An international swindler, owner of Albania’s AMC PAGE 3

cosmote Sokratis Kokkalis the new owner of AMC, accused by the Greek Prosecutor’s Office of bribing senior officials in the countries where he invests

EDITORIAL By Fatmir MEDIU Ten years ago, trying to leave the past behind, we hoped that the future would bring freedom, democracy, human rights, free enterprise and a government that would derive its mandate from a free vote. But today, general social depression is at risk of turning into social hatred, which would cause irreparable conflicts for the country’s future, thus creating an irreparable handicap, as well as leaving the country hostage to random individuals who use power for their personal ends. The departure of businesspeople, along with their capital, because of the lack of state support and insecurity, is impoverishing Albania economically, causing even the little foreign currency generated to leave our financial structures. This is the visible part of the [unclear] threatening our shared future. Revenues from drug trafficking amount to billions of dollars, while the state budget is only in the hundreds. More than 8,000 killed in 3 years, more than 30,000 Albanian girls prostituting themselves on the streets of the world, more than 3,500 children begging. Is this not a true social tragedy? Is this not the destruction of what we have held dearer than anything else, the family? and a government that would emerge from the free vote. For now, general social depression risks the future of the country. The mass departure of young people, drug trafficking and prostitution are leaving Albania without the support of that part of society which sustains a nation. The departure of more than 200,000 intellectuals from Albania is causing the disintegration of the nation’s brain, creating a government that would emerge from the free vote. But today, general social depression risks the future of the country. This is the visible part of the iceberg. Because the most invisible part is also the most dangerous. Organized crime and the political mafia have now become the controllers of Albanians’ lives. The local and regional mafia, with direct ties to the country’s government, are kill- [fragment begins mid-sentence] who prostitute themselves on the streets of the world, and over 3,500 children who beg. the destruction of what we have held more precious than anything else, the family? About 2,000 years ago, when the great battle between Christ and the Devil was being fought, in Israel a student asked his teacher who would fight the Devil, and when? And the teacher replied: “Who, if not you? And when, if not now?…”

Terror returns to the town of Laç The people who held the new Police Commissioner, Luan Mema, hostage for several hours gathered on a hill near the town. There they were surrounded by special forces who had arrived in the town urgently. The police have taken no action against them (as this would have further heightened the tension), while those surrounded spent the whole night setting off bombs and firing bursts into the air. Minister Poçi summons all directors of departments at the Ministry of Public Order to an extraordinary meeting. The head of the Laç crime unit, who signed the “agreement” with the group of kidnappers, is dismissed from his post. Page 2

Municipalities under the government’s “thumb” 151 employees of the Supreme State Audit, along with 19.65 million new lekë, will be transferred to Fino’s Ministry, and 15 employees, along with a further 2.35 million lekë, will be transferred to the Ministry of Finance. Along with the millions of lekë, the salary funds for 166 employees are also being transferred, together with the inventory of equipment, transport vehicles and office premises. Page 6

The “Erieta” case: Investigators accuse prosecutors The evidence and testimonies of UNICEF have been called into question. They are believed to have disappeared, since the prosecutors have not provided them to investigators for further verification. The Tirana Prosecutor’s Office, which is investigating the murder of Erieta Avdyli, has ignored UNICEF’s testimony. The information and testimony provided by the head of the organization named UNICEF, which deals with and cares for children, have not been made public on the grounds that “they are confidential for investigative reasons.” Page 5

Spokesperson Porta: He does not communicate with us Page 4

FUNDS Page 9

Today, at 11:00, at the PRSH headquarters, the Party leadership will hold a press conference.