The Ministry admits the abuse “We broke the law; the world accepted it” Page 3

EDITORIAL By Agim BAÇI Dream or tender... If you were to ask Albanians in mid-July 2000 whether they would like a dream to come true or to run a tender, undoubtedly most Albanians would choose the latter. Not because Albanians do not know how to dream. Not at all. But simply because, with a tender, they have now gained the greatest confidence that they can make quite a lot... Thus, driven mad by the [opportunities?] that a ministry can offer some of its employees, a tender is held. And in the end, the tender is won by someone who can provide “tourists” with grilled meat at roadside establishments... The ministry is satisfied with this. The tender winner is too... Meanwhile, to the “amazement” of Albanians, even before the documents are prepared for important tenders, especially for projects that will be strategic in the future of the economy, [steps are taken?]. And again, everything continues with the same regularity, with exactly the same kind of winners and the same promises from opponents... It is still not known where we are running to. It is still not known how we will get there. It is not known whether we took [it] from the government or from ourselves, from our children’s future. What Albanians have learned is the strange way government officials become rich. And after every name of a former official or …from the latter. It is not that But only that, with tenders, they have now gained maximum confidence that they can win quite a lot... Thus, crazy about the new choice, about “world progress,” in all the ministries, departments, or anything still called state-owned, you see paperwork being prepared to carry out a tender. Indeed, even for a trip that …the department is at risk. Fallen, as a tender as well, perhaps... Meanwhile, to the “astonishment” of Albanians, just before the documents for important tenders are prepared—especially for projects with a strategic future in the economic life of Albanians—the quality of the objectives put up for privatization falls to its lowest level. Alongside this “coincidence” stands the promise by political opponents to cancel these

The National Privatization Agency carried out the tender with only one participant Page 3

Official investigations begin into “Sarandopulos” Erieta Avdyli was murdered because of her work. This is the latest theory put forward by the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office, while it was officially stated yesterday that the company where she worked for nearly two years, the Romanati corpse [sic], has been included in the investigation. The leads previously put forward by a group of prosecutors and investigators from the prosecution service in the capital appear to be fading, as other versions of the murder are emerging. Now, in addition to UNICEF, the “Sarandopulos” company has also been added to the never-ending list of investigations in the “Erieta” file. It is no longer being described as a crime committed for the sake of love or sexual relations, but as a crime carried out solely because of her work. Page 7

Drug investigation into the “Sonila” network expands The discovery and seizure of more than 69 kg of cannabis (narcotic powder) two weeks ago, in a luxury boutique in the center of the capital, has been entered in the latest reports of the Albanian Police. But alongside the three people arrested—the boutique’s owners, one Turkish citizen and two Albanian spouses—a considerable number of people have been placed under investigation. For now, the relevant authorities are refraining from commenting on the progress of the investigation and on whether or not this is a case involving a large trafficking network. Page 14

Brojka opposes the mini-municipalities Dividing Tirana into several municipalities is causing a clash between central and local government. Tirana Mayor Albert Brojka yesterday firmly rejected the latest idea put forward by the Socialists, specifically by the local head of the Socialist Party, Musa Ulqini, to divide Tirana into four municipalities, whose leaders would be elected by vote. Page 2

Healthcare Page 15

Enforcement cannot collect the fines imposed by the Court; So far, 350 hectares of forest have burned; International actors reject the government’s plans Enforcement cannot collect the fines imposed by the Court SHISH, millions of lek unpaid Page 8 So far, 350 hectares of forest have burned Albania, “Fire Risk” Page 9 International actors reject the government’s plans Administrative division fails Page 2