VEHBI ALIMUÇA WAS SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON, ARRESTED IN APRIL 1998 Vehbi Alimuçaj has quietly left prison and appears at the embassy. U.S. visa refused: There is an ongoing court case pending in Strasbourg By ELIRA ÇANGA The former head of the pyramid scheme company “Vefa Holding”, Vehbi Alimuçaj, is attempting to “flee” to the USA, but the American embassy refuses him a visa. Everything happened only a few days ago, as the former boss of one of the schemes that profited from Albanians’ savings tried to obtain a visa to go to the United States of America, a few months after leaving prison, away from media and public attention. Dressed casually and looking calm, Alimuçaj, accompanied by his wife, appeared on Tuesday at the embassy counters, in search of... Continues on pages 2-3

Opinion of the Day By ILIR DHIMA It took several days to understand that the letter the Commissioner for Enlargement of the European Union, Stefan Fyle, sent... Another letter without an answer Continues on page 21

FOR THE FIRST TIME PHOTOS/ The boss of “Sacra Corona Unita” in court (In photo:) Albino Prudentino yesterday in the Vlora court For the first time, the boss of ‘Sacra Corona Unita’ is photographed in court. The hearing is postponed until Monday. The defense asks for the lifting of the seizure on the assets, the court’s decision is awaited Albino Prudentino: I would like to change lawyer, he was chosen by my family, by Mauricio’s son. Let the hearing be postponed again, the lawyer needs to get acquainted with the case file On page 8

The village is divided/ Victims’ relatives want a memorial Father of the 21-year-old who died in the tragedy: They want to kill us, let him come. People left, they do not return anymore The relatives of the Gërdec victims do not agree with Prime Minister Berisha on building a sports ground at the site where the tragedy occurred. Twenty-four hours after Berisha’s statement, made on Thursday in Marqinet, on the occasion of the inauguration of a road segment there, they say that with this “statement” the prime minister showed himself to be cynical toward their pain. While the relatives of the Gërdec victims are harsh in their position, the other residents of this area welcome such a decision. According to them, a sports ground could bring development to their area ... On page 4

DELIJORGJI LOSES 2 THOUSAND EUROS FROM PRISON FOR THE ALBANIA-BOSNIA MATCH Supplement

Yesterday in “Christian Science Monitor” By STUART GOTTLIEB* One of the defining aspects of the Obama administration’s counterterrorism strategy has been the effort to change the rhetorical approach... Elections, Obama softens his language Continues on page 20

PD ALSO ON THE LIST On page 5

OIL SMUGGLING On page 7

THE WORK IS PROMOTED On pages 18-19