From the Constitutional Court: He has insulted and harmed us The conflict between institutions deepens. Justice now has the final say Speaker of Parliament Gjinushi TIRANA - Skënder Gjinushi in court? A complaint has been filed by the Constitutional Court at the Tirana prosecutor’s office. “We feel insulted in our capacity; these are deliberate slanders.” A few hours later, the leader of Parliament made his position clear. “My statements were not interpreted accurately,” Gjinushi said, according to whom those who are politicians also allow political commentary. It seems, then, that the clash between Parliament and the Constitutional Court has now reached an impasse. The Supreme Court has been placed between them, the arena where the battle that has begun will continue. Two days ago, during a press conference, leader Gjinushi was harsh in his statements about the Court and others. But those who defend the constitutional laws were quick to respond. In a statement yesterday, they announced that they had filed a complaint with the Tirana prosecutor’s office, as if to show that they would not easily back down from holding him to account.

TIRANA - The DP is only one step away from the doors of Parliament. “Our non-participation in the Assembly is a flaw of the DP.” This was the latest statement by leader Berisha. In other words, he meant that the DP would enter Parliament if the new session of the anniversary year made this inevitable. Although Berisha did not explicitly say “presence” or “entry,” his political subtext was clear yesterday to the DP’s journalists and analysts. On page 3

INTERVIEW Albanian gold: The story continues After returning from London, Albanian expert Professor Arben Puto speaks to “Gazeta” On page 2

AFTER 7 YEARS TIRANA - Commemorating December 1990 would be incomplete without students meeting two of the best-known and most discussed figures of those events. Edi Rama and Adrian Klosi, back in Tirana after a long absence, brought together last night in the concert hall of the Academy of Arts many of the best-known figures in national politics. Organized as a debate, this year’s reflection was also attended, at times, by former Prime Minister Nano, who, together with his closest associates, responded positively to the invitation. Besides the regular audience, students from the University of Vlora also reflected last night, and the subject of the dialogue was their hunger strike. The meeting was arranged without a lectern, and many of the participants were seated on the podium as well. Among those who spoke were Fatos Lubonja, Mimosa Ahmeti, and Prime Minister Fatos Nano himself.

The conflict reaches the Ministry BERAT - Deputy Interior Minister Bare meets the residents of Vaket and the Berat police director, while a day later Havari goes to the Ministry. “What is the history of the conflict?” was Bare’s first question to the neighborhood representatives. He heard the entire story of the conflict, which began months ago, directly from them. During the 20-minute conversation, he asked them to be accurate before the law and to act according to procedure. Bare agreed in principle that they could take legal action against the police director and file a complaint against him, but asked them to be wary of people who might try to provoke such incidents. Bare then met Havari himself, and spoke with him at length about the history of the conflict. A meeting with the latter had also taken place earlier, while yesterday Havari was summoned to Tirana, where he spoke with the head of the Ministry of Interior. The conflict between Havari and the Vaket neighborhood seems to have alarmed the heads of the Albanian police as well. Some time ago, there was a dramatic incident in which a group of 300 people attacked the police station building, and Havari was forced to fire a submachine gun to frighten the crowd. Havari has accused the district commander, Luana Isufai, who did not appear to follow up on the case concerning 10 tenders. Although he was at the Ministry two days ago, decisions were issued concerning some of those detained from Vaket, stating that none of them had been charged with a criminal offense. “No prosecutor has questioned us, while at home we have the papers saying that there is no complaint against us,” says Tomori, one of those detained a few days ago.

The new disciplinary regulations are ready TIRANA - The Albanian Parliament is introducing drastic measures for MPs and their conduct in the Assembly. Suspensions from the chamber, firm intervention by the Speaker, and even action by the chamber guards against any “unruly” MP. These are some of the new restrictions included in the Parliament’s new rules of procedure. Known for their strict provisions, the document is to be approved by the Albanian Parliament and will regulate the legislature’s entire internal activity. On page 3

The accused is Xhahit Xhaferri TIRANA - The Central Bank is suing the former head of the Republican Guard. “During March, he took our armored vehicles and did not return them.” This is the complaint that has placed former Guard commander Xhahit Xhaferri at the center of the investigation. As the investigation gets underway, sources at the prosecutor’s office said yesterday that armored vehicles had been taken and not returned. They had been impounded and belonged to two foundations, “Populli” and “Xhaferri.” A Bank SUV was found some time ago in Vlora, in an inoperable condition, while circumstances have raised suspicions that it was used by the Gaxhaj gang. Since Xhaferri has left, it will be difficult to find the documents needed to reconstruct the truth about these unclear matters. On page 9

ON THE EVE OF CHRISTMAS TIRANA - The army of turkeys is back. In various sales spots around the capital, the first turkey sellers began appearing in recent days. Accompanied by the winter cold and the vendors who remind children of the year’s big celebration, it is sometimes worth dressing warmly; in the collective memory of the neighborhoods, the announcement of the approaching Christmas and New Year holidays has arrived too. A new product appeared these days on a sidewalk near the Ballet School: turkeys. Their sellers, in the brief pauses between attending to the many customers, who sometimes ask about the price they want and sometimes look for a suitable turkey, say that now is exactly the right time to sell this product, and that turkeys can be sold even if their legs have not yet been marked with attractive name tags. Around the turkey stall, they stand with their legs tied, stretched out in a row like an army at rest, waiting for their future owners. Just as it has become customary for someone to buy a turkey for the holidays that lie ahead, before the next holidays that come once a year, everyone would have to spend their entire pension. In any case, judging by the people browsing the goods, the most eager ones are the youngest, among the first trees decorated for the holiday and the children amid the many end-of-year troubles… Turkeys in a square in Tirana (Photo: Plator Ilo)

The Speaker of Parliament responds: “I didn’t say exactly that. I was misinterpreted.”

The Constitutional Court challenges Gjinushi. Now their political clash will move into the courtroom

The DP also sides with Gjata. Berisha warns: “Don’t play games with the Constitutional Court.”