“Republika” continues publishing the lists Page 15

Vangjel Kosta declared wanted Page 3

EDITORIAL A lot of drugs for Albania The latest drug shipment seized at one of Tirana’s boutiques, whose name is familiar to many, although many people, for one reason or another, know about drug problems and “brands,” was dismissed as something minor, yet it once again brought to light one of the biggest problems and wounds Albania is grappling with today. “Drugs, what should we do?” our western neighbors, the Italians, asked more than 25 years ago, when its use was becoming a major international problem for their country. The same situation was also unfolding in Parliament, consuming hour after hour of debates and discussions and mobilizing entire contingents of specialists, politicians, and even ordinary police officers in the fight against it. In Albania, however, even though the country has long since become a major international trafficking hub; even though drugs, with their “prices,” are claiming the lives of ever more young people; even though crime and smuggling directly connected with them have, in the past year alone and in Tirana alone, led to 23 serial murders; even though the seized shipments are growing ever “heavier” in weight and quantity; and even though the means of transport have become so widespread that all kinds of mules and donkeys have also been brought into the game, we have not heard Parliament discuss this problem seriously even once. Meanwhile, the Government considers its work done with a few posters and slogans, whose publication seemed intended more to draw the press into an absurd cooperation than to genuinely fight drugs, their scale, and their consequences. “Drugs, what should we do?” More than anyone else, parents—and even the victims of drugs themselves—seem troubled by this dilemma, more so than the state itself. Perhap[?] they have not [text unclear] nationwide problem for their country. More or less the same situation is being repeated in our country today, but… unfortunately, it seems that few people care. In Italy at that time, and even today, drug problems are raised… [the source text is duplicated and corrupted here] “prices,” are taking the lives of young people one after another; in the past year alone and in Tirana alone, caused means of transport have become so widespread that [text unclear] an absurd cooperation than to realistically the state itself. Perhaps the citizens of this country are not wrong when, more than anyone else, they accuse Albanian officials of this gigantic traffic, of biblical proportions.

Security measure for the drug traffickers from the Sonila boutique Turkish national Xhevdet Çelik and an Albanian married couple, arrested on Saturday evening in Tirana, will have the security measure assessed today by a judicial panel in the capital. The Tirana Prosecutor’s Office received all the materials yesterday morning concerning the case involving the seizure of 69 kg of pure marijuana (out of the 100 reported by the Police), which was confiscated at the “Sonila” boutique near the Faculty of Law. All materials gathered by the Tirana Police Directorate and the Anti-Drug Sector were immediately placed at the disposal of the prosecutors and investigators.

PR and “Pronësi me Drejtësi,” changes to Law 7698 The Republican Party and the “Pronësi me Drejtësi” association are beginning an offensive to introduce several significant changes to draft law 7698, concerning the definitive regulation of ownership of land plots and buildings. Republican MP Sabri Godo presented yesterday, at a meeting of the Assembly’s Bureau, the initiative of the PR and the “Pronësi me Drejtësi” association regarding the draft law, through which several property regulations would be made possible. This law has created confusion in returning properties to their rightful owners, as it has created opportunities for abuse. Page 4

Italian Anti-Mafia reveals the secrets of Italian-Albanian crime Page 5 France champions

Dispute over the new administrative division Page 2

Viruses / Around 90 children fall ill every day Page 9

Page 3 Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2000 07:38:03 -0800 (PST) From: Erjeta Sokoli <sokolien@yahoo.com> | Block address Subject: Cudia. To: puci88@hotmail.com Dear sister Bet, I was left with... I was afraid you might have eaten the goose neck. Those two pills made me vomit a little, and on Saturday morning my stomach was a mess. Anyway, we set off, and around Librazhd, which is a dead area and makes you feel sad when you see those desolate places, I got carsick. Violeta was so upset and kept saying, “Oh God, I feel so bad for you.” We arrived in Ohr at 12:00 noon; it was a very beautiful city. We had lunch in an old-fashioned place made only of stone and wood, and at 4:00 in the afternoon we set off to return. On the way back I got sick only once, but my stomach was a mess and hurt a lot. He felt bad. Bereta, I don’t know, but he acts crazy about me; I’ve got myself into trouble. I thought he’d get over it with time, but no, girl, he acts madly in love with me. We were in Tirana at 8:00 in the evening. I was nearly fainting, while he was almost crying. He walked me home. When Mum and Dad saw me, they were frightened. “Oh God, you’ve gone so pale,” they said. You know what those two are like; they started fussing, and Dad put my feet in hot water, because I had these chills. I don’t know what happened to me. I’m still like this today; I can’t put anything in my mouth because I throw up, and I can’t stand any kind of smell without feeling sick. I’m afraid I might be pregnant; I can hardly wait to finish work and go see a doctor. If I am pregnant, I absolutely have to have it removed, maybe tomorrow. Dritani comes back next Monday, so I have time to find out. Oh well, hopefully nothing’s wrong with me. They told me a flu virus is going around and that it causes vomiting and diarrhea, chills, but what kind of flu virus gives you vomiting and shaking, chills, but no fever? Hopefully I’ve caught the flu and not… Now I’ll write again tomorrow to tell you how it went at the doctor’s. Lots of kisses, Eri.