The chairman recounts his opponents and allies INTERVIEW / The DP leader speaks after yesterday’s conference TIRANA—The bitter debate over the two latest proposals made by its chairman, Eduard Selami, has once again erupted within the DP. Yesterday, the party’s Extraordinary Conference for Tirana was held, and the delegates who will take part in the important meeting on March 5 were selected. Once again, two ideas that have by now been clearly defined emerged at the Conference regarding the way the Constitution should be adopted. Chairman Selami argued that he considers his proposal the fairest way to adopt the country’s fundamental law. Selami spoke before the delegates from Tirana, explaining that, in his view, the parliamentary route would not plunge the country into a governmental crisis. From the podium, Selami also made an indirect appeal to Berisha for reconciliation—and this was the part of his debate that was best received—reminding the President that the party needs them both. “I will do everything possible,” he said, “to overcome any disagreement between us.” The DP’s Secretary-General, Tritan Shehu, spoke as the representative of the National Council. While insisting on the Council’s decision regarding the Constitution, Shehu nevertheless acknowledged the crisis at the head of the DP, criticizing Selami himself first and foremost as its cause. FATOS BAXHAKU TIRANA—For the first time, Selami has made public the names of those he considers his fiercest opponents in the leadership of the Democratic Party, and has also spoken about his supporters. “Prime Minister Meksi was more forceful—even more so than President Berisha himself—in calling for my removal from the post of party chairman,” Chairman Selami said yesterday immediately after the DP’s Extraordinary Conference for Tirana, adding, “Tritan Shehu, Ali Spahiu, and Tomorri Dosti also took the same positions at the meeting of the National Council.” He then answered a question about his supporters: “Alongside those who criticize me, there are many others who support my position. One of them, for example, was the Deputy Speaker of the People’s Assembly, Tomor M[a?]gjim—exactly, because not everyone discussed this. Nevertheless, I am pleased with the democratic way the debate was conducted…” “Of course, the situation that has arisen and the new relations with my colleagues make my work at the head of the party more difficult.” Malasi, whose words today seem to me to support my positions, but there are many others like him,” Selami replied. He also told Gazeta Shqiptare about the atmosphere surrounding him now as party leader. What is your opinion of the Tirana Conference? “Democratic reason prevailed at the conference. There were discussions both for and against my positions. My proposal concerning the Prime Minister-party chairman received more support; the second one, about the Constitution, received less. In any case, I thank the Democrats of Tirana for their dignified and firm stance.” So, is Selami stronger or weaker after the Conference? “I find it difficult to…” An appeal to Berisha: “There is room for both of us in the party.” “This situation has made my work at the helm difficult.” “Perhaps they are looking for new candidates.” “…so let us sit down and discuss things normally. I have been and remain opposed to the position: ‘Either me or him for the party.’ That was also part of my opening remarks. I myself will do everything possible to resolve the debate and work in favor of the common good.” Are you actually running the party now? relations with my colleagues make my work at the helm of the party more difficult.” What are your relations with the President after the latest meeting of the Council? “I have met him only once, at the Presidency; I have nothing further to add.” There is now talk of possible candidates who might replace you… “I know nothing concrete, but I consider it entirely plausible. This would follow from my recorded statement, since I think that two possibilities now exist: either the group I mentioned above has given up trying to keep me, or they are now making a very secret effort to remove me. I consider both possibilities entirely plausible.” Eduart Selami

Back among readers after the strike TIRANA—For two days, Gazeta Shqiptare was not published because of a strike called by the Italian newspapers of EDISUD S.p.a., which also owns the newspaper published in Albania. The strike was a protest against a company decision to place 25 journalists from “Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno” on standby, in order to cope with the economic crisis affecting the entire publishing sector in Italy. According to EDISUD, production costs must be reduced to get through the crisis; the journalists, on the other hand, believe that cutting the number of journalists also lowers the quality of the newspaper, and that the crisis therefore risks worsening rather than being overcome. We are telling you all this to explain why Gazeta Shqiptare was absent for two days. We also want to send a reassuring message to you, our readers and colleagues—first and foremost to those who showed their solidarity: the layoffs are not connected with Gazeta Shqiptare, which will therefore continue to be published regularly. Thanks to you, Gazeta Shqiptare has returned in less than two … …been happening for a long time and continues even today. It is a line that has found support, and for this reason we believe that a newspaper should not be merely a source presenting nothing but anxieties or tragedies. A newspaper should also entertain, provide relaxation, and help. Scandals should be reported, but not invented. Culture should be encouraged, not insulted. We believe in all of this, and also in all those who have now begun imitating us in many ways—a fact that makes us particularly pleased. But producing an honest, objective, and independent newspaper costs a great deal of money. The crisis among publishers that has… ...by now, so that we can send a reassuring message to their solidarity: the work stoppages at Gazeta Shqiptare are not bringing it to a halt, and it will therefore continue publishing regularly. Thanks to you, in less than two years Gazeta Shqiptare has become a publishing reality that is continually growing, and for this we thank you once again. Of course, we still need to improve. Soon we will add pages in Albanian and give ever more space to information from around the world and from the country. Someone has written that our newspaper was the first in Albania to use horoscopes and crosswords; we do not believe we deserve any kind of record. We have only tried to produce an informative newspaper, with news kept separate from commentary, a newspaper that is objective and independent every day, because we deeply believe that judgments belong first and foremost to you, the readers—you who no longer need to spend hours dealing with commentary and assessments, as ... ... great deal of money. The publishing crisis that has engulfed Italy also threatens to weigh heavily on Albanian newspapers, unless the government intervenes with legislative measures that serve to save the press, not to finance it (for example, by eliminating or reducing taxes on imported paper, or by removing the tax on new items for newspapers). This would be a step in everyone’s interest, because the press crisis also portends more unemployment in Albania, as well as less freedom. All we can do is apologize to you, our readers, for our newspaper’s absence from the market, but you should know that when journalists fight—all journalists—they are fighting for you too. c.bo.

