Politicians remember the many people killed Majko: Special structures are needed to oversee the establishment of order Sharp debate between the government and the opposition. PS: Let ... [partly illegible] the Commission TIRANA - PS proposes a super-commission against the Mafia. Yesterday, once again, Pandeli Majko reiterated the idea of creating mechanisms that will declare a full-scale battle against the Mafia, crime and their offshoots. The PS secretary general issued a surprise invitation to the Democrats the previous day: “Come and take charge of it.” But the first response to such a proposal came yesterday from his Democratic counterpart, Ritvan Bode. The PD secretary general described this as demagoguery that PS is resorting to at this difficult time for itself and its government. But Majko believes that, with or without PD, the Commission will soon begin to be set up, because the fight against the Mafia and organized crime cannot wait until these criminal organizations have taken root in Albania. On page 3

85TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE POLICE 85 YEARS JANUARY 13 1913 1998 ALBANIAN POLICE Teodor Keko Fatos Barhak(u)[?] TIRANA - Today, politicians will remember their heroic predecessors. Throughout the country, but especially in Tirana, law-and-order personnel will gather to commemorate a date that has become a symbol of harmony: the 85th anniversary of the founding of the Albanian Police. [text continues beyond the edge of the photo]

Ministers’ meeting yesterday. Seasonal workers in Italy: How will they go? TIRANA - Seasonal employment for 20,000 Albanians. This was the agreement signed yesterday by Italian Minister of Labour Tician(o)[?] Treu and our Minister of Social Affairs, Labour and Women, Sherifin. A few days after the start of procedures to legalize Albanian migrants in Greece, the conclusion of this agreement shows that something positive is also happening in this area, which until recently had perhaps been thought to be more difficult to put on a regulated footing. Albanian emigration—[text continues beyond the edge of the photo]—which surged several years ago has finally begun to find the long-awaited understanding of our neighbours, who also bear the burden of hosting the largest number of Albanian migrants.

In Karavasta DURRËS - A ship carrying 2,900 cartons of cigarettes has been detained. The Albanian vessel was stopped yesterday afternoon by Italian-Albanian coastal patrol forces in the Karavasta Lagoon. After lengthy surveillance, the ship was detained and escorted, together with its cargo and crew—five Albanians—to the port of Durrës, where the documents will be checked. On board were Marlboro, Bond and President cigarettes. On page 6

INTERVIEW / The minister “reveals” the diplomacy TIRANA - Paskal Milo is seeking the help of former heads ... [partly illegible] of Albanian diplomacy. “What will we say at the Brussels meeting?” The Albanian foreign minister yesterday summoned to his office those who for years had directed Albania’s diplomacy and foreign policy. Yesterday, Milo also disclosed ... [text continues beyond the edge of the photo] the details underpinning his diplomacy in an interview given to Gazeta. According to him, the priority of Tirana’s foreign policy remains the support that must be given to Kosovo and its politicians.

On page 5

TROPOJE On page 5

SARANDE On page 6

VLORE

TIRANË - Today the police will remember their proud parade. Throughout the country, but especially in Tirana, the people of the police force will gather together to commemorate a date they have begun to forget: the 85th anniversary of the creation of the Albanian Police. There will also be toasts, carefully chosen words and acrobatic exercises. All familiar things on such occasions. But this year, the people of the police force will have many, many reasons not to be smiling. First of all, they will remember thousands upon thousands of victims, thousands of people who made the tragic journey to the cemetery. Others fell victim to crime, to a lack of reason and—this must be emphasized—to the total absence of a state which, despite the unexpected, stood at the center of thousands of pleas. Then the blue uniforms will remember dozens of families massacred by bombs and other weapons, which have spread far and wide across Albania; they will remember their colleagues whose children have been left orphans with great pain, and whose country has begun to forget them, in the name of Justice. They will also remember many, many other children. Sadly, all of it is tragic, and then they will be reminded of one thing of which we are certain. In their battle against [unclear] and [unclear], which go by the resonant name “crime,” they have begun to feel utterly powerless and alone. Indeed, all of society expects something from them. Politicians, public opinion, ordinary people. Everyone, without giving it a second thought, has suddenly remembered that there are people who must answer the harsh call of life and death in the fight against crime. On Sunday, during the live television program, Ceka, the Minister of Internal Affairs, did not appear particularly calm in response to the attacks coming from the opposition, but not only from them. Many [unclear] that the head of the police force feels abandoned and alone in the battle against [unclear] in this part of Albania. From the Minister’s angry replies, it was not difficult to understand that he himself, speaking on behalf of the forces he commands, is asking for more support from society, first and foremost from politicians, who continue to wander in conspicuous darkness. Politicians, do not let yourselves be swallowed up by criminal indifference. If you all unite in the name of what is good, it will benefit you all. And then, we will have many failures of the police organizations. Otherwise...

