An unexpected visit by the President and the Prime Minister. The Socialist Party chairman enters the northern city after six years PD reacts, Genc Pollo: “A secret, undignified and failed visit” Page 3

Quietly and almost in complete silence, Fatos Nano managed to “take” Shkodër Castle yesterday. For the first time in nearly six years, the Socialist leader was able to cross the Baçallëk bridge, thereby putting at risk the “legend” concocted by his opponents that the city of Rozafa does not want the Socialists. After 1992, Nano last tried to enter the northern city in June 1993, a month before he was arrested by Berisha’s regime, but was forced to turn back by PD roadblocks at the entrance to the city. After that attempt, Fatos Nano made no further attempts, not even during the campaign for the 29 June elections, quietly preparing for the day of the great challenge. And, just as quietly, the Albanian prime minister made his unannounced visit to the city of Shkodër, travelling there in the presidential car together with the head of state, Rexhep Meidani. But despite the silence and the whistles of some PD supporters, Nano’s visit to Shkodër yesterday put an end to the country’s political division, breaking the ice that had accidentally frozen at the entrance to the largest gateway to the north. Nano’s visit to Shkodër also erased the recently widespread saying that “if Vlora does not want Berisha, then Shkodër does not want Nano,” thus isolating the head of the PD within the circle he himself created through bad governance. The welcome given to the prime minister yesterday showed that Shkodër’s rejection of the “ex-communists” was merely a trumped-up tale, sounded by Berisha for as long as he needed to feed people propaganda and contraband instead of bread, while doing nothing for his own city, which over the past five years has ranked among Albania’s poorest cities. In the face of this reality, Berisha’s only response has been: “Shkodër does not want the Socialists.” For his part, Fatos Nano did not make many promises in Shkodër yesterday, perhaps because that was not why he went there. The visit, unexpected by everyone but long-awaited by him, was essentially intended to dispel the oppressive shadow of the old castle, which for six years had blocked his way and become a challenge. And as on other occasions, quietly and without fanfare, avoiding any possible incident, the Socialist leader overcame one of the obstacles that had kept him from making his way north. As he left Shkodër yesterday, right below Rozafa Castle, Nano raised his head and perhaps thought of a new version of the old saying: “There is no castle that can hold back the Socialists.” A. SHKULLAKU

Prime Minister Fatos Nano during a rally Photo: ARMANDO BABANI

A few weeks ago, after the print media strike, the Nano government and publishers drafted a declaration of understanding. It was signed by Deputy Prime Minister Fino and Finance Minister Malaj, while the publishers’ signatories were Nazarko, Rakipi and Greca. The government pledged to meet certain conditions to relieve the print media of high taxes, while the publishers agreed to end the strike. As soon as the press began publishing again, the government changed its tune, saying, “The IMF won’t let us, so we do not recognise the agreement we signed.” The prime minister’s spokesperson also stated this, implying: “We fooled the journalists and magazines, who were deceived by a declaration of understanding.” The public was informed that the press had been freed from taxes, although quite the opposite had happened: the government had deceived them. Following this, MP Nikollë Lesi requested an urgent question session with the Minister of State attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, or “minister for the press,” Kastriot Islami. Although, under Parliament’s rules, Islami was required to appear urgently, he refused to come, blaming Fino and Malaj and using the excuse: “I have no reason to go to Parliament.” Yesterday, MP Lesi urged the minister to come to the chamber, but parliamentary speaker Gjinushi tried to justify Islami. It seems that, following the Nano government’s lie, newspapers and magazines will decide on new measures in response to the deception perpetrated against the public and the press.

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