No society could exist if people—let alone government officials—were completely selfish. Neither markets nor governments can exist with people who have no ability to reflect, to make at least something of other people's experience their own. The wage-increase package does not serve the government's social goals, but its political marketing. “The state of crisis has been overcome,” declared yesterday at a press conference the economic adviser to Prime Minister Nano, Nuli's notorious therapist, Gramoz Pashko. The Socialist government officials are more interested in prestige and power than in the sound management of monetary revenues. Adviser Pashko's statement is guided by a personal interpretation of the public interest, filtered through all the layers of private interests. The ultimate test of politicians is securing net revenues and fulfilling their social responsibilities. Albania is a country with large current-account deficits and has accumulated foreign debt to finance the deficit, since more is spent than produced in our country. In this way, the arguments of the government's economic advisers serve politics merely to fulfill its selfish goals. Why should the demagoguery of figures and short-term political constructions continue to justify long-term economic losses—

Blushi: There are spies in the Prime Minister's Office. Gjinushi does not want Berisha to come out “hidden” Investigation into the Fino Cabinet Ministers accused of failing to report a crime. Vukaj reveals Zhulali's secret—the document bearing the former minister's signature. SHIK is checking Brokaj's files Page 5

Interview, Page 16 Interview Page 16

I can't bring myself to touch this file ...

Page 17

Unidentified corpse in the hospital elevator

Ready for trial The Plaku case: He burned 6 Albanians in Greece Page 2

Mediu: DBSH has defined its role and alliances The Constitution: no room for comments PSD: The coalition has problems Ballists: For or against DBSH Page 3 PD: The troika is deceptive The chairman of the Vlorë Democrats walks out of the meeting Page 4 The brothers of the bigwigs take over customs posts; the younger Blushi at the Gorricë Customs Office, Bashkim Zeneli's brother in Durrës Page 9

Today, “Republika” has 24 pages. As every Sunday, the literary supplement too.