More than 15 million dollars in losses every month, Customs: Traffic is floating at sea Newspaper of the new government's first three months, not a single cigarette packet missing Page 13

Albanians seek political asylum in the countries where they served as diplomats. If the metaphor does not resemble the trick of the former prime minister of Monaco, who had placed in his own place, where he drank “Sharlëzmu,” instead of respecting, yes, “tustin”! If this were a city network, we would be in a closed anecdote. But the bitter truth about the Albanian state remains. Throughout all these years, Albanian diplomacy, now with several scandals, has created a non-diplomatic profile. For the first time in Albanian history, there were signs that the borders of Albanian diplomacy have not been merely about presenting the culture and values of a country aspiring to a normal society. Instead, the news from diplomacy around the world has not come for promotional activities or official talks, but for scandals. The first has been the story of embassies hiding emigrants, smuggling goods, and finding dubious ways of profit. There was also the case of 1994, from Italy to the USA, when the names of Albanian diplomats appeared in the news not as state representatives, but as protagonists of shameful episodes. When in 1994 the building of the Albanian embassy in Belgrade was blown up, others found the opportunity to use it for asylum. This irony is harsh. We once had professional diplomats, people with training, but in recent years, with the entry of militants and political appointments, the standard has fallen. The daily routine of scandals in diplomacy cannot be treated as a random mistake. It is a symptom of a weak state, unable to control its own people and protect institutional dignity. The expression that 'diplomacy is floating at sea' is a striking metaphor for the situation: without a compass, without responsibility, without control. Albania needs a serious foreign service, not ambassadors appointed as party rewards. This story must end. ALFRED PEZA

Yugoslav customs police seize smuggled cigarettes on the Albania–Montenegro border Reuters photo

The accumulated debt of various enterprises to printing houses and newspapers has reached alarming figures. The crisis in the paper market, the lack of funding, as well as political interference in the media have led to a severe blockage. The press union announced the suspension of publications, and the four-day strike showed that the system could be paralyzed. The government finally responded, accepting some of the minimum demands and respecting the fourth break, as a temporary solution to avoid pushing the situation to the point of explosion. However, the problem of overdue payments remains. Publishers are asking for concrete guarantees, while journalists fear that after this agreement the pressure may continue. If there is no clear financial and legal package, the printed press will remain exposed to the crisis.

Diplomats seek political asylum P 3 Police operation in the center of Tirana 1 kg of heroin seized near the journalist [?] P 2 Extreme decision by the Greek court Three Albanians sentenced to life imprisonment P 11 Armed groups rob at the border Albanian gangs terrorize Kosovo P 4 PP refuses to take part in the parliamentary commission The Constitution, the first meeting fails P 5 The directors of the Tirana prison are dismissed Zani’s brothers beaten in their cells P 2 30 contestants announced for the beauty crown Miss Albania, here are the winning girls P 24