Interpellation of Defense Minister Shaqir Vukaj shocks Parliament. PD deputies leave the chamber Minister: “The PD wanted a North–South war as well as the bombing of the Mifol Bridge” Page 3 Interpellation of Defense Minister Shaqir Vukaj shocks Parliament. PD deputies leave the chamber How the PD armed itself Minister: “The PD wanted a North–South war as well as the bombing of the Mifol Bridge” Page 3

The propaganda spread through that part of the media which is still under Berisha’s command, ever since the first day of the start of the pyramid-scheme revolt, has only the south in its sights. In this anti-south propaganda campaign, in which Berisha is also aided by the handful of politicians who follow him blindly, much is made of the committees in the southern towns, labeled “the armed wing of the PS,” of the “gangs of former Sigurimi agents” who are wreaking havoc, of the deliberate paralysis of local government, and of efforts to create “executive committees,” etc. But news coming from other parts of Albania shows that the situation there is hardly enviable either. Shkodra, Burrel, and also Tropoja and Kukës have throughout this period been at the center of attention because of the activities of armed gangs that have terrorized local citizens. It would be hard for anyone to believe that the “rebels” of the Gjirokastër rescue committee looted and destroyed the banks in the city of Shkodra with tanks, or that “bandits” from Vlora went to Tropoja or Kukës to wrench the doors and windows from the buildings of state institutions there. No one can accept that someone from Përmet or Tepelenë went to Burrel to carry out a massacre. So it is not only the south, but all of Albania that has been swept up in this wave of absurd destruction, and we know how and why it began. For better or worse, Albanians seem united, and this has happened more than once in our history. Why this bias on the part of Berisha and his media? It doesn’t take much thought to explain this differentiation. First, Berisha’s favorite weapon is division. He has distinguished himself by dividing opposition parties, his own party, and even insignificant associations, all for his own interests. Second—and this is the main point—the south, above all Vlora, as the part of the country hardest hit by the pyramid schemes, was the first to launch mass protests against Berisha’s regime, which later turned into a revolt because of his misguided methods and course of action. But Berisha, afraid that the revolt might spread elsewhere, tried to isolate and suppress it more easily by creating the impression that it was a localized phenomenon, characteristic only of some southern towns and instigated by his political opponents, while not forgetting to add his favorite argument, “the former Sigurimi.” On the other hand, bearing in mind that the pyramid-scheme epidemic had affected the whole population, north and south, he knew clearly that soldiers or police officers—who had also lost money in the schemes—would never raise their hands against people who had suffered the same misfortune. So he floated the idea of a southern march on Tirana, suggesting that revenge by the former communists and others would wreak havoc on northerners, whom he supposedly represented. Also, faced with his inability to leave the presidency and compete on the ground, in the “sensitive” areas, Berisha began to run on a different playing field, one that did not want him and where two thirds were against his rivals. But if this were true, the energetic and impulsive Berisha would not hesitate to go to some northern town, even to his own Tropoja. So the North–South conflict is merely a figment of Berisha’s imagination; for his own purposes, he does not stop even at dividing the country or the nation. Historically, for better or worse, north and south have been a single whole. If there is talk of a conflict at present, it exists between Albanians and Berisha. That is why he has removed visits from his protocol, feels unsafe, and the only place where he can remain at ease is the offices of General Forlani’s headquarters. G.L.

Austrian forces prepare to come to Albania Photo Reuters Austrian forces prepare to come to Albania — Photo Reuters

Investigation into police funds Page 9