Ministers accused: Drugs and women Ministers accused Drugs and women PAGE 3

EDITORIAL By Neritan ALIBALI The High Council of Justice appointed judge Pranvera Strakosha to the position of deputy head of the Court of First Instance in Tirana. The former candidate for People’s Advocate, nominated by the President of the Republic, thus managed, with Meidani’s wholehearted support, to take over one of the main castles of the Albanian Justice system, built of sand. The former ordinary judge of Tirana’s Court of First Instance, now its deputy head, had a criminal record in 1992 for participating in a sordid illegal adoption affair. After the criminal case was opened, Strakosha secretly left Albania and returned only after the Amnesty was announced. The ordinary citizen Rexhep Meidani is not obliged to know all these things. But does President Meidani know? Do his services function? The insistence on finding Strakosha a position at all costs may bear the presidential seal. But presidential grace cannot cover the influx of such people, of dubious morals, into the upper structures of Albanian Justice. Today, more than yesterday, Justice feels threatened. Tomorrow, more than today, Albanian citizens will be unprotected. The state’s immorality threatens citizens more than ever. And not only them, but also the institutions of democracy. The level of democracy in a country depends first and foremost on the justice afforded to its citizens. But does Meidani know this? The President of the Republic knows how to wave the Constitution, smile at the moon, water the flowers, greet the dogs. But he does not know how to protect his citizens. So why do we need such a president?!

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its citizens. But does Meidani know this?

Yesterday, Albanian national team player Igli Tare scored 4 goals, becoming the leading figure for his team, Kaiserslautern, in the match against Ulm. The match ended 6-2 in favor of Tare’s team (first half 1-1)

TIRANA/ Health authorities sound the alarm over an epidemic The hygiene office at Tirana Municipality is concerned about the contamination of drinking water. According to specialists at this office, the problem of leaks resulting from ruptured pipes, which are close to sewage water, has caused drinking water to become contaminated on a considerable scale. It has thus become a very serious risk for the spread of epidemic diseases. The state, for its part, declares itself powerless to improve the situation Page 19

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EASTER GREETINGS The editorial staff of REPUBLIKA wishes all Albanian Orthodox believers: HAPPY EASTER