The Search Page 3

“Republika” continues publishing the lists Page 15

The SP opens and closes the Congress Ruçi beats Majko Page 6

EDITORIAL By Neritan ALIBALI Director of the newspaper “Republika” A few days ago, the Albanian Government pompously announced that it had allocated the Albanian press an aid fund of 60 million lek from the state budget. The Government’s decision comes more than two years after the media’s persistent request for the creation of tax and customs concessions, with the aim of reducing publishing costs. But “curiously,” after two years of deafness, precisely on the eve of the local elections, the government in power “remembered” the press’s forgotten requests. In fact, the Government’s decision followed reflection on the pronounced professional and financial weaknesses of some pro-government newspapers. In this respect, the Government’s financial assistance has come at the right time. Any Albanian who can at least read and write, if they glanced at the amounts allocated to each newspaper, would understand that the sole distribution criterion has been political. In other words, saving pro-government newspapers from bankruptcy and using them further for the forthcoming election campaign. Under these circumstances, the newspaper “Republika” finds itself in a difficult position. The Government has tried to use it and several other opposition newspapers to conceal its true purpose. But “Republika” cannot become a fig leaf for the Government. It cannot endorse decisions, even governmental ones, behind which dubious aims are concealed. The state’s “alms” are not the way to help the Albanian press. On the contrary, they are a glaring display of its true face. If the Government truly wants to help the press, it knows what it should do. But if its aim is to distribute its own propaganda instruments, then let it do so; that is its business.

In Albania, epidemics enter “duty-free” Vaccination will not even reach 70 percent. The vaccination campaign planned to begin in September is now said to have been called into question. Infectious-disease doctors at Tirana Central Polyclinic tell “Republika” that “health services in the districts have not been functioning properly for some time.” A large part of the population appears not to be listed in any register, while health records have almost fallen out of use. Around forty percent of the population living in remote areas of the country risks remaining unvaccinated. This is because sanitary inspection no longer exists, while, covering the entire country, the campaign will reach only 70%.

Kejdi Korte recruited police officers and bankers The Tirana Prosecutor’s Office has finally “tied up” the criminal case against the mega-swindler, Kejdi Kote. Accused of stealing the staggering sum of 250 million lek from the Savings Bank—a sum taken through fraud and document forgery—the 26-year-old Kote risks being sentenced to up to fifteen years in prison. That is what the indictment provides, and it is reported that the same fate awaits the 15 accomplices in his network, whose daily activities included forging documents and committing theft using forged documents. Kejdi Kote has admitted the charge. Page 4

Theatre Page 22

The court upholds the prosecutor’s recommendation Page 5

The candidate list is expected to be announced Page 2

Petition to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Order Page 7

Reports, analysis, commentary, curiosities, predictions Everything from the European Football Championship, in Belgium, the Netherlands... and Tirana. Only 20 lek for both newspapers together Pages 11, 12, 13, 14