EXCLUSIVE / DOCUMENT OF THE PRESTIGIOUS MAGAZINE ‘THE ECONOMIST’: THE COUNTRY IS STEPPING BACKWARDS IN DEMOCRACY Analysis by international experts: You are among 36 countries in deterioration. You have hybrid democracy. Since 2008 Albania has fallen 4 places. Civil Forum: Parliament, a fictitious institution, an appendage of the PD REPORT: ALBANIA WORSE THAN BANGLADESH Analysis by international experts: You are among 36 countries in deterioration. You have hybrid democracy. Since 2008 Albania has fallen 4 places. Civil Forum: Parliament, a fictitious institution, an appendage of the PD By GENC KONDI In Albania, democracy is in retreat. This is the main conclusion of the analysis by the Intelligence Unit of the prestigious British economic magazine “The Economist” (EIU). This, at least since 2008, when this Unit carried out its last analysis in nearly 170 countries around the world on issues related to the functioning of the rule of law, political parties, government, civil rights, etc. REPORT According to the EIU assessment, our country is in... Continues on pages 2-4

Opinion of the Day Twenty years ago, political pluralism was restored in Albania. In a minor, reference democracy model (the years 1920-23), the rest... Opinion of the Day By AFRIM KRASNIQI Twenty years ago, political pluralism was restored in Albania. In a minor, reference democracy model (the years 1920- 23), the rest... Missing pluralism Continues on page 21

At the Emergency Committee, where the concerns of the flooded are gathered The floods, a bride leaves by helicopter for her wedding In the photo: A helicopter taking off to help the flooded areas (right) The entrance to the city of Shkodër Citizens make different requests: from black salt for preserving pasterma meat, to cheese rennet because of the large production of cow’s milk Yesterday the memorandum for the deepening of the Buna with Montenegro was signed. Mid-term projects are being implemented. On the 15th day of the floods, around 200 citizens go to hospitals because of the cold On pages 12-13

The debate on the standard, the conference begins today The standard of the Albanian language was not established under the communist diktat, revision does not mean democracy Agolli, Xhufi, Puto, and the intellectuals: Revising the Albanian, not democracy The standard of the Albanian language was not established under the communist diktat, revision does not mean democracy By FATMIRA NIKOLLI They are the best-known names in the field of linguistics, who have come out against holding the conference and discussing the standard of the Albanian language. The arguments are several, the idea is one and all the names listed below defend it: Today they are sending for publication a clarification for the public opinion, explaining according to them the reasons why the standard is not a communist product and should not be tampered with, and this because they say that tomorrow a closed conference for specialists and interested parties begins to be held. — Continues on pages 26-27

He suffered a heart attack during the meeting with Clinton RICHARD HOLBROOKE DIES, ACCOUNTS OF THE NEGOTIATIONS IN TIRANA AND PRISHTINA By REXHEP MEIDANI, KASTRIOT ISLAMI, AGIM NESHO On pages 8-9

Yesterday in “Financial Times” Richard Pipes, the distinguished American historian and staunch anti-communist, told a large group of Russian journalists this weekend that... Yesterday in “Financial Times” By JAMES ROBERTSON Richard Pipes, the distinguished American historian and staunch anti-communist, told a large group of Russian journalists this weekend that... The Russians, a long road toward democracy Continues on page 28

INTERVIEW WITH THE MP Incident, Albana Vokshi: A Kosovar police officer threatened me with death On page 6

20th anniversary of the party PD celebration, Berisha avoids Ed Selami, PS absent On page 7

“High school students” New rule: No headscarves and crosses in high schools On pages 17-21