INTERVIEW / The veteran leader of Balli recounts his political adventure Ermenji: I met him in Korçë, then... TIRANA - Abaz Ermenji explains his ties with Enver Hoxha. INTERVIEW / The veteran leader of Balli recounts his political adventure Here is my story with Enver Ermenji: I met him in Korçë, then... TIRANA - Abaz Ermenji explains his ties with Enver. The historic leader of Balli Kombëtar aspires, just as he did 50 years ago, to revive national sentiment. But having spent some time in the West leaves the old Balli veteran little chance of imagining the political struggle as it was during the Second World War. “The Communists won because they deceived the people,” says Ermenji, recalling the days when he fled Albania and was branded an enemy by merciless propaganda. But the old Balli supporter cannot help acknowledging the merits of his former rival, Enver Hoxha, although he denies any kind of personal or ideological friendship with the leader of Albanian communism. “We met by chance at the Korçë Lyceum, but we had no kind of friendship.” On page 2

Kosovar refugees yesterday in Tropojë (Photo: Hektor Pustina) Kosovar refugees yesterday in Tropojë (Photo: Hektor Pustina)

Police warned: Do not go to Tropojë Attack on Azem Hajdari. On Wednesday evening, the car carrying these Democratic Party MPs was raked with automatic gunfire. About 300 metres from the town hotel, unidentified people, who had been waiting for the visitors from the capital for some time, fired horizontally at the four-wheel-drive vehicles. Hajdari and one of his bodyguards returned fire. After several minutes of exchange of fire, former RTSH director Bardhyl Pollo, who was accompanying the DP representatives on the trip, was lightly wounded in both legs. Amid the bullets, the MPs fired into a nearby press, where they took shelter until the following morning. Witnesses say the attack has fueled suspicions in the town that it was revenge for political reasons. One of them recognized some of the people waiting for the cars from Tirana; they belong to a large clan known for such social incidents. There is a longstanding dispute between members of this clan and Hajdari over political beliefs and the desire to dominate the town. However, the police have confirmed no suspicions and have given no reason for the armed attack. Hajdari On page 3

The Plasari case Skifter The Plasari case Why Rama took this step Skifter The new Minister of Culture, Rama, in his campaign to remove the dust that has covered Albanian culture, and first and foremost the dust that for years had covered the shelves of our National Library, has made a gesture we rarely get to see. He has offered the important position of director of the National Library to one of the most prominent figures in contemporary Albanian letters, Aurel Plasari. Naturally, there is nothing surprising about this post being offered to Plasari. His work in the field of letters leaves no room for debate. Perhaps for the first time in half a century, a person from the literary world, rather than the administration, has been placed at the head of the Albanian Temple of the Book. What should be welcomed as an act of civic-mindedness is the fact that Rama and Plasari are working closely together in a joint effort for the benefit of Albanian culture. Minister Rama chose precisely the right person, despite the fact that their relations had been frozen for many years, despite their differing political sympathies, and despite the fact that, as newspapers write, Plasari’s name is on the very nominal list of the Party that is now in opposition. And equally civilizing, for the same reasons, is Plasari’s gesture: he did not allow any prejudice to stop him from serving the Albanian cultural cause. Rama and Plasari, known for their critical spirit, have set an example of a “truth” that is valuable to everyone, especially politicians, but also the intellectuals of this country. The first credit undoubtedly belongs to Rama, but Plasari deserves credit too, no less.

Hundreds arrive in Tirana, Durrës and Central Albania THE KOSOVO TRAGEDY / Serbs kill Albanians at the border. High tension between the two countries TROPOJË - The crowds of refugees who arrived in the northern town three days ago are now heading toward the south of the country. Sources at the Ministry of Public Order confirm that Shkodra and Laçi are the first stops, while a considerable number of Kosovars have headed for parts of the country where their relatives have been living for decades. At least 200 people arrived in Durrës yesterday at midday, and most of them have settled in the village of Rashbull, where a Kosovar community has lived for some time. Many others continued on to stop in Kavajë and Fier. The “1 Maji” neighborhood of the city continues to serve as a shelter for the guests. Divided by families, but mostly by clans, groups of 15–20 people spent their first night inland. It is expected that many more will break away from the “army” staying in Tropojë and “make for” quieter areas, and certainly more prosperous ones.

