Muharrem Haka executed along with his group The capital is shaken / Six killed and three wounded in a single night Page 5

. The attempt to finally create a State in Albania is more than ever on the brink of danger. Yesterday the danger became more real than ever, when the Prosecutor’s Office took the first step toward investigating today’s opposition figures—yesterday’s officeholders—who are accused of enough to be sent to prison. If everything proceeds normally, this act by the Prosecutor’s Office will go to Parliament, and here the State’s mortgage will be laid bare. Since yesterday, Albania has faced the dilemma of whether or not to sentence Berisha as the main actor in last year’s killings. Nano declared when he won the elections that there would be no more political prisoners, and later that there would be no more prisoners for political reasons. Following the Prime Minister’s second declaration, all the coalition leaders hurried to join in, while Nano’s right-hand man, Bashkim Fino, insisted that the former President should no longer enter Parliament. A heated trial and the facts could send Berisha to prison, and thus Albania would return to the game of imprisoned opposition figures and, consequently, to the perennial fear of political revenge. The claim by the leaders in power that the sentence would not be for political reasons, but for ordinary crimes, is an issue that, both now and later, will belong only to propaganda, just as happened with Nano. Even if Nano truly insists on there being no political imprisonment, and even if this becomes definitive, there is still within it the fear of the State going unpunished. The only point at which Nano can stop Berisha’s imprisonment is Parliament. Only if the Socialist deputies have not given the green light to lifting Berisha’s immunity can stopping his imprisonment be called excessive toward an imprisoned opposition figure. But in a Parliament dominated by the desire to bring Berisha before justice, it seems that Nano too has already turned on the green light and perhaps thinks that Berisha’s trial can be stopped at the Prosecutor’s Office or in court. Here the State is called into question, because the Prime Minister’s and the PS chairman’s interference in these institutions amounts to the liberation of one of the three main powers of a democratic State. Even if Nano stops the investigation of Berisha in Parliament, a precedent is created of the unaccountable politician. Berisha not being brought before justice would send the message that any politician can do anything while in power, since when they move into opposition they will act with the result of a compromise. Making it clear that the “Berisha” case has no solution in Albania. Perhaps the only solution would be an international court. The charges by the Albanian Prosecutor’s Office meet the criteria for these,

Cassation Court issues its ruling: Vehbiu remains behind bars Cassation Court issues its ruling: Vehbiu remains behind bars Alimuçaj: no release P. 6

Shehu, Gazidede and the generals who fled will be extradited P. 7

Mejdani against Kondi: He hasn’t caught corruption

page 2 Finance Minister Arben Malaj Photo A.RAMA Finance Minister Arben Malaj. Photo A.RAMA

The March events: Arben Rakipi asks MPs to lift the immunity of Berisha, Mema and Demi The Chief Prosecutor signs the request to Parliament Sali Berisha, Leonardi Demi and Shaban Memia are the first politicians who will answer before the law for the events of 1997. The General Prosecutor’s Office has hit the former head of state with bombshell charges over the unrest of last year. Arben Rakipi, Prosecutor General, is reported to have signed yesterday at midday the requests to lift the immunity of Sali Berisha, Shaban Memia and Leonar[d] Demi, and they are expected to reach Parliament today. P. 3

Page 7 Meidani against Kondi: He has not tackled corruption Warning to the minister Page 4 Përmet, van attacked with firearms Masked men kill two citizens Page 11 Turkish president in Tirana accompanied by 130 people Demirel in Albania Page 4