INTERVIEW / The Prime Minister talks about the secret service’s new role: New people are needed Fino: Is SHIK in my hands? “Politicians will not be surveilled; Albania will be protected” Sabri Godo also talks about the new director he proposed: “He is an honest young man” The head of government explains to the small parties: “I have done my job. The state of emergency must be lifted, but the elections will not be postponed” TIRANA - “From now on, SHIK will change its role and its personnel. This institution is answerable to the Government. Many structures have been dismantled, but especially the directors have lost the possibility of remaining in that position.” These are the words of Albanian Prime Minister Bashkim Fino, who made this statement to the Gazeta only a few hours after 37-year-old Arben Karkini was appointed head of SHIK. The country’s number one speaks about restructuring the institution which, for six consecutive years, has been so heavily compromised by Albanian politicians. “This SHIK must no longer be viewed as it was before; it will protect Albania’s territorial integrity and will not surveil various politicians,” says Fino, setting out his first guidelines for this important institution. TIRANA - It is Fino himself who says he will do this... [?]

Traffickers around the soldiers Tirana, Frenchman found with “poison” in his pocket TIRANA - Drug traffickers have approached the “Alba” soldiers to offer them the white poison, but have not succeeded. “I don’t really believe there are users among them; they are career soldiers and have ironclad rules,” says a trafficker from Tirana. Nevertheless, a few days ago a French member of “Alba” was convicted of selling drugs after a quantity of drugs was found in his pocket. “Alba” forces in Albania

SUICIDE Female National Guard noncommissioned officer dies TIRANA - A 32-year-old woman has died by suicide in Tirana, at her home. Diana Xhaferri, a servicewoman, worked as a noncommissioned officer in a unit of the Republican Guard and shot herself yesterday morning with a pistol at her home. The police, who arrived at the residence after being notified, also conducted preliminary investigations. Experts determined that the suicide had been premeditated and was not accidental. However, the police have not yet disclosed the motive for this act. The incident took place at 7:00 in the morning. Xhaferri was at home when her family members suddenly heard gunshots. The shots caused her immediate death, making medical assistance unnecessary. The police were then notified, and their experts carried out the initial procedures. Following the examination, the finding was simply “suicide,” without determining whether it had been accidental or not. In any case, the preliminary conclusions point to a premeditated act. But there is no information about why the 32-year-old Guard noncommissioned officer took her own life.

TRAGEDY Three-year-old kills his mother MAT - A terrible tragedy in Mat. A three-year-old child accidentally killed his own mother. The little boy’s name is Samet Dashi. He was playing with the automatic rifle when he fired a burst, killing his mother, Lirie Dashi, who was only 24. This is another episode in Albania’s archive of tragedies, one that would have been hard to believe? At the age of three, when he would normally have had toy pistols in his hands, Samet Dashi was destined for a different kind of game: a “Kalashnikov” automatic rifle. As he lay on the bed, imagining a toy gun, he accidentally pulled the trigger, and the burst killed his 24-year-old mother. The incident took place in the village of Kacisë in Mat, and the news was reported by ATSH. Meanwhile, just two days earlier, in the same region, this kind of tragic incident had left a 16-year-old dead; indeed, a one-year-old? Once again, a child, even younger, only 18 months old, fired the Kalashnikov automatic rifle. And, by tragic coincidence, this child too was playing with his father’s gun. A storybook hero with a super-toy Kalashnikov.

ECONOMY Bread prices rise: “The flour traders are to blame”

BERAT Doctors abandon their jobs: “We fear street terror and gangs” On page 5

BALLSH Assailant who attacked Ballsh’s police chief breaks through the cordon On page 5

LIBRAZHD Girl kills herself in a car: She was kidnapped to be made a prostitute On page 5

BERAT Special forces arrive: Local government parties oppose chaos On page 5

Yesterday, meetings of the two longtime rivals Berisha goes to Shkodër Nano returns from Rome TIRANA - Nano flew to Rome, while Berisha went up to Shkodër. The two prominent figures chose different destinations for a common purpose: the elections. While Nano tried to persuade senior Italian politicians of the need for free and fair elections and to secure their assistance, Berisha attacked the Socialists in an important article in the north of the country. “The communist spectre is trying to harm Albanian democracy,” said the president in Shkodër, reminding the people of Shkodër not to forget to vote for the DP. Meanwhile, the Socialist leader in the Italian capital asked for the helping hand of politicians on behalf of all Albanians, expressing their views in broad terms. Yesterday, the Socialist leader also held a lengthy meeting with the head of Italian diplomacy. Berisha Nano

TIRANA - “A Rothmans cigarette, like the one Leka I smokes, and a royal lighter.” Perhaps that is all it takes to show oneself to be a “true monarchist.” For several days now, a new embodiment has been added in Albania to the many lighter brands circulating everywhere. “Albania a kingdom”—this slogan is written in black letters on a red background, now that the referendum is drawing ever closer. This has been one of the latest propaganda initiatives of the Legalists. Just a year ago, their major election rivals had done the same thing: the DP and the PS. With a slogan printed on them, the lighters, newspapers, and even T-shirts were handed out to people for free. As has become customary in campaigns, they have been the first to start handing out lighters bearing the same slogan, “Albania a Kingdom.” No one has statistical data on how many have been supplied for the referendum of June 29. In any case, many smokers will now be reminded of the Kingdom while lighting a cigarette. If it is a “Rothmans,” all the better...