LOBBYING/ “SO FAR WE HAVE NOT ASKED FOR ANY SERVICE. WITH RAMA THEY SPOKE IN PRINCIPLE” Prime Minister’s Office: We did not sign a contract LOBBYING/ “SO FAR WE HAVE NOT ASKED FOR ANY SERVICE. WITH RAMA THEY SPOKE IN PRINCIPLE” “NOT A SINGLE CENT TO BLAIR” Prime Minister’s Office: We did not sign a contract Former British prime minister: I will be paid by foreign donors. The Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Finance respond to “GSH”’s inquiry: He has not asked to lobby for free By TEDI BLUSHI The Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Finance officially clarified yesterday to “Gazeta Shqiptare” that no contract has been signed with the former British prime minister, Tony Blair. In the answers to the five questions that “GSH” addressed a few weeks earlier to the head of the executive, Edi Rama, and the finance chief, Shkëlqim Cani, it is made known that so far Blair has not been paid a single cent by the Albanian government and that he himself has not carried out any requested service. “GSH” formally addressed Rama and Cani regarding the former British prime minister’s role as an adviser to the Albanian government after doubts raised by local and foreign media, as well as by the Albanian opposition, according to which the service Tony Blair would offer official Tirana would cost the Albanian state budget dearly. The answers to the five questions addressed to the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Finance are published in full today. Continues on page 7

Opinion of the Day By BEN ANDONI We should say right from the outset that Albania, even if it gets candidate country status, will still be very far from the road to EU membership... The real “disappointment” begins after the status, if... Continues on page 20

Opinion of the Day By ALFRED CAKO At a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, the draft resolution on Albania as an EU candidate country was discussed, drafted... EU, chemical weapons and the USA Continues on page 21

Former minister: Political project? Interpretations and claims Genc Ruli, “rebuttal” with Mesila Doda: We did not abandon Koli, there was no war in the PD (In photo:) Former ministers Genc Ruli and Sokol Olldashi. MP Mesila Doda at the funeral of Sokol Olldashi Sokol Olldashi’s accident, the PD MP in Parliament: You are the ones who left him alone and smeared him. Igli Cara: Koli wanted a remaking of politics, they should apologize to him By VALENTINA MADANI Mesila Doda declared that in terms of lifestyle they should apologize to Koli.” But Genc Ruli does not think so.... On page 5

THE MAYOR IS ABSENT FROM THE OFFICIAL LUNCH “ICE” FOR THE 101ST ANNIVERSARY, RAMA AVOIDS THE MEETING WITH SHPETIM GJIKA IN VLORA On page 3

GUARDS IN JAIL, FAMILIES IN PROTEST GUARDS IN JAIL, FAMILIES IN PROTEST Former security chief: Unauthorized items were brought into Drenovë On pages 8-9

FULL LIST 360 pharmacists who enter the State Exam On page 11

CIVIL SERVICE Draft revealed: The government can appoint people to jobs even without a competition On page 6

VIDEO SCANDAL Court secretary: They pressured us, there is no corruption On page 10

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