TIRANA - The press monopoly is beginning to come to an end. Yesterday, many of us, dissatisfied with the “Albanian Newspaper,” breathed a sigh of relief. Soon, we too will stop working for the party press; it has no longer been confirmed by some dictator. The Minister of Health himself, Leonard Solis, representative of PBDNJ in the Government, has declared that he will retain all the staff he has brought in, with the aim of financing the “Albanian Newspaper.” The news is undoubtedly the biggest in the Ministry of the Press, and perhaps in the Government too. It is the first time in Albania that a minister has admitted that he will finance a newspaper. This is not something one would expect from a minister who has not yet taken office. Whether the “Albanian Newspaper” will accept Minister Solis’s financing has not yet been decided. Many members of the Newspaper’s staff have said: “It seems this good fortune has finally come our way; at last our troubles are over.” Others have objected, pointing out that financing is one of the well-known ways of moving toward power, by pushing newspapers into silence in its presence. If the press has a good relationship with the Ministry of Health, that does not mean it has no problem with its financing; the new Minister of Health has not given the money any thought. Suddenly, we have been reminded of some problems that fall to Solis to solve: how will he do it? Will the minister hand over money, or make other efforts to find it, while dealing with the many problems that should not be the press’s concern? The minister is someone who has never had [any?]; the current system is in the process of collapse, and it is anyone’s guess how it will be improved. Instead of dealing with the problems he has taken on—and here our help, and that of this newspaper, would undoubtedly be useful—Solis, acting as a minister in an emergency, offers us money, offering to pay us in exchange for our silence. God has given you plenty, Minister; do the job that is yours to do. You should not forget that you became a minister thanks to certain political circumstances, without which you would still be an honest emergency-room doctor, undoubtedly someone unconnected with everyone. This is a relationship that has nothing to do with this minister. One of the citizens who had not been divided [from the others?] said: “Has a doctor made money a common thing? You know the answer to that, don’t you?” Photo: Solis TIRANA - It was an unexpected phone call from the PBDNJ service, from Zana Biku, that sparked our journalist’s political reaction. “Minister Solis wants to speak to you.” It was the receptionist [word unclear], who then handed the mobile phone to Minister Solis. “Since the press has distorted what we stated in our declaration concerning the reform, I would like to clarify that the truth is different. Under a decision of Mekësit, the minister is entitled only to propose dismissals or appointments and has no right to decide on them. We are outside the law. We were ordered to allow a reorganization, and my job was to allow it. Even if I want to dismiss someone, I have no authority here. But once the former directors have left, I have the right here to appoint the directors. But as for the directors, they are not politicians or my dictators.” These were all the matters Minister Solis told us over his mobile phone, during which he was given direction and assignments. Minister of Health Leonard Solis We, the administrative staff. Instead of clarifying matters with his institution, the new Minister of Health has reminded us of money. Suddenly, we have been reminded of some problems that fall to Solis to solve: how will he do it? Will the minister hand over money, or make other efforts to find it, while dealing with the many problems that should not be the press’s concern? The minister is someone who has never had [any?]; the current system is in the process of collapse, and it is anyone’s guess how it will be improved. Instead of dealing with the problems he has taken on—and here our help, and that of this newspaper, would undoubtedly be useful—Solis, acting as a minister in an emergency, offers us money, offering to pay us in exchange for our silence. God has given you plenty, Minister; do the job that is yours to do. You should not forget that you became a minister thanks to certain political circumstances, without which you would still be an honest emergency-room doctor, undoubtedly someone unconnected with everyone.

TIRANA - “We will put ourselves at the head of the protests.” The statement came yesterday from the leader of the current opposition himself, Sali Berisha. The former head of state, just 30 days after entering the opposition, did not hesitate to declare that they would put themselves at the head of the revolts and lead them. According to Berisha, the opposition is not seeking to obstruct the protests, since it can no longer be called that. Yesterday, for the first time, Sali Berisha appeared before newspapers and the media, showing courage as he discussed how the PD would lead the socialists’ counteroffensive. The former Albanian president appealed to the socialist opposition: “They fight as they have fought and continue to fight, by the rules of politics.” For Berisha, the socialist offensive “poses a real risk of destabilizing the country,” a phrase that the politician repeated frequently yesterday during his press conference. Berisha yesterday before journalists (Photo: Piator 110) Berisha yesterday before journalists (Photo: Piator 110)

