Where are the right-wing allies? On page 3 Either power or silence Teodor Keko Today’s Albanian reality, viewed across its entire spectrum, appears highly problematic (mainly because of inherited mistakes) and is like a complicated puzzle that can be solved more quickly through diverse alternatives. By now, even the bloc understands that an economy as devastated as ours, life in total decline, frightening unemployment, and a discreet international standing cannot be dealt with either by a single person or by a single political grouping. In this sense, given the role it has, the opposition has played a major role in Albania in recent years. But how is this role interpreted? How competent is our opposition in its critique? What does it say? Unfortunately, our opposition continues to play defense, waiting for its opponent to tire and for the people to reach the end of their tether. More or less, this was the opposition to Berisha, and this is also the opposition to Nano. Today’s opposition shows us that it is still stuck in 1991–1992, in a [muted?] position, and whenever it manages to communicate with the people, rather than constructive feelings, it sows feelings of [division?]. “...put Berisha into effect ...!” Four years have passed and this idiotic philosophy continues to be the opposition’s strategy. There are plenty of similar examples. Today’s Albanian opposition only [acts] when it organizes demonstrations in the square. But here too, what stands out is its [frenzy?], with harsh language following the banal terms “communists,” “criminals,” etc., as if we were still in Pol Pot’s Cambodia! Not a word about how the mistakes we genuinely have in abundance could be corrected. The opposition press is in a difficult state today, with a circulation far below that of the pro-government or independent press. Today’s opposition newspapers have very few authoritative bylines, standing far from their former brilliance. There are still many prominent financiers, doctors, economists, lawyers, etc. in the opposition ranks, people who have proved that they know how to work. Why don’t they speak? Because the press, too, is kept under diktat as part of the opposition’s street strategy! The opposition’s lineup does not have many first-rate actors and, judging by what is presented, one cannot imagine a future government emerging from this group. In a calm political climate, it is hard to believe that people will trust, More or less, that was the opposition to Berisha, and such is the opposition to Nano as well. Today’s opposition is showing that it is still stuck in 1991-1992, in a position where it sometimes has no way to communicate with the people; rather than constructive sentiments, it sows anarchic feelings, which have been reflected in further damage to the Albanian economy and in making Albania’s image in the world even darker. The opposition in Albania has several of its own “specific features.” The opposition does not change when it loses. It does not enrich the political spectrum with personalities, offer genuine alternatives, or compete; it conceives of its activity as a game of “witch-hunting,” attacking particular individuals and hurling their personal traits in their faces. Yet this entire strategy is absurd, because the opposition’s duty is to enrich the political scene with new, representative figures. But, remaining committed to the strategy of the street and backroom dealings, it is not interested in drawing in and making the Nation’s brightest minds protagonists of its ideas. Without much reflection, today’s opposition relies on several figures whom it itself expelled from the leadership when it was in power. At that point, it cannot expect the electorate to rally behind these figures, using the argument of the strongest among those gathered for this final: “I told you so.” Today’s opposition is indeed very strong in its criticism, but it offers neither a project nor an idea about how this or that could be done better. I remember when an entire council, while in opposition, told us in all seriousness: “Hey, don’t talk about alternatives, because they’ll hear them and put them into practice. So we won’t talk about them!” Even the press is held in check by diktats within the opposition’s street strategy! The opposition scene is on display, one cannot imagine a dignified one could not even believe that people would trust these people to give them a better life. On the other hand, the opposition today is being made by groups or charismatic individuals within the ruling camp! Agolli’s position, for example, should have been seized by the opposition long ago, because it has few figures ready to join its ranks. With a weak opposition, everyone loses! The pace of development slows, the government does not work under the pressure of competition, and tomorrow we will vote for them again like cattle. That is why, especially today, a modern organization of opposition life is essential. The opposition has no reason to exist if it is not heard by the ruling camp. After all, the means and forms are for the ruling camp! The opposition should not take part in the “construction” of the Kallasë së Rofazës. It has a different purpose: “another brick in the wall”! If today’s opposition understands that it will fail so badly that, when it returns to power, it will inherit an Albania with its pants around its ankles, then, we believe, it will surely act positively in the direction of its progress. An Albania that has zero at its head (and is this also the case for Nano 4, 5, or 6?) Mayakovsky was pro-Bolshevik, but he was right when he called zero a nullity! If we made the image a little more positive, we could say, “Zero is on the throne”—a grave! Therefore, wake up, opposition brothers! Already the opposition…

