Attack on the PBDNJ leader: They want to turn us against Greece TIRANA - An explosion rocked the home of Vasil Melo, chairman of the PBDNJ party, at around 8:00 p.m. last night. Melo told the newspaper yesterday that the act was not “a straightforward terrorist act. ‘It may be someone trying to aggravate the very good relations between Albania and Greece and create yet another incident. I would not want this act to be used by certain parties to create new tensions,’ Melo said. A few moments later, Nano called him to express his solidarity. An explosive device flew from an unidentified window toward the second floor, where the balcony of Melo’s home is located, and then a powerful explosion tore through the darkness of the night. Fortunately, the early hour at which the explosive was thrown meant that Melo was not in his bed, since the bedroom was the target of the blast. The explosion caused material damage: the glass in the balcony door was shattered and the furnishings in the room were damaged; at the same time, there were no casualties. The apartment building where Melo’s home is located stands on “Vasil Shanto” Street, at a corner a few meters opposite the parallel Diplomat hotel. The explosion caused no other damage to the surrounding families, apart from psychological terror. Later, eyewitnesses said that the destructive effect of the blast had been extremely great. At the time of the explosion, only Melo’s mother was in the apartment; she is nearly 100 years old and was in the apartment kitchen. Initial police information indicates that this was a plastic bottle filled with explosive material, which became caught on the clothes hanging on the balcony line as it travelled. The perpetrators remain unknown to the police, but it is quite possible that the act was politically motivated, while Melo’s mother, deeply shaken by the explosion, was unable to comment. Political motives are considered the most likely because of Melo’s recent positions against dictatorships. Immediately after Hajdari’s murder, he took a strong stand against the PD and its grouping, but after Monday’s unrest he returned to the coalition. It cannot be ruled out either that the attack on him was an act intended to extinguish political tensions. ar. ho/i.b.

ORDER FINANCE LOCAL GOVERNMENT The Socialists take control of the Police. The secrets of the Meidani-Nano meeting. Meta in place of Teta. Meksi in Malaj’s chair. Fino leaves, Teta arrives On page 3

BERISHA Arbnori, chairman of the PD “If they arrest me”

