Gunfire dies down following Prefect Podgorica’s resignation AFTER THE GUNFIRE Politicians, tread carefully in Shkodër Teodor Keko Gentlemen politicians, be careful! The latest events in Albania show that the country has entered a dead-end path and is at risk of becoming a second Algeria. Chaos, unrest, robberies, corruption, disobedience to the state—that is enough for the present moment to be described as “darker than the Devil himself”! The state claims that this situation has been caused by the blow dealt to other networks controlling smuggling. But that would be only half the trouble, were it not for the other theory: that the old smuggling bosses have been struck down in order to take control and install new bosses. If this is true, then there is no state here anymore! In any case, the fact that chaos has blocked domestic and foreign investment in Albania calls for an urgent solution, to prevent this slow theft. The opposition politicians have put forward their formula: a technical government to prepare new elections! It is a fact that a part of the Albanian people courageously contests the latest elections, and this group is growing with new contingents of dissatisfied people who are getting nowhere with the new government. The governing side calls this formula absurd, with its claims, but that is not enough. There must also be ... SHKODËR - Shkodër is leaving behind its two most difficult days. Tension between the police and right-wing political forces has eased. Prefect Podgorica has resigned, while the armed men have left the Prefecture. The barricades around the building, the focal point of the events of the past two days, have been removed. The right-wingers and anti-communist associations appear satisfied after their conversation with Bare: according to them, he promised that the two detainees along with the criminal police officers would be tried while at liberty. Bare, however, tells “Gazeta Shqiptare” that no compromise has been made: every point of the law has been observed. European police are also alongside the Albanian police in Shkodër today. Meanwhile, the military prosecutor’s office has opened a criminal case concerning the criminals. Havari will continue to head law enforcement in Shkodër, while the special forces will withdraw from the city only when the situation has completely calmed down. The barricades yesterday in front of the Prefecture of Shkodër (Photo: A. Babani) On page 3 Opposition politicians have their own a fact that part of the Albanian people were manipulated in the last elections, and this part is growing with new groups of dissatisfied people who gain nothing from the new government. The government absurdly rejected this formula with its claims, but that is not enough. It must establish order and make way for investment; otherwise its many chances will come to nothing. Its displays, which PD agents are inventing, are neither arguments nor signs of seriousness. All those customs officers and police officers who demand money under the table from traders cannot all be “agents”—and the simple fact is that many of them were appointed to their jobs in the last six months. So, what should be done to overcome this catastrophic situation? There are two alternatives: First, politicians must urgently sit down and publicly discuss their options. Second, a strongman must come to power, because chaos cannot devour an entire people. A strongman would not treat politicians gently, so they must quickly come closer to one another. If the people have two possible solutions, politicians have only one! removed from the Prefecture. The construction barricades, protagonists in the area for two days, are they—? The barricades yesterday in front of the Prefecture of Shkodër (Photo: A. Babani)

NATIONAL TEAM / Turkey-Albania 1:4 Albania springs a surprise: Rrakli, Bushi and Halili triumph in Antalya Hafizi: We were magnificent A magical match by the national team in Turkey. Hafizi: “I don’t want to leave any of the players out; they all played exceptionally.” Bledar Kola shone above all. On page 11 Hafizi and Bushi in ecstasy once again

TROPOJE On page 5

Ceka calls on Parliament TIRANA - Bring those implicated in the events in Shkodër to justice. The unequivocal request to the Albanian Parliament was made yesterday by Interior Minister Ceka. The most important figure in the blue forces called on the justice system to take note of the position of the MPs and former police officers implicated in the developments in Shkodër. He then said that his department would act against them as the justice system saw fit, whether as terrorists or otherwise. On page 2

MEDIATION FOR KOSOVO TIRANA — Former Yugoslav prime minister Milan Paniç arrived in Tirana yesterday on a mission that is still unclear. He met with the head of Albanian diplomacy, Paskal Milo, and discussed Albanian-Yugoslav relations with him, following the new climate created in the Balkan region. Paniç said yesterday at a press conference in Tirana that he wanted to play the role of mediator to guarantee Athens’ initiative for dialogue between Prishtina, Belgrade and Tirana. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nano’s diplomatic adviser said that the diplomatic role of the Serbian-American talks would be peripheral. The main opposition leader, Berisha, accused the Albanian government of playing at Kosovo’s expense. On page 9 Minister Milo

