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Let us return the power taken from citizens By Fatmir MEDIU I believe that if we analyze political developments over this last decade, and especially these two years of Socialist rule, we reach the conclusion that controlling and manipulating power in the interests of a certain clique has now become the aim of a good part of Albanian politics. These years of Socialist rule could be characterized as years of a great loss of hope, the blocking of economic reforms, the rampant growth of corruption and smuggling, an insecure life, and the direct undermining of the country’s political, social and economic life by Organized Crime, which has become a more powerful structure than the state structure. All of this is directly connected to and supported by the government and politics, which, through the exercise and abuse of power, have enabled this criminal structure to control political developments in the country as well. This became quite clear during September and October of this year. The situation, seemingly hopeless, can and must be confronted only by activating and bringing together all the positive elements of the opposition and Albanian politics, in order to make possible a broad social movement, preceded by clear measures and political ideas. A popular civic movement, bringing together all those who want a different society, who reject a state of crime, corruption and smuggling led by a political establishment, must combine appropriate social protest with concrete policies for overcoming the crisis and Albania’s Euro-Atlantic integration. This is the road to the future. We must think not simply about protesting against this banal regime, but about returning to citizens the power that has been taken from them. Continued on page 3

• The new government of the fictitious coalition will be stronger than before, under party control. • Power—the façade—has been divided into governing fiefdoms. • We will cooperate with the left-wing political spectrum only in the national interest. • We have only one path: to strive to strengthen the Right by expanding our electorate from within. Sabri Godo, chairman of the National Assembly

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A SHORT STORY by Qamil Buxheli; POETRY by Sherif Bali and Minella Kureta; CURIOSITIES from the lives of notable people; GRAPHICS by Medi Belortaja