Documents, names and behind-the-scenes dealings DOSSIER / A FOREIGNER UNCOVERS THE TERRIFYING NETWORK AND THE GREAT BALKAN DECEPTION On pages 12-13

On page 8 80 civilians executed by firing squad

Mirosh SAKO A long history spanning these 2,000 years between Albania and the Vatican. Throughout this history, both Catholicism and the Albanians have suffered the assimilative violence of Serbian ethnocentrism and the Serbian Orthodox faith. The most significant expression of the Vatican’s desire to coexist with the Albanians, regardless of the religion to which they belonged, is the Holy See’s interest in and commitment to the most prominent authorities of its own in Albania, to preserve the national identity and heritage of the Albanians and to convey the spirit of the National Religion to the people, even though Catholics were a minority compared with the rest of the population. The high level of tolerance meant that an entire secular intelligentsia, influential in Albania’s development, was educated in the schools of Shkodër. The Vatican’s support knew no divisions, regardless of the different positions taken by the Albanian state in its historical development. Even in the very recent days, this concern has been felt in resolving the spiritual problems and crises experienced by the Albanian nation on both sides of the border. It is every Albanian’s honour, on this occasion, to express gratitude to the Catholic clergy, who, with their historic tolerance, stand so close in their support of the new Albania. From the visits of Prime Minister Bufi, President Berisha and Medani, and dozens of Albanian figures. It is hard to imagine Pope John Paul II having received representatives from any other nation in such numbers as from Albania and Albanians living abroad. Majko’s visit, perhaps a coincidence, comes immediately after D’Alema’s historic visit. Here we must not forget Mother Teresa’s great concern that the Holy Father pray for Albania and the Albanians. During my public service at the Albanian Embassy in Rome, my position gave me the opportunity to meet frequently with Mother Teresa and many other Vatican authorities. Fate had it that I saw two senior officials, at different times, in their meetings with Pope John Paul II, and learned at close quarters how free of prejudice the Holy See was toward Albania. This tolerance is a profoundly humane lesson that Christianity offers Albania on the eve of its 2,000th anniversary. At the beginning of 1990, the Albanian Embassy in Rome established its first contacts with the Holy See. A first visit to the Vatican by the most senior representatives of the Albanian Embassy in Rome

Corruption in hospitals and tenders The “serious” practice of bribery began in 1991 and grew stronger in the following years. According to complaints made by [timëve?] through foreign and local associations, more than half of citizens working in the private sector admit that they have paid bribes, starting in the early years of democracy, when the laws had not yet been changed and the new laws had only just begun to function. Thirty-eight percent of those who have had [qeshje qytetare?] say they were forced to pay bribes to all the employees in this sector. On page 11

SECRET NEGOTIATIONS BY MAKS ÇIÇIKU REVEALED On page 6

HYDROPOWER PLANTS HAVE ONLY 10 YEARS LEFT On page 14

The editorial office of “Gazeta Shqiptare” apologizes to its readers in Kavajë, Lushnjë, Fier and Vlorë for the absence of the Specchio magazine on Saturday. We wish to clarify that the distribution agency “Albania Press” repeatedly and in breach of all contractual agreements decided not to distribute the magazine in precisely these cities, without providing any convincing explanation. We hope this will not happen with future issues.