Agim Tirana exclusively for “Republika” The secrets of the former minister’s cassette Testimonies about Azem’s murder Page 5

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Brother Nik Rosaj is in Italy by speedboat. He left just one day after his sister was killed Page 6

EDITORIAL By Genci ÇOBANI The United States ambassador in Tirana issued yet another warning yesterday about Albania and its internal developments. Although, as an experienced diplomat, he managed to formulate careful phrases concerning the state’s relationship with corruption and its “corrosive capabilities” at the present stage of Albanian society, the head of American diplomacy in our country also knew how to make clear the danger threatening us. We have no reason to expect more from the ambassador of a friendly country. It is not his job to tell us how corruption should be fought, or what should be done to separate the state from its structures, just as it must be separated from crime as soon as possible. The latter is now managing to kill even the cream of the Police, while the state confines itself to statements and displays excessive grief over the lives of its police officers lost. Can things get any worse?! Today’s government officials, on the contrary, say that things are not so bad, that crime is being fought, and as proof they cite the fact that the Police (to paraphrase a well-known Labëria expression) “has taken another one from us.” But it should not be forgotten that the life of a police officer, even an ordinary one, is worth far more than 100 criminal heads put together; it is worth more, indeed, than all the governments that play games, boast and make light of their blood, while abolishing the Death Penalty, supposedly out of humanity(!). Mr. Limprecht did not say that Albania has a high level of corruption. And there was no way he could say that. His position does not allow it, and unlike our politicians, Western diplomats know the rules of the game and know how to follow them. But Mr. Limprecht did not say that there is no corruption in Albania either. On the contrary, his warning was clear: If corruption is not fought, the country in which it flourishes will end up like Colombia. In reality, we have ended up worse than Colombia—not with one, but with many Escobars; not operating illegally, but vested with power and considerable political immunity... Worse than Colombia

Arben Zylyftari is given his final farewell A black veil has fallen over the museum city, 24 hours before the lifeless body of the young man from Berat arrived; he lost his life during an operation to capture two criminals. Hundreds and thousands of citizens have arrived to stand beside his parents, brothers, and wife with their two children, Eni, 9, and Franci, 4, and help ease the grief of Arben Zylyftari’s loved ones. At around 1:00 p.m., the body of the slain colonel arrived in the city, accompanied by a cortege of more than 30 cars that had set out from Tirana. For over two hours, Arben’s lifeless body rested in the family home. Those two hours were filled with wailing and tears... Page 2

Limprecht: The Consular Office opens on September 5

The Consulate will be open to everyone seeking visas for temporary stays in the USA. A little later than this date, the office itself will issue the instructions Albanian citizens must follow to apply for visas. Starting October 2, the Consular Office will begin interviewing those who won the American “Green Card” Lottery. In this way, according to Mr. Xhons, Albanian citizens will no longer have to travel to Athens, Greece, to apply for this type of visa. Page 3

The electoral platform fuels a dispute among the Socialists Edi Rama is facing opposition from Tirana’s Socialists for the first time over bringing his electoral program under the Socialist format. Thus, at a meeting held at the Socialist Party’s central headquarters, party chairman Fatos Nano seems to have wanted to play the role of referee between Rama, recently chosen as the PS candidate for Tirana Municipality, and Ulqini. Page 4

Blood feuds Page 7

There are no extraditions, prisons are lacking Page 9

The much-discussed wage increase is only 769 lekë Page 13

“Precious” minerals cause losses Page 12