Gang warfare in Vlorë, 7 arrested. The Kardhiq bridge blown up. Masked men again in Tepelenë... Page 9

. In the south of the country, events have once again returned that remind us of the situation at least three months ago. While the state has begun to get back on its feet and establish order, shocking events with serious consequences have once again shaken things up, frighteningly so, making us think that crime is still among us, that the “era” that made us the best-known people in the world for seven months cannot be overcome so easily. Attacks against state institutions, attacks against people in power, attacks against vital facilities, gang warfare and, as a result, damage and casualties. But there is at least one difference. This time the state—that is, the police—has not gone to the scene simply to count the victims, but has also made arrests. Thus, for the first time since the elections, the Ministry of the Interior has been forced to send convoys of special forces to assist police stations in the South. “Primitive revenge by criminals who are afraid of the establishment of order”—this is how Interior Minister Neritan Ceka has assessed the recent events in several southern towns. And this is true, since criminals will always be the police’s opposition. While everyone thought that the state and law and order were now growing stronger, the news coming from the southern region seems frightening. That “era” seemed to have been overcome and we were all perhaps thinking of taking a step forward, leaving behind the war between political gangs that also brought civil conflicts. After the police operation in Vlorë, the arrest of a large number of wanted and criminally implicated people, including most recently the capture of Zani, the boss of the “most rebellious” neighbourhood, and the reopening of all national roads that had been blocked by robber gangs, many things seemed to be moving in the right direction. But apparently it is not so simple. The last two days have made the past months seem very close. In Sarandë, the police station was attacked with an antitank weapon; in Gjirokastër, the home of the head of local government was blown up; also in Gjirokastër, the “Famshe” bridge at Kardhiq, which connects Tepelenë with Gjirokastër, was blown up, marking its fifth act of resistance to explosives. In Vlorë, battles between gangs have broken out again, and there have been casualties. It is the same “language” of “communication,” the same targets, but the players are unknown. For the first time since the elections—after the operation to bring Vlorë under control—the Ministry of the Interior has been forced to use armoured vehicles in its operations and send convoys of special forces from Tirana to bring the situation in these towns under control. Investigations into these serious acts have begun, but it is not known whether they really are ordinary crimes, as Minister Ceka describes them. MENTOR KIKIA

Another press conference by opposition leader Berisha P. 3

Representatives of the Patriarchate of Istanbul in Tirana P. 5

Ramiz Alia also acquitted P. 2 Police report deputy over illegal rallies Hajdari from hospital to prosecutor’s office P. 7 Law-and-order chiefs gather in northern city Shkodra, hub of international trafficking P. 11

Deputy Prime Minister Fino, rumored to be involved in smuggling, responds Smuggling in the government? I don’t know. I’d vouch for myself and Nano with my life. One of the special forces members during an operation in Vlorë Photo Reuters Deputy Prime Minister Fino is clean and is rich because he is rich in spirit. I am also very well aware that I do not engage in smuggling, so well aware that I never read the articles that put me in the spotlight on this subject. One of the special forces members during an operation in Vlorë. Photo Reuters