Local Government Mayors in the districts speak about the Party’s position Berisha calls an Extraordinary Congress Local Government Mayors in the districts speak about the Party’s position PD mayors: “An unclear boycott” Berisha calls an Extraordinary Congress TIRANA - Six mayors in the main cities comment on the boycott of their positions as heads of municipalities. Some say they are certain they will leave; others are still undecided. The PD may soon call an extraordinary Congress. Berisha has decided to obtain the full approval of the party’s highest forums in support of the opposition’s new strategy. This strategy concerns the forms of protest by the demokra[c]y, which aim to take power as soon as possible. It seems that the leader of the Democrats wanted to give the moderates in the largest opposition party one last chance by once again seeking a vote of confidence from a National Assembly. The idea was put forward by PD leader Sali Berisha himself at a national meeting with the blue local-government representatives, attended by all members of the Democrats’ leadership. But there is still no clear option regarding the timing and ultimate purpose of the extraordinary National Assembly meeting. On page 3 Berisha at yesterday’s rally

KOSOVO / Albania doubles its armed forces as the war draws closer to the border All young people into the Army The government is preparing a plan for mass recruitment Defense Commission: Officers ready for anything A child from Tropoja (Photo: ANSA)

The latest situation at the border has put the Albanian army on alert. Its leaders have taken action to increase readiness among the troops in green uniforms. While the Chief of the General Staff, Ale[k]s Andoni, visited Kukës yesterday to inspect the condition of the heavy artillery firsthand, Fino convened the heads of local government, calling for greater assistance in mobilizing new recruits. The government’s number two has assured the public that the number of recruits will double in September, while strict measures will be envisaged against all “rebels.” Also yesterday, the Parliamentary Defense Commission issued an unusual statement, calling on soldiers to increase their readiness—to be prepared for any eventuality that may arise. Having analyzed the recent events at the border and the danger of the flames of war spreading throughout our region, the commission called on everyone, and especially the armed forces, to increase their readiness to deal with any eventuality that may arise. On page 4 ANDI TELA “I'm busy, I can't talk... it would be better later..., I'm in a meeting..., I have an appointment..., the minister can't see you, he has other things to do...” For a week, the same tune has been coming from Luan Hajdaraga’s mobile phone, as well as from the sweet voice of his secretary. To somewhat make up for the absence in the media—more precisely, the absence of the Ministry of Defence—the minister’s spokesperson’s name is put forward as the best alternative. Where is Hajdaraga? What has happened? Would anyone ever have given the Minister of Defence a thought if the flames of Kosovo were not burning? Especially since, for some time now, Serbian shells have been falling on Tropojë? For a week, war has been raging at our doorstep, and the hundreds and thousands of soldiers there have heightened the fear of Albanians, poor people who are terrified of another terrible event that could engulf them. Amid the multitude of events, which have begun to increase even more, the Minister of Defence has not issued even a single statement to the press. On his mobile phone—you need to have plenty of friends to get the number—the most frequent “calls” have been from journalists, but their persistence has always been met with a curt “no.” Frustrated by the minister’s evasions, the press people even took the step of contacting the opposition to find out what the minister was doing; this was meant to “curse” him quietly, but something got in the way, and Hajdaraga himself continues to remain silent. Silent in words, since he has managed to keep his face off television. All the same, we have seen him at government meetings, at working meetings with visiting officials from neighbouring countries, and he has not missed the usual cocktail parties; but he seems to have forgotten that he is the first person who should speak about what is happening at the border. At the most opportune moment in his career, when he could show that he deserves to hold the post of Minister of Defence, Hajdaraga chooses silence. A question may rightly be raised: Is the Minister afraid to answer journalists? Perhaps, feeling deficient in his knowledge of military art, Hajdaraga does not speak, leaving his spokeswoman to fill the resulting gap. Within four days, the Serbs struck Albanian territory twice, and Hajdaraga does not answer how much Albania risks being drawn into the conflict. Only much later, people waited for NATO’s military manoeuvres to take place, and Hajdaraga does not answer what their role will be or how much our army will take part in this exercise. Nobody knows how capable the Northern divisions are of withstanding a possible aggression. Furthermore, nobody knows exactly what changes our army has undergone since its total collapse in 1997. Setting aside the so-called military secret, Albanians have the right to learn from the minister responsible for protecting their country what level of security he can offer them. When he took the chair as head of Defence, he should have recalled for a few moments the history steeped in the testimony of those who have held that post. His predecessors were declared enemies, sentenced to death, driven into exile, executed—except for one president who is intimidating to Hajdaraga. Fear of something in a a a a a a a a a a president who is intimidating to Hajdaraga. Perhaps Nano knows full well that Hajdaraga belongs to the group of ministers who fall in line behind him and do not dare oppose him, but he also knows full well that with people like these, the testimony is close at hand. Faced with two paths, he must choose the one that best serves his interests: preserving his power and not letting water flow into Berisha’s dry spring. And at this point, Hajdaraga is the one who has to play his part. The country cannot be saved by a ministerial post alone.

