Yesterday, the President’s meetings. “Free zones. We had that because we didn’t give advance warning.” Meksi will set up a commission for Vlora. Shehu’s round table: PS sets “conditions” Berisha makes a promise: “Lushnja will be tax-free” The Socialists send Shehu a reply and propose the agenda. “We are ready. See you after 21 February” PS sends a letter to PD. “Here are the points we want to discuss: an end to rallies, Meksi’s removal...” On page 3 Shehu: “I asked for a meeting today and I will be there at 11:00 to receive the Socialists” On page 3 Berisha: “We will quickly privatize industry and give all citizens securities” On page 2 The President promises measures to ease the situation. State assistance for the football team On page 2

Armand Mero Round table, dialogue, open debate... These are the words that, for nearly three weeks now, have been heard more often than anything else from the mouths of Albanian politicians. Everyone says they are ready to discuss together how to resolve the deadlock gripping the country, but when the moment comes to sit down, something or other emerges to obstruct dialogue, and the pattern becomes clear. The ritual is repeated. Politicians make statements at other meetings, but so far they have not been able to turn them into concrete action, remaining merely the “good intentions” of all sides. At a time when cooperation has been called for more than ever, politics continues to sit at left-wing tables and right-wing tables. And now everything seems to revolve around politics, while concrete solutions for hundreds of thousands of Albanians continue to be absent, or few and far between. The difficult situation is taking its toll on everything. And something was done for Lushnja, so as not to forget that tomorrow is the deadline set by Vlora. Berisha has ordered the creation of a government commission, but knowing the pace of such commissions so far, we do not believe this will be enough to calm the troubled people of Vlora. What will happen if their demands are not met? Without entering into judgments about whether or not they can be met within a short time, it must be borne in mind that we are faced with a fait accompli. “On the 20th we start the strike,” the people of Vlora have declared, exhausted and having lost their money. It would be best not to add further consequences to this situation. The only sign of unity over a shared grievance came from the parties in Vlora, which managed to sit down and talk. At least they showed that they could achieve something; they tried to show they were there. The difficult situation in the country has not managed to soften the parties’ stubbornness. None of them gives ground, or at least none is ready to sacrifice anything. More than a calming of the situation—or, better, the giving of hope to tens of thousands of people in Vlora who are protesting, and to many others in different cities—it seems that party interests govern the round tables and statements. No one gives a concrete answer about what will become of these desperate people who continue to march in the streets; at best, they offer plans and deadlines. In all this, the first to make a sacrifice should be the PD, which, as the governing party, bears the main responsibilities and must provide a solution, since people in the country’s streets are demanding the money they lost.

Shall we sit down?

On page 9

Support for the Vlora Council. Call for protests throughout the country country Forum invites the King to Albania PD absent. Opposition: “Shehu does not want dialogue” Vlora enters its 14th day Zile: “I did not sign any resolution” The Mayor has denied signing the resolution from the previous day TIRANA - The Forum is inviting the King to Albania to help resolve the crisis. Meanwhile, the opposition grouping’s parties, from left to right, are calling on Rexhep Qoses, Abaz Ermenjit and Idriz Bashës to come and join this Forum. The decision was made yesterday, while the round table—which PD and the other parliamentary parties did not attend—also adopted two further declarations: support for the Vlora Municipal Council’s Resolution and condemnation of the violence against “Republika” journalist Genc Çobani. Two days ago, Shehu of PD had said that he could not attend association-organized round tables, while the PR, BK, PLL and PBDNJ headquarters said they could not take part in parallel round tables. Mëlo of PBDNJ was of the opinion that “the issue at this time is for the two main parties in Albanian politics, PD and PS, to sit at the table.” Hysen Selfo took a harsher position, saying that his party could not sit at a table with the Socialists and ruling out any kind of round table with them. On page 2 denied signing the resolution from the previous day On page 5 Vlora enters its 14th day On page 3

SPORT On page 6

FROM THE WORLD On page 11

“The case file is incomplete.” The mega-trial is suspended The trial panel is asked to be replaced. The Appeals Court’s decision is expected within 10 days TIRANA — Lawyers’ protests send former president Alia back to jail and triggered a series of blockages. Numerous omissions in the case file and a hearing with more arguments and clashes led yesterday’s proceedings to be suspended before they had properly begun. “We request that the trial panel be replaced,” the lawyers said; the Appeals Court must now decide within 10 days. A barrage of complaints about the files submitted by the lawyers. Alia’s lawyer listed a series of objections: “The personal details are missing, as is the date of the request for trial; the defendant was not notified of the trial date. The defendant’s right to a defense is being called into question here, and I warn that I will begin a hunger strike,” Kleanthi Koci threatened. But the complaints were dismissed just like that. After the indictment was read, Koci protested, saying that “a request for an investigation has been submitted and the judge is being let off.” Alia and a bracelet (Photo: P. Ilo) On page 7 Alia and a bracelet (Photo: P. Ilo)

SPECIAL ISSUE Support for the Vlora Council. Call for protests throughout the country Forum for the Protection of Albania