Reacting too, Ceka: He means Berisha and Enver Hoxha Why are we dirty? Politicians respond to Kadare Ruçi: If he has the nerve, let him try it himself FACTIONS IN SWADDLING CLOTHES Bledar Zaganjori Recently, the old debate over a new term arose in the Socialist Party—not only for this party, but for political life in general: the faction, a different point of view, but one institutionalized within a political force. As happened earlier, when Nano’s motion had appeared on the scene, supporters of the imprisoned chairman insistently called for factions to be institutionalized in the party, citing examples even from the laws of physics, to be applied afterward within the party and in politics. From being described merely as the expression of an opposing or different point of view not many years ago, it has now moved to a higher stage in the organization of opposition: the creation of groups and the declaration of independence from the party leaders, calling them factions. But what are factions in Albanian politics? Have they existed before? During the past fifty years, when the life of the country was dominated by one party, it seems they were not accepted even as a concept, let alone as a reality. And even today, the factionalists in this party themselves are still unclear about what they want and how they will justify their grouping: on which points of the program they disagree with the leadership, or what they could do better. The idea of a faction was first floated in the Democratic Party by Berisha himself in its early days, promising much for the development of democracy—not only among many political forces, but also within a party’s ranks. But afterward it was deliberately forgotten by certain party figures. In the Socialist Party, although the right to institutionalize factions was fought for in ’96, this idea has remained hidden in the leaders’ sieve, since it does not even appear in the party’s new statute. The first experience within the two largest parties, where the proposal has served only as a means of coming to power and gaining leverage for positions, has meant that even TIRANA - Albanian politicians react as one: “Kadare has accused us unfairly; let him come and try running this country himself.” Just one day after the great writer issued unequivocal accusations against the people who direct politics, the latter have gone on the attack. He has been asked to name names; it has been said loudly that Kadare was prompted, just as the bells have been told that, whether people or Kadare like it or not, this is the political class. For many leaders of Albanian political forces, the man of letters was wrong and would do well not to speak in generalities, but to name specific people. Whether or not he named names, the writer’s words seem to have stung Socialists and Democrats, Republicans and Alliance members. On page 2

TIRANA - Albanian politicians react as one: “Kadare has accused us unfairly; let him come and try running this country himself.”

REPORT FROM THE WAR ZONE On page 4 The Albanian-Yugoslav border two days ago (Photo: Hektor Pustina)

Parliamentarians angry about their salaries Two weeks of tension among the “people’s elected representatives,” then a solution Berisha hesitates TIRANA - Trouble with MPs’ salaries too. Parliament’s finances have come under fire from the very people responsible for the law. It took a VLORA: “INA WILL RETURN THEM, OTHERWISE...” What a pity, “du...”

Durrës Gazette DURRËS - The prosecutor’s office takes stock of crime in Durrës during the first three months, and the results are shocking. Drugs, a phenomenon of recent years, emerge as the cause of most crimes committed by young people. The prosecutor’s office recommends launching population disarmament to reduce crime, since people continue to be armed. On page 8

… and all the groups and declarations of independence from the party leaders, judging them to be factions. During the past fifty years, when the country’s life was dominated by one party, the most frequently used expression was “hostile group,” and anyone who dared to express a word different from Hoxha’s spent at least a quarter of their life in prison. With the establishment of the system, much was said and promised about freedom of expression within the party. But only twenty years later did a new phenomenon begin to take hold, more markedly in the Democratic Party at the time, when those who thought differently from Berisha formed not just one but three new parties, since they could find no space to express views different from the chairman’s. At the time, a faction was seen as heresy, and those who bore this view were branded heretics as well. As in the DP, in the SP too the faction was neither accepted nor … Parliamentarians angry about their salaries Maiko: O.K., but not with these people...

TIRANA - Trouble with MPs’ salaries too. TIRANA - fire from the very people in it. A written protest by the Socialist group to the Presidium of the Assembly was needed to shorten the long queues of MPs and staff (secretaries, guards, etc.) at the finance offices. A protest by the Socialist group put an end to MPs’ perennial problem with their salaries. Yesterday also marked the end of the ordeal for all the lawmakers, who had even come from the districts. Yesterday, the Presidium of the Assembly also saw MPs who are rarely seen during parliamentary sessions or at meetings of the standing committees. Only yesterday did Parliament’s cash office manage to handle the high volume of requests, and not only from MPs. Berisha hesitates Zhulali returns to the DP TIRANA - Berisha chooses his associates according to their contributions during the period of rebellion. For the leader of the DP, the sole criterion for selecting people for the top governing bodies of his new party, now surrounded in opposition, is already established. Reliable sources at the DP headquarters confirmed yesterday that the restructuring of the party’s governing bodies at every level was carried out according to this principle. On page 2 On page 3

TIRANA – The Municipality of Tirana woke up yesterday more unprotected than ever. Citizens, who were waiting at its iron gate for the public reception hours to begin, were themselves surprised by the patience they showed in not entering without permission. Apart from the regular guard, not a single police officer cast a stern glance their way—not even a patrol. Even the street vendors breathed a sigh of relief yesterday, when no one with a police-like appearance was there to order them to clear their stalls from the area near the door through which the mayor enters. On page 5 VEFA, investigation into the former director of BKT TIRANA – The former head of the National Commercial Bank helped Alimucaj open secret accounts. Prosecutors have expressed their initial suspicions about the activities of this bank and its director, Eduart… In just a few months, Alimucaj managed to make more than 140 million dollars of VEFA creditors’ money disappear through bank transfers. One of the accused … explain that investigations will soon also be directed at Ypi, who must answer for his role in these banking transactions. The Turkish Bank… [text unclear] pyramid scheme activities. On page 9 Prisons: We want Havari TIRANA – Prison staff are protesting against Havari’s removal. A sense of responsibility can be felt in the Directorate’s two-storey building. All the staff are waiting for the Prime Minister’s Office to make a decision. Although Havari continues to work as usual, the poor [text unclear] feel a certain indignation over his suspension. All the blue-uniformed officers … express regret at the removal of the iron hand that has changed everything in the prison administration in just two months. “If Havari leaves, this Directorate will never recover,” say some members of the Directorate’s rapid-response unit. On page 2

VLORA: “GIVE IT BACK TO US, OTHERWISE...” VLORA – A “cold shower” for Gjinushi in Vlora. After Farudin Arapi, it is the Speaker of Parliament’s turn to answer to generations of creditors, as well as veterans and discharged military personnel. Their message was unequivocal: return our money, otherwise we will refuse to vote in the local elections, and afterwards we will begin protests in Flag Square. Skënder Gjinushi

GAZETA of Tirana TIRANA – A police check resulted in the seizure of more than 1,500 grams of heroin. A tip received in the operations room on the afternoon of May 1 put the “Eagle” patrol cars on alert. Within seconds, an operation brought law-enforcement officers to a venue on the outskirts, where they discovered white heroin in a car parked outside. On page 5

GAZETA of Shkodër SHKODËR – Prefect Laçe asks Deputy Prime Minister Fino to reduce customs inspections and allow traders to move larger quantities of goods towards Montenegro. It all followed a protest by traders and vehicle drivers. The latter said that they smuggle openly on the lake, so there is no reason to prevent food from being transported. On page 6

TIRANA – The Minister of Public Order takes on the opposition. “When the Democratic Party had a parliamentary majority, there were more former State Security officers in the Ministry of the Interior than during the current government’s term.” Minister of Public Order Perikli Teta stated yesterday in Parliament that former State Security officers had filled the Ministry of the Interior. His statement came during a parliamentary session requested by Democratic Party MP Myslym Murrizi. On page 2

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