A split in the governing coalition delights the opposition... TIRANA - Warnings of a storm against the executive have not been greeted enthusiastically by the Democrats’ camp. No official statement has come from senior party officials either. But reliable sources from the PD clarified yesterday that, for the Democrats, leaving at this moment would be premature. This is not because Ceka is a PD ally, nor could anyone entertain such an absurd notion, but because Ceka’s departure now could smooth over disagreements in the governing coalition. Of course, the PD now considers Ceka Nano’s opponent in the government, but the Democrats want the disagreements to deepen by keeping Ceka in the post of Minister of the Interior. On page 2 Berisha

TIRANA - Clashes within the coalition over Ceka and the government formula. Yesterday, Gjergj Zefi disagreed with Zogaj regarding his making AD’s presence in the coalition conditional on Ceka being a minister. “The coalition does not depend on Ceka’s name,” Zefi declared, whereas the day before Zogaj had said the opposite to the press. While Majko emphasized the leading role of the PS in the coalition, there have been no shortage of complaints from the allies about possible changes and the names being mentioned at various levels of the executive. “The government does not depend on Ceka, but on the formula,” Zefi declared. The Alliance politician stood by the same position as Zogaj only with regard to how the changes should be carried out. On page 2

The critic is summoned by President Meidani A long conversation between the writer and the presidential advisers The commotion within the PS reaches the head of state! What is happening? Agolli at the Presidency. The critic is summoned by President Meidani. A long conversation between the writer and the presidential advisers. TIRANA - Meidani summons Agolli to the Presidency. The renowned writer and Socialist Party deputy was President of the Republic’s “guest” yesterday morning, while the occasion had mainly to do with the President’s proposal for a common platform on the national question. But more than that, Agolli’s presence at Meidani’s offices aroused great interest because of events over the past two or three days. First, Agolli, through an article of his that was highly critical of the government, sparked controversy among the ranks of the Socialists and government officials. Then the press reported a conflict between Nano and Meidani concerning Interior Minister Ceka. “I didn’t have time to speak with Meidani, and it wasn’t the place for it. We had gathered to discuss a national platform,” Agolli said. “But I did speak with his advisers,” he continued. “So far,” the writer said, “I have not yet spoken with the leaders at the highest levels. One of them, however, has considered my criticism justified.” Agolli hinted that he might have been referring to the head of state. What about the others, those targeted by Dritëroi’s criticism? The discussion concerns the leaders of the executive. “They may say that the criticism helps them do their job better.” On page 3

Here is the photograph of the daring escape TIRANA - Escape of the prisoner Teka? While he was in the courtroom, Lulzim Paja managed to slip away from the police escort squad. The 18-year-old managed to leave behind [?] with a pistol pointed at the detainee, but not a single bullet stopped his escape. The alarm was raised immediately, but it was too late. The escapee was to serve 14 years in prison on charges of armed robbery of a gas station. This was the third time Paja had been prosecuted. The two police officers in the escort squad have been charged with lack of vigilance and negligence in the performance of their duties, and criminal proceedings against them are expected to begin. On page 4 Lulzim Paja escaping from the courtroom (Photo: Blend Çota)

Skifter i Transversal politics is being born in Albania. The phenomenon of the ordeal and the terror of leaving day by day. More than a meal [?]

TIRANA - Spartak Ngjela against the PD. “Enough of Durollari.” The well-known lawyer now openly wants to be crowned speaker of the legislature, and in his view Durollari is a spent card. “The PD is provoking a breakdown of the coalition with the Legalists by summoning Guri Durollari for no reason,” Ngjela warned. According to him, the PD’s preference for the former chairman could lead to a cooling of relations between the PD and the monarchists. And, for Ngjela, that would be a loss for the PD. On page 6

