“The owners knew where I worked and that I would pay them back” PART II / THE ACCOUNT OF THE MAIN ACCUSED IN THE THEFT FROM THE BANK OF ALBANIA • Testimony: M. knew me well, he did not pressure me about the money I still owed him • Prosecutors: From the investigation, Ardian Bitraj lost only 300 thousand euros in gambling By KLODIANA LALA Ardian Bitraj, former head of the Stock Cash Office, has pointed the finger at several gambling venues and casinos, where he claims to have lost the 713 million stolen from the State Treasury in Linzë. In his testimony, he states that in a Continues on page 4 (In the photo:) The building of the Treasury of the Bank of Albania. Ardian Bitraj, former head of the Stock Cash Office

Today’s Opinion By MIMOZA KOÇIU A year and a half ago, her daily pace began to slow down. From an energetic, super-active person, she did everything reluctantly, ... Continues on page 18 The empty vanity of the ice-cold bucket

Today’s Opinion By PETRIT HALITI It is not very clear why German diplomacy called, on 22 August in Berlin, for a meeting with its Foreign Minister, Frank-Walter... Continues on page 19 Albania and Serbia, in a race to win Germany

CLARIFICATION On page 5

RINAS-TIRANË On page 3

On pages 2-3

CULTURAL TOURISM On pages 10-11

The fees that must be paid and their duration; those who come from the employment offices attend for free Public Vocational Training Directorate No. 1, fields from auto-electrics to hairdressing and aesthetics By OLA MITRE A vocational course, lasting no more than 4 months, may be the solution to finding a job. The Ministry of Social Welfare and Youth has declared education and vocational training one of its priorities, while increasingly stressing the need that the Albanian labor market has for trades such as mechanic, technician or electrician. For this reason, “Gazeta Shqiptare” today publishes in full all the vocational training courses offered by the Public Vocational Training Directorate No. 1 in Tirana. Also, to help those interested, “GSH” publishes the corresponding fees for each course as well as their duration. What stands out is their low cost, On pages 8-9

BY EDMOND PETRAJ On page 22

ENEDA TARIFA: I AM TELLING YOU THE TRUTH ABOUT THE NEWS OF MY DEPARTURE FROM “PORTOKALLI” “Summer pages”