Berisha is outside Albania; Hajdari: “There is no problem with attending the ceremony” Democrats: “Not taking part would make us responsible for the Otranto tragedy” Page 5

. Sunday’s news bulletins opened with a citizen committee’s call for the truth to be established about the Përmet massacre of 9 March this year. What had happened for television to place in its top list of reports the distant event in which 6 citizens were killed and dozens of others wounded? No one has been arrested; indeed, no prosecutor’s office has yet opened an investigative file into the latest confrontation between the military forces and the civilian population, before the agreement that paved the way for new elections in Albania. Therefore, the report that was broadcast was not news, let alone the top story of the day. The committee, meeting in the presence of two MPs from the area, called for criminal proceedings against Berisha, Zhulali, Gazid- Gazidede, Rama and the local authorities. Having become accustomed in recent years to this style of news ordering on RTVSH, the report seemed to herald an imminent wave of arrests. Should Berisha and those who may have caused what happened in Albania be tried or not? Should the trial be legal, historical or political? In a recent interview, US Congressman Eliot Engell stated: “We are putting strong pressure on Nano so that he cannot fall into a witch hunt. He must not go after political opponents and officials of the previous government.” He went even further, saying that US aid to Albania and the level of relations with our country would also be contingent on this position. The message, then, is very clear. Albania, a country utterly exhausted by unrest and instability in every sphere, does not have the strength to deal with political trials now as well. Moreover, the Euro-Atlantic chancelleries are weary of the endless-cycle games of “Albanian-style” proceedings against former leaders. That Berisha was responsible for what happened in our country is something no one can deny. Indeed, even now he continues to pursue a politics of tension and confrontation, keeping the fires alive even in front of the 100 people who gather in the square every day and sending his dependents on ridiculous hunger strikes. But today’s leaders, more than dealing with Berisha, should focus on preventing the diseases that brought about the country’s destruction and are rearing their heads again. If legally valid evidence exists against the leader of the DP and those around him, it should be collected and preserved. All the more because history needs it, even more than justice does. The only sentence for the leaders of the DP is to leave them free. Nano knows very well that he must not treat Berisha the way Berisha treated him.

The Prime Minister and the MP have an altercation in Parliament P. 3

Investigation into Rustemi’s murder in Vlora blocked P. 10 Company employees against Alimucaj VEFA is not paying us our wages P. 15 The Ballists fail at the Kavaja meeting The hall rises up against Selfo P. 4 Mazreku trial: the wounded MP is absent again Court: prison warrant ready for Hajdari P. 2 Battle between students at a school in the capital Police intervene; 13 young people detained P. 2 Today: Meeting of publishers and managers of daily newspapers Today at 11:00, all publishers and managers of daily newspapers, as well as magazine publishers, will meet at the offices of “Gazeta Shqiptare” to discuss the government’s restrictive measures against the press and set the date for an open-ended strike by the entire print media.

Prime Minister Nano and his deputy Fino at Gjebre’s concert Photo GENT SHKULLAKU Prime Minister Nano and his deputy Fino at Gjebre’s concert. Photo GENT SHKULLAKU

No concessions for any of those firms that operated with money lent at interest Last night in Parliament, Nano announced the agreement with the IMF . “The companies that operated as usury schemes will all disappear from the face of the earth,” Prime Minister Fatos Nano declared yesterday. Before the Albanian parliamentarians, in his report on the work carried out by the government he has led for 100 days, he cited this, among other things, as one of its major achievements. ... For the first time, it also presented officially, before Albanian representatives, the end of all firms of this kind ...

Company employees