A rare act in Albanian politics - The Prime Minister makes peace with the mayor of Tirana The Mayor of Tirana: This is an act of civic responsibility Page 3

Alarm among the city’s local officials F 2

Sarandë, traffickers move a ship of cigarettes F 15

The latest developments within the PD have once again brought to the fore the issue of the existence of factions within the party. Starting from the fact that a faction is a sign of emancipation and shows that there is internal democracy in the party, a good part of the party leadership, including close collaborators of leader Berisha such as Arbnori, Shehu, Vejsiu and perhaps others, have stated unequivocally in favor of the coexistence within the party of groups made up of individuals who “think differently,” thus ignoring the fact that the undisputed leader of the PD does not accept such ideas and positions. But in recent times, as preparations for the upcoming PD congress are in their final phase, the banner of faction has been most vigorously waved by supporters of the “Lëvizja Reformiste” as well as by most of the PD branches in the south of the country. It is precisely this part of the party that sees the existence of factions within the party as one of the most effective means of introducing a democratic spirit, freeing the PD from the chains of Berisha’s authoritarianism. Not by chance, one of the protagonists of the “Lëvizja Reformiste” stated: “we seek to build a democratic party with or without Berisha.” Based on such statements, and also on the current activity of the “reformists,” one gets the impression that, unlike other “troublemakers,” they have decided not to leave the party. Nevertheless, the fact that they are willing to hold another congress does not signal anything other than a final divorce from the PD and once again the creation of a new party. Something similar happened with the party “Lëvizja e Legalitetit” a few years ago or with the “Democratic Prosperity” of Albanians in Macedonia. This is one side of the paradox. The other side is Berisha’s insistence on opposing the existence of “two lines” within the party. Such a position is inexplicable if one considers the fact that, while in the ranks of the “Lëvizja Reformiste” there is no “heavyweight” figure, except for the exiled Selami, none of the prominent names of the PD prefers to enter into a duel with Berisha. Specifically, all of them have stated categorically that they will not be alternative candidates against Berisha. In both cases, the inability of different currents within a party to coexist becomes evident. It is understood that coexistence among different political forces is even more difficult. G.LEVONJA

Albert Brojka, the Democratic Mayor of Tirana Photo A.BABANI Albert Brojka, the Democratic Mayor of Tirana. Photo A.BABANI

Yesterday a frightening journey, from the Greek islands to the Albanian mountains Aircraft failure on the Athens- Thessaloniki- Tirana route. The lives of dozens of passengers are miraculously saved Aircraft failure on the Athens- Thessaloniki- Tirana route. The lives of dozens of passengers are miraculously saved By NIKOLLË LESI TIRANE - We have seen the chilling stories of planes that crashed and were then covered by endless mysteries in films or television reports. And in every case there has been talk of the dead, of human lives, of someone lost, of someone mangled and burned by the plane’s flames. Yet to experience the brink of death yourself is a completely different kind of terror. F 2

Police crackdown against illegal trafficking in the South F 13

They had taken off their uniforms and joined Berisha F 6

Prodi meets Meidani, Nano phones from Tirana F 3

Berisha prepares the capital’s active membership F 5

RESUMES The new season of TELEBINGO Read on page 7