SHPETIM NAZARKO Old Andreotti once said that to get a sense of what the players around the table are like, all you need to do is give them a sidelong glance. That is enough for thousands of analytical dossiers. I don’t know what would happen to the many representatives of the Albanian political class over these past seven years. To get closer to the truth, we would not need Andreotti’s analysis, but that of a petty criminal who hangs around in the underground club. “What is Nano trying to gain from Berisha? To divide the spoils? The recent events have shown that they are not only unable to understand their place, but, with the turmoil they call tactical moves to come to power, they will not only fund the regime’s criminals whom we mentioned in another article, but this time they will do something to their entire country. For seven years running, this country has fallen prey not only to small-time sectoral crooks, but also to drug, arms and radioactive-waste traffickers. And these are still only a few. The decision has also been made by the security services— To put it more clearly, in these matters considered sovereign, neither Italy, Greece, Serbia, Europe nor America can have a say. Thus, if one refers to other accounts of the past, Italy and Austria were the founders of the Albanian state. Greece and Yugoslavia, by contrast, openly sought the opposite: Albania’s destabilization. But this takes us back to old times, when strategy and diplomacy—even those of the greatest powers—had banal aspects in terms of form. The present situation points to a more complex geopolitics. What is at stake in this region is not only the Balkans, but also the major routes that come from Asia and converge at the Bosphorus. Albania lies in this corridor, which passes through Macedonia and leads to the Bosphorus. It is clear that its role is far greater than the little players think. This is not just about the interests of Milosheviç or Primakov, but also those of many other players. From this point of view, it is understandable that the political class …those at risk and others. What is happening in Albania? For seven years in a row, this country has become prey not only to thousands of small-time brokers, but also to drug, arms, and radioactive-waste traffickers. They are still not. The country is once again being made by the secret services, colored white and red, yellow and black, etc. These two categories mentioned above have done nothing but exploit the stupidity, greed, ambition, and inconsistency of our political class. And that is still not all. Following the breakup of the former Yugoslavia, risks of this kind have increased in both quantity and quality. It is clear that with the political class we have, the problems will multiply far more than the leaders of the two major parties think. Geopolitics: Europe and America It is quite likely that when Enver Hoxha shouted morning, noon, and night that he was against world capitalism, social-imperialism, and European imperialism, all he was doing was stating the doctrine of neutrality quite plainly: “I am with neither side, so let me rule my livestock.” It is paradoxical, but the same stance is also taken by the top diplomats of Europe and America: “Talk to one another.” This subtle phrase, which extremist analysts on both sides mock, means that in Albania the interests of neighboring states and major blocs may be directly opposed. All these players, whose interests are directly opposed, cannot directly take the side of one party or the other. They say plainly: “Foolish Albanian politicians, govern your country.” So when the Greek Papandreou attacks Berisha and the Italian Dini defends him, they are not concerned with the fate of the individual. It does not matter much to them whether this person is called Berisha or Nano. They are doing nothing but once again seeking to demonstrate the doctrine of neutrality in a country that is governed by no political class. On the Bosporus. the small players think. This is not only about major interests, but also about the interests is understandable that the Albanian political class, more than ever, must understand that the country is in crisis not only as a result of the political blockades the two parties impose on each other. At this point, Berisha or Nano must understand that they are nothing more than small players whose inconsistency and political ambition are being managed by others. Continuing down this road will end neither with a victory for Berisha nor with a victory for Nano, but with the total destruction of Albania. When politicians fail to understand this danger and bristle at the sage advice “Talk to one another,” they do nothing but fall prey to the dangers mentioned above. The Economy and Politics For seven years in a row, when politicians raise their swords against one another, a strange phenomenon occurs. The common people attack the shops of businesspeople who are responsible. At first glance, it seems like a little irony; it looks as if we are seeing redistribution of income by Albanian-style methods. But these actions, carried out at the time of the great “duels,” appear to be something else, while in fact they undermine the small point of equilibrium in the state that is secured by small and medium-sized businesses. It is clear that this risk of an economic explosion does nothing but hasten the collapse of the political class in power, whether it is the left or the right. Expecting an improvised political class to understand that the country’s stability is not the product of its leaders’ brilliant ideas, but of applying rules that foster a middle class which genuinely maintains the country’s balance, is a very difficult thing. The only truth behind the disorder that characterizes Albania is that its [armigjate] seek nothing but destabilization, exploiting Nano and Berisha in their unbounded political struggles.

27 people in custody. Among them, former ATSH director Ilir Zhilla Teta prepares the “blacklists”: 25 dismissals in the Order Arrests begin over the events of September 14. Two days ago, the Prosecutor’s Office signed off on the arrest of 43 people implicated in the armed attack on state institutions. Immediately after this action, police forces carried out operations late on Saturday and Sunday nights. Within two days, around 27 people were arrested, whose participation was established through statements and video recordings. Among those arrested are “Kontakt” director Alfons Zeneli and former ATSH director Ilir Zhilla. Yesterday, at a meeting with ministry officials, Teta announced the dismissal of everyone who failed to report for duty during the days of unrest. Sources speak of 25 different Order officials included on the “blacklist.” On page 4

. The artist dies in Greece. On page 10

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The U.S. President at the meeting with Prodi . Clinton: A friends of Albania group must be formed. TIRANA—Clinton and Prodi blamed Berisha for last week’s events and decided to announce this week the formation of the “Friends of Albania Group” during the proceedings of the United Nations General Assembly, according to the press statement issued by the White House. During a telephone conversation held yesterday, Prodi informed Clinton, telling him that “the acute phase of the crisis has passed.” On page 2