“He defamed him and obstructed the administrators” The old controversy between the Government and VEFA returns. Prosecutors launch an investigation THE FALSIFICATION SCANDAL / Finance Minister Malaj’s second complaint against Alimuçaj TIRANA - Criminal proceedings against Vehbi Alimuçaj are getting underway. The Tirana Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation following a complaint by Finance Minister Arben Malaj alleging “defamation and violation of the status governing the administration of the firm ‘Deloitte & Touche.’” The accusations that VEFA president Alimuçaj made against Malaj at his most recent press conference, three weeks ago, have proved costly. In the presence of journalists and numerous cameras, Alimuçaj said that the administrators of ‘Deloitte & Touche’ had colluded with Minister Malaj to bankrupt VEFA. He said the same about Farudin Arapi, the chief supervisor of the transparency process. According to Alimuçaj, the administrators of ‘Deloitte & Touche’ had said one thing at first and something different in Arapi’s presence. He believed the foreign administrators’ aim was to sacrifice VEFA. Although this was not the first time Alimuçaj had attacked Malaj, this time the Finance Minister has decided not to settle for a response in the media, but to file a complaint with the prosecution. Criminal proceedings against Alimuçaj have now begun. Malaj had tolerated Alimuçaj when the latter called him and others “failed managers of pyramid firms,” but this time the issue concerned alleged involvement in a process at the center of attention of the two most important financial institutions: the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. That same day, Alimuçaj declared that he would no longer allow the administrators of ‘Deloitte & Touche’ through VEFA’s doors. Later he changed his mind, saying he would not violate the laws of the Albanian state; nevertheless, he would take the question of whether VEFA should or should not be administered all the way to the International Court of Justice in The Hague. Alimuçaj has not hesitated to sue over the transparency law, forcing Justice Minister Kondi himself to appear in court. To date, he has had luck with the courts. The judge in the Constitutional Court case that Alimuçaj won triggered a chain reaction that has yet to subside at that court. But this time Alimuçaj himself will have to sit in the dock, once again facing a minister. The Tirana Prosecutor’s Office opened the “Alimuçaj” file on Friday. While it will not be difficult for prosecutors to prove that Alimuçaj did indeed say those things about the Finance Minister, since recordings and other material published in the press exist, it will be much harder for the VEFA president to prove secret ties between Malaj and the administrators of ‘Deloitte & Touche.’ This is not the first time criminal proceedings have been opened against Alimuçaj. When he strongly opposed allowing the temporary Albanian administrators to enter VEFA, the Government was forced to report him to the Prosecutor’s Office for violating the transparency law. But Alimuçaj later changed his mind, and the Government withdrew its complaint. It does not look as though things will go so easily for the VEFA president this time. Malaj seems determined to see this matter through to the end. Recently, the Finance Minister has indeed had dealings with the Prosecutor’s Office. Just two days ago, he said he was determined to refer Berisha to the Prosecutor’s Office for “defamation on account of his office,” over accusations by the Democratic leader linking Malaj to the Otranto tragedy. In both cases, Malaj took the accusations—which he then turned into the subject of lawsuits—from press conferences. In both cases, it will be easy for him to prove that his VIP defendants did say those things about him. Linda Spahia PD. He is explaining the reasons to the Democrats, who are delaying their return to Parliament and to the constitutional commission. One thing is certain: PD will once again be absent from the next meeting of the constitutional commission. Berisha said that only the National Council would determine the lines of constitutional dialogue. financial difficulties: International Monetary Fund published in the press, for the president of VEFA it will be much more difficult to prove the secret connections between Malaj and the admini- Alimuçaj Malaj

THE FIRST INTERVIEW FOR THE LOCAL PRESS IN YEARS TIRANA - For the first time, Berisha is the sole leader of an opposition party, having spoken to the press following an expanded meeting of the DP’s activities. He explains why the Democrats are delaying their return to Parliament and to the constitutional commission. TIRANA - For the first time, Berisha is the sole leader of an opposition party, having spoken to the press following an expanded meeting of the DP’s activities. He explains why the Democrats commission. One thing is certain: the DP will once again be absent from ...

