The Democrats’ sins in ’97, but also the Socialists’ failings during their “reign” Pjetër Arbnori Don’t expect a systematic article on a particular topic. Below I have set down some thoughts and observations which, for the most part, I cannot claim are my own; they belong to many people. And at a time when everyone is involved in politics—that is, concerned about their own fate and that of the homeland—it does no harm to repeat them. We have a left-wing opposition made up of a coalition, at whose core is the Socialist Party, which has a real electorate and, around it, several fringe parties that together do not even reach three percent, none of which can win a single parliamentary seat, except for PDNJ. We have a Parliament with a widely used nickname, where some members of parliament won their mandates without opposition competition being allowed, so that the real electorate could be turned into a hypothetical electorate. We have a government that does not govern. During the period of Democratic Party rule, ten projects would be started; six would be completed well, two somewhat poorly, and two badly. Now the government starts ten projects and all ten end badly—or, rather, it never starts any at all. The opposition, which from 1992 to 1997 sometimes held power at its peak, had plenty to be proud of, experienced a decline, and also had plenty to be ashamed of. The foundation of the opposition is the Democratic Party, which went through a serious crisis but has now clearly shown that it has the strength to overcome difficult situations and is at the stage of

The Prime Minister launches administrative reform: New changes Nano reshuffles the Government again 4 deputy ministers dismissed, 6 appointed Posts are added; Public Order and Defence are strengthened Government changes Department — Incoming — Outgoing Ministry of Defence — Ilir Boçka — - Ministry of Public Order — Ilirjan Çano — Sokol Bare Ministry of Transport — Pëllumb Hoxha — Kujtim Bejtja Ministry of Economic Affairs — Teuta Çasho — - Ministry of Health — Selim Dedej — Dine Abazi TIRANA - An earthquake in the government’s political administration. Nano dismisses four deputy ministers. At its latest meeting, the government appointed six new deputy ministers. “But the reform will not stop here,” the Prime Minister stated. “The government will proceed with the appointment of six new deputy ministers,” the Albanian prime minister said at last night’s Council of Ministers meeting, unexpectedly warning that the changes would not stop here but would go even further in the days ahead. In this way, the Albanian prime minister has put into practice the statement he made just a few weeks ago, during his first meeting with the new ministers, when he promised that changes among senior officials would also be accompanied by moves at the second and third levels of the administration. Majko and Ruçi, in statements to “Gazeta Shqiptare,” acknowledged that deputy ministers would be moved and that the number of ministry secretaries-general, serving as technical officials, would be increased. And the latter will

Dynamite at the pylons The South in darkness On page 7

Tirana Newspaper Sewage bursts through the pipes TIRANA - Sewage is bursting out in Tirana. The Directorate of Hygiene and Epidemiology reported yesterday that during this week alone there have been at least six cases of contamination in drinking-water pipes in various districts of the capital. Specialists from the Ministry of Health say that, given the current state of the drinking-water system, an epidemic is very likely to break out. Epidemiologists say that all the conditions are in place for an epidemic of cholera to break out, like the one a few years ago. On page 5

TIRANA - Nano writes to the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Mishel Kamdesysë. The Prime Minister addresses the IMF regarding the signing of the three-year agreement with Albania. “I assure you that Albania will continue along the path of comprehensive economic and social reforms for the complete stabilization of the country and to ensure its economic development,” Nano wrote to Kamdesysë. On page 9

TIRANA - Gunfire and a victim on the roads of Dajti. A young man was shot by police in the early hours of the morning after he had come out holding a Kalashnikov and was terrorizing everyone. After stopping and firing at all the cars passing near the quarry while looking for another person, he also opened fire on police officers. On page 6

LEZHË - An attempt is made to rob the Shkodër-Tirana train. Someone pulled the emergency brake just as the carriages were passing through a tunnel near Lezhë, for the purpose of carrying out a robbery. An Englishwoman miraculously escaped the attackers. Fortunately, the police arrived at the scene after 30 seconds and everything passed without incident, but the perpetrators were not caught, as they may have posed as passengers. On page 6

A storm over the Interior Ministry: Bare leaves TIRANA - A director, Besnik Bregu, has been appointed to head the Albanian police… TIRANA - Besnik Bregu has been appointed head of the Albanian police, while Shkelqim Ramadani has taken over an important position in the Criminal Police. The much-discussed Sokol Bare has been moved to a Ministry position, pending a new appointment. Late in the evening, Nano signed the appointment of Ilir Çano as Teta’s deputy. Meanwhile, many structural changes are expected at the Ministry of Public Order, including changes to the executive structure of its directors. Finally, Bare has officially been removed, after having been suspended from the post since Ceka’s departure. On page 4

SHKODËR NEWSPAPER Traffic police target 900 cars SHKODËR - Irregular documents are grounding state and private vehicles in Shkodër. For a week now, throughout the northern prefecture comprising Shkodër, Pukë and Malësia e Madhe, vehicles on the road have been subject to checks by the traffic police and the Insigut. Cars without valid insurance, drivers’ licenses, vehicle registration booklets, or with technical defects are impounded and parked on the grounds of the city police station. On page 6

VLORË - “Crime is striking here in Vlorë,” but the police are not in the best position to deal with it. VLORË NEWSPAPER Crime in Vlorë: Memushi speaks VLORË - “Crime is striking here in Vlorë,” but the police are not in the best position to deal with it: “professionalism is lacking, and the means to fight it are insufficient to cope with it.” The Director of the Vlorë Police says that the laws are also unfavorable in the fight against illegal migrants and human trafficking. Murders have increased in the city center as well as in the surrounding towns. On page 7

DURRËS NEWSPAPER The Italians and six months in the city DURRËS - The Italians are extending their stay on the Albanian coast. Thus, patrols of the Adriatic coast by the “Guardia di Finanza” and our naval forces will continue for six months. According to General Simone, additional vessels will arrive to help fight smuggling and the trafficking of illegal migrants in Albania. On page 8

LOS ANGELES - Goodbye, Frank! The legend of American music died in the early hours of Friday, his tombstone marking his age as 82. Millions of fans followed Sinatra throughout his career. His heart had been struggling since January of this year, when he was admitted to the intensive care unit at Cedars-Sinai Hospital. Sixty years of career, not only on stage, but also on celluloid and in films. Frank Sinatra recorded more than 100 albums. Among his songs, “My Way,” “Strangers in the Night,” “New York, New York,” and “The Lady Is a Tramp” will remain immortal. Francis Albert Sinatra, whom his fans nicknamed “Old Blue Eyes,” was born on December 12, 1915, in New Jersey to Italian immigrant parents. Sinatra married four times. Among his former wives were the famous actresses Ava Gardner and Mia Farrow. ali.li Frank Sinatra and Gina Lollobrigida

Rugova and Milošević shake hands (Photo: ANSA)