Durrës girl dies in Bari AFTER A SUCCESSFUL OPERATION BARI — The life of little Ilaria, who had been sent from Durrës to Italy to have her ailing heart treated, ended yesterday, just 24 hours after surgery. The little girl, who began her journey of hope thanks to the officers of the Financial Guard in Durrës, had a serious heart defect and had been admitted to Giovanni XXIII Hospital in Bari. The girl, only three months old, should have been operated on earlier. “A lot of time was lost with Ilaria,” says the Italian surgeon. “She should have been operated on in her first month of life. This, of course, is not the fault of the Albanian doctors, who, even though they do not have sophisticated equipment, were able to treat her according to the correct diagnosis. Ilaria should have come to Italy earlier, and only prompt surgery could have saved her. Ilaria had set off for Italy accompanied by her mother, Lindita Belba—the news was also reported by Albanian television at the beginning of January this year. According to the doctor, the girl suffered renal and cardiac complications immediately after the operation. Nevertheless, the Italian surgeon says that Ilaria’s case could foster further ties between the hospital in Bari and the one in Tirana, to treat other sick children in Albania. Three-month-old Ilaria lived in Durrës with her mother and father. Neither parent suffers from [unclear: “pëndor”]; the family lives on assistance. Ilaria’s problem had been brought to the attention of the Italian Financial Guard by [unclear: “ai, i cili”], who worked with them at the port. They subsequently covered all the expenses. There are many children born with heart defects in Albania, who are treated in difficult conditions at the hospital in Tirana. Italian specialists have come to our country several times to assist with operations that were first performed in Albania two years ago. They also brought an ultrasound machine that quickly detects defects in children’s hearts. Following Ilaria’s case, doctors from the Apulia region submitted a cooperation project between the Italian region and Tirana to the Italian Ministry of Health. P.re.

Apostoli signs with Siemens TIRANA — The Ministry of Public Works signed a memorandum of understanding with the powerful German consortium Siemens. It concerns the development of the tender for construction of the new terminal at Albania’s only international airport. Another competitor, the German giant Lufthansa, has also appeared on Rinasi’s horizon; for now, however, Siemens is perhaps the company most familiar with the realities of Albania’s airport sector, since it is carrying out the airport’s complete reconstruction. The latest agreement signed at the ministry will allow this powerful company to take part in the competition to win the opportunity to take charge of building the terminal and bringing it, along with the airport’s processing area, up to European standards. According to sources at the ministry, the German company, while presenting the opportunities and facilities that would be created for Rinasi if it were given control of the terminal, also disclosed the financial sources from which it would secure the approximately 35 million dollars it would invest in the project in question. Other ministry sources even say that this funding is already in Siemens’ hands, and that it is simply waiting for the tender to begin to see whether its terms will be better than Lufthansa’s. The Siemens consortium also includes the airline company “Suissair”.

STATE AUDIT TIRANA - Scandal at the General Prosecutor’s Office. “Gani Dizdari should be dismissed”—the State Chief Auditor Mustafa Kërçuku has laid the request, signed on behalf of his department, on Gjinushi’s desk. “Flagrant violations and deficiencies in the documentation have been observed at the General Prosecutor’s Office.” An audit team worked for a long time in the offices of the General Prosecutor’s Office, subsequently producing shocking findings. According to Kërçuku, his department cannot take concrete measures, but is only entitled to propose the relevant measures to Parliament. It is now up to Parliament to decide the fate of Deputy General Prosecutor Gani Dizdari. Meanwhile, a bitter response has also come from the Prosecutor’s Office: “There have been violations in our department.” On page 12

Ceka calls on Parliament

MEDIATION FOR KOSOVO

HOROSCOPE SPECIAL On page 6