TIRANË - Massacre in Tropojë. Within a few hours, six people were killed by bullets fired by anonymous killers. Among them were two police officers, the brother of the head of the town police station, an employee of the National Intelligence Service, and a school principal. Gangs lurk on the roads, sowing death. According to information from the Ministry of the Interior, the incidents took place the day before yesterday and yesterday. At around 16:30 on the morning of January 16 [?], at a place called Qafa e Lushës, Shkëlqim Haklaj, Artur Demiri and Abdi Bupaj [?], who were travelling in a “Nissan” car, [were killed]. A few hours later, around midday, Avdyl Matoshi, Gjin Kolubajçi and Naim Dizhoni were killed about 40 minutes from Tropojë. On page 5

The old question returns: Should the law on firearms be changed? Public opinion is alarmed following the killings of police officers; parties, associations and people responsible for public order speak out Public opinion is alarmed following the killings of police officers; parties, associations and people responsible for public order speak out. Controversies have erupted again following the shocking events in Fier and Tropojë. While politicians have continued to accuse one another harshly, many people working in law enforcement and the justice system are calling for greater powers for the police. Political motives? The old question returns: Should the law on firearms be changed? Shoot the criminals Public opinion is alarmed following the killings of police officers; parties, associations and people responsible for public order speak out Controversies have erupted again following the shocking events in Fier and Tropojë. While politicians have continued to accuse one another harshly, many people working in law enforcement and the justice system are calling for greater powers for the police. TIRANË - Politics is shaken and raises the alarm: “What is happening to public order?” Yesterday, a firm and unequivocal position emerged from the offices of party leaders. The massacre—[they call for] protection of the status of police officers. This was the first reaction to come from party offices yesterday, referring to what is happening in Tropojë and the capital. Numerous opinions were voiced by police chiefs and legal experts, lawyers and people in the justice system. “We must urgently change the law on the use of firearms by the police.” This was the message coming yesterday from Tirana police stations, as well as from the offices of other Albanian legal experts. While police officers may not think that something needs to be done, people responsible for public order seem to believe that it is already too late. Many of them say this issue should have been addressed earlier, not now, when every day they attend the funerals of colleagues and join funeral processions. Meanwhile, the PD has taken a different position. For Berisha and others, these are crimes committed by a government propped up by gangs, with bandits at the head of the government. But, far from this propaganda rhetoric, people responsible for public order think differently. On page 3 FIER Police searching for four vengeful officers Prosecutor’s Office: They will be strictly punished in accordance with the law On page 5

REPORTAGE GJIROKASTËR - The Vlachs. This forgotten yet still existing spiritual community today forms an enclave of people scattered across a few [places?]. Once renowned as famous livestock breeders, today they are like nomads finally settled in residential centres, where they live together as worthy members of the community. The Vlachs’ historical map includes dozens of villages and communes, where they either make up an important part of the population or are at least present through their language, customs, and even their way of living and thinking about things. When the first arrivals from distant Wallachia began to appear in Albania, few people imagined that a new world, like that of the Slavs centuries earlier, was taking shape. On page 7

After the first training test TIRANË - The national team and Shpresa in their first training tests. While everything is [unclear] for Hata, for those who were [involved] in the previous edition, the season will start all over again for Mema. The national team coach has decided to call up around 58 [players?], including Bogani and Kotrrin as well. Mema, meanwhile, has selected 27 young footballers who will also form the core of the U-21 team. “I have focused more on physical preparation, since that is where we have made the most progress,” said the Shpresa coach. Schumacher accu- [?] [unclear] for a crime in incidents [?] in Spain, while the prosecutor’s office has opened criminal proceedings. Lazio [unclear] Komneni [unclear] [?] in a match in the Italian Cup, with the first-ever derby disciplinary action. Barcelona [unclear] after Real’s defeat and in the final eight minutes goes from 3 to 3:4 in Salamanca. On page 8

“Let us establish a special parliamentary commission” TIRANË - Sabri Godo is calling for a parliamentary commission to combat smuggling. “The time has come to take urgent action in this area,” Godo said yesterday, also expressing a degree of distrust in the parliamentary anti-smuggling commission. In Godo’s view, the new commission will apparently also scrutinize the anti-smuggling commission headed by Fino, which was established two months ago. But Godo has also rejected Gjinushi’s claims that Parliament does not have sufficient infrastructure to establish further commissions. The Republican was of a different opinion, saying that there is no need for new permanent commissions, only for an ad hoc, temporary commission.

SARANDË On page 5

KUKËS On page 5

TIRANË On page 7

EMIGRANTS On page 7

Archbishop Anastas comes to Berat; others go to Durrës, Elbasan and Pogradec A plunge into icy water for Christ Orthodox Christians celebrate the Day of the Blessed Water BERAT - Archbishop Anastas and other Orthodox clergy celebrated the Day of the Blessed Water in Berat yesterday. Surrounded by the large crowd of believers, they spent an hour in the Church of Saint Thomas, praying and conducting religious services. After the crowds [gathered], they set off, led by the Bishop of Tiranë and all Albania, toward the Osum River. They stopped at its main bridge and joyfully threw the cross. Dozens of young people jumped into the river to find it. Although the water was extremely cold and the current strong, one of them [?] managed to bring it up from the depths. According to tradition, the adolescent will carry the water to the doors of all the families of Berat. Bishop Anastas offered his wishes to all Orthodox believers, as well as to the clergy and representatives of local government bodies, parties and various associations, for the feast day [?] Orthodox Christians throw the cross into the sea; dozens of young people try to catch it in the depths of the water. The person who brings up the cross is expected to be the luckiest among them; the others applaud him. This was the atmosphere yesterday morning at the port of Durrës. Hundreds of Orthodox believers began the ritual at [an unclear time] in the morning at the town church. After many prayers, on the Day of the Blessed Water they set off for the town port. The procession was led by the Orthodox clergy, while along the way toward the quays [?] the others hurried to kiss it. Their entire action was accompanied by applause from the hundreds of people watching them from the quays. In both cities, the Day of the Blessed Water was celebrated more than in other places. Berat is known as the main centre, with the Church of Saint Thomas, while in Durrës the ritual has taken full shape in recent years. The sixth of January is celebrated, and the ritual has become blessed. On this date Christ was baptized in the Jordan River in Palestine, and according to Orthodox belief, on this date all the waters of the earth are blessed. The celebrations in both cities continued for a long time. In Durrës the day was sunny, but still cold. The scene was the same in Berat, but the cold seemed not to deter the young people from jumping into the river in search of the golden cross. Artur Korika Bishop Anastas yesterday in Berat (Photo: REUTERS)