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Albanian fighters, like the American National Guard P. 4

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It is time to set aside secondary issues and achieve a democratic civilization, Prime Minister Majko said yesterday during a meeting with Socialist local-government leaders. But the prime minister did not show the way to achieve this “civilization.” For the Republicans, there is only one path leading to “democratic civilization”: establishing the institutions of liberal democracy and fully developing them, in accordance with the means and rules of the game. Majko “lectured” in an euphoric tone and with overt arrogance, not as the head of the Executive, but as an ordinary party activist. Although the new constitution has come into force, the institutions are completely paralyzed, the sense of the law has not developed, while legal theory is only in its earliest stages. Above all, political accountability is an extraordinary phenomenon. Majko’s gesture in seeking democracy contains theatrical and folkloric elements. The prime minister shifts the focus of interest toward the coming elections and the fear that his party might lose. However much sympathy and commitment may be expressed toward the general orientation and democratic values, there is no widespread faith in universal reason or in rational and humane political action. It seems that Majko, in his great desire to please the “civilized world,” has been unable to identify his inferiority complex; that is why he seeks to perform his duty in a manner Continued on page 3

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Albania, this tired and unpastured cow By Pëllumb KULLA The history of the world is better understood if we say that its thread can be traced through economic explanations. This is how we understand why half the communist world crumbled and surrendered to the other half. This P. 6

All the arrests of Zani have taken place after an exchange of gunfire. That is what happened when he was arrested in Greece. The same happened in Vlora in September ’97. The capo’s psychology is such that he is afraid to surrender to the cops without an exchange of gunfire. Knowing Zani’s psychology, one can see very well that the hours of fate and the state are moving against him... P. 20

Humorous Caprice Leka Buno How Blerim Çela appointed Skënderbeu as a customs officer in Kakavijë and how Nikollë Lesi helped him escape P. 24

P. 19 FITNETE TUDA: My sentimental life

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“Far from the Homeland,” a story by Anton Çehov; “I Want to Be Rozafë,” poetry by Eva Dori; “With the Language of the Soul,” a story by Agim Jazaj; “I Await Your Fruits Feverishly,” poetry by Vasili Bozo; “Shine in the Sun,” an essay by Ylli Xhaferi.

• Arben Imami will relinquish the ministerial portfolio • NATO blocks Russia’s path to Kosovo Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary: a bloc with the West