Zogaj: Changes must be made now; later they will be pointless Corruption scandal: Coalition calls for changes “People in the Government have been fueling it for 10 months” Zogaj: Changes must be made now; later they will be pointless Ministers on the chopping block Corruption scandal: Coalition calls for changes “People in the Government have been fueling it for 10 months” TIRANA—“Changes before it is too late.” Corruption and smuggling have reopened debates inside and outside the government. Thus, following the attacks expected from the opposition, the coalition’s allies are also increasing pressure on the government leaders. After Çeka, who has long called for changes in the fight against smuggling and the removal of those responsible, whom he named as Malaj and Bleta, AD is once again insisting on changes in the executive, this time through Zogaj. The secretary-general of the PS also stated some time ago that changes should be expected in September, but Majko said that when he said this, he had changes down to director level in mind. Majko’s statements were made precisely as the PS secretary-general opened a debate with Malaj, also declaring that “he would not leave the PS hostage to directors like Bleta,” which subsequently prompted a reaction from some of the government leaders, Malaj and Fino. On page 3 Continued on page 3

The current Government and its Prime Minister have one indisputable merit. The difficulties of acting against bandits and the high political culture or standards by which it governs have ruled out a large measure of political folklorism. It is now becoming increasingly clear that slogans such as “fierce war on communism,” etc., no longer work or are no longer as effective as they once were. But this success, based on the method described above, which the Government’s opponents call laziness or dependence, seems to have been regarded by the Government itself as a universal method or as a fundamental advantage in the economic arena as well. Joking aside, one could say that the result of vanity or evolution over time has itself brought success. After seven years, we are seeing a field of pluralism emerge, at last, in the Albanian press and in other areas too; it is the figures that determine the state of society. At last we are approaching a stage in which the word “inflation” and other economic terms are taking on a distinct, real meaning and becoming a measure by which government activity is judged. It took eight years to bring such a game to life. The clans descend on the city, bringing villagers and townspeople with them, to put an end to the abuses of the dictatorship. After overthrowing the dictator, they take over and, without changing anything in their methods, let it start all over again with the same efforts. There are many serious reasons to identify corruption in Albania, but the most fundamental is the ignorance that characterizes our political class. Is it possible? Watching the anti-corruption conference, one is struck by a statement from one of the most capable ministers in this government, Ermelin-da Meksi. She says that we have no reason to spend the world’s money. We are not capable of making programs. This is also the biggest area in which the current Government has problems to solve. Is it capable of doing so? One strange fact struck me. It took the arrival of Greece’s Minister of Transport in Durrës and the arrival of the Macedonian Prime Minister in Durrës to ask about the warehouses of Sh-këzotit in a way. Seeing this influx—that is, other people’s programs connected to and involving their own country—the Albanian Prime Minister arrived there a little later too. You might think that genuine self-criticism had taken place. But while asking about tractor tires that did not look new, he forgot that, for the very large Port of Durrës, Sarandopulos’s 10.5-meter highway allowed only the Prime Minister’s car to pass. It is like the old fable in which the fox won at the feast and was given food on a plate. A nasty whisper is taking hold that the Balkan and European chancelleries have understood perfectly well that our leaders like beautiful phrases from foreigners so they can boast to their compatriots or the opposition. Indeed, if you use modern terms about democracy and the historic role of our leaders in solving the world’s problems, it is no wonder that roads are given different destinations, ports are left without money, and so on. Gligorov made a similar joke about the Prime Minister of little Macedonia a few years ago. Everyone also knows that if the history of the Greek mandate of ’13 does not In the end, both in the Albanian press and in other fields, it is the figures that make up a picture of society. At last, we are approaching the stage where their is judged. It took only a very light check by foreign organizations and the President of the Republic to understand that, once again, Albania ranks first in corruption and in the consequences that follow from the aforementioned word.

