Islamist attacks / Exceptional measures in Tirana, Security and SHIK convene Fear of “Jihad,” Ambassador Lino under special surveillance (Pages 2–3) Islamist attacks / Exceptional measures in Tirana, Security and SHIK convene U.S. Embassy Surrounded Fear of “Jihad,” Ambassador Lino under special surveillance (Pages 2–3)

BY BLENDI FEVZIU Albania has once again come to the forefront of the comments of the world news agencies and, as has often been the case in recent years, once again because of a negative phenomenon. Indeed, this time, although indirectly, it appears implicated in a story that by last night had recorded 150 dead and more than 4,200 injured. According to a report by the Reuters agency and the Italian agency Ansa, the bombs that exploded the day before yesterday in Kenya and Tanzania were a response by Islamist fundamentalist organizations to the U.S. arrest of several Islamist militants in Tirana. The reports quote Ričard Haas, an American expert, who adds that this was likely to be “Jihad’s” revenge for the extradition of seven of its members from Albania and another Eastern European country. Apart from this chilling coincidence, and regardless of whether it is true, an old but constantly neglected problem has been put on the political agenda. The small country, which had astonished the world with its official atheism at the end of the 1960s, became after 1990 a wonderful oasis for all kinds of religious sects and their propagandists. Taking advantage of economic poverty and admiration for foreigners—a handicap stemming from long isolation—thousands of these religious emissaries managed to penetrate everyday Albanian life, possessing, among other things, political and economic power. Dynasties of foundations, associations, and sects, many of them unknown in the West or banned and underground there, became a dimension of our life. Almost all of them had, and still have, special permits from Albanian ministries and TD license plates for their cars. Unfortunately, many of God’s people turned out to be anything but that. The case of a German Scientologist named Hag was reported three years ago. This figure had secured powerful economic concessions and had penetrated high-level politics. The “Hag” case was not the only one. Western intelligence services had repeatedly warned about the danger in question, and a CIA office dealing with monitoring them has been based in Tirana for months. It was with its help that the arrest, two months ago, of people wanted as dangerous terrorists in Egypt was carried out; one of them held the title of Director of the “Islamic Revival” Foundation in Albania. It is not known whether under a religious guise or otherwise. If the state does not respond today, tomorrow it will be difficult. Albania will have turned into a stick of dynamite, whose fuse will be held by all manner of mafiosi and criminals, who have by now become accustomed to our explosions.

Die, Meidani, Islami, Fino, ministers and MPs at the Beach P. 5

Interview with Gjinushi after the first session P. 4

Democratic Party leaders support a meeting with the prime minister “Berisha should meet him. Meetings are always good. The two of them should talk” Who would have believed it? The Democratic Party, which has ordered its mayors to have no contact whatsoever with the Government, agrees to a Nano-Berisha meeting. Yesterday the final “yeses” were given. “Meetings are always good,” Vili Minarolli, the DP’s public relations secretary, told “KJ.” “A Berisha-Nano meeting would be very necessary, if it were prepared beforehand, all the more so in the current situation in which Albania and Kosovo find themselves.” P. 5

An American officer standing guard in front of the embassy, after the explosion in Nairobi Photo REUTERS An American officer standing guard in front of the embassy, after the explosion in Nairobi. Photo REUTERS

Newspapers, in the Square Like the DP P. 5 Disaster in Korçë, village at risk 4 Houses in Flames P. 7 80% of local officials to be laid off Vlorë, storm over public servants P. 11