“He maintained secret ties with Sali Lusha” Meta ordered the Secret Service to track the Minister EDITORIAL By Alban PËRVEZA Edi Rama takes off the mask Today’s Tirana is a beautiful woman ... “badly arrived,” I am ready to think, while with the distinctive eagle, chattering away and fussing, she moved her head, and again after five minutes at my counter she brought me cool, full-of-data-and-events, moving her head with her hands... strange: she chose the devices for secret surveillance and quite calmly, without any sign of experience, gave the addresses, directions, the location points of the secret de[?]vices, the offices, bookings, arguments, movements and blocking schemes, the files of dossiers, the names of people, their nature and the links between their faces. “Spartak Poçi...,” someone said. “He has secret ties with Sali Lusha.” Prime Minister Meta has tasked the National Intelligence Service with tracking the Minister of the Interior, Spartak Poçi. Secret agents have been deployed to monitor his contacts and movements. The information gathered by SHIK will be sent to the head of government. This serious accusation comes amid a climate of political clashes and high crime. Sources close to the opposition and state structures claim the suspicions are linked to secret contacts with people from the criminal underworld. Page 7

He clashes with his father, shoots his mother Already hospitalized in serious condition, Pol[?] 23:00 was the time yesterday when a conflict that arose while waiting for the wedding celebration ended with severe injuries. Police sources say the घटना took place in the village of Zejmen in Lezhë, where after a family argument a young man shot his mother with a gun. The same sources add that the conflict began over trivial motives, but escalated into the use of firearms. The wounded woman was rushed to the regional hospital, while the perpetrator fled the scene. Page 8

500 million lek per day are converted into USD Lek is changing hands in the kuter[?] in the neighborhoods[?], following the depreciation. The market is gaining confidence and borrowing[?]. Exchange tables have been pushing up currency prices in recent days. Sources from exchange offices say that inflows in lek have increased, while demand for US dollars has risen sharply. This movement is linked to political uncertainty ahead of the elections and to increased campaign spending. Page 13

National Assembly of PRSH convened The Chairman of the Republican Party, Fatmir Mediu, decided to convene the National Assembly of PRSH on Wednesday, 13.10.2000. Today at 10:30, at the “Rogner Europapark” hotel, the Chairman of the Republican Party, Mr. Fatmir Mediu, gives a press conference.

Greece, 1 Albanian for every 20 Greeks Greece, 1 Albanian for every 20 Greeks Page 11

Tomorrow, 5.10.2000, at 11:00, all members of the Republican Party Executive Council, all registered Republican Party candidates, and all branch leaders from the districts are requested to present themselves at the central headquarters of the Republican Party for an important meeting. The Chairman of the Republican Party, Mr. Fatmir Mediu, decided to convene the National Assembly of PRSH on Wednesday, 13.10.2000.

Italy advises its businessmen “Albania gives no guarantees!” Our country is considered by the Italian Institute for the Protection of Investments (SACE) as one of the most insecure countries in the world. Page 9

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