Massacre in Kosovo, more than 2,000 refugees in Albania. Another 5,000 expected Albanian government responds. Extraordinary measures in the North. Pages 2–3

BY FATOS LUBONJA On Sunday evening, after a long absence, former president Berisha, now chairman of the PD, appeared on TVSH’s debate program. His appearance was commented on in various ways. The first reaction from PS fans was that if Berisha appears on television once every three months, the PS does not need election propaganda, because his language and arrogance do the work for them. PD fans were pleased with the convincing and energetic way in which Berisha challenged his opponents. Meanwhile, the reactions of those in between were much more varied. But all sides agree on one thing. With this television appearance, Berisha presented himself as emboldened, as the leader of the largest opposition party, who will fight for power tomorrow. No one would have believed such a thing a year ago, when he was accused of being chiefly responsible for the chaos, along with his party—a party that should have been outlawed as an armed party. Albania is truly going through an unprecedented time. Thanks to the “wise” government of President Meidani and Prime Minister Nano, today we can say that we are in a state of pacification such as we have never experienced before. Murderers and murdered, robbers and robbed, accusers and accused, spies and those spied upon are milling around on the grand stage of the Albanian theater of the absurd, constantly swapping roles and masks, fully aware that they are merely playing a game after which, once they take off their makeup and wigs, they will go and have a beer together. Who killed the Albanians—Berisha with Hajdari and the others, or Nano with Meidani and his associates? Today this question is harder to answer than ever. In the theater of the absurd, the victim is also the executioner. Newspapers publish endless crime files, accounts of well-known people who have been mutilated, fantastic figures of missing people, prostitutes, drug addicts. So much the better if there are more of them and if the figures are more exaggerated. That way, even the meaning of responsibility is lost. Kadare publishes an article saying that Berisha’s democracy was overthrown by a handful of renegade intellectuals and irresponsible politicians who joined forces with the Albanian mob. The next day, the renegade intellectuals, led by the president, go to inaugurate his book. God bless Albania. Why else did Berisha open the arms depots? There is no philosopher or ethnologist capable of discerning the ethical system of this society, what its values and anti-values are, whom one should trust and whom one should suspect. Even Europe’s enlightened representatives have climbed onto the absurd stage of the Albanian theater and are milling around without understanding what kind of dance they are performing hand in hand with the Albanians. We have always been “the only country in the world.” Even now, we are showing that we are the only country in the world that can function without justice and without moral standards. God bless Albania!

Yesterday at the Congress, more than 30 people brawled; police intervened P. 4

Hours of panic among the children; explosives in the rubbish P. 6

Teta issues an ultimatum: I will remove the corrupt

From Agim Shehu to Sheme Kosova, here is the list of those responsible for March who fled Albania According to a report prepared by the Albanian Prime Minister himself and sent to the President some time ago, the generals who were to be dismissed or relieved of their duties according to their responsibilities had as their main reason the events of March last year, when the Albanian army and police disintegrated. Heads roll among the men who directed Berisha’s gun According to a report prepared by the Albanian Prime Minister himself and sent to the President some time ago, the main reason for the generals’ dismissal or release from their posts, depending on their responsibilities, was the events of March last year, when the Albanian army and police disintegrated. P. 5 An Albanian police officer at the Qafë e Prushit border crossing, opposite the city of Gjakovë. Photo: REUTERS

Investigation into the killing of the criminal police officers Investigations into the killing of the criminal police officers Burrel, ten arrests F 9

Albanian police send 47 refugees back to Greece F 11