Government-Ministerial debate TIRANA - Nano is “taking” aid out of Meksi’s hands. The Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Coordination of Foreign Aid is to be “duplicated” by another structure. The central unit for coordinating foreign aid is being established under the Prime Minister and directed by his advisers. The “mother” PMU will be tasked with clearing all obstacles and centralizing information on the progress of projects, an area that has left much to be desired so far. But everything this PMU is tasked with doing is the reason the Meksi Ministry exists. Following the apologies over its inclusion in the changes to the Government, this is another signal that Nano is dissatisfied with his staff. On page 6

Fatos Baxhaku “Daily animated films, a hefty fee, boss mania, the dimensions of lust, the dimensions of catastrophe, a physical object of cultural anthropology, intellectual complexes, prolonged surveillance”... Yesterday, one page was crammed full of such intellectual expressions, still smelling of fresh ink from the fax that had arrived at our editorial office. At the top it read “Democratic Party/Press Office.” This made us believe that something had indeed moved, in the literal sense of the word, in the press office of the largest opposition party. A [!] on a foundation that we are all still missing. “Our ‘hawks,’ whom you apparently do not hold dear—just like your colleagues in government—[?] others who sometimes even sign their articles, you who hide behind an assumed name to discuss, and other people who are affiliated with other parties, should [!] rise up in a storm against the thousand and one problems facing the country? Doesn’t it seem to you that if we headed toward what is good rather than once again fighting among ourselves, we would bring more light to the eyes of children who now struggle to find a patch of ground to play on in spaces covered by kiosks that flourished during the glorious time of foreign [influence?]? Since we’re talking about establishments: in your ill-mannered protest fax, a specific person’s name is also mentioned. The audacity of the ill-mannered can cross every boundary, even going so far as to target the names of individual owners. We would like to remind this anonymous accuser, whose work apparently involves such matters, that the establishment known as “Fideli” still bears the marks of the bullets that people who once surrounded you brutally fired at a peaceful place that had begun to turn into a meeting point for all tendencies and points of view. Your words yesterday once again reminded us of an offensive scene for all Albanians: the rubber letters above someone’s head in the square of Kërçë and Preç Zogaj, and then the [nashërimin?] of a child who had seen how his [arkitij?] was shot. This scene took place precisely in that establishment, which is cynically described as “a place for gossip among newspapers.” Patriotic, servile bureaucrats, who have the “merit” of setting foot in their establishment only once in a while, which seems to be a colleagues’ [place?], we would like to extend an invitation to them: Come here quickly, you who call these things gossip! That way we’ll have time to laugh together. It will be better for everyone. At least we won’t leave people with that bitter aftertaste caused by a piece of paper containing nothing but ill-mannered words and nothing more. the shadow, tall, rose from the freshly applied ink of its top was written indeed been announced, in the true sense of the word, at the press office of the largest opposition party. Just as has happened in analogous cases with other parties too, an event... In [?], a day earlier, we had written an article that informed and explained to readers—not to sell the pile of newspapers, as is written in the ill-mannered fax, which bears on its back a name that many still honor—what was really happening within the ranks of the largest opposition party. In our view, an ironclad regulation had begun to be applied among the people who gave life to anti-communist democracy in Albania. And this had begun to worry us. The more young people, the less—no, the more the better for everyone, whether socialist or democrat, centrist or right-wing with a pronounced left-wing past? This was the concern of our “Shkëndija”, which gave the people in the offices—who still seem to fear the press and its freedom—cause to attack our newspaper with abusive terms, which they have now become accustomed to leaving [?] in offices to please their bosses, of whom they are somewhat afraid. Party people need to show that they are working, and this is the only work we tried to understand; as for the rest... Dear colleagues at the PD press office, we are mentioning this subject because it seems to me that you at least took the trouble to read our newspaper “pile”, but for no other reason—wouldn’t it be better if all of us together, including our newspaper, created a climate in which we could debate, in which debate...

