THE DISCOVERY Prosecutor’s Office: The treasury door was made of plywood Page 3

Pages 4–5

EDITORIAL By Agim BAÇI We are losing ourselves! A monastery put up for auction just like a pasta factory, an amphitheater whose bricks are stolen, castles turned into hotels, museums looted as if they were market stalls... We are stealing from and destroying ourselves with our own hands. As we lose what belongs to us and what we should leave to future generations, we risk losing, too, that pride others bequeathed to us over the centuries. For ... [?] after us, there should remain [?] what we are giving away, or what we are destroying with our own hands. It is true that a poor people may not have much opportunity to pay such close attention to “old things,” to “the things of our grandfathers,” when it has to secure fresh bread, which every day must pass through the hands of children. But this lack of attention cannot be justified in the case of a group of people paid to uphold the law; it cannot be justified in the case of those who take away their bread, steal and destroy their history, because history cannot be put off until next year. A prime minister, a government, a culture minister, or an entire party—which at times may even constitute the national wealth—can be replaced, but what our grandfathers entrusted to us can never be restored. ... Albanians, whose present and future have been called into question, now risk losing even that little bit of national identity [?] ... loneliness and destroy ourselves with our own hands. As we are losing future generations, we risk losing even that pride which others bequeathed to us over the centuries. Thirsty for money, left behind for money, exhausted by money, we risk being left with nothing of ourselves. This, without realizing that we will have to spend far more than we can earn now just to obtain even a crumb of that new bread which must pass through children’s hands every day. But this thoughtlessness cannot be excused in a group of people who are paid to uphold the law; it cannot be excused in those people who put bread on their children’s table precisely by reciting those lines protected by votes of every color. Thus, before a minister referees two matches, which may be quite enjoyable, he should referee those who in broad daylight ... national, may be replaced, but what our grandparents entrusted to us cannot possibly be replaced. ... Albanians, having had their present and future called into question, risk losing even the little national identity inherited from generation to generation. If we do not hurry to put something right at this moment, a little later we will have to buy our Albanian identity for ten times what we think we are gaining today.

The number of “insane” killers is rising 10 million lek in the hands of forensic medical experts, and within a short time he gets out of prison even though he is accused of a serious crime. This is what happened to the citizen Florenc Polovina, who, using his methods, managed to obtain a psychiatric record and was out of prison within a few days, only to return to a life of crime. This has happened in Albania not only with Polovina, but with other killers as well. So we are in luck, because being insane comes with many advantages: indeed, some people can get out of prison. If you obtain a medical report stating mental incapacity, you bear no responsibility before the law and become untouchable by it. Page 9

... and the troubles never end The Municipality is facing its most difficult process: the forms must begin to be distributed to the polling stations, and voter registration must be completed door to door. Meanwhile, it seems that everything is continuing by inertia, with no implementing regulations and “no funds approved.” The Ministry of Local Government responds to the Municipality’s endless requests for funds with complete silence. Until Brojka’s bonuses for municipal officials run out—the payments for the election campaign keep flowing—the Ministry of Fino seems to have no intention of making itself heard. Page 2

Tirana, filth and epidemics Rats are changing Tirana’s demographic makeup. They have multiplied so much that they have become a serious concern for the Municipality. The disinfection center is asking for 2 million lekë to reduce their numbers, since eliminating them altogether is out of the question. According to reports from the heads of various directorates, the capital’s cleanliness has reached rock bottom; moreover, there is a sense that it is impossible to improve the situation at a time when the responsibilities undertaken are not being carried out. Page 11

By Patrick GRAHAM Albanian Gangs Take Over Italy Page 7

CEC, the President’s “exclusive prerogative” Page 2