Prime Minister: “KLA, end the violence.” Milo: “KLA, lay down your arms.” Page 3

SMUGGLING. Albanians had heard this word countless times, but until recent months they did not think it would become one of the most troubling topics in the vocabulary of politics and the mass media. As they read the mutual accusations in the newspapers, many people began scratching their heads and asking themselves or others: “But what does this have to do with each person’s fate?” Those who smoke answered at once: “How could it not be connected? It affects the price of the cigarettes we smoke every day.” Given the large number of people who use nicotine, and whose lungs fill with smoke that smells of nicotine, the news may seem momentous, but apparently there is another game too ... a game we must try to understand. First Ceka, the well-known leader of the Democratic Alliance, a man who seems not to be too fond of small compromises to make money at the state’s expense—a man who could do this whenever and as often as he wanted—was the first to make serious accusations against people who, under normal circumstances, should have been his colleagues at work as well as his political allies. “They have hidden a file that accuses them”: that was the sentence repeated in the Albanian press for several months. Ceka was later replaced in his post, and the story ended there, although the accusations and counter-accusations continued and are still continuing. It seems that a game whose destination is unknown has begun among the allies. Ceka attacks, Malaj and his people defend themselves, and the only thing that matters in this life—the truth—is lost in a typically Albanian tangle, in the Albanian muddle. Yesterday it was another man’s turn to speak. Ndre Legisi, without naming names, has harshly accused people in power. The former deputy has also backed the former minister on this point, once again reviving the controversy over the connections in the now-familiar triangle of smuggling, power and politics. What has really happened? As long as the press still has no factual evidence, there is only one logical answer: the real battle in politics is not between political opponents, but a battle to make as much money as possible. Political accusations, political warfare and other demagoguery seem to be a war of words. Otherwise, why this latest escalation? It seems that the internal arrangements were once broken, and so the accusations have now begun to surface. At least the rest will be learned later. At least that is what many people hope.

Fatos Nano, Prime Minister of Albania

Ministers worried about Nano Last night, the first evening of the Crete festival (Greece) began at Hotel Rogner. In a moment of joy and merriment, as everyone was enjoying the fashion show with the beautiful beauty queens, a phone call alarmed parliamentary speaker Gjinushi. “A bomb has been planted at Fatos Nano’s villa!” was the message. Gjinushi called Tirana Police Director Fadil Cani, who replied that there was no indication of anything of the sort. Ministers Angjeli, Apostoli and Milo kept insisting, asking Gjinushi whether “Nano got it or not?”, but the parliamentary speaker himself took it upon himself to answer: “Nano isn’t even in Albania. He really ... loves the prime minister!” Meanwhile, the American ambassador, Lino, who had been at Rogner that evening with President Meidani, hurried to reassure the ministers with a calm, smiling look from the window overlooking Crete. Nano’s ministers (who had also been talking about the Nano events) sat down again to watch, and one of them said: “There’s no joy, people! ...” After that, a noise was heard near the hotel, causing the ministers to rush toward the swimming pool, while calling from the ...: “Could it really be true?!” But Gjinushi, who never loses his composure, said: “Don’t look for things so quickly ...!”

Majko against Malaj P. 2

Five judges under accusation P. 6

Human body parts in Lezhë’s garbage P. 11

A council to counter the president’s power P. 5

The head of government calls NATO’s intervention illegal without the support of the Security Council

DAILY FOR “FRANCE ’98” Once again at 7:00 p.m. at Rogner Hotel SONGS GREEK CUISINE FASHION SHOW You can make a reservation by calling 35035, and you will be delighted!