Majko: Either the coalition will govern, or Berisha will return Page 3

. Berisha was allergic to the State Security Service. At least, judging by the condemnatory statements and the terror he used against people who had worked and collaborated with it. And because of this, his trusted man, Bashkim Gazidede, boasted that he had removed not just a few, but 98% of the State Security personnel. Yet those who served Berisha zealously served his image, not the state, but simply the survival of his regime. The use of secret services for politics rather than national interests meant that anyone with a foreign passport could freely enter and leave Albania, sometimes as a businessman and sometimes as a preacher of dozens of dubious religions that took root in our country. Years ago, Italian parliamentarians and some agents of the Italian secret service came to Albania under false names and, according to their confidential conversations, for the simple reason that they did not trust their Albanian colleagues enough to cooperate with them in investigations against the Mafia. Foreigners were initially confused by this detail; only now is it clear that they had been right on this point. Berisha’s SHIK, contrary to its stated purpose and working platform, first became a political police force and later a legal state mafia that ran the smuggling operations of the state leadership. Genc Ruli, former Finance Minister for the Democratic Party, said a few days ago that only 30% of SHIK’s expenses came from the state budget, while the rest of its astronomical spending came from dirty money earned through illegal trade. Perhaps this explains SHIK personnel’s excessive zeal, bordering on criminality, during this year’s revolts, as well as their appointment to head the state-of-emergency operation. Thus, this structure could not uncover—and did not uncover—any activities by foreign intelligence agencies in post-communist Albania. In Albanian prisons, since 1991, only 8 people have been registered as convicted of espionage; they were later either released or given laughably light sentences. Meanwhile, in recent days, a Greek magazine has reported, with evidence, the activities of several foreign intelligence agencies in Albania. It even emerged that Berisha himself was being directed from the office next door, initially by the CIA. Ali expelled the military at the same time as political relations with the United States cooled. Now the CIA has returned to Albania. This time, openly. Not to “advise” the office that runs the state, but to train the people of the SHIK school. The destruction of the Albanian state began precisely with the degeneration of the secret service. And the strength of the state now being rebuilt will also depend on SHIK’s return to normality. While for other institutions even renovating buildings and putting in a few chairs is enough to resume work, SHIK is at least 7 years behind. According to the publications at least 7 years behind. According to SHIK publications?

Italians investigate money brought into Albania P. 7

Police take stock of all police stations P. 9

PS: final fever before the Congress P. 3 Skopje, opposition supporters disrupt rally Chants in support of Berisha P. 4 Another draft decree for Albanian emigrants Refugee in Greece, now with the whole family P. 10

Page 5 Yesterday Lamberto Dini meets with Prime Minister Nano. Photo: GENT SHKULLAKU

Albania, the newest country in Iran’s secret plan How the Iranian service infiltrated Agents enter through business or by joining groups of clandestine migrants arriving in Vlorë From Italy, reliable news sources have sounded the alarm about the spread of the Iranian ayatollahs into Albanian territory, making it the newest state to enter the “Mediterranean plan” devised by Iran. After launching the program to extend its economic and political influence in Lebanon, the tireless ayatollahs have set their sights on Albania. The strategy devised in Tehran consists of gaining entry and establishing a full presence in the country. F 2

Yesterday, all the staff of the Greek embassy in Tirana began a strike. Asked by “KJ” how long the strike would last, an embassy employee said that the strike, which is economic in nature, has affected all Greek embassies around the world. They are demanding higher salaries for diplomatic staff. Thus, work and the issuing of visas have been suspended in Tirana and Gjirokastër since yesterday. The strike is expected to last until the first days of the New Year 1998.