Arben Meçe We learned from discussions in the Constitutional Commission that there are two models of president in the world: “the Berishian (strong) and the Mejdaniian (weak).” In between, there is neither one nor the other, because “we want warm water when they give us cold; we want cold when they give us warm.” The odyssey continues, but somewhere we are out of tune. Where? In the demagogic propaganda about the constitution. No? Then where? The best constitution is the worst one, provided it is implemented! Let us discuss, briefly, the institution of the President. People talk about a president who is “very powerful,” called Berisha, and another who is “weak,” called Mejdani. This institution is never considered from a legal-institutional perspective, but always through the precedent of a “name.” Thus, willy-nilly, we become victims of our common failing: narrow, short-lived, tiresome, passionate disagreements about the phenomenon. At one time, the accusation against Berisha was that, with the constitution, he was trying to become king of Albania. Whether we like it or not, Mejdani and the Constitution have become almost such a reality. Have they? But this is through the constitution. For the sake of factual accuracy, by means of an ordinary law that names him Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, with the Armed Forces, at least the Constitution “of his” was not approved (Personality...) “I adhere to the view that we wanted it at the time; we gained nothing else from its non-approval.” He became one because, de jure or de facto, he led a party. He became one because the law in general in the Albanian state was seen only in its political sense. He became one because we made him so, whether we wanted to or not. Finally, because... And one day this “Mythic Individual” fell beneath the merciless wheels of democratic rules, “circulation.” He fell. Democracy cannot live with arbitrariness and institutional abuse. We must never forget a great truth: the painful outcome when one diverges from legality and institutional principles. What happened has shown us a great deal. But what? It is precisely here that perspectives, judgments and opinions begin to diverge. This is entirely normal. But all of us together must at least unite around the “Institutional Philosophy,” the sacrifice of standing firm in defence of the framework of the Albanian state. No one has the right to claim that there are no institutional shortcomings and defects in Albania. From these seven years, we must inherit an unquestionable continuity. Our institutions are similar, as a point of unity, to the structural organization of many democratic states...

Secret report from the Prosecutor’s Office TIRANA - The Anti-Smuggling Department has sent a secret report to President Meidani and Prime Minister Nano. The Anti-Smuggling sector at the General Prosecutor’s Office recently informed the heads of state about the scale of trafficking in illicit goods in recent months. The prosecutors are also requesting to be heard during the drafting of the new Customs Code. On page 4

GAZETA of Shkodra SHKODRA - One day after the terrible explosion in the Catholic cemetery, a house nearby was engulfed by fire. Nikolini Kola was the head of the household whose house was engulfed in flames yesterday evening. On page 6

GAZETA of Durrës DURRËS - Tractors are working to clear up the beach. The noise of heavy vehicles has been heard over the past two days at various stations along Durrës beach. Despite economic difficulties, the Municipal Enterprise has begun working the beach sand and cleaning it of dirt. On page 8

GAZETA of Vlora VLORA - Kakami’s first cousin is behind bars. He was arrested yesterday after being on the wanted list for months. He is Gazmend Zybi Nebiu, from the village of Babicë, 22 years old, who faces serious accusations for various criminal acts. On page 7

PERMET AND GJIROKASTRA SHAKEN PËRMET - He kills the village elder and his wife and fights with special forces. A 54-year-old man from Zhepova, Përmet, killed the village elder and his wife, whom he blamed for his son’s suicide while the latter was doing his military service. The man then engaged in a gun battle lasting several minutes with the special forces, who had arrived to arrest him. On page 8