Daily phone calls about the SHIK law and the "Pëllumbi" case TIRANA - Prime Minister Nano has run the Albanian government by correspondence for two weeks. The war in Kosovo and the provocations by the opposition in Albanian politics have not stopped the Socialist leader from making plans while on vacation, having gone away for a few days to escape Tirana's oppressive heat. Meanwhile, the other government VIPs have chosen Durrës and other tourist destinations in Albania for their holidays. While vacationing in Crete with his family, the leader of the Albanian socialists has now perfected his experience of running the state from afar. According to reliable sources from the Prime Minister's Office, Nano has been in daily contact with the head of state, Deputy Prime Minister Islami, his other counterpart Fino, as well as with the many advisers on the Prime Minister's Office staff. On page 4

NATIONAL LIBRARY TIRANA An official of the "Nano Empire" speaks out On page 11 Gramoz Pashko, this "beast of politics"

On the eve of the Biza maneuvers, Defense: We will double the recruits Albania orders an increase in its military arsenal Hajdaraga: "We will order new armaments" On the eve of the Biza maneuvers, Defense: We will double the recruits "We will buy weapons" Albania orders an increase in its military arsenal Hajdaraga: "We will order new armaments" TIRANA - "We have planned various orders for the purchase of weapons in several countries." This was the statement made by Defense Minister Luan Hajdaraga at a press conference held in Tirana on the eve of the upcoming joint NATO maneuvers. Albania has an enormous arsenal of weapons, but the Ministry of Defense believes that this arsenal should be expanded further, especially given the critical situation in Kosovo and along the Albania–Federal Republic of Yugoslavia border. In addition, the number of soldiers recruited into the Albanian army will soon be doubled. This was announced by a representative of the Ministry of Defense. Weapons arsenal (above) Hajdaraga

Skifterí Exceptional situations reveal the seriousness of a state, or, more precisely, of its statesmen. The week that has just passed was one of the most difficult periods for the Albanians. Exchanges of gunfire between residents of the border area and Serbian troops have become routine and threaten to draw Albania into a war. Serbian provocations at the border have been almost daily, while Albania is once again—[?], it is unclear whether it is. In any case, the only two ministers indispensable in this situation had remained in Tirana: the Minister of Public Order and the Minister of Defense. All their work on the conflict in the north of the country can be summed up in a statement made yesterday by the Minister of Defense. "We will coordinate our work with the Ministry of Public Order to provide consistent information," Hajdaraga commented, [on] the statements The past week has been one of the most difficult periods for Albanians. Exchanges of fire between gangs in the border area and Serbian forces have become routine and threaten to draw Albania into while Albania has once again drawn international attention because of Islamist terrorism. The American Embassy closed its doors and its staff were forced to leave Tirana for fear of terrorist attacks. This is happening precisely when Albania most needs its presence. These events took place at a time when Nano and part of his cabinet were on vacation. The Prime Minister did not cut short his vacation even when residents of Tropoja were only two hours away from Serbian forces at the border. He did not return to Tirana several days later when the Islamist issue erupted, either. Nano did not cut short his vacation and return to Albania several days later when the American Embassy was forced to leave. Perhaps Nano forgets that, as Prime Minister, he no longer belongs only to himself. And governing the country is a commitment of particular importance, not compensation for pleasures denied in the cell where Berisha is suffocating him. In Tirana, Melani had been left behind, and even when [unclear in source: “trat”] the most necessary people in this situation are the ministers of Public Order and made with the Ministry of Public Order to provide unified information,” Hajdaraga commented, referring to the conflicting statements coming from these two institutions about events in the north. The biggest problem is not that the Public Order spokesperson says there has been a border violation, while the Ministry of Defense says the opposite. What makes you throw your hands up in despair is that a country on the brink of war has not done even the most basic and simplest thing in such a situation: provide unified information. It could adopt a consistent position even in situations when public order is at a normal level. One fact is enough. Nano was not in Tirana when the American Embassy closed its doors because of fear of Islamist terror bombs. But Berisha was. The very man who turned Albania into an inn with four doors and a road for Islamist terrorists. This rhetoric makes it difficult for Albanians to believe in this political class. War is still on the doorstep, and Albanian politics faces its greatest challenge—one that cannot be resolved with statements from spokespersons.

Together with three others, he forced open the cell doors On page 3

The mediator politician is expected to arrive at the end of August TIRANA — A German between Nano and Berisha: a Bundestag MP will soon arrive in Tirana, with among his aims mediating a meeting between the two great political “enemies.” The German in question, invited by the Socialist Party (PS), will, in addition to meetings at the Socialist headquarters, make an official visit to Berisha, with whom he will hold a meeting that is not merely a courtesy call. Official PS sources revealed the news, but gave no further details. After the initiative by two American senators, this appears to be another foreign attempt to reconcile Nano and Berisha, although initially its prospects do not seem particularly promising. Nano; Berisha

Families pay 50 lekë for every kilometer TIRANA — The Albanian state spends money not only on the employment and legalization of Albanian emigrants, but also on their deaths. To ensure that they are laid to rest in their homeland, the state spends 5.7 million lekë each year. Albanians now die abroad as well. The promised land brings not only money, but also corpses. Every year, 120 people set out alive and return dead. In the registers of the Ministry of Transport, July has been dubbed the month of death.

The Prosecutor’s Office will investigate the dismissed customs officers A study conducted with the support of the World Bank ranks Albania as having the highest corruption index compared with all the other countries in transition. The risk corruption in the public administration poses to businesses reaches 80 percent. The findings were presented at a conference attended by the country’s highest-ranking officials. Albanian government officials declared that they would undertake a comprehensive reform to combat corruption in the administration. They stated that this phenomenon had been inherited from the previous government. In line with the recommendations of this conference, three days ago the Government approved the entire package of measures to be taken to combat this phenomenon.

Weapons arsenal (above) Hajdaraga

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Sea pirates attack antiquities On page 7 Tirana Gazette A fake certificate puts five people out of work On page 5 Shkodër Gazette Police: How the crime figures rose On page 6