Ceka wins: He becomes Nano’s deputy Shake-up at SHIK. The great secrets in the Prime Minister’s hands Majko talks at length with Nano, while Feta takes charge of the Interior TIRANA - The government changes, PAD figures move up and Fino falls. After heated disputes involving three-quarters of the coalition, the government reshuffle seems to have satisfied everyone and strengthened cooperation among the partners. The name most splashed across the press, Neritan Ceka, has left the Interior Minister’s chair to apparently take over Bashkim Fino’s office. The PAD president is to become deputy prime minister in Nano’s government, while Fino’s position in the new structure set up by Nano remains unknown. Another AD politician, Perikli Teta, who until yesterday held the post of State Secretary for Defense under Brokaj, appears set to replace Ceka as Interior Minister. The names in the economy portfolio are also in question, however, as they are blamed for falling behind on projects approved by international partners and donors. On page 4

THE RAISED FIST RETURNS

TIRANA - KESH’s anger has fallen on Albania’s only state radio. The country’s sole state-owned electronic media institution has fallen into KESH’s “tender” trap. Since Sunday, the latter has cut the electricity to Radio Tirana, leaving it at the “mercy” of FM waves. The medium waves 221, 275, 205 and 207 meters are no longer transmitting, and now the radio’s listeners have only a few narrow frequency bands available. KESH has decided to demonstrate its power and seriousness even to state institutions such as itself. The failure of the only state Albanian Radio and Television broadcaster to pay its electricity bill has proved “fatal” to its depleted finances. An abrupt cutoff has damaged Radio Tirana’s programs, significantly reducing its audience in recent days. Local radio stations, which receive only the signal from the central radio station, continue broadcasting, keeping areas from Fier to Lezhë “on air.” Meanwhile, FM waves are transmitted from the antenna installed on Mount Dajti, enabling reception even without medium waves in the districts of Shkodër, Korçë and perhaps Gjirokastër. Foreign-language programs and those of the Department of Compatriots have been affected by the interruption of medium-wave broadcasts; they lack the signal needed to cross national borders. In this way, Radio Tirana has been “kept” on FM waves alone, once again demonstrating its advantage in the competitive market. If this transmission outage had happened to private radio stations, the chances of keeping their audiences “alive” would have been lower. For three days, the journalists producing the “Unheard” programs have continued working as usual, followed only by the technicians. KESH will continue to be “strict” with Radio Tirana under the law until the last cent has been paid.

GAZETA of Durrës DURRËS - Durrës merchants are responding to Malaj. “It is true that commercial ships are no longer coming to the port of Durrës, but this is solely because of the high customs duties.” The merchants have also complained about smuggling, which, they say, is competing with legitimate trade. On page 8

GAZETA e Shkodrës

GIROKASTER/ Cashier arrested GIROKASTER - A network of counterfeit-dollar traffickers has been uncovered. 90 thousand counterfeit dollars were seized, and the Savings Bank cashier, Alda Doraci, and her accomplice, Arben Çela, ended up in prison. Police discovered two shipments of 29 and 30 thousand dollars at the bank’s entrance and, after checks, made the arrests in the act. However, sources report that there are other shipments too, outside the banking system, that is, through free exchange. The prosecution has opened a criminal case to uncover the true source. On page 4

Gazeta e Vlorës On page 12

HAS - Attack with Kalashnikovs on the Has police station. A hail of bullets shattered the night’s quiet around the police station for several minutes. The officers on duty returned fire, but the assailants quickly disappeared into the darkness. So far, there is no indication as to who carried out the act. On page 6

BERAT - Fire at the Textile Combine. The flames engulfed Weaving Department No. 2, but fortunately, the wind was blowing in the opposite direction and averted a tragedy. This, together with the immediate intervention of the firefighters, meant that the flames did not cause major economic damage. According to initial information, the fire was caused by an electrical spark. On page 8

TIRANA - Bullets for the extortionist. A 22-year-old met his death at the hands of the man who had been threatening him for some time. Everything came to a head when the victim, together with another person, attacked his house, without giving any thought to what fate awaited him. Meanwhile, the police have detained the killer, and investigations have begun to identify and detain the victim’s companion. On page 5

On page 2

fault of the people of Shkodër SHKODËR - The Minister of Labour has come to the city after a long time and presented all his projects for reducing unemployment. “Shkodër and its local government bodies have not been active in drawing up projects. This is one of the reasons I came here.” On page 6

The women meet: We will change Vlora VLORE — The women volunteers are organizing. They have joined together in an association and have decided to change Vlora. “Albania is not just Tirana,” they said at yesterday’s meeting, “so the government should raise awareness among non-governmental organizations to turn their attention to the other districts as well.” On page 7