Police: We suspect he has been executed Merchant kidnapped and disappears He was accused of killing a police officer Page 6

Prices go crazy, fuel at 1,000 lekë Traders expose the fuel scandal Prices go crazy, fuel at 1,000 lekë THREE MINISTERS accused of corruption Traders expose the fuel scandal Page 3

EDITORIAL By Agim Baçi Albanians are turning away from Europe A few weeks ago, protests by some European citizens forced their countries’ governments to find diplomatic ways to bring the increased price of fuel back down to its previous levels. They merely protested. Afterwards, the governments they had elected “did their duty.” Albanian citizens watched it on their television screens, and the news was broadcast that the price of fuel had fallen. They welcomed this victory, then went to sleep content, only to wake the next morning to... the reality of their own country, which does not stop marching toward increases in all prices. ... For years, prices and taxes in Albania have known only increases. Unemployment too. Among friends and... switching the channel on which the news is broadcast. As always, we were content with muttering curses under our breath. We made a huge fuss against the government whenever the raki exceeded the limit. We raised a toast to what our European brothers had achieved, and... went to sleep in the absolute calm of rising prices. ... We have been seeking Europe for ten years. Through this aspiration, insecurity about remaining “with the idea of living” has increased, while the Ministry of Labour announces success in the growing number of people in need of social assistance. And Albanians have responded to this harsh situation with ... a storm of table-thumping, debates among Europe. Naturally, with the aim of joining and feeling like them. But for just as many years, it seems that we have been hurriedly fleeing Europe in other directions. And it seems we are avoiding Europe’s door not only through our way of governing, but also through the level of civic response. to find ways for the price of fuel, which had risen, to fall back to its previous levels. They only Albanian citizens saw on all the screens switched on in their homes (whenever there was electricity) how Europeans, despite having fuller pockets than Albanians, did not tolerate their governments over an issue that affects their daily lives. In fact, Albanians congratulated their European brothers when, likewise, in

Three months after the incident, the perpetrator is found After many uncertainties and the initial testimony collected by Criminal Police inspectors, everything was settled yesterday with the Prosecutor’s Office’s declaration that the murderer of Mira Ukaj (Rosaj) is Nik Rosaj. After this murder, the brother of the murdered doctor left the scene. As evidence, prosecutors have also seized the weapon used to commit the murder, as well as other materials found on the victim. The Prosecutor’s Office has likewise established from people’s testimony that Nik Rosaj is the murderer. The doctor’s family members have also acknowledged this; she had returned from Italy only a few days earlier. The victim’s sisters and her ex-husband appeared at the Prosecutor’s Office. Page 8

Rakipi begins “reform” with Agim Tirana Albanian chief investigator Agim Tirana has been dismissed from his post. The number two official in the Central Prosecutor’s Office will no longer be head of Albanian investigations, but an ordinary prosecutor. He will lead only one working group in this prosecutor’s office, without any of his previous powers. Tirana, the Albanian chief investigator, was appointed to this post in September 1997, immediately after the Socialist Party and its smaller coalition partners, the “Alliance for the State,” came to power. Page 7

On his first day at work, he sends the journalists out of the office Edi Rama finally takes the podium as mayor of Tirana. After sitting in the chair for around two hours, going through one procedure after another, it was his turn to speak as the new mayor as well. Having taken up his new position, he stepped before his council members, pledging the sweeping changes that Tirana would undergo from that day onward. “The city I dream of has a clean face.” Page 9

Wristwatch reveals taxi driver’s murder Page 5 The state plugs the loopholes; citizens pay Page 6 The publishing business: chaos and confusion Page 21