SAINT VALENTINE / THE DAY OF LOVE BRINGS SPRING TO TIRANA TIRANA - Along a road of mud, half an hour before the concert began, Deputy Minister Tartari arrived, wearing a cap and sports shoes, accompanied by Youth Director Etleva Bisha, in a formal black suit. The singers approached, not at all frightened, but with forced smiles. We pass through another security door and finally find ourselves in the tent where the event is taking place. It was Saint Valentine’s Day. For the first time, Albanian music sang of love in prison. The quiet was broken at around 10:10 by two police vans, which brought forces from the second directorate. the tent where the event is taking place. The square in front of the rooms is filled with male prisoners, seated at tables with “Perla” mineral water. We learn that 100 people are serving sentences at the same institution (formerly Prison 325), 14 of them women. The “grand” concert began only for the women, the male prisoners, the journalists and... the women who watched the bars 50 metres away. Saint Valentine’s Day, described by the prison authorities as “the celebration of union, of human union,” brought the women to the song-filled square. The women, convicted of murdering their husbands and in love, are not frightening up close. Some had dressed beautifully for the celebration. Blue suits, white blouses, spotted skirts, earrings and red lips contrasted with the black and grey colours of the men on the other side. The “sexy” presenter, in her black dress, was not whistled at. None of the other singers were either; they were only applauded and “allowed” to climb onto the makeshift stage. The concert had all the components: direction, a script, and even set design. Two writers of love, their words taking flight: Happy Saint Valentine’s Day! They were greeted with ovations. Çaçe, Makashi, Spirite Voice, Bega with his monologue performance. They gave autographs as at any other concert. Standing right beneath the stage, Bega burst out: “Actually, I accepted the invitation without any hesitation.” Spirite Voice said, “We came out of curiosity; we had been here before.” Diko, meanwhile, thinks “prisoners in other prisons should also have this privilege.” The love songs achieved their “purpose”: the inmates enjoyed the two-hour concert. If they were outside the prison walls, would they give gifts? A. K., sentenced to 17 years in prison: “My girlfriend’s name is Ornela. I receive cards, we meet; she likes gold necklaces. I would have bought one for her.” D.H., from Peqin, 50 years old, misses his wife and two daughters. What did he think of the concert? “I liked it very much.” Especially Aurela. “I would have bought my wife a dress with spots.” Aron Biku brought nostalgia with his song “In the Lonely Prison.” A.P., 24, says that this song “reminds me of the years gone by, the ones that will never return.” “There is life here too, while serving your sentence, and afterwards,” he will look for another girl. One of the prisoners climbed onto the stage and said, “Thank you for remembering us and respecting us; we are like everyone else, human beings.” The first Albanian music concert at the Re-education Institute ended without a single incident. It was said that “the most dangerous ones” had been locked in isolation rooms. The Ministry said that “the tense taboo was lifted”; the organizers received an invitation to hold a concert at Bënça prison. Leaving through the wire gates, with furrowed faces, they hope, while the police keep watch. At the moment when the iron gate slams shut, one awakens to the mud and dust, and above all to the sun and freedom. The feast of love behind prison bars Yesterday’s celebration in the prison (Photo: ATSH)

Berisha

Everything about the programs, the personalities and the week’s shows GAZETA TV Sharon Stone Goodbye, bachelorhood On pages 5–8 Sharon Stone: Goodbye, bachelorhood

The Ministry of Defense accuses them: Journalists violated the law on military facilities. The journalists’ response: We were only doing our job. The story of a controversy that should never have existed. On page 4

On pages 10–11

PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE Major investigation into the Mercedes cars On page 9

TROPOJË 60 million lek stolen On page 9