PS: Running in the elections with the Forum for Democracy. The opposition is against it. Fino: I am not running in any constituency Page 5 The President visits Shkodër wearing a bulletproof vest. We will collect your weapons after the elections. Hajdari will run in Vlorë

Italian Prime Minister Prodi is coming to Albania while the reverberations of the “Foresti” scandal have yet to die down. Considering the uproar being made abroad, first and foremost in Italy, it seems that there will be consequences for its protégé, Berisha, too. The Italian ambassador’s one-sided stance in our country has put the government led by Romano Prodi in a difficult position. Foresti’s pro-Berisha activities are very likely to be exploited by other parties in Italy, including possibly a coalition party such as “Rifondazione Comunista” and the Greens. They were the ones who opposed sending armed forces to Italy, because of suspicions about the assistance they might provide to Berisha. But the Italian government under Prodi is in an even more difficult position with its European allies, first and foremost with the USA. In the West, all the signs now indicate that Berisha enjoys no sympathy whatsoever and has been “given his ticket” to leave. Fino’s invitation to Holland for the celebrations marking the anniversary of the “Marshall” Plan means something in this regard. Indeed, there are interpretations according to which the USA, having learned of Foresti’s activities in support of Berisha and given its relations with the latter, appears to be angry with Italy. The protocols signed in Rome at the beginning of the week are also viewed in this context; various circles regard them as the beginning of a US campaign against Italy. In any case, the multinational mission in Albania led by Italy is now being discussed with skepticism. The criticisms themselves over the fact that the multinational force should have been under a single flag, that of Europe, are an open allusion against Italy. At a symposium of the BEP (the armed wing of the EU), it was openly stated that the states participating in the operation in Albania are looking after their own interests more than anything else. So now, in order for Italy to save its prestige in the eyes of its Western allies, Foresti’s quiet departure from Albania alone is far from enough. Italy, for its part, must offer highly convincing proof that it has no preference for Berisha. The invitation extended to socialist leader Nano, who undertook a round of meetings there with Italian politicians from across the political spectrum, is just one of the pieces of evidence meant to show that Berisha does not hold any special place in Italian politics; but Nano may also have discussed the problems of the “post-Berisha” period in Italy. Today’s visit by Prime Minister Prodi is also undoubtedly intended to give a positive impetus to political developments in Albania. It would not be surprising if, while explaining the difficulties facing the Italian side, the Italian Prime Minister, treating Berisha as Foresti’s accomplice, were to ask him to make concessions toward the opposition; for example, to help remove the extraordinary state of emergency. This is above all to prevent any negative fallout from the “Foresti” scandal in the eyes of Italy’s allies, something that also affects the future of Italy’s role in Albania. Alongside the talk here and there that Italy should enter Albania under a single flag—in other words, amid talk in Europe—the US Secretary of State, Albright, has also made a statement about bringing NATO troops to Albania to train Albanian soldiers in maintaining order. Meanwhile, the allies disregarded Italy’s objections to the appointment of the Spaniard Westendorp as the EU representative in Bosnia. GAVROSH LEVONJA

Prodi and Fino at a press conference during the previous visit Photo: G.Shkullaku Prodi and Fino at a press conference during the previous visit. Photo: G.Shkullaku

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