On 11 May 1991, the first issue of the independent newspaper “Koha jonë” was published. Initially created as a local newspaper for the district of Lezhë, “Koha jonë” soon crossed the borders of its birthplace to become the largest independent newspaper in Albania. The four-year history of this newspaper is full of events and vicissitudes that influenced its development and the growth of its authority nationwide. Its consistently critical stance and increasingly informative character have been the foundation of the newspaper’s success. Destined to serve the truth at a time when freedom of information was severely lacking, “Koha jonë” went through difficult moments in the early days of the Berisha regime. Today, looking back, the authorities’ all-out assault on “Koha jonë” seems utterly absurd and unjustifiable. More than 38 inspections by Blerim Çela, the prosecution, the investigative police, the National and Agricultural Banks, the Ministry of Defence, etc., sought by any means to shut down the first independent newspaper, which had also been critical of Ramiz Alia’s government from 11 May ’91 to 22 March ’92. The failure to shut it down further infuriated the factions representing vengeance and ignorance within the democratic government. At the end of 1992, Blerim Çela called for the imprisonment of director Nikollë Lesi, but after a court hearing, the state’s chief inspector brazenly withdrew the false accusation himself. At the beginning of 1993, Safet Zhulali called for the arrest of the editor-in-chief over a false news report that had caused panic. The arrest was carried out by prosecutor Arben Qeleshi, and after a month, in the courtroom, it was the prosecutor himself who withdrew the charge, acquitting the editor-in-chief. But Zhulali and Dragoshi would not accept this and appealed, adding a charge of revealing state secrets and once again seeking the editor-in-chief’s imprisonment. The court could find no way to grant the state representatives’ wish and once again dismissed the unfounded charge. Meanwhile, “Koha jonë” continued to grow despite the difficulties. Having started as a weekly newspaper, at the beginning of 1994 “Koha jonë” became a daily, broadening the range of information it covered and meeting readers’ strong demand for the newspaper. Although President Berisha had proposed a law on human rights and freedoms, which enshrined freedom of expression and information, the attack on freedom of speech did not stop. Just 20 days after “Koha jonë” became a daily, Safet Zhulali once again embarked on an attempt to imprison journalists. Arben Qeleshi’s signature was again not withheld from the orders to handcuff the editor-in-chief and journalist Martin Leka. This time, the absurd and unlawful charge took three months to be dismissed. The Tirana Court and the Court of Appeal (Prel Martini), being servile to the government, unjustly left the newspaper’s staff in handcuffs. It was the Court of Cassation that once again exposed the injustice, vengeance and unprincipled assault by the state against “Koha jonë” when it acquitted the two imprisoned members of the newspaper. After the handcuffs, another battle was opened against the press: the battle over taxes and duties, which the press has still not won against the current state. Nevertheless, today “Koha jonë”, thanks to the perseverance and ongoing work of its staff, enjoys the respect of thousands of readers at home and abroad. The achievements to date encourage the staff of “Koha jonë”, on this 4th anniversary, to promise higher professional quality in the future, so that it will always remain the most beloved and interesting newspaper for Albanian readers. ALEKSANDËR FRANGAJ

With this law, PD sabotages its preferred alliances Strong reactions from the right over the draft law on the sale of land page 3

— Senior SHIK officials will testify in the trial Shkodër — Espionage trial in favor of the UDB page 2

— People who come to wash away sins and others who come to commit sins The Ardenica Monastery accuses the state page 2

Real Zaragoza wins the Cup Winners’ Cup Last night, on 10 May, at 20:15 at the “Parc de Prince” in Paris, France, the 35th Cup Winners’ Cup final was played between Arsenal of London and Real Zaragoza. Around 50 thousand spectators were present in the stadium. The great final began with the Englishman Pietro Cekarini officiating the match. In the 3rd minute, the Englishman Rajd [text in the image partly illegible] The best striker of the Arsenal team and the Cup Winners’ Cup’s top scorer, Rajd, scored from inside the area and equalized the score at 1-1. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. In the 9th minute of the 95th minute—that is, in the 5th minute of the first period of extra time—Aragon headed the ball; the English goalkeeper Seaman saved it, but the ball slipped from his hands, hit the post and came back into his hands. Zaragoza was therefore close to a second goal. The second period of extra time followed much the same pattern. But in the very last minute of extra time and of the entire match, in the 120th minute, the most unbelievable event of this final took place. From a distance of around 45 metres, Real Zaragoza player Muhamad Al Nayim, of Arab origin, struck a looping shot and made perfect use of the English goalkeeper Seaman’s poor positioning to score Real Zaragoza’s second goal. With this 2-1 victory, Real Zaragoza won the Cup Winners’ Cup trophy. Esnaider and Aragon after scoring the winning second goal … UEFA after defeating Spanish side Valencia in the final. ARIATIK DOSTI