Albanians’ applications are canceled Thousands of envelopes end up in the trash Page 7

EDITORIAL By Agim BAÇI Who is held hostage by the Azem Hajdari precedent? Are we left with no MP, no political leader and no father to a family, or with a story that can cast suspicion on every legal, political or moral institution? Are we dealing with a murdered politician, or with a story that has killed and may kill politics again? Two years later, with no legally accused murderer and many suspected murderers, disappearing one after another, we remain hostage to a story that blackens all the last 10 years during which we think we have been living in a democracy... A group of prosecutors, just two years later, half-heartedly admits what it had vehemently denied on the night of the murder. At the head of the largest party in power stands the person who seemed to be the sole victim of the anger. Meanwhile, the people who were angry two years ago find it hard to believe that even a corner of a daily newspaper—which counts the days passing while his murderers remain concealed—will disappear. Who is held hostage by the Hajdari precedent, and can it be resolved only if the party to which he belonged comes to power? Will we be able to restore the political morality shaken by the murder on the night of 12 September if, days or years later, we declare some people who have disappeared to be the murderers? (At least the prime minister himself did not hesitate to warn that Hajdari’s murderers were being [unclear]!). The Hajdari precedent, caught amid the prosecutors’ all-encompassing mystery and the failed trial of 14 September, will continue to hang over the history of politics for as long as all the party and state protagonists fail to sit down and explain what that night destroyed in the life of this country. The Hajdari case may be resolved not so much by finding and punishing the murderers as by adjudicating and explaining the case. Until such a thing has happened, politics will continue to be killed again, while the course of its history remains suspect.

Meidani and Ruka Millions from school textbooks Publication continues of lists bearing the names of people who have won the right to work in Italy Page 16 Page 5

A fraudulent company corrupts the state The Italian road-paving company Falcione, a few days ago, once again regained the right to compete in a tender, which it even won, for paving a road section on the Durrës-Kukës route. Two months ago, Prime Minister Ilir Meta threatened companies working on the road sections of Corridor Eight with contract termination because of delays in the work and its poor quality. Senior officials at the Ministry of Transport and the General Directorate of Roads (DPR) have expressed the view that canceling the contract with this company would entail a very high cost. Page 9

The PS leader, among his own crowd: 500,000 people welcomed me Page 4

Italy: “You have many serious crimes that remain unsolved” Page 6

Kosovo/Attack on Albanian journalism Page 17

Americans: No state funds for campaigning “Edi Rama’s resignation depends on the laws and on the ethics of Albanian politics.” This was the comment made yesterday by representatives of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) themselves during yesterday’s press conference. Answering journalists’ questions, Patrick Cooney, a representative of the NDI delegation, said that whether the Socialist candidate should resign from the post of minister or keep it depends on the laws. Page 3

Republicans launch their campaign in Durrës With the slogan “Together for a Durrës that deserves more,” the Republican Party launched its election campaign yesterday in the coastal city of Durrës. Those attending the event included Maksim Begeja, deputy chairman of the Albanian Republican Party, Robert Çeku, Secretary for Foreign Relations, Aleksandër Garuli, Organizational Secretary, and leaders of the Durrës branch of the Republican Party. Page 2

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