Majko beats Meta and Islami. Nano: I am the leader of the SP TIRANA - Majko won yesterday in a vote at the SP’s General Steering Committee, defeating Meta and Islami for the post of prime minister. Two hours later, he was appointed by Meidani. Nano confirmed that his next political commitment would be leading the Socialist Party. At this meeting, Nano explained the reasons that had forced him to resign. According to him, the demands of the coalition parties were as absurd as they were comical. According to Nano, PSD had even managed to put forward SP MPs Dokle and Meidani as candidates for ministerial posts. Meanwhile, AD had demanded almost half of the cabinet portfolios. Only the Agrarian Party had been modest in its demands. Xhuvani had made the sole request that he continue as Minister of Agriculture. “Under these circumstances, I could not form the government,” was Nano’s justification for the government crisis. In any case, just moments after tendering his resignation, he had changed his mind. But Meidani had refused. On page 3

OPINION YLLI PANGO At last it happened, precisely when it was least expected: the resignation that part of the opposition and the governing side had been demanding for months. At first, immediately afterward, there was some hesitation and bewilderment among the politicians of the ruling coalition. It happened when nobody expected it. If you listened to interviews with even Nano’s fiercest enemies in the opposition, you could hear a kind of bewilderment, almost fear. Some of them even spoke well of him for the first time. If you looked at the faces of the members of the SP Steering Council, especially those who had barked the loudest, you could see a kind of bewilderment, almost emotion—as if they really had wanted that resignation, had barked for it for a long time, but had been sure he would not carry it out, thus giving them the chance to bark forever. But not like this, unexpectedly, not directly under their pressure, and not at the most heated moment of the demands for his resignation. So now, whom are we going to complain to? But something else had happened. Could there be another rabbit hidden here? Someone else said that perhaps this was for three months, since the crisis could not be overcome now amid the quarrels with the allies, and that immediately afterward Nano would return to power. Who knows. Let us leave that to the future. Let us return to Nano’s own statements: only a short while ago, he was talking about changes in the government, let alone resignation, which he did not mention at all, only after the coup attempt had been thwarted. How did everything change so suddenly? Could he suddenly have grown tired of his fellow politicians, or of them and his fellow countrymen too, and decided to give up? It is understandable to be frustrated by the lack of understanding among the people, but also by the world, which, as his statement says, considers him—together with Berisha—to be the scourge of the Albanians. It is hard to believe that this, too, is convincing. Perhaps it is a complex of factors, including those mentioned above and perhaps some recommendation from abroad… we had barked about it for a long time, but they had been convinced that they would not bring it about, so that this would give hottest moment of the calls for resignation. But now, I wonder, at whom will they howl? There was also some confusion because this had never happened before in Albania. Confusion that even turned into admiration for a completely unforeseen act, for a very diplomatic resignation—or perhaps, in someone’s view, a politically astute one. Someone else would undoubtedly say that one does not resign, let alone have the president accept the resignation, for a reason such as disagreements over character. The president, after all, is there for such cases. In this way, one might think, he is capable of reconciling the government with the opposition; it seems he is not capable of reconciling the government itself in its quarrels over office, with his wise and persuasive words, his peace-loving and very likable appearance, his sweet smile, and the reputation he has earned in the West, which expects a great deal from him. How is it that the president made no comment to the prime minister, no appraisal or expression of appreciation for his work? How could it be that over one or two offices, and not even particularly contentious ones such as the Ministry of Social Affairs, things fell apart …because of the lack of understanding shown by says, considers him, together with Berisha, the scourge of the Albanians. This too is hardly likely to be convincing. A complex set of factors, including those mentioned above as well as perhaps some recommendation from the West, so often invoked lately, pushed him to act this way. In any case, one of the two or three few genuine politicians in this country, who is not remembered ever having made a mistake in a political statement or action, once again spoke in a way that made it clear the resignation was not logically justified. Nevertheless, the resignation was submitted. He is the first Albanian to do this while holding a leading state role. He is the first Albanian who, despite possessing to the greatest degree two qualities—one of which is essential, especially in Albania, for making it possible to be a ruler, a person of standing, a militant, and another, not essential for getting ahead in Albania, that of being an intellectual, an educated person—stepped aside. Perhaps the incompatibility of these two traits is precisely what proves fatal in Albania. Nano may perhaps have also secured a third distinction, one no one in that position has had before: the distinction of resigning.

The DP confirmed yesterday that it is ready for dialogue Photo: H. Pustina

FATOS NANO Dear fellow citizens, I thought it appropriate to come before you and, looking you straight in the eye, tell you openly what I think at this difficult time our country is going through, held hostage by certain clans of irresponsible politicians who thoughtlessly undermine your faith, hope and sovereign will. I do not want to take up your time by recounting my short, eventful political life in this country, where, together with respected friends and colleagues, throughout all these years burdened by hatred and irrational divisions among fierce clans, I have tried with all my heart and soul to bring a new spirit of dialogue and civic understanding. Nor do I want to speak to you about the high cost my commitment to this spirit has exacted from my family and those close to me, or about the few things I believe I have managed to accomplish so far for the good of the Albanian nation and the future of our children, whom the irresponsibility of the overwhelming majority of this country’s politicians has turned into potential victims. I only want you, through this face-to-face communication, to feel at least some of the heavy burdens weighing on me spiritually and mentally at this moment, and then for you to judge, with full sovereignty, whether from now on I remain worthy of the respect and moral support you have given me until now. I, your prime minister for more than a year, will no longer allow myself to fall victim to the political malice of certain people who, regardless of the side they belong to or the flag under which they line up, are driven by personal and clan interests at the expense of the interests of the homeland. I can no longer accept that even one part of the Albanians, wherever they may be—in Albania, Kosovo or elsewhere—should identify me with the evil of this country, for which I have given and will… Continued on page 12

Maximum alert for prison wardens: We will prevent any attempt TIRANA - There is information that certain groups will attempt to cause unrest in prisons, with the aim of creating a chaotic situation in the country, while prison staff have been placed on high alert. The Director General of Prisons, Xhaferraj, said: “In view of the situation created in the country following the sudden political changes, we have placed 50% of prison staff on alert.” He continued: “We assure citizens that we are capable of handling the situation, whatever the cost of doing so.” The situation in the country is almost the same as when the prisons were broken open in March last year and the same thing was attempted on September 14. It is also reported that the same scenario as on September 14 is being put into effect.

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Starova: It can be played in Tirana Once again, the match with Greece has collapsed. Just when it seems very close, things happen that, although quite normal in the modern world, seem completely abnormal in Albania! “We are afraid of the changes that may happen in your country.” It was a fax received from UEFA at the FSHF offices that once again cast doubt on the match with Greece. Nevertheless, Starova has again confirmed that he is ready for the match to take place in Tirana. On page 11

Following the latest Serbian massacres in Kosovo UÇK soldiers On page 8

TIRANA NEWSPAPER Stop experimenting on our patients On page 5 BURRES NEWSPAPER Police and army on alert after Nano On page 7 SHKODRA NEWSPAPER Rain in Koman: bunkers like ambush positions On page 6