A year later, Fino recounts his political adventure “If I had acted aggressively, civil war would have broken out” INTERVIEW / The man who saw himself from the café, perhaps in... the Government “The true face of power” After a year, Fino recounts his political adventure “If I had acted aggressively, civil war would have broken out” “The insistence of some political forces that I be reinstated as Prime Minister after June 29 had to do with political trickery, and not with a genuine desire for me to continue in the same post I held in the Government of Reconciliation.” Fino in a much-discussed photo. After last spring’s unrest, Fino returned to his favorite sport, football. (Photo: Hektor Pustina) TIRANA - Bashkim Fino recounts his path from mayor to the high office of Prime Minister. “I challenged everyone.” That is how Fino summed up all the obstacles he encountered along the way, or the “sticks in the wheels” put there by his opponents. In an interview with the Albanian Gazette, he said that he was pleased that the diaspora, together with Godo, considers him the country’s best politician, but at the same time he does not forget to add that serving for several months in the difficult post, at a time when the country was engulfed in conflict and war was imminent, was very difficult. Fino says that after the June 29 elections, some political forces proposed that he continue to hold the same post, but to Fino this was all merely political trickery. “I am a Socialist, but governing the country belonged to the chairman of the party led by Vranicki.” He says that the support of European countries and the United States was vital for the country. “They helped me a great deal during our most difficult months.” Fino, once affectionately considered Nano’s “kinder surprise,” no longer seems so popular, at least with the opposition. The man who sat at the negotiating table with the former president of the republic, without any complexes or political baggage, is now viewed by opposition figures Selfo, Karamitro and Bushati as a spent card. “The Government has kept none of the promises it made before the elections.” Almost all the opposition parties’ accusations are indeed justified. The creditors’ money, which was supposed to put the economy back on its feet and revive it, has, in the opposition’s view, turned the three major promises of the new political force in power into the three major failures of Nano’s Government of Reconciliation. What do we think of Fino? “He is a finished man now” TIRANA - spent card. On page 3 Fino in a much-discussed photo. After last spring’s unrest, Fino returned to his favorite sport, football. (Photo: Hektor Pustina)

OIL INCIDENT Andi Tela Two days ago, Albpetrol’s oil and gas tanks narrowly escaped a catastrophe that would have devastated the entire area. But the people who experienced the incident and averted the tragedy were left astonished the next day when they heard a lengthy denial issued by the Fier police and Albpetrol’s management. “But we were there and saw everything with our own eyes” was the only incredulous remark they uttered. In fact, many senior officials must have been involved in drafting the denial, since yesterday silence had descended over the Fier police. Its leaders professed ignorance both of the incident and of the denial about it. Why are they afraid of the truth? Of course, successes matter to every institution, and failures should be as few as possible (God willing, may they never happen), but when they do happen in broad daylight and in front of many people, what are they to do? The only way is to leave the incident out of official statements and the telephone chain up to the Ministry, and, if possible, to “lose” as much information as possible. But when, by chance, a media outlet manages to speak with the people involved, then the savior comes in the form of a spokesperson. Nothing happened; the news is false. But besides concealing the news for the common good—to avoid spreading panic—there is another argument, highly significant but also very grave for all the police forces in Tirana, if it is true. The tanks where the bomb had been planted are guarded by private security. The oil workers are therefore asking for the whole area to be guarded by the blue uniforms, but their request is rejected and ignored, while tons of oil and gasoline are taken from the tanks every day. The police wait to catch some tanker truck and loudly shout “victory,” but how many of these get away? Perhaps this is also one of the reasons why all the news coming from the oil region is suppressed: it must remain quiet, in silence, so people can work peacefully; meanwhile, if this is true (the Patos police themselves say so), then...

In a Durrës cell DURRËS - Zani Çausi has rebelled in Durrës prison. He asked for a doctor at midnight on Tuesday, but no one brought one. This sparked the rebellion of the man from Vlora, who, assisted by a fellow inmate from Berat, tried to take hostage one of the guards who approached him. Special forces led by the deputy chief of Durrës police were immediately deployed. The situation was brought under their control, but sources from the remand cells report that Çausi and another prisoner were subjected to physical violence. Prisoners considered dangerous are held in the remand cells in Durrës. Zani Çausi was transferred there after the riot at Tirana prison in February of this year. Security measures in these cells were tightened after the incident in Durrës. On page 5 Zani Çausi, in his days of freedom (Photo: Hektor Pustina)

POLICE DEFEAT THE NOTORIOUS MEN OF KARBUNARË; 1 KILLED, 2 WOUNDED BERAT - Police fought a three-hour battle with the gang and managed to win. More than 60 police officers and special forces kept the famous Karbunarë gang surrounded and under a hail of gunfire, and managed to eliminate it. The wounded boss, together with one member, fell into police hands, while the third was killed. Berat police chief Vasi Cama confirms that none of the officers was wounded. “Good fortune was on our side.” On page 7

USURY Ngjela abandons VEFA On page 6

SHKODER New investigations into the unrest On page 7

TIRANE Arrest in the murder of Xhabafi On page 7

KOSOVE Clinton’s man in Pristina PRISHTINE - Once again, Albanian blood is being shed on the streets of Kosovo. An Albanian demonstrator has been killed on the streets of Peja. Several others have been injured. And the next day the violence continues, while the attention of Albanian leaders was focused yesterday on the meeting Rugova held with the United States of America’s envoy to the Balkans, Robert Gelbard. On page 2

TIRANE - Juve, the true triumphant force of the Champions League; Real maintains its tradition of winning at home and defeats Leverkusen. EUROPEAN CUP / Dortmund reach the semifinals thanks to extra time Juventus defeats winter Qualifies on the ice of Kiev TIRANE - Juve, the true triumphant force of the Champions League; Real maintains its tradition of winning at home and defeats Leverkusen; Manchester are unexpectedly eliminated by Monaco; Bayern and Dortmund entrust their qualification to extra time, where Chapuizat settles everything in the 109th minute. Juve are merciless in Kiev. A poker of goals, in a match played mostly in freezing conditions: a great team that has dominated the last three years in Europe could hardly make such a crucial mistake. Under the pressure of 120,000 fans, of whom only 200 were Italian, and in the usual Ukrainian cold, Lippi’s men played their usual game. “The match is very open; both teams have an equal chance of qualifying. Nevertheless, we will play the same way as in Turin, attacking from the start,” declared the Italian team’s manager, Lippi. On page 11 Inzaghi, the star of the Kiev match

ALBANIAN CHAMPIONSHIP TIRANE - The champions are traveling to Shkoder with an infirmary-full squad. Recently, Caqlli has also been injured for the white-and-blues, and there is still no confirmation about the condition of Tafaj and Zere. “They haven’t played for two weeks and have been doing separate training,” said Tirana coach Ramadan Shehu. In addition to these problems, the white-and-blue lineup is also weakened by Miloti’s suspension as a result of two yellow cards. On page 11

YESTERDAY’S APPEAL COURT RULING TIRANA - Nehat Kulla has been acquitted. The Court of Appeal has classified the killing of Besim Neziri as a killing in self-defense. Meanwhile, the new charge falls among the crimes amnestied in March by former President Berisha. In this way, Kulla will no longer be on the wanted list. According to the court ruling, Kulla fired while Neziri was trying to draw his pistol from his waistband. On page 9

Ngjela abandons

Trëcaliu Want to get rich? Here are all the predictions from the masters On page 10