press being steered during election campaigns. The newspapers’ economic difficulties, their miserable condition (often the “bosses” draw up lists of journalists to be given a home), the need to attract advertising, which only businesses can provide, amid widespread poverty, set the trap into which the press fell of its own accord. The case of the bulletin Spëritin Nazarbo remains quite exceptional: he preserved the honor of the newspaper “Dita Informacion,” accepted no advertising from the parties, and, as a result, was Continued on page 3

Order issued one day before the Referendum: They want to kill him; he is to be guarded strictly. The former parliamentary speaker responds: “They have increased my guards; I do not have a personal weapon” Page 4

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The Prime Minister gets unstuck in Europe, but is stuck with the students PDK recognizes the Constitution and Bushati Page 4

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5 convicts executed. 50 killed on the eve of Ramadan / Terrorist killed by a bomb p. 15

Godo: here is how we will return properties to their rightful owners Page 5 Why Albanians die Alarm over premature births Page 6 Vidohovë, two girls abducted Page 7 Öcalan, an idol for the Kurds, a terrorist for Ankara Pages 16–17 Audiovisual smuggling p. 19 TV Special, 6–12 December p. 20 The 13th week of the Football Championship

THE BROKEN CROSS, by Simon Bushi; MY LIFE LIVES, by Faslli Haliti; FABLES by Ferit Lamaj and A SERIES OF CARICATURES by Medi Belortaja Pages 11–14