He had killed DURRËS—A successful operation by the Durrës police, the Albanian and Italian Interpol sections, and the Naples Carabinieri has culminated in the capture of a young Italian wanted for murder. Gabriele Pesacane, 19, son of the Camorra boss of Bosc[o?]oreale near Naples, was wanted for a murder he committed on July 27 last year. For some time he had been hiding, with the help of Albanian friends, in a bar-restaurant in Durrës. The police forces that took part in the operation have provided no further details about the establishment; so far, all that is known is that its owner was called Luan. However, the role of the owners and the people of Durrës in this affair has not yet been clarified. When the young Italian was apprehended, he was found carrying a forged passport. Apparently, he had entered Albania under a false identity. The police operation that sent Pesacane to prison took place on February 23. The Italian was first apprehended by Albanian police, alerted by the Naples Carabinieri, in the building in Durrës where he was hiding. He was then escorted by Interpol experts and boarded onto the ferry “La Vikinga”. On arriving in Bari, he was immediately arrested. On July 27 last year, Pesacane had attacked a Carabiniere—Sabato Palmigiano—who was not wearing his uniform that day, in order to rob him. When the Carabiniere first reacted, Pesacane answered with shots from his revolver. The Carabinieri managed to identify the killer thanks to the testimony of the woman who was accompanying their colleague at the time of the murder and who now lives under police escort. By tracking the frequent telephone calls and transfers of money to Albania that the Camorra boss’s family made every day, the Carabinieri managed to identify the place in Durrës where he was hiding. “This incident, along with others,” said Carabinieri commander Chicoli, who coordinated the investigation, “proves that the Camorra is now linked to elements of Albanian criminality—links that could also serve drug trafficking, the trafficking of illegal migrants, and other unlawful activities.” f.b.

Partizani lose 0–3 in Peqin Football TIRANA—Goalkeepers beaten by a flurry of goals, but also spared by the bad weather. A week that has not changed things very much. Tirana’s gap over Partizani remains substantial. Eight points is no small margin, but the Whites and Blues seem not to be looking at the standings. Another win against a powerless Besa, another goal from the “indestructible” Kola, who is becoming an ever greater source of goals for Muça’s boys. Meanwhile, another obstacle—the difficult pitch at “Selman Stërmasi”—prevented Fortuzi from winning this match too. The shots taken by the league’s top scorer remained stuck in the mud. Shkumbini surged forward once again, and Partizani could not withstand its fury: 3–0, the usual result for the home side, but not for the Reds from the capital. Albpetrol continue to climb the ladder. Now in third place, they defeated their “cousins” from Fier 3–0, on the latter’s own ground. Iliria also suffered an unexpected defeat against a Flamurtari still hoping to contribute something to this championship. The teams from Gjirokastër and Berat also recorded impressive, high-scoring wins against the sides from Laç and Lezhë. But nowadays, winning only on your own ground is not enough. (gje.pi.) Here are the results Apolonia–Albpetrol 0–3 Shqiponja–Laçi 4–0 Iliria–Flamurtari 1–0 Tirana–Besa 3–1 Shkumbini–Partizani 3–0 Tomorri–Besëlidhja 2–0 “The Dinamo–Vllaznia and Teuta–Elbasani matches are being played today because of the busy schedule of Cup matches.”

Foreign Ministry: first woman official Forty-two-year-old Mirjam Bisha is the first Albanian woman entrusted with heading a Directorate in the Foreign Ministry. The new appointment places Bisha alongside [others] at the head of the Consular Directorate, a particularly important and more directly relevant branch for Albanians at home and abroad. Mirjam Bisha’s diplomatic career began in 1992, when she won the competition opened by the Foreign Ministry. Bisha then completed an international diplomacy course in Switzerland, while she also successfully attended two qualification seminars on bilateral relations in Stockholm and Strasbourg. Tirana-Durrës: only one road is operating. It was yesterday’s official announcement that temporarily interrupted passage on the road toward Durrës (from the direction of Vora). The announcement—which will be reversed only by another such notice—thus instructed vehicle drivers to follow ... ... Foreign Ministry ...

CSCE / Another positive signal TIRANA - Communications concerning the Greek minority in Albania have been closed at the CSCE. The diplomatic term conceals a complicated procedure of a CSCE human rights commission, but it is another sign of optimism in Albanian-Greek relations. The decision was made a few days ago in Geneva at a meeting of this commission, attended also by Albanian Deputy Foreign Minister Arjan Starova. “Communications” are made by experts regarding complaints received by this commission, to which the respective governments are obliged to provide explanations. A Greek representative also sits on the human rights subcommission. This apparently provided the main impetus for a resolution—which took Albanian diplomats by surprise last year—by this body condemning the arrest of Omonia activists. p.re.

SARANDË - A man was detained in a village in Sarandë while carrying one kilogram of hashish. - A man was detained in a village in Sarandë while carrying one kilogram of hashish. He is Nikolaos Nikos, the 35-year-old Greek who will now face charges of drug trafficking. The news was reported by the official Albanian news agency, which also mentioned Nikos’s illegal border crossing. The Greek citizen is currently being held in Sarandë, while the Prosecutor’s Office has immediately opened an investigation to identify any possible accomplices who distributed the drugs. In the interview, Nikos stated that he had made this journey before as well.

A giant crossword, quizzes, checkers and chess. Games to make Sunday as enjoyable as possible, for young and old. 1 2 3 16 19 7 8 6 1 23 31 34 37 36 40 39 Full page 6

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Andrea Stefani on page 3