The whole country is in mourning; the victims of Otranto are buried today. Thousands will accompany “the sea’s grief.” Alongside them: Meidani, Nano, Prodi... Vlora with a torn heart The whole country is in mourning; the victims of Otranto are buried today Funeral ceremony also in Fier. 52 coffins arrive today by ferry from Italy. Anxiety in two cities THE BLACK CALENDAR 7:00 Ferry arrival 7:00–10:00 The coffins are brought to the square in front of the Prefecture and placed in military vehicles 10:00–11:00 The procession moves, accompanied by a wind orchestra, to Flag Square, a 2.5-kilometre walk. 11:00 Speeches on behalf of the Government, the District Council and the “Victims of Otranto” association 11:30 Now, face to face, Nano–Prodi; departure for the cemetery and religious services, while 13 coffins set off for Fier. Afternoon: Visits to the victims’ families VLORA — The victims of Otranto will be buried in their hometowns. A river of people, politicians and journalists has poured into the city’s streets. Today will be a national day of mourning throughout the country, but in Vlora there is an atmosphere of “celebration”; perhaps many people hope that, along with the 52 bodies, they can bury once and for all the most tragic chapter in Albania’s history. Nevertheless, there is some fear in the city. People who have lived by the sea for years feel that it is growing rougher by the hour, an ill omen for today. The ferry expected to arrive in the morning may encounter problems on its journey, which could delay its arrival, but everyone is hoping. They hope this sea will not be the one to spoil a ceremony they have been waiting for for months. In Fier, meanwhile, they have built a small cement tomb, and beside it 13 pits have been lined up, which today will close over the Fier victims of the Otranto Channel. Flowers and a military squad are also coming from Gjirokastra. (Photo: REUTERS) The victims’ coffins yesterday at the port of Brindisi On page 3 The victims’ coffins yesterday at the port of Brindisi (Photo: REUTERS)

NGJELA: NOW I CAN INVESTIGATE TIRANA — Parliament finally [passed] the law on investigating the events at the beginning of the year. Meidani Ngjela TIRANA — Parliament has finally [passed] the law on investigating the events at the beginning of the year. “I was sure this would happen,” declared MP Spartak Ngjela moments later. According to him, the President’s action was hasty and he had been badly advised by his advisers. Ngjela assured that the way is now clear and that in the coming days his Commission will begin work. The legislature once again against the President. Meidani TIRANA — Parliament defeats President Meidani. The law on the Ngjela Commission passed in Parliament yesterday, even though it had been returned by the head of state. Thirty minutes of debate were needed for the green card to pave the way Meidani; Ngjela

HE PROMISED ARAPI OVER THE PHONE

“I want a foreign court”

BERAT / Long battle with the police

The adventure of the four from Lezhë ends well

HE PROMISED ARAPI OVER THE PHONE TIRANA — Mustafa Leka returns to Albania today. Invited by phone by the chief supervisor of the transparency process to meet with the administrators of the firm “Deloitte & Touch,” Leka promised Arapi that he would come. He had been in Turkey for months, and at the headquarters of the firm he runs, the remaining employees would shrug when asked when their president would return. “I spoke with him on the phone and he told me he would return today,” Arapi told the newspaper. On page 5

“I want a foreign court” the proceedings against Mazreku TIRANA - Azem Hajdari does not recognize the Mazreku trial. “We will review it again when we come to power.” This is what the DP member of parliament also said at a press conference. According to him, the trial is a political fabrication, and the real killers are not in the courtroom but in parliament. MP Hajdari presented two facts and recordings from the trial in question, noting that he also has other evidence implicating the politicians Nano, Gjini and Dokle. “I will call for an international trial,” he said, convinced that the panel of judges is not capable of conducting such a trial. Hajdari assured reporters that he would never go straight to court to testify. On page 4

BERAT / Long battle with the police BERAT - The Jaup gang leader is behind bars. A major operation by the local police. The wanted man was wounded after an exchange of gunfire. He was taken to the city hospital, while a helicopter was requested from the Ministry of the Interior. The situation became tense, and the victim’s family members also joined in, putting pressure on the police. For two hours, the officers in blue tried to ensure his safety. At ten o’clock yesterday morning, he was taken to Tirana, accompanied, of course, by a special escort. On page 6

The adventure of the four boys from Lezhë ends well LEZHË - After making their parents’ blood run cold, the four children who had set off for Greece in search of their “fortune” have returned home. “Nobody kidnapped us,” they told Arben Dashi, chief of the Lezhë police station. “We wanted to go to Greece, but we ran out of money and got as far as Tirana.” Their adventure, which began yesterday, ended, fortunately, without any consequences. Encouraged by their oldest cousin, who is just 16, four sixth-grade boys from a Lezhë school set off for the neighboring country. They left their parents just one letter, in which, perhaps with spelling mistakes, they wrote: “Mom, I’m going to Greece. I kiss you lots.” These four 11-year-olds and one 16-year-old took a minibus to Tirana without an adult, but there they ran out of money. Hunger, homesickness and fear reminded them that the sensible thing to do was to return home. Meanwhile, the children’s parents had raised the alarm with the Lezhë police, and Lezhë had notified the police stations in Korçë, Devoll and Librazhd about a journey by five minors. After their families, the police were the next to see the little “heroes.” Accompanied by a police officer, they went to the police station yesterday at 12:00 and said that the whole thing had been their own idea. Meanwhile, yesterday the police presence had been significantly increased at the school they attend. Many parents—frightened by the news that the four boys had run away—did not send their children to school. Today, the desks will surely be full, and the four little “heroes” will tell their classmates how they wanted to go to Greece and how beautiful Tirana was. Irfan Rama

FOOTBALL Coach Dedja: Vllaznia aims for the top of the Championship The sponsor—this is our strength On page 7

CËRRIK Pedophile trial: Horrifying facts Children’s complaints yesterday On page 6

Following the alarm over violence among children “Children, stay away from guns” Appeal to Tirana’s schools TIRANA - “Children, put those weapons away!” With this appeal, the Education Directorate addressed children yesterday, urging pupils at eight-year schools and secondary schools not to engage in acts like those that took place a few days ago at “Sabaudin Gabrani” school. The Police Directorate is also working with the Education Directorate to address this problem. The Education Directorate is appealing to pupils. A statement from the directorate has been read at all the city’s eight-year schools, raising pupils’ awareness and urging them to distance themselves from weapons. Accordingly, pupils will be strictly prohibited from bringing toys into schools. It would not be surprising if weapons were found among them. This was prompted by the incident in the corridor at “Sabaudin Gabrani” school, where, following a fight between pupils, the police also found a grenade in the courtyard. This is not the first time that such incidents have attracted public attention. To prevent them, the Tirana Police Directorate has contacted the principals of all schools. “It is the principals and teachers who must check pupils while they are at school,” says Colonel Tusha. “Nevertheless, so far the officers in blue have not been absent from the areas around schools. To raise pupils’ and teachers’ awareness of the problem of weapons, an appeal from Colonel Tusha himself will also be delivered to all schools today. ‘Unless we raise young people’s awareness, it is pointless to think that the nightmare of weapons can be removed from children’s minds. But as for the surrender of these weapons, which have so far caused only casualties in Tirana, it is difficult to restore calm among everyone,’ Colonel Tusha said.” On page 4