The police load their guns PAGE 2

EDITORIAL By Neritan ALIBALI In Albania there are two categories of people: the faithless and the hopeless. This is no discovery. On the contrary, it is a reality known to everyone. The two categories live together in harmony and peace. The faithless deceive, while the hopeless hope. In fact, faith and hope have long since lost their real value. Because those who pledge their word to serve the citizens serve themselves. While those who hope in the word of those in power are, in fact, killing their own hope. So, each one spends on themselves, follows their own path, or tends to their own troubles. But, while “taking care”... to live in peace and harmony. Indeed, in freedom and democracy, too. That is, to be free to be faithless. Or to have the right to be without hope. A “pure” Albanian reality. Where those in power have delegated to God the task of looking after the citizens. While granting themselves the right to abuse power, to forget their oath; to break their word... A reality in which citizens believe you more when you deceive them. Love you more when you spit on them. Hand over the keys when you ransack their homes. An Albanian reality, then... “pure.” As never before. A tragic comedy, or a comic tragedy. Where nobody laughs. Nor cries. Where everyone is silent... or screams. A gigantic stage where the faithless hold their heads high, their eyes turned toward the sky... while the faithless wreak havoc.

Specialists unravel organized crime It kills with a single bullet, and only in a few cases is a Kalashnikov used. The victims are mainly those who have fallen out in drug-trafficking, clandestine-migration and prostitution deals. For 1998–1999 alone, statistics from the Ministry of Public Order report that “23 human corpses have been found on Mount Dajti, on the outskirts of Tirana”; they are believed to be the work of the mafia that exists in Albania and is gaining more and more ground every day. Page 5

Sponsors the expenses of the children of Albanian ministers abroad A former minister speaks about the Government’s scandals In exchange for this act of charity, the Government waives the Greek company’s obligation to pay the several-million-dollar cost of extending deadlines on Albania’s road assets. “More than 15 million euros have been received by Sa-Fa, without even 40 percent of the work having been completed, while the funding made available by the PHARE programme is 20 million euros for completion of the entire project.” Shuli was sponsored by Be-Ha-Se to spend a few pleasant days last summer in Turkey’s most luxurious hotels, where just one night’s accommodation and other expenses cost 1,000 dollars. Page 9

The police call for tougher legislation Page 6

Ministers: 600 million lekë in 6 months Page 8

On Saturday, 20 May, at 11:00, a meeting with the chairpersons of the Republican Party branches in the districts will be held at the Central Headquarters, with the following agenda: “Electoral preparations and the organizational activity of the branches” THE PRESIDENCY