OSCE Troika: These elections are acceptable. Fino meets with Prodi. Today, with Clinton. Mejdani: Yes, I will be President of the Albanians Page 3

This time could be called a time of social and political polarization. Between two people, one is very optimistic about what has happened, while the other does not speak pessimistically. The common ground between the optimist and the pessimist can be found only by calling this time very delicate, as changeable as glass. The feeling that should unite us as much as possible is that we must now be attentive, more attentive than ever. If this time is shattered in our hands, we will lose far more than we have already lost. But if we preserve the “glass” of the present, we will be able to strengthen society and the state. The man who has fallen from the throne is making his last attempts to delay time and, in the meantime, organize some other mischief. Meanwhile, the government does not have enough powers to deal with the important matters. The nights and days in Albania’s cities are frightened by the crack of gunfire, while the streets are increasingly under the control of armed civilians who dispense “justice” with Kalashnikovs. The number of dead and wounded is very high. The money collected from young people for the pyramid schemes hangs like a mine in the air between the victors and the losers. Peace is the most sought-after “medicine” for all the people traumatized during the war. Meanwhile, the parliamentary elections were held only within the parameters of what was acceptable as the lesser evil. And yet, here we are. If we make the most careless move, we could now shatter our shared home. This is not at all about conformist coexistence, but about human care. We are emerging from an excessively prolonged infancy; by now, we should be a mature state. Many people, breathing freely, say that the day of goodness has come; others say there is [?] reason not to rejoice too soon. Although both sides have more right on their side, I would like to stand with the former, in order to support the good that is happening. The responsibilities of those who hold in their hands the formation of the new government and the responsibility for governing are balanced on glass. First of all, they must do everything useful, even the impossible, to convene parliament as soon as possible, form the government, and restore normal life. But in this process, the step of formation is the step most fraught with both misfortune and good fortune. That government which claimed it existed can never be excluded, but in the meantime we must not compare ourselves with that evil. The future government must serve the people, just as the state itself must assist the individual. Today’s citizen finds themself between a bad experience and a good hope. But citizens absolutely need to see the normal face of the minister, the prime minister, the President, the policeman, the tax collector, the customs officer, and the ordinary neighbor. The state is not up in the air; the state is all of us, government and opposition alike. The state is never absent from us; if we make it good, we will love it forever. This is a decisive time for everyone.

SOCIALIST PARTY 1 - President of the Republic of Albania, Rexhep Mejdani 2 - Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Fatos Nano 3 - Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers, Bashkim Fino 4 - Minister of Finance, Arben Malaj DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE PARTY 5 - Minister of the Interior, Neritan Ceka 6 - Minister for Institutional Reforms, Arben Imami 7 - State Secretary for Defence, Perikli Teta SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY 8 - Speaker of the People’s Assembly, Skënder Gjinushi 9 - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paskal Milo UNION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS PARTY 10 - One minister. The Ministry of Culture has been offered to it. SHEHU? The three important ministries—Defence, Interior and Foreign Affairs—will each have a State Secretary. In the second round of talks, the leaders of the coalition that won the 29 June elections will discuss deputy ministers and department directors. Clint(on), Shirak, Kohl and Prodi at yesterday’s sessions of the NATO summit in Madrid. Photo Reuters Clint(on), Shirak, Kohl and Prodi at yesterday’s sessions of the NATO summit in Madrid. Photo Reuters

The programs of radio “KOHA” have reached a record number of listeners for an Albanian radio station. According to the surveys conducted so far, the program “Alol Radio “KOHA” has the largest audience, with over 1 million listeners.

The transport agency for the newspaper “Koha Jonë” has fallen prey to southern gangs during the campaign days and especially after 29 June. Armed civilians have forcibly taken 6 vehicles belonging to the newspaper “Koha Jonë”, which were transporting newspapers around Albania. For more than three days, gangs have also been threatening the newspaper’s drivers, preventing the paper from reaching the cities of Sarandë, Delvinë, Gjirokastër, Përmet, Tepelenë and Ballsh, and for several days, Vlorë. Material damages at the “KJ” newspaper transport agency have reached 5.5 million new lekë. Likewise, yesterday armed individuals blocked the newspaper in the city of Fier. Meanwhile, the police authorities have made no attempt to apprehend these gangs. THE EDITORIAL OFFICE

Live program “Alol Radio “KOHA”: Who is the best candidate for Minister of the Interior? Call 287 96, 287 81 and 29551. Live program “Alol Radio “KOHA”: Who is the best candidate for Minister of the Interior? Call 287 96, 287 81 and 29551.