Government fails for the second time: Duel over the ministry of billions TIRANA - “I will submit the government to the President of the Republic tomorrow,” Pandeli Majko told “Gazeta” after the SP meeting, where the Socialists had opposed him over giving the PSD the post of Deputy Prime Minister. Just when it seemed that Majko had reached a compromise with Gjinushi, giving him the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs as well as the post of a Deputy Prime Minister, while taking away Public Works and sidelining Apostoli, it was the Socialist leadership that rejected the agreement reached in principle. “If there are to be two deputy prime ministers, both must be from the SP. Let Gjinushi take the Ministry of Public Works, not with Apostoli as minister, but with Ingrid Shuli.” This was the SP leadership’s decision, imposed on Majko, who saw the compromise fall apart and left his party headquarters, slamming the door behind him. Late in the evening, Majko headed to the Presidency, where he made clear to Meidani that all the negotiations had failed and told him that the next day he would submit the Government, despite the SP’s objection. WE NEEDED THE EARTHQUAKE TOO On page 5

“Meidani also played it badly; he should have convened the roundtable” On page 2

ZHAK PILIKA * Peoples and nations, too, whose civilizations have passed through difficult moments, just as the Albanian people and nation are going through one today. Every society, as the saying goes, becomes sclerotic, just like every individual. This is what happened with the communist regime in the countries of the East and in Albania, and there is no turning back. It was precisely from this [text as printed: “i asaj shoqërie”] that a comprehensive fault emerged, which overthrew and destroyed everything in order to create a new pluralist and democratic society. Despite the mistakes and violent actions, the struggle in Albania is for democracy; this is the main thing, this is positive. The current phenomena in Albanian politics and society, however perverse and ugly, represent a risk, a perspective and an effort toward a new, democratic and modern life, both for the individual and for Albanian society. These phenomena are giving our society and people the history of their character of development. Mass movements, however negative they may seem today, show people’s hopes; they are their [text unclear: “uópët”], they are sparks that urge [?] ... that you are needed by the country and that society cannot manage without you. I am only setting out before you an undeniable truth: you do not have one another; you have labelled one another blue, red, pink, etc., Socialists, Democrats, Ballists, Legalists and others, and you fight one another without any compromise in order to destroy your political opponent completely—which is clearly the shortest road to self-destruction! Therefore, I think that the constitution must first and foremost establish the basic rules of political law, because it—and it alone—must give you the necessary freedoms and define the limits and obligations of politics toward the Rule of Law. Perhaps political parties should have a separate chapter in the Constitution of Albania. The Parliamentary Council and the Constitutional Court can and should supervise the unconstitutional activities of political parties and their leaders, with the aim of building bridges of cooperation and understanding. democratic and modern, character and development. The movements mentioned above may seem negative today; they show people’s hopes, they are their aspirations, they are sparks that spur people from all political groups, strata and classes to seek and create, despite endless mistakes and failures, a better and fairer society. Under the impetus of these movements, the destinies of humanity’s greatest ideals have been shaped. The powerful, life-giving movement first appeared in Albania in 1990, as an unexpected movement and conjecture, like a spark, and then as a brilliant, all-embracing, universal light, which spread to everyone and, in my opinion, was embraced by everyone in their inner universe. The Albanian people have now witnessed the awakening of a new life and the desire to bring it to this earth. But the difficulty is that the people themselves do not know how, and are unable, to organize and build the new society. The other peoples and nations of the East, who were freed from communism, made an agreement and a shared plan in order to organize and build a new democratic society. “What about the Constitution—what have you done?” asks the ordinary person, the trader or the intellectual. By now, we in Albania have all learned about the difficulties, and about what should first have been carried out through political reforms, for the sake of democratic and modern institutions, both for the individual and for Albanian society. The Constitution is undoubtedly an agreement between the people and the state, but I think that, given the social relations in which you Albanian politicians are operating, it will first and foremost be an agreement among politicians and political parties, based on the principles of democratic pluralism, humanism, dignity, freedoms and human rights. But what has happened in Albania over the last three years? The most immoral comedies have been staged at the expense of the Albanian people and nation, and terrible tragedies have been suffered during these last three post-communist years. And you have been active actors in all these events. I do not wish to criticize you further on this. I know that the people who follow you love you, I know, too, and ... Political parties must compete through their programs to come to power by means of the free vote, with the aim of strengthening the rule of law and the country’s economy, not subjugating or destroying the state by allowing anarchy, corruption, smuggling, tax evasion, looting and theft. The way you are acting, you are not only destroying one another, but also calling into question the very existence of the Albanian state. Do you not see or hear, or have you been stricken by the terrible disease of power, revenge and bloodshed? Niko Kazantzakis says: “You have the brush in your hand, you have the colors; paint paradise yourselves and then enter it. Do it! You can do this! You must do it quickly. The most important thing is: to live!” Is it possible that you know only how to paint hell? It is impossible! I cannot believe it! On the contrary, I believe—and ordinary people believe; your party and your electorate believe—that each of you can put the country right, that you are unique, and that society cares about you, your family and your future. Only then can we soon integrate and live together justly. When you understand the importance of self-respect, when you realize that all the good or bad things you have done and are doing depend on you and come only from you, only then can you give this people peace and security, freedom, democracy and progress. Do not think that this people expects a miracle and happiness from you. People create wonderful things themselves through their work and sweat. Ordinary people pray to God that you politicians become aware of your role and your destiny—and of your own lives as a source of happiness, just like the life of every individual. Wherever you have reached, you are only at the beginning. Thoreau said: “Oh, God! To reach the door of every being and discover that there is no other!” Think about it! * Lawyer

Clinton’s idea takes shape. 23 countries meet in Brussels Aid for the Army, Police and administration TIRANA - The “Friends of Albania” group has been officially formed. In a press release, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the inaugural meeting of the “Friends of Albania” group, consisting of representatives of a number of Western organizations and countries, was held on September 30. The idea of creating this group had been put forward two weeks earlier at a meeting between Prodi and Clinton in the United States. It concerns those foreign countries and organizations that have been consistently involved in recent years in providing aid and designing successful projects in a number of areas of our country’s economic and social life. On page 2

INTERVIEW / The Head of Criminalistics speaks TIRANE - No examination has been carried out on Hajdari’s lifeless body. The definitive conclusions of the criminalistics experts have been suspended until the bullets that may have remained in the victim are found. The weapons found at the scene cannot be considered evidence, since it cannot be established whether they were fired at the deputy. Nevertheless, the order to reopen the grave remains in the hands of the prosecutors. On page 4

Deputy Prime Minister Ilir Meta (SP) Ingrit Shuli (PSD) Public Works SP Information Musa Ulqini (SP) Foreign Affairs Paskal Milo (PSD) State Secretary Maqo Lakrori (SP) Local Government Arben Demeti (PAD) Health Leonard Solis (PBDNJ) Public Order Petro Koçi (SP) Justice and Reform Arben Imami (PAD) Defense Luan Hajdaraga (SP) Culture Edi Rama (non-party) Finance Anastas Angjeli (SP) Agriculture Lutfer Xhuveli (PA) Economic Cooperation Ermelinda Meksi (SP)

One day clandestinely heading to Montenegro

The Shkodra Gazette On page 6

GAZETA of Durrës GAZETA e Durrësit The Italians will remove the helmets of Porto Romano On page 7

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