Nexhmije’s life on the outskirts, while her documents are being published TIRANA - The dictator’s widow aspires to a communism as her husband envisioned it, not as Husni Milloshi and Maks Hasani preach it in miniature. Nexhmija Hoxha lets you understand that she is not an ordinary widow who deserves to live in a forgotten corner of the capital. Hoxha’s wife has no difficulty interacting with any kind of stranger while maintaining her sense of decorum, right up to the moment it becomes clear that she has decided to reject public opinion. “I am isolated; I prefer not to emerge from this state,” says the dictator’s wife, trying to avoid every kind of invitation to face people, especially journalists. Not at all unsettled by the change of times, when she was Albania’s First Lady, Nexhmija seems to feel herself once again in that position. On page 4

A few metres from Has, Belgrade’s soldiers dig trenches “Brisku” special forces urgently head north Meidani convenes the Defence Council, but Brokaj is absent HAS - Hundreds of Yugoslav Army troops have been deployed, and by midday were positioned along the border with Albania, near the village of Cahan, in the area of boundary pyramid D-4. Alarm in Has and Kukës. “We are only one step away from war,” police chiefs say. On the other side of the border, just a few metres away, Serbian soldiers have deployed tanks and artillery, while beginning work on digging trenches and setting up fortifications. Meanwhile, two days ago, nine Kosovars from Gjakova arrived in Krumë, refusing to register as refugees. A group of SHIK specialists have been left in the town, following a visit by its chief, Fatos Klosi. Everything remains up in the air. Although the situation appears calm, alarm has gripped the police, army and local authorities. Meanwhile, “Brisku” forces are arriving in Kukës and checkpoints are being set up Serbian tanks on the move

TIRANA - Privatization securities are beginning to acquire value. Yesterday, at the Ministry of Public Economy and Privatization, a memorandum of understanding was signed between Deputy Minister Pajtim Bello, the Anglo-Adriatika Fund and the Canadian natural resources company “Grande Portage”. This memorandum of understanding grants “Grande Portage” the exclusive right to negotiate in the privatization process of the Nitrogen Fertilizer Plant in Fier. The Fier nitrogen plant will be supplied with natural gas from the gas-bearing area of Delvinë, which will be developed jointly by Albetroli and Grande Portage. On page 9

CEKA MEETS MAJKO. NANO: HERE IS WHY I MADE THE CHANGES TIRANA - The Italian Ulivo will also be imported into Albania. The parties in the governing coalition have decided to form an alliance at a higher level than the current one, with all the formations rallying around a single symbol and a shared program. Majko and Ceka have agreed that this arrangement should also be presented to the others, and it appears that soon we will have a signature on the new coalition structure. On page 3 Ceka; Majko

TIRANA - “There are no medicines here.” Patients at Tirana Hospital have begun complaining more frequently in recent days about the shortage of medication. Some of them even say that the hospitals of QSUT are also short of serum and other very basic medicines. At Hospital No. 2, part of Albania’s largest hospital centre, patients say that doctors cannot diagnose their illnesses and that they are unable to treat them with the medicines needed for their conditions. On page 5

SHKODER - After a long period of silence, the traffic police have taken to the roads, targeting those who violate traffic regulations. A series of fines has shown drivers that they must now be more law-abiding. Operations carried out at various times of day on the main road have put these police officers to work, accompanied by two minibuses belonging to the rapid-response forces. The latter had to interrupt their activities for a few minutes to deal with an incident that had taken place in front of the prefecture. On page 6

DURRES - The Italian sweep targeting Albanian undocumented migrants has begun. Yesterday, 50 Albanians arrived at the port of Durrës, all without documents. It had been a long time since the Italian authorities had returned such a large group of refugees, but none of them had problems with Albanian Justice. Such sweeps take place whenever the number of undocumented migrants arriving in Italy is high. After police checks, the migrants were sent back to their districts. On page 8

VLORE - KESH issues an ultimatum to the people of Vlora to pay their electricity bills. The director of the city’s electricity utility told “Gazeta” that no leniency would be shown on payments; on the contrary, all payments would be enforced. Thus, the proposals made for settling the debt have not been taken into consideration by this utility, which is among those with the largest debts. Around five thousand families from the city and countryside have abandoned Vlora. They do not pay for electricity. On page 7

Serbian tanks on the move