A plan by international institutions is ready to ease the pain caused by the collapse of the pyramid schemes Shehu: “I want a round table with the Socialists only” On 24 February, the Albanian crisis will be discussed in Brussels. Controlled administration for the companies? A plan by international institutions is ready to ease the pain caused by the collapse of the pyramid schemes World Bank: 100 million for the pyramid schemes Shehu: “I want a round table with the Socialists only” On 24 February, the Albanian crisis will be discussed in Brussels. Controlled administration for the companies? The government decides: “Loans for those who lost their homes in the pyramid-scheme game” On page 3 In Brussels, ministers will discuss the pyramid schemes: “Intervention in Albania is needed” On page 3 The DP leader: “It will not be a technical round table.” The Socialists: “Agreed, but we decide today” On page 2 Kola: “Allowing rallies would be a sign that dialogue is opening”

A resolution brings the parties together Vlora Municipality VLORA - Vlora issues an ultimatum. “The government must go. A technical government should replace Meksi, followed by new political elections. Otherwise, the protests will be escalated up to a mass hunger strike.” A harsh resolution was signed yesterday in the “capital” of the protests by parliamentary and political representatives, including the Democratic Party, various associations, and the Mayor and MP Gëzim Zile. A response is expected from Tirana by 20 February. On page 4

Suspicions fall on the wife TIRANA - It seems that love kills and destroys. A woman poisoned her husband—at least, this is what the police currently suspect—because of another love affair; she burned down his parents’ house and destroyed all the property they owned on the land. While the victim’s family was officially mourning the loss, forensic experts discovered evidence suggesting a crime. A sad story that has brought a woman to the police station, while a family has ended up on the street. At least according to the initial suspicions, a love affair caused the tragedy. A woman had decided to kill her husband because a new love had blossomed between her and another man. To get rid of her husband, she had used poison. After his death, she informed the victim’s family, in a village in Elbasan, that he had died, supposedly from a disease he had mentioned at a café. His death came like a bombshell to his parents and other relatives. Within just a few years, the family had been struck by several tragedies in succession. But only three days after his death, the truth was discovered, with 12? ... of her, apparently, dissatisfaction is suspected—also involving a man who lived above her, who had sent another bomb into the home of her mother- and father-in-law. “At night, in my sleep, my husband appeared to me in a dream, telling me that after me other people from this family would die too, because this house is cursed and must be burned.” Deeply scarred by the deaths, the members of this family themselves, driven toward superstition, had suspected that the house really was unlucky and that something had brought misfortune. Thus, as the dream was said to have appeared, they themselves, in broad daylight, “set fire to their house, burning it along with everything inside. I don’t want to tell her about it afterward. Let the water take it; if this house is cursed, let it burn”—the elderly parents, convinced, had set the house on fire. But that was not all. The following day they also destroyed all their other possessions, ending up out on the street. But after this, forensic experts examined the victim and conducted an assessment, after which they suspected that death had resulted from poisoning with toxic substances, and suspicion fell on his wife. After this, she was arrested by the police for questioning. p.re.

The DP refuses: “We do not accept invitations from associations” Kola: “Allowing rallies would be a sign that dialogue is opening” TIRANA - A “war” of invitations between opposition and governing parties and civic organizations seeking a solution to the crisis. The Forum is calling for dialogue with the DP and other parliamentary forces, while the DP is inviting only the Socialists to its round table and is refusing today’s meeting of the opposition grouping. Shehu of the governing party says he cannot attend meetings organized by associations, while the Socialist leader has left open the decision on whether or not to accept dialogue with the DP. In any case, the rapidly escalating contest of bilateral and multilateral invitations has left the possibility of dialogue between the parties still shrouded in uncertainty. Interview English journalist: “Reliable source” gives no details I was able to learn that foreign services had reported these On page 3 Forum for Democracy

Isai: “Alia ordered me to shoot” The trial of the former leaders of the PPSH begins today at 9:30 TIRANA - The trial of former communist state leaders will begin today at the Tirana Court. Former President Ramiz Alia and former Interior Ministers Hekuran Isai and Simon Stefani will be in the dock, while Gramoz Ruci and Qemal Lame will be tried in absentia. The unexpected feature of this trial will be the confrontation between Alia and Isai, who told investigators that, during the toppling of the monument to Enver Hoxha in February ’91, Alia had ordered him to fire on the crowd. On page 9 Alia, Isai and Stefani

Academy of Arts: Exam anxiety On pages 5–8

The boss threatens: “We’ll start a strike” On page 11

On page 11

BULQIZË - A serious car accident caused a tragedy. Seven people were killed at the scene and 13 others were injured. Two of them are in extremely serious condition. The accident happened yesterday morning at 08:00 at a place called Temovë e Madhë, in the Bulqizë district. A truck driven by Halil Gjika left the road and plunged into a ravine. Helicopters from the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Defense were made available to transport the injured. They were taken to Tirana Military Hospital and immediately placed under the care of doctors. However, the medical staff confirmed that the condition of two of the injured was very serious, and as of yesterday evening they could give only a guarded diagnosis. Road-traffic experts believe the accident happened because of an incorrect maneuver by the driver.