President Meidani from Italy on the elections in Serbia and the Kosovo problem The Albanian head of state: “Slobodan is the lesser evil for Albania” President Meidani from Italy on the elections in Serbia and the Kosovo problem We support Milošević The Albanian head of state: “Slobodan is the lesser evil for Albania” Page 3

BY BLENDI FEVZIU A 25-year-old police officer lost his life on duty two days ago. The fact, which was reported by the electronic media, has left the bitter feeling that the loss of a person always provokes, regardless of his name and uniform. But the case from a few days ago, one of several in recent months, should at least have opened another debate. Undoubtedly the most important one for our times. Under what conditions does the police work, and within what legal framework? The people who have applauded the police in recent months, who have seen it as the sole guarantee of their lives and families, should understand that the men in blue are often just as vulnerable as they are. Those worthy of being called heroes, who confront crime every day for the laughable salary of 8,000 lekë and the hope of a promised reward, now have one more problem. The legal framework is almost entirely absent. In a country with one million heavy and light weapons in circulation, the police are forced to work under the 1991 firearms law, an adaptation of Romanian law, itself an adaptation of Russian law from the 1960s. The paradox is endless when one considers that, under that law, the police are prohibited from shooting at adolescents, women and the elderly, without these categories being more clearly specified. In other words, when faced with the threat of a Kalashnikov, before defending his own life a police officer must ask the criminal’s age and perhaps even sex. All this at a time when more than 90% of crimes are committed by people under 18. The legal framework, riddled with absurd shortcomings for the times we are going through, records many cases like these: a police officer cannot shoot without a witness; he cannot touch or detain a member of parliament, even if that person insults or hits him; he cannot stop an unauthorized construction, even in the center of the Capital or anywhere else; he cannot make any corrections to the road code, which remains the one from before the 1990s, when there were only a few state-owned cars, even though Tirana alone today has more than 40,000 privately owned cars. This paradox, compounded by difficult working conditions and the political problems we are forced to endure, seems to be severely undermining the police’s effectiveness, despite it being the government’s undisputed priority. In this context, parliament and the experts would be better off not wasting time on the drawn-out question of how many seconds Nino, Berisha or Godo will appear on television. Nor on talk of inspections and corruption. Life is a real dimension, and its most precious guarantees are safety and the protection of life.

The Adriatic swallows another 21 victims From the funeral ceremony for the victims of Otranto, a week ago in Vlora. Photo: REUTERS

For the first time in Albania: ANTI-CRIME Special squads will open fire on criminals. Hooded police officers will not know one another. Names will be known only to senior officials. For the first time in Albania: ANTI-CRIME Highly secret groups against the gangs Special squads will open fire on criminals. Hooded police officers will not know one another. Names will be known only to senior officials. To prevent denunciations and perhaps to draw, once and for all, the “boundaries” between the police who shoot and the bandits who get away, these illegal squads have also been created. It is also reported that their names will be secret and known only to senior police officials, and that the same will apply to their operations. After this, it seems the gangs will no longer be able to shoot at the police, since they may find themselves in the line of fire, thereby making the hand of the state felt. P. 7

The President’s presence in Vlora; controversy continues Nano–Meidani, the great rift P. 3 After the Prime Minister’s statement at the Tirana party assembly Pëllumbi: There are problems in the PS P. 3 Press conference by the Democratic leader Berisha: An atmosphere for new elections P. 5 Consumers’ association concerned about impotence Chlorinated water puts men at risk P. 9 Rare trial in Tirana involving an adolescent Killed his father, 12 years behind bars P. 2 Fino at the head of the delegation for the 85th anniversary of Independence Vlora, from grief to celebration P. 10 Government justifies zero figures for customs clearance of cigarettes Malaj: An attack at sea on tobacco P. 14