Strict punishment for super-prisoner Çushi. Kept restrained in his cell The incident is repeated at Tirana Prison. Zani and two others strike a police officer TIRANA - Zani Çaus[h]i rebels and lunges at a prison officer on internal-duty service. The night before last, at around 22:10, Zani refused to enter his cell, insulting and then striking the officer escorting him. The “Kapoj[a] i Vlorës” managed to force open the door of a nearby room, where two remand prisoners were staying. The latter joined in the beating, until police officer Pashk Bushati was left bruised and bloodied. The intervention of the standby unit stopped the situation from escalating. The three rebels were then handcuffed and isolated, while one of them was placed under high-security measures. The officer was treated at the hospital, and doctors stated that he had severe bruising on his left eye. On page 6 Myrteza Çaus[h]i during the trial

WHAT IS DIPLOMACY DOING? Arban Hasani Albania is still at a crossroads, facing the final break from the Islamic camp and the opening up, without a clear form, toward the West. On the eve of the revival of the old debate about Albania’s presence in the Islamic Conference, the sides seem to have softened many of their initial positions, and the storm which, five years ago, visibly shook the Albanian political scene now does not even ripple the glass of syrup that accompanied the pompous entry into this community. The only point on which the fate of the Islamic Conference and our country’s ties with it seems genuinely to have been finally settled is a request by a small group of MPs who, two months ago, specifically called for Parliament to ratify the former president’s long-ago decision. The official Albanian leadership’s position on continued membership in the community of Islamic countries has been expressed less through words than through gestures and indirect means, signaling its discomfort. For example, when the official representative [text unclear] of a pragmatic character and not a sympathy for the veils and turbans so beloved by the member countries of the Islamic Conference. This silence of his may also be a kind of signal that he will possibly withdraw from the summit, where most participating countries have replaced the constitution with the sacred text of the Quran. The parties currently governing Albania did not fail, throughout their period in opposition, to express their dissatisfaction with the country’s presence in the Islamic Conference and to insist that our country withdraw from it. But immediately after coming to power, it seems that this demand is no longer being made; even in cases such as that of the MPs mentioned above, they prefer to remain silent and give laconic answers. Albania’s participation in an international organization, even one of a modest character, must certainly be ratified by Parliament. The case of the Islamic Conference is among the clearest, since despite [?] Specifically, for Parliament to review the decision to remove the former president. The official Albanian statement regarding its continued presence in the community of Islamic countries, more than laconic, was full of figures of speech and indirect ways of diverting attention. For example, when the state’s official representative was asked about continued participation in the Islamic summit, the answer was that “President Meidani took part in the meeting of Francophone countries in Vietnam.” Also, during the days when the meeting of the countries participating in the Conference was taking place, the Albanian foreign minister chose to fly to Moscow, reducing Albania’s representation in the Islamic community to a modest level. For his part, former President Berisha, the initiator of Albania’s entry into the Islamic Conference, has recently taken a step back in his pursuit of the Islamic world. After a long silence about the gesture that entangled [it] with the Arab world, Berisha recently declared that his action had only … [the source text is garbled here] … those who have begun, like the unrecognized deputies, prefer to remain silent and leave matters to laconic answers. Albania’s participation in this international organization, even if only at a modest level, Islamic Conference is among the clearest examples, because although three parliaments have been elected and the full rotation has taken place, the deputies have still not raised their voting cards to express approval or opposition. Ultimately, Albania still does not know what kind of celebration to hold over its head. Faced with the Arabs’ contested turban and the beloved European hats, Albania’s senior leaders, in these first months of their rule, have preferred trips to Hanoi or Moscow, Europe and Asia. Especially, [they remain] in a dream if they are to stand by the declarations they made when they were in opposition. Perhaps their simplicity in opposing [it], under the conditions of power, has turned into a difficulty that is not merely aesthetic in relation to their presence at the Islamic Conference.

