TIRANA - There is one thing that people never gamble with: peace. There is civil peace (after a war), economic peace (after a crisis), social peace (after any kind of revolution). Then there is political peace, which is among the easiest to achieve, but at the same time the most difficult. Some European countries (Italy foremost among them) pursued political peace for decades, according to an agreement bearing the difficult name “consociationalism”: that is, the sharing of power between the majority and the opposition. Then it was understood that this formula does not work, and people became convinced that the only possible formula for political peace is dialogue, tolerance, and respect for opposing views. Albania, on the very day of its triumphant entry into the Council of Europe, seems to have embarked on this path: as shown by Pjetër Arbnori shaking hands with Socialist leader Namik Dokle in the television hall before the eyes of the Albanian people. A few days later, another sign of calm: President of the Republic Sali Berisha shook hands with “AD” representative Neritan Ceka and Socialist deputy Luan Hajdaraga. They are only two episodes, but we like to amplify them because they offer an example of how differences of opinion and tolerance can coexist. Albania is preparing to experience a very broad election campaign: handshakes can become a symbol, while respecting different party positions. A handshake between political opponents: there seems to be no better way to celebrate Albania’s entry into the Council of Europe. There is no better way to show people—concretely—what it means to become part of that family and cradle of democracy called Europe.

First meeting in a long time between the President of the Republic and the leaders of the PS and AD Ceka: “An example for Albanian politics” Peace and a handshake between head of state Sali Berisha and PAD leader Neritan Ceka. After four years of silence and coldness, warm signals seem to be taking hold between the Albanian President and opposition representatives—yesterday, in one of the premises of the American embassy. And Ceka refers to the past, saying, “When Berisha shook my hand, I remembered a phrase of his: we are opponents, but brothers.” President Berisha has also been in contact with senior representatives of the Socialist opposition: handshakes also with PS deputy chairman Luan Hajdaraga and Secretary General Gramoz Ruçi. ARIAN ÇANI on page 3 Neritan Ceka President Sali Berisha

Gjadri has begun living through its American moments again. Published just a week ago in a statement by the Ministry of Defense, the news about the deployment of US military troops at Lezhë airport to monitor developments in Bosnia has now begun to take concrete shape. Every day, 6 or 8 Pentagon aircraft land and take off from the Gjadri runway. On page 5

Incidents after the basketball final On page 2

The Secretary General presents the document TIRANA—“The agreement with the Greek New Democracy party was public, while the German vote in favor of the PD’s accession to the Union, with one representative excepted, was unanimous.” Thus PD Secretary General Tritan Shehu explained the rumors that, the previous day, had described a statement or “peace” treaty signed between his party and the Greek conservative party as secret. The rumors, citing PAD leader Neritan Ceka, had also claimed that in Bucharest the German Christian Democrats, Helmut Kohl, had voted against the admission of PDSH to the EUCD. UNDERSTANDING

The $4.5 million financing is approved by the majority Islamic loan with conditions: debate in Parliament Objections to the demand to boycott Israel TIRANA - Controversy has erupted among members of Parliament over the government agreement with the Islamic Bank: “$4.5 million for the construction of the Durrës hospital, but the contract must be signed according to the criteria of the Islamic Conference... and materials for building the hospital may be purchased in any country, but Israel must be boycotted.” These were two of the clauses that provoked a heated debate among parliamentarians. Western…

The 70-year-old is found dead

Tirana / 50 percent of the traders are leaving On page 5

EDMOND LAÇI KORÇË - A door continues not to open. Meanwhile, behind it someone continues not to answer. And, worn down by hopeless knocking, it has now remained only a witness. So, as if to punish the calls of a few days earlier—when someone inside had asked for help—the door continues not to open for all those who heard. Uncle Gono has decided to die in Albania. Even without fear that there—in the name of a woman, a resident of Korçë’s Neighborhood 14—the famous Homore De Balzac will be unable to find him and then write about him. On Tuesday morning, officers of the Korçë Police Station entered this crime in their reports. But this time there was no perpetrator, perhaps also because the work of the previous century has no power to intervene. A 70-year-old woman named Frosina Kanani was found inside her home. In the training neighborhood, do the witnesses see? In this story, more than what has happened. Investigators have no more doubts: The victim has been dead in her home for days, alone, as happens to people. Meanwhile, the only witnesses to the incident, “how?” and “why?”, are with…

GJIROKASTËR The locust invasion returns with the heat The insects have attacked the city too On page 5

False appeal On page 5

Elbasan, accused young man ends up in hospital ELBASAN - He broke his leg in the cell to delay his trial, spending days in a cell. The protagonist of this case is 25-year-old A.F. from Elbasan, who has been accused of murdering his friend Sh.Korra. But although he achieved his aim, the judge decided to postpone the court hearing because the young man said he had calculated that this was only a temporary solution. A.F.’s case, which has been before the court for some time, will continue to drag on for a while longer. The young man, injured in his isolation cell at the Elbasan Police Station, has now been admitted to hospital, where doctors have treated the fracture caused when he fell from his bed. While A.F. is in hospital, further details have emerged about the murder that brought him and four others—accused of complicity—to the dock. The victim and the perpetrator had previously been friends. But a history of debts led to a conflict between them. On April 18 of this year, after the young man entered the 25-year-old’s home, he knocked him down. And after he failed to… seriously wound Kor-...

New business — An original initiative by an entrepreneur from Lezhë New business An original initiative by an entrepreneur from Lezhë The insect hunters have arrived LEZHË - Want to escape the nuisance of mosquitoes or other insects in your home? For the citizens of Lezhë, especially in the summer, when the presence of these little creatures increases enormously and becomes truly troubling, this problem can now be considered solved. The idea came from a company operating in this city—Agrotrek—which has organized a campaign against insect infestations in residents’ homes, using special products and offering a very affordable service. The private company seems to have decided to take on the role of the municipal enterprise. Concerned about the widespread presence of flies, ants, cockroaches and mosquitoes, throughout the summer it will offer its home-disinfection service to the residents of Lezhë. So, if insects have made a nest in your apartment and appear at every turn, all you have to do is contact this company and everything will soon be taken care of. Special products are available at a low price. After that, trained employees spread chemicals lethal to the bothersome insects into every corner, and the peace and hygiene you want return to your home. The case of Lezhë is an example of a type of enterprise that brings commercial interests together with people’s urgent needs. In this case, business appears more as a tool that benefits both sides: it solves a major problem for the buyer, making them happy, while the seller is happy to earn a profit. Irfan Rama

The Parliament chamber

Copy of the agreement between PD and the Greek New Democracy

THE REPUBLIC He appeared before journalists alone