Pollo: First, let’s find the anti-corruption formula
P. 3
Republika
16 December 1999
Melo: I cannot say yes to the PS Convention
P. 5
Berisha: PD against participating in the anti-corruption effort
P. 5
Government officials’ files closed
P. 2
Criminals take refuge in Kosovo
Albanian criminals have now descended on Kosovo in search of a new area in which to operate or a refuge where they can evade the Albanian Police.
P. 5
Ismet Haxhia testifies at the Prosecutor’s Office
He has been informed about the conversations and investigations concerning the “Hajdari” case. Two open letters published in one of the Albanian dailies have now become indisputable evidence.
P. 2
Meta removes the Commandos from the Port of Durrës
Prime Minister Ilir Meta has “corrected” the mistake of his predecessor Majko, ensuring himself longevity in the post of head of government...
P. 5
The road to Independence: The new administrative council for Kosovo
The majority is abusing Albania’s exclusion from the Council of Europe
By Aleksandër Garruli
The crime rate is one of the fundamental problems of present-day Albanian society. This fact should be one of the main concerns of the governing majority, which should take action specifically to reduce the crime rate.
From this perspective, the question of whether or not the death penalty should be applied must be considered. If the parliamentary governing majority, through its institutions such as the Constitutional Court, blocks the death penalty, this will show how the PS and its instruments view ways of fighting crime. Thus, the question “What arguments are there for abolishing the death penalty?” can be answered quite simply: there are no arguments for it, other than “an order” from the Council of Europe. But have Albania’s representatives asked the Council of Europe negotiators: Why should it be abol[?]
(Continued on page 3)
Meta “misuses” the opposition
Meta does not know what the anti-corruption commission is; he did not know when he proposed it. He did not know when he offered it to the opposition, the Friends of Albania, and he still does not know today. Unfortunately, it is not only Meta, but also those close to him.
This is an attempt to abuse the opposition, to draw it into a discussion about a commission that he himself does not even know what it is. In the discussions that have taken place, the idea of several levels of commissions has been raised. The opposition’s participation was discussed in the context of a monitoring commission that would not be subordinate to the government and would operate independently.
So Meta has no clear ideas and continues not to have any, since he does not know what is going on. The Prime Minister remains abusive in his dealings with the opposition, from his first proposal up to now. He must come out and say what the status of the monitoring commission is, how it will be composed, and what its relationship will be with the institutions of the Albanian state. If he provides these answers, he would make the matter clearer and enable the opposition to be given a more concrete role.
Argument
Why should the death penalty not be abolished?