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The Presidency breaks its silence on “impartiality” P. 3

By AGIM BAÇI Albania’s two major parties displayed their aggressive traits and dashed Albanians’ hopes of having, after nine years of democracy and on the threshold of the new millennium, liberal and democratic parties capable of guaranteeing a state for their citizens. The former prime minister of [text cut off] appeared routinely at those forums from which those in power emerge. At almost no conference was the foremost issue what should be done for Albanians, what would take Albania to Europe, or, more importantly, what would restore dignity to the people of this country. Drowned in debates [text cut off] the party in power accused its party of dictatorial methods and political persecution, while the deputy leader of the largest opposition party withdrew from competing with his leader because he had no hope of real reform in his party and because of the lack of internal democracy. Nano and Pollo, each accusing their own party, not only aired the “old truths” about these two parties to Albanians, but also dimmed hopes that the two parties could reach an agreement to build a state, through a government formed by normal elections, as routinely happens in every country with genuine citizens and politicians. But what frightened Albanians most over the past few days, and was formalized during the campaign surrounding the two congresses, was the poverty of the intellectual debate accompanying—and continuing to accompany—the conferences of these two parties’ branches. This showed that wise and nationalist thinking must wait even longer for the Albanians, for what will take Albania to Europe or, more importantly, restore dignity to the people of this country. Mired in squabbles over positions, accusations of smuggling and corruption, insults involving mothers-in-law and brides, stories of betrayals and spying, and names of agents and double agents, these conferences plunged ordinary Albanians into an abyss of mistrust. They want a little bit of state, so they can live peacefully from their own sweat and in their own homes. Thus, after nine years of hope, Albanians heard from debates within their “beloved” parties nothing but the echo of applause for their hope of a job—a hope that remains in their outstretched hand as they wait to see a different day, with different people who think of a different kind of state, where they need not be afraid to return to their homes late at night. The two Albanian parties, masters of power during the past nine years, are putting on one of their old shows, but this time in public: it is up to the citizens whether to applaud or choose other actors...

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Presidency-Prime Minister, silence on the Majko–Klosi conflict P. 3 Free capital, a risk for the emergence of pyramid schemes P. 9

P. 3 In search of El Dorado Satire by Qamil Buxhel P. 13