BERISHA AND TETA OF AGOLLI SPEAK TIRANA - The debate over the death penalty reaches the tables of the leading figures. The struggle over life and death has placed politicians, intellectuals, poets and prosecutors in opposing trenches. Former Albanian president Sali Berisha declared yesterday “that he is against the death penalty,” but said he had been obliged to respect the law. “For him, an improper removal does not sit well, but the idea of how one should be judged might perhaps produce a different answer.” State Secretary for Defence Perikli Teta does not think so. “The law must under no circumstances be abolished; indeed, it should be strengthened further.” Who signs the death sentence? Only the prosecutor, says Teta. Fatos Dervishu. In his view, “the findings have been turned into their opposite, and how is the death penalty to be respected?” The prosecutor’s view, he says, is that perhaps the sentence is provided for in law and the courts should assess it. But Dervishu also recalls and supports Albania’s journalists before the Council of Europe and its demands for an attack on and repeal of the law. On page 3

Of all the citizens who read the “Albanian Newspaper” today, I was the most surprised: I am the Minister of Health and the Environment. I was shocked when I read the conclusion “Solis opposes Nani.” The journalist explained the law and how it should not be misunderstood. That article should have carried the journalist’s photograph, not mine, because the conclusion is his. The artificial creation of such situations affects the destabilization of the situation, which is not... Personally, I declare that a carefully studied administrative reform is the only bridge that must be crossed in order to improve the programme. Soon, I will convene the staff to study the possibility of providing a special fund for this assistance to the “Albanian Newspaper,” so that it will not be forced to distort opinions or forget to [text incomplete]. Minister of Health Leonard Solis

TIRANA - Leka Zogu and his Minister of the Court can no longer return to Albania unless they agree to submit to arrest. The news has also been confirmed by sources in the Albanian Justice system. Since 5 August there has been an arrest warrant for the individuals, who are now accused of “the unlawful organization of an armed militant group.” An accusation which, under the Criminal Code, carries potentially very severe penalties. The charges against the two relate to the events of 3 July, when one of the participants was killed during a rally organized by the monarchists. The son of Ahmet Zogu and his minister Muzet Solis may have been surrounded by accusations against the “secret Security Service” concerning the trade that took place on 3 July. After this, the Prosecutor’s Office had [text unclear]. Following many days of investigations and searches, on 5 August a prosecutor from the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office decided to declare “the defendants Lekë Ahmet Zogu and Abedin Mulosmanin” wanted. The charge against both is serious, expressed in technical legal language under a single article: 263/1. According to the warrant issued only a few days ago, both have been given a designation that sounds rather grave: “persons wanted by the police.” If they are apprehended, they must immediately be taken to the district Prosecutor’s Office where they were declared wanted. If they are apprehended, they must immediately be taken to the district Prosecutor’s Office where they were declared wanted. f.b. Leka and Mulosmani in July of this year

SHKODËR - Massacre near the hospital. Revenge returns with force and claims lives. - Massacre near the hospital. Revenge returns with force and claims lives. Two dead and three wounded are the victims of a long burst of automatic gunfire. The person who caused the bloodshed appears to be known, and the police immediately began searching, while those admitted to the hospital on Saturday have escaped danger to their lives. One of the wounded is the victim’s son; a passerby who was travelling with five visitors was also killed. On page 5

The Director of Customs says, “It will be very difficult for us.” These are the first words of the man who has just taken charge of the institution expected to bring money into the state. He is the Director General of Customs, Gëzim Bleta, who talks about priorities, concerns and agreed methods for improving his new duties, often citing figures as well. Professionalism and duty, cooperation with the law-enforcement forces and with Directorate 21 are the pillars on which Bleta has decided to base his daily work. Kapshita, Kakavija, Qafë Thana and Durrësi are expected to be the points where the new Director will begin his “offensive.” Strict customs controls, as well as a review of Customs personnel, will quickly put the system on a “professional” footing. On page 8

A complaint had been filed with the police days earlier TIRANA - Police forcibly evict families who had refused to leave the Student City. The day before yesterday and yesterday morning, police from station 1 carried out the eviction of the first four families from several buildings, including families with children, following a request made to the station by the Student City administration a few days earlier. A considerable number of families—according to their own account, more than 20—were put out on the street by police because they had not left after an order from director Gjin Progri and a warning from the police. “Everything was carried out following a request by the Student City administration,” Albert Tërheti, head of station 1, told the “Newspaper.” The families left on the street protested against these actions, which put them in a serious situation with regard to their health. But Progri’s order allowed no leniency. This was because the entire reconstruction process at the Student City had stalled over the floors occupied by the families. Faced with this, yesterday’s residents were forced to leave the buildings and try to find somewhere else. In fact, the reaction of the families evicted yesterday was not all that strong, because dozens of their neighbours had already voluntarily left the rooms in the buildings. Above all, they had also been made fully aware of the order’s legal basis and its enforcement. Roland Zili

PBDNJ Berisha attacks fiercely: “With democratic means we will stop the revenge of the former communists”

Protests in Europe, round tables, links with the right: the PD’s “battle” tools