The two main Albanian banks, the National Bank and the Commercial Bank, have been working under the terror of arrests for two days, following the sudden arrest of the Commercial Bank director Adrian Xhyheri and the equally sudden resignation of the governor of the Bank of Albania, Mir Hoti. Xhyheri, the second director of the Commercial Bank to face prosecution within a year, was arrested yesterday at noon, accused of embezzling large sums. His predecessor, Agron Saliu, was arrested exactly a year ago in connection with the case of the 1.6 million dollars issued without a warrant in favor of a Frenchman, who is thought to have been a beneficiary of Zhiskard Destent. The 1.6-million-dollar scandal, uncovered in January this year, appears to have claimed its third victims with Governor Ilir Hoti and Director Adrian Xhyheri. Last month, the former prime minister of the technical government, Vilson Ahmeti, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for his involvement in the Arsidi case. These days, the game of covering up the tracks has begun, and it seems that no one has played it worse than the Bank of Albania governor himself, Mir Hoti. People at the Bank of Albania describe the governor’s resignation as forced and stress that it would be strange for him to be arrested. The governor himself has refused to comment on his resignation, while his subordinates praised his political actions at the bank and his success in keeping inflation under control over the past year, thereby suggesting that Arsidi is now wrapping things up. Sources close to the offspring report that Adrian Xhyheri was involved in a government-related car accident on the night before his arrest, although the former director had no injuries, at least up until the moment of his arrest yesterday morning. His post is vacant, while, alongside the governor’s resignation, President Berisha announced that he was appointing Dylber Vrioni, a Democratic Party member of parliament, as acting governor-general of the Bank of Albania.

President Berisha proposes: PROPOSAL: On the establishment and dissolution of certain ministries, Article 16, point b President Berisha proposes: PROPOSAL: On the establishment and dissolution of certain ministries Article 16, point b To be dissolved 1. Ministry of Trade and Cooperation with Foreign Countries 2. Ministry of Economy and Finance 3. Ministry of Industry, Mineral Resources and Energy To be established 1. Ministry of Industry and Trade 2. Ministry of Finance 3. Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy. Note: These changes, too, show that the Meksi government under Berisha has still not found stability. Further changes were submitted to Parliament for approval yesterday. Three ministries are being dissolved and re-created. What is the benefit of these changes proposed by Berisha? No one knows for sure. It can be said that Artan Noxha is losing his post and that Ruli, after the recent turmoil involving the banks, has been left with only one leg to stand on—at Finance. Meanwhile, Albania is left without a Ministry of Economy. So far, Meksi and Blerim Cela are keeping their posts unchanged. It is not known whether the same will happen to them after some proposal from above.

- We fear for our lives as employees of this body because of this minister (Read on page 2)

(Read on page 3) At the port of Shëngjin you can find the cheapest cement to have entered the Albanian market. (Read on page 8)