VLORA - “Vlora is still far from investment.” This time, it is not the investors in the coastal city who have raised their voices, but the OSCE representatives in the city themselves. It is Tenichi who promises to make efforts to raise awareness among his superiors, who should intervene to revive the city. And starting today, the city has its own newspaper within “Gazeta Shqiptare.” Every day, the problems of the people of Vlora, as well as their joys, will now be covered in “Gazeta e Vlorës.” On page 7

Skifteri A new Albanian politics is emerging in Albania. The phenomenon of the nine-year-olds, the battle for the innocence of those in power, and the clans and political intrigues of the left and right have been disorienting ordinary Albanians for several days; they cannot make sense of developments in the schemes and television programs being devised in the offices of Albanian political parties. The Democrats say they oppose the removal of Minister Ceka, while, from the PAD, Dritëro Agolli is stirring up the Nano–Meidani conflict—but what does the minister have to do with the problems of the coalition government? On the other hand, these three other positions remain within the small PAD. If one faction favors fierce resistance by its leader and fanatical defense of the Interior Minister’s seat, others within the PAD do not see Ceka’s departure as a catastrophe, putting forward as a barricade the rescue of this coalition formula. From the leftist camp, Dritëro Agolli has noisily reappeared, hurling thunderbolts at others and sparing neither Nano nor the government scandals; even those in his sights are experiencing the ordeal and terror of facing dismissal day after day. Rather than being discussed openly, the transversal political government is being cooked up in party offices and in people’s homes, just days after Prime Minister Nano announced major changes in his cabinet. Who will be removed, and to what extent? Will the executive’s Zeus punish the ministers of the coalition parties, or will he break up the governing formula—which is fragile in any case—of the Nano government? These questions, for Albanians living in darkness and without electricity, for the farmer hoping for a little rain for his crops, and for the displaced person trying to cross into flooded land, seem to come from another world, from an absurdity that has nothing to do with them. What is being played out in recent days is more of a preliminary battle, but this time a silent one, made up of conjecture, words tossed out as if by chance, and quarrels artificially cooked up among groups of the same or different kinds. The burden of power, for all those who aspire to it or feel they are losing it, seems to have become several times heavier these days.

GAZETA of Shkodra GAZETA Shkodrës Borici: “What I will do for the city” SHKODRA — “Here is how the city will prosper” — the mayor, Bahri Borici, explains the measures that will be taken to open up jobs for 20,000 people, who are listed as unemployed on the economic assistance rolls. At the same time, he is calling for the reopening of Han i Hotit, a strategic point for the people of Shkodra. A joint enterprise has also temporarily closed its doors, and its leaders say they are being hindered by the severe situation at the border. On page 6

GAZETA of Durrës GAZETA e Durrësit Durrësi gets more light DURRËS — The city wins its long battle to get streetlights installed. After a long month with electricity outages lasting more than six hours, KESH intervened to provide light to the rebellious citizens, following the many “battles” waged by the Municipality and the citizens in the media. The situation in Durrës and Shijak seems more normal over the past two days. Power cuts have been reduced to two hours: almost a “luxury” for the people of Durrës. On page 8

Interview / Valbona Çoba speaks after returning to her homeland: Here is the secret TIRANA — “I feel bad about everyone’s hardships, especially those of men.” Having arrived in her homeland for a few days, Valbona Çoba has decided to recount the hours of her Hellenic adventure. Speaking to the newspaper, the girl from Tirana says that there is a professional Çoba and a Valbona in everyday life. With a distinguished career on catwalks, magazine pages and screens, she has never denied the fact that she is Albanian. On page 10

GAZETA of Durrës GAZETA e Durrësit Goodbye, old neighborhoods; now you have to deal with administrative units TIRANA — The Albanian capital has long forgotten the concept of a “neighborhood.” The large maps hanging in all the important offices of Tirana’s local government show that this city began experiencing its new division into administrative units some time ago. There are 11 units in all, encompassing the entire life of the city, one of the largest in Albania, with its problems, [unclear], and its good and bad events. In the form of a [unclear] of [unclear] that has emerged, with a legendary [unclear] beside it. On page 5

Payments in dollars: Are they legal? On page 9