TIRANA - American planes enter our territory without notifying anyone of their flights. This is the alarm raised by Albanian civil aviation employees, who happened to discover the flights throughout last week and at the beginning of this week. And this “coincidence” is directly related to the absence of C130-type radars, at around 10:00 and 12:00, respectively. But the actual developments in air traffic in the northern part of Albania came to light on Monday, near midday. A report of heavy air traffic in northern Albania arrived from Belgrade. “We want to know whether we can give the OK for Austrian Airlines to fly from Belgrade to Tirana,” they asked Rinas, “since we are detecting heavy traffic in northern Albania.” On page 4

Marathon meeting at opposition headquarters. The results obtained by the Central Commission are being analyzed TIRANA - The Democrats are pointing fingers at those responsible for the defeat in the latest partial local elections. Genç Pollo, deputy chairman of the PD, was, late Tuesday, one of the opposition’s most heavily criticized figures for the poor result the Union for Democracy achieved in these elections. The entire meeting of the Presidency, which continued for hours amid tension, can be said to have been a cold shower for Deputy Chairman Pollo, as rarely before when he had played the leading role in a meeting, also adopting the pose of accuser. Chairman Berisha’s criticisms were also directed at Pollo; although indirect, they weakened, in the eyes of some members of the Presidency, the image of an almost natural understanding between Deputy Chairman Pollo and Chairman Berisha. According to sources from the expanded meeting of the PD Presidency, Pollo is said to have given a detailed report on how the election campaign unfolded and, finally, on its results, in which the Union for Democracy managed to win only two municipalities and three communes. two municipalities and three communes.

“Look,” said a government opponent in response to the Prime Minister’s speech at the anti-corruption conference. “This,” he said of senior government officials, “has an armored car, a gift. Another senior official has a Benz 600 (when one is bought in Germany, all the newspapers write about the flaunting). Another opposition leader has another armored car—again, a gift. Now, if you know that Clinton must not accept gifts worth more than 8,000 dollars, since otherwise he has to pay the difference, or that in England they do not let him accept more than 150 gifts worth over 150 dollars, you understand that this whole anti-corruption story is the usual propaganda joke. Such jokes are common in African countries, where for two thousand years they have been play-

“Backroom dealings are at work in the government.” Former Labor Minister Elmaz Sherifi joins the debate that has engulfed the head of the political class and the Albanian state. He confirms that Meidani sent all the MPs a few days ago a dossier containing scandalous information from the customs service. “Analyses need to be carried out in the party’s leadership forums,” says Sherifi, backing the attacks made by the secretary-general of the party leading the governing coalition against part of the government. In an interview with the newspaper, he confirms that “Majko’s statement is a sign of responsibility toward the electorate, to whom we promised honesty.” He reiterates the call made by part of the political class for changes to the government cabinet. “These changes were expected some time ago.”

How the “Rambos” live: low pay in the face of death TIRANA - “At least they should give us a word of praise after the operations.” The men of the special forces risk their lives every day, facing bullets from criminals who are armed and better equipped than the police. Their only request is a bulletproof vest and a proper uniform to fight death. On the Ministry’s payroll, these special forces officers receive a monthly salary of 35,000–38,000 new lek. Now, alongside the training provided by foreign experts who have offered their assistance to the blue uniforms, they are asking for greater support in the form of materials and equipment needed to carry out their duties as well as possible. To date, the special forces have been forced to wear old uniforms donated by the army of some unknown [?] country, sometimes unsuitable for our climate or conditions.

TIRANA - The heat divides the doctors. Hospital wards disagree with one another about how people should be protected from shock and fainting caused by drops in blood pressure due to the sun, and from summer epidemics. At the emergency department of Tirana University Hospital Center, doctors said that, after an unusual influx of people who arrived suffering from heatstroke, dehydration and severe burns, the situation is now calmer. On page 5

DURRËS - Around three hundred files concerning the return of properties remain unresolved, leaving their lawful owners without a solution. The return of land to its former owners has meanwhile sparked many disputes among the people of Durrës, disputes that have in some way also resulted from decisions made by the Municipality. The Property Restitution Commission in Durrës, which operates within the Durrës District Council, is still working to complete around 300 files concerning claims for the return of the properties in question. On page 8

VLORË - KESH is gathering its “troops” to collect electricity debts. A meeting held yesterday at the Prefecture of Vlorë, with representatives of the Ministry of Public Economy and Privatization, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Public Order, as well as senior officials from the Albanian Power Corporation, discussed the state of electricity in the city. This time, the threats against those who have not paid what they owe KESH appear to have been serious. On page 7

SHKODËR - For the first time, an entire army of the most important representatives of political, banking and economic institutions in Albania has arrived in Shkodër. Those interested in reviving Shkodër’s economy have expressed a desire to do so through projects, but at the same time have not hesitated to criticize the current government, whose efforts to help the northern city have been few. On page 6

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