PARLIAMENT APPROVES TAX FORGIVENESS FOR BUSINESSES, CAPITAL LEGALIZED 67 votes “for”, opposition votes against. Under the new law, tax and customs debtors and those with unpaid vehicle obligations will benefit PARLIAMENT APPROVES TAX FORGIVENESS FOR BUSINESSES, CAPITAL LEGALIZED THE AMNESTY RETURNS Fines and debts to the state are forgiven 67 votes “for”, opposition votes against. Under the new law, tax and customs debtors and those with unpaid vehicle obligations will benefit By LORENC RABETA During yesterday’s extraordinary session, Parliament approved with 67 votes in favor the extension of the tax amnesty’s effect until the end of this year. In this way, under article 34 of Law no. 10418 dated 21.04.2011, “On the Legalization of Capital and the Forgiveness of a Portion of Tax and Customs Debt,” the date 31 December 2011 becomes 31 December 2013. However, the proposal by the right for a full amnesty, which would have included not only the forgiveness of fines but also the legalization of assets and capital, did not gain the opposition’s consensus. As in April 2011, when the law for broad tax forgiveness was first introduced, the opposition refused to vote for it, and during yesterday’s session argued that it is an electoral law. The tax amnesty came into force in May 2011, initially scheduled to end at the end of this year. Seeing the poor results achieved during 2011, the government decided to extend it for another three months, ... Continues on page 10

Dossier / The former ambassador recounts By FATOS VELIU On pages 16-17

The Albanian triumphs in the music show On page 18

Opinion of the Day By DRITAN HILA Listen son’ — Podesta begins the conversation with Moor, addressing him in a paternal tone — “I know you are concerned about the local situation and the relations... Moore and Podesta, behind the scenes Continues on page 20

Opinion of the Day By KIÇO BLUSHI At a rally in Peqin, our prime minister, all fired up, uttered some mocking words, in his well-known style and humor: beforehand... The nonsense that clarifies the “civil administration” Continues on page 21

PD-PS, consensus in Parliament. Patozi: Thank you, Meta (In photo:) PS MP Vasilika Hysi during yesterday’s parliamentary session, which marked the closing of the 2009-2013 legislature Interview / Luan Rama: The winning coalition, the prime minister will be determined by the vote of 23 June. Independent candidacies Malaj-Prifti? Their choice, no comment Parliament, convened in an extraordinary plenary session, yesterday approved by consensus three laws requested by the European Union for granting candidate-country status. The Brussels package, which secured 100 votes in favor and none against, was accompanied by a provision according to which the laws enter into force on 1 October 2013, ... On pages 2-4

Ruling On page 9

Interview On page 8

Durrës On page 15

Former director against Minister Kosova On page 13