Politics in motion Meidani Berisha TIRANA - Berisha is in Shkodër, while Meidani returns from an unsuccessful visit to Kukës. While a triumphant reception is prepared for Albania’s former president, the current head of state is forced to turn his helicopter back, cutting short a visit to the northern city. But a few kilometres from Kukës, Berisha declared yesterday before the people of Shkodër that there would be a strict crackdown in the spring and that the Democrats should take to strikes and peaceful demonstrations to overthrow the Nano regime. On page 2 Meidani; Berisha

BERAT On page 6

Brokaj orders a special commission TIRANA - Brokaj begins his investigation into the green uniform. An order issued by him announced the creation of a commission to ensure transparency regarding violations in the army. The management of financial funds, the privatization and rental of military facilities, the sale of ammunition, as well as the directions to

FIVE ARRESTED TIRANA - “The drug-distribution network in Tirana may have been encouraged by the Italian Mafia.” The strong assertion was made yesterday at the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office. This also constitutes one of the [?] of the investigation being conducted by the prosecution. Five arrests were being prepared yesterday by the Prosecutor’s Office. The suspicions concern [?] the large quantity of drugs seized, which did not

GJIROKASTËR

TIRANË - Brokaj begins his path toward an inspection of the green uniform. An order of his has announced the establishment of a transparency commission to investigate violations in the army. The handling of financial funds, the privatization and leasing the other areas of financial activity in the army. This will be the commission’s main line of inquiry; it is made up of 19 senior military officers within the Ministry of Defense. According to the minister’s order, the commission will carry out its work across all branches of the armed forces and other military service units. To enable the commission to conduct its inspections and oversee the constituent structures and units as effectively as possible, personnel, files, invoices, and issued orders will be made available to it. Every 15 days, the commission will provide a written update on the progress of the inspection, and upon fully completing its mission it will present its final conclusions to the Minister of Defense. The list of people to be questioned and considered for possible prosecution also includes former minister Zhulali. An ordinary scene in March

TIRANË - “The Italian Mafia may have encouraged the drug distribution network in Tirana.” The strong claim was made yesterday by investigators at the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office. It is also one of the lines of investigation being pursued by the prosecution. Five arrests were made yesterday by the Prosecutor’s Office. Suspicions are linked to the large quantity of drugs seized, which could not have been purchased by just one person. There are suspicions that someone supplied the white powder on credit, with payment due later, in order to create a stable market in the Albanian capital. And this is now a reality, since there has been a case in which people were arranging to buy their usual portions of drugs. The investigation will turn toward connections abroad, where the network’s base is thought to lie. On page 4

The champions stay top for another week [Photo: football players on the pitch] Tirana - Laçi 1:0 (Photo: Plator Ilo) Shehu: “Even when we were down to ten men, I instructed the players to attack; the substitutions had the same aim.” On page 7 Tirana - Laçi 1:0; (Photo: Plator Ilo)

PEACE WITH VAKËF? CHIEF OF POLICE: “I’M NOT DEALING WITH THEM” Downpour at the Berat Police Station Officials dismissed; Havari will leave too BERAT - Havari has caused a downpour in the Berat police force. But he did not forget to add that he himself also wants to leave that city. The deputy director, Gani Malushi, has been relieved of his post, along with several other chiefs. Having just returned from Tirana—after meeting with the heads of the Ministry of the Interior—Havari made the first changes at the directorate. The first victim was Gani Malushi. The deputy director whom he had appointed as his replacement has also been relieved of his post. “For his compromising conduct with the Vakëf detainees” was one of the arguments director Havari used to remove his right-hand man from the police force. Malushi had been dismissed twice before as well, for abuse of office and damage to his moral standing. He had been in Berat for more than two months. Asip Jaho has also fallen victim to Havari. After him came Avdyl Ismaili, head of Police Station Two, who did not respond on the day of the attack on the police station. He is expected to be transferred to another city, with a demotion. Qemal Strega, an officer, and Qazim Gojka, a police officer, have also been relieved of their posts because they abandoned their duties and opened the doors of the police station when the residents of the Vakëf neighborhood arrived. Further dismissals are expected in the coming days. Havari returned from Tirana yesterday afternoon. In a lengthy conversation with the Minister of the Interior, Çeka, he recounted the entire story of the Vakëf incident, but focused more on the attack on the police station. Immediately afterward, he received approval for the appointments and new arrivals to carry out the wave of dismissals. In addition to these changes, Havari himself said that he no longer wanted to stay in Berat. “The criminals won’t remove me; only the state can, and only when it considers it necessary,” Havani told Gazeta. “I will continue working to bring peace and calm to Berat, while taking even harsher action against crime and criminals.” Meanwhile, Havari said he would no longer deal with the Vakëf incident. “This will be the last time I mention those people from Vakëf. The justice system can deal with them from now on,” Havari concluded, while leaving open the question of whether peace with the rebellious neighborhood was possible. p.r.c. The Berat Police Station

On page 6 GJIROKASTËR Gang warfare in a bar On page 6 DURRËS Divorce is becoming fashionable On page 5

We will go on hunger strike On page 5