VLORE On page 6 VLORE Suspects in smuggling case released On page 6

TIRANË - “Miss Zhuli” is preparing to sue the magazine “Klan”. “Klan,” according to the witnesses who made a successful debut on the first Monday of January on the stage of the National Theatre, has been offended by the coverage of their work in the Sunday magazine. “It is an interpretation of what happened on stage, and three photos were also published without permission,” the director of Strinberg’s play is said to have stated. Meanwhile, the editor-in-chief of “Klan” could not hide his surprise at the unexpected news. For the moment, he has made no statement, waiting to see how the third judicial adventure unfolds. The magazine has previously had to face the black robes twice at the Tirana Court. First, on behalf of Albanian beauty Siderola Kola, with whom it settled the “quarrel” after several court hearings and dozens of press articles; with former Prime Minister Fino, they faced off only once. The clashes with the three arose as a result of photos published on the magazine’s front page. Yllka Mujo appears in three of them with her legs outside [unclear], and according to the director, the caption accompanying the photos completely changed her image. He also accused the photographer of using a flash during the performance. It is not yet known how “Klan’s” third adventure in the Tirana Court will end. The magazine seems to have gained immunity after its two showdowns with the Miss and the Prime Minister, but the “Zhuli” team also appears determined in this unexpected adventure. Yllka Mujo in an old film

A misunderstanding between police officers leads to a 20-minute battle KORÇË - Serious incident between the police forces of Korça and Pogradec. They could not make out one another’s outlines, and as a result a gun battle broke out between them. It lasted 20 minutes, but fortunately there were no casualties. The unusual incident took place at midnight on Saturday, at the geographical boundary separating Korça from Pogradec. Serious events in the first days of the year have compelled the blue uniforms to increase patrol teams and extend service hours. A van belonging to the rapid-response group of Korça’s second police station was travelling along the road toward the outskirts of Pogradec. At a bend, they noticed two cars stopped. A third police car was a few metres away. Suspecting a group of robbers—quite common along that stretch of road—they readied their weapons. The forensic experts have not yet determined who fired first, but it is well known that the initial volley was followed by further shots. The gunfire continued for 20 minutes, with police officers from both stations firing, convinced that the notorious masked men were in front of them. Then a call of “Police, stop!” was heard, causing the shooting to cease. In the darkness of the night, and also in the moonlight from the direction the call came, the officers moved toward the “opposing” cars, but saw nothing other than their colleagues. During the “battle,” they radioed their superiors, who sent substantial reinforcements. Criminal investigators also arrived at the scene with them and carried out preliminary investigations. It has not yet been confirmed who was at fault, as the investigation is expected to be completed. Meanwhile, specialists have arrived from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to clarify the investigation. Korça police were the first to lodge accusations, stating that their Pogradec colleagues had crossed into their patrol area. In any case, it is still unknown whether measures will be taken against the people who could so nearly have caused a pointless tragedy. Saturday’s incident looks set to be entered in the police annals, but in a rather unusual way. The blue uniforms fired at one another, convinced they were shooting at criminals.