CHANGES IN “ZP” Gramoz Ruçi has called for a vote of confidence in himself and the entire leadership of the PS. But his proposal was opposed by the rest of the leadership. It is understood that Ruçi requested this procedure in response to the attacks on segments of the Nano government over tax evasion. In these circumstances, the debates that had recently erupted with them over the socialist party have been brought to a close. Nano’s “opponents” have preferred to moderate their language at yesterday’s meeting, chaired by Nano himself. Thus, despite what they had declared to the press, at yesterday’s meeting of the PS leadership they spoke about the government’s successes. On page 2

DURRËS - Yesterday’s ferry brought, as it does every day, ...

Operation by the XXI Division and the Finance Guard Smugglers shoot at customs officers Gunfire in the sea off Vlora, 6 tonnes of cigarettes seized VLORA - Smugglers fight with the customs police at sea for several minutes over 6 tonnes of cigarettes. In the early hours of yesterday morning, Italian “Guardia di Finanza” forces discovered a fishing boat - it was carrying around 735 cases of “LM” cigarettes on board - which was unloading its cargo very close to the Vlora coast. The customs officers repeatedly called on the smugglers to surrender, but the fishing boat’s crew, as well as the crews of the two speedboats unloading the cigarettes ashore, opened fire on them. The load of smuggled cigarettes seized yesterday in Vlora (Photo: Hektor Pustina)

GAZETA e Durrësit The ferry returns seven prostitutes DURRËS - Yesterday’s ferry brought Albanian refugees to the port of Durrës, as it does every day. Meanwhile, seven very young girls disembarked with the label “prostitutes” on their documents, which were handed over to the police. According to the police, just a few days later they may be able to set off again for the sidewalks of Italy, surely “assisted” by their pimps, who pick them up and drop them off in their luxury Benzes in the ferry square. On page 8

GAZETA e Shkodrës Electricity bills will be deducted from salaries The electricity company is taking tough measures. “We will deduct electricity bills through the payroll.” The company’s management made this decision a few days ago, and the first to be penalized by it were public-sector employees, whose salaries, starting this month, will have deducted both the bill for the current month and a bill from a previous month. According to the director of the electricity company, this was the last resort, since the company was heading toward collapse. On page 6

GAZETA e Tiranës Bicycle fashion makes a comeback TIRANË - Bicycles are back in fashion. Lately, there has been an increase in the number of people who, on Saturday afternoons and in the heat of these days, give up the scorching comfort of their cars’ sheet metal and switch to the oldest means of transport—after the horse-drawn carriage. There have been many more bicycles in Tiranë recently, not only because more people who cannot afford cars are choosing them, but also because many car owners prefer to leave their vehicles sleeping in parking lots. On page 5

National Theatre

Now showing at TOB and the Academy of Arts On page 10

A child from Tropoja (Photo: ANSA)