The Governor’s accusations: The government supported the pyramid schemes From Washington: “I faced a lot of pressure to also grant banking licences to rentier companies” Luniku: “I had informed the Government and the Justice authorities about the approaching catastrophe. Nobody listened to me” On page 2 “If measures had been taken in time, much damage and suffering for the population could have been avoided” On page 2

Andrea Stefani The Albanian tragedy is slowly and with difficulty uncovering its complicated backstage story. Voices of former officials who have recently fled are denouncing, from across the ocean, to news agencies and foreign radio stations, the highest bodies of the Albanian state government, identifying them as responsible for the “pyramid-scheme” scandal. Now it is Kristaq Luniku, recently dismissed from the post of Governor of the Bank of Albania, who accuses President Berisha, Parliament and the Government of having ignored, for about a year and a half, his warnings about the catastrophe they were preparing and the measures he proposed to avert it. A few days ago, former Minister of Defence Safet Zhulali did the same, from the same position of an escaped official. And one cannot help asking with deep concern: Why did these officials know while so many truths, not spoken publicly, were being mastur[b?]ated over café tables. And it is known that fear stems from violence, not freedom. Under these circumstances, silence cannot help gaining ground among unprotected citizens and even journalists. But it cannot be justified in the case of senior state officials who agreed to govern in the interests of the people. It is not moral for them to fear for their own fate while sacrificing the people. Because their silence conceals truths which, if left unsaid, produce poisons that destroy the state and society. Luniku speaks of his loneliness. In the interest of truth, it must be said that he and his institution were among the segments of the state administration that showed excessive zeal, and considerable success, in keeping “secrets” from the country’s newspapers. Even more so from local journalists. Further still. It is impossible that Luniku’s concerns about the pyramid schemes—he says they first arose in mid-1995—were unknown to financial institutions such as the IMF. Yet the IMF statement at the end of 1995 on economic reform in Albania was very optimistic, and the danger of pyramid schemes was nowhere to be seen. In any case, Luniku’s accusations call for a reasoned response from those he accuses directly: the President, Parliament and the Meksi Government. The people, as sovereign, must be urgently informed about these chilling mysteries. Because if even a fraction of these accusations were true, it would mean that the highest institutions of the state, representing and exercising the sovereignty of the people—the entire common good—had acted contrary to that sovereignty. around a villa and a half, his warnings about such matters: the situation generally and the measures proposed to avert it. A few days ago, former Interior Minister an escapee. And one cannot help asking with great concern: Why did these powerful men who knew things speak out so late? Why do they appear before the foreign press, supposedly condemning articles with posts, doing what they refused to do for years before the press in their own country? Were they afraid, or do they want to wash their hands of it now that the people are being devastated by the outbreak of an earthquake that emerged on its own and that they kept hidden for years? In any case, these are statements by senior state officials that cannot be ignored, but should draw people’s attention as they try to understand the mysterious mechanism that brought about this calamity, which shows no sign of abating... So then, why is Luniku speaking so late? The truth, however, must be sought in his own admission: “I have been threatened, even with death.” In other words, fear held him back. In fact, fear has once again become one of the most widespread phenomena in the country. You encounter it in the streets and offices

Here is the death certificate

“We will pass the draft by majority vote in the Government. In Parliament, together with it, we will also seek a vote of confidence for the Cabinet” The Prime Minister calls Vranicki TIRANA - Telephone lines charged with tension between Vienna and Tirana. Yesterday, the two leading figures in Albanian politics, Berisha and Fino, spoke with Vranickin about the election law. Prime Minister Bashkim Fino threatened to resign if the Albanian Parliament did not approve the election law. On page 2

Zhupani: No connection with the ship ITALIAN BUSINESSMAN: “HE STAYED TWO DAYS AND LEFT” On page 3

Business in the city paralyzed VLORË — The critical situation in Albania is “killing” Italian investment in Vlorë. Many textile workshops have closed, and their owners have left, abandoning their factories completely in the coastal city. But the wave of layoffs and tension has also brought out its courageous figures, who have not wanted for a moment to leave their property in the hands of looters or arsonists. On page 2

Parties: “They alone can’t do anything” Gjynushi, Ceka, Godo and Melo speak after the Nano-Shehu talks TIRANA — The parties react coolly to the meeting between the two Albanian political superpowers, PS and PD. Before even 24 hours had passed, the first expressions of dissatisfaction had emerged across the Albanian political spectrum. Leaders of left- and right-wing forces have spoken in harsh terms about the Nano-Shehu talks. “Let them meet as much as they like; without us they can do nothing” is the common refrain with which four of the main parties have expressed their dissatisfaction, as well as their considerable misgivings. The PSD leader called the meeting between the heads of PS and PD a “game of knucklebones.” Meanwhile, PAD president Ceka expressed himself in much the same vein. “It’s simply a formality,” he said. Godo and Melo, too, said that “they can’t do anything without us,” adding that a meeting like this should include every party. From the Nano-Shehu meeting PSD: Lightning-fast accusations against Berisha and Fino, too On page 2

Crime terrifies the city On page 3

The parties: “Alba” and public order On page 3

Tragic Wednesday: 3 killed On page 3

Work begins on a new variety show SPECTACLE On page 4

One of the tunnel shell casings (H. Pustina)

TIRANA - Çela: “I am satisfied with the players’ understanding.”

Matches without incidents On page 6 Strict measures in the stadiums. Large numbers of police deployed to maintain order. On page 6

The polls to date predict him as the undisputed winner FROM THE WORLD On page 7