Koçi denounces the scandal at the police stations From Tirana to Pogradec and Lushnje: how the dreams of thousands of Albanians were falsified Since ’97, dozens of police stations have reported 150,000 passports stolen across Albania. But most of them have been put back into circulation by police chiefs. The Ministry confirmed the abuses, and the list of officials ended up yesterday in the hands of Prosecutor General Arben Rakipi On page 5

Solis: Bill ready for Parliament TIRANË - “Stop smoking.” Health Minister Solis wants to discipline all senior officials. A bill bearing the signature of the head of Health strictly prohibits smoking in all central and local government institutions. As for the premises of private companies, the owner will decide where smoking is permitted. In the bill, Solis does not forget to mention the penalties. On page 14

ANTI-SMUGGLING Interior Ministry brings down three heads The head of the anti-smuggling unit has been dismissed. Two other Ministry officials have suffered the same fate, and have not yet been informed of the reasons for their removal. On page 6

Andi BEJTJA Two Presidents have called for support for a new leadership in Albania, and in particular have openly supported the new Prime Minister, Pandeli Majko. The President’s support for Majko comes a few days after the success and international backing the Albanian Prime Minister received at the International Conference in Tirana. It seems that harmony between the Prime Minister’s Office and the Presidency is becoming a reality. Until yesterday, these institutions had various disagreements, both over partisan issues and over clan rivalries. Some considered these disagreements signs of the independence of the two institutions, while other politicians stressed that harmony, in the positive sense, between the two institutions was essential. After the Berisha-era experience, when these institutions were almost enslaved and controlled by a single hand, Albania went through another experience, which had more to do with “discord” than with the independence of these institutions. Often, the Presidency struck the nail while the Prime Minister’s Office struck the horseshoe. And this happened not only over minor domestic problems, but also over major issues such as the national question. President Meidani has also shown signs of this “harmony”; he is not at the Presidency, but because this maly, which has Majko’s support, has narrowed, there is no reason to view it negatively.

CEKA, FATHER OF ARCHAEOLOGY, PASSES AWAY On pages 12-13

THE ALBANIAN BILLIONAIRE WITH THE ITALIAN LOTTERY On page 10

HALF OF ALBANIA IN DARKNESS On page 19