To be consumed within the day. All the flour in Tirana is contaminated Page 19

BY GAVROSH LEVONJA At the beginning of this year, when the DP was outside parliament, it was a European “troika” that gave the final “helping hand” to efforts to bring Berisha’s party back there once again. It seems that now, too, a European “troika” is pushing Berisha towards the doors of parliament. There was no doubt that the DP’s decision, taken several months ago, to leave parliament was wrong. The only thing in question was the form and the moment at which the largest opposition party, with Berisha at its head, would once again take its seats in the parliamentary chamber. Above all, there was no doubt that the external factor, which, if only because of developments in Kosovo, is interested in keeping the climate in Albania as calm as possible, would use all normal means and methods to pressure the DP to abandon a decision that, first and foremost, harmed it more than anyone else. In fact, with such a spectacular move, among other things, Berisha had, willingly or unwillingly, taken upon himself a large share of the responsibility for the worsening political climate in the country. It is clear that a Berisha judged by the standards of several months or a year ago would have given the external factor an important reason to “leave the current government alone” for a while longer, until a convincing figure emerged from within the opposition. Aware of this, he himself, anticipating suggestions from abroad, had on one occasion said that “we will not even ask the international factor.” But not much time would pass before signals from abroad urging the DP to return to parliament reached its headquarters. Most recently, it is the European “troika” that has been in Albania these days which explicitly expressed the need for the DP to act as an opposition, first and foremost in parliament. A return to parliament would undoubtedly help Berisha further his possible rehabilitation in the eyes of the international community, something the DP leader knows very well. It is no coincidence that he has greatly moderated his positions on Kosovo, abandoning the game of playing the nationalist card, and has also found a way to integrate his party into the process of drafting a constitution for the country. In this way, returning to parliament would complement the two steps mentioned above, convincing the outside world that Sali Berisha has become a moderate leader committed to dialogue and compromise. Perhaps the international community will speak to us without too many compliments about the contradictions among those in power.

Page 5 UÇK fighters in the village of Llaushë Photo: REUTERS

Child and organ trafficking; the ringleaders are 12 Albanians P. 7

Saxhaku: You make him a minister, and I didn’t know he was incompetent P. 2

The troika advises the government: cooperate with the opposition P. 4

His father had been hanged when he was only 7 years old P. 9

He was married, but was madly in love with someone else P. 6

Attack in Fushë-Krujë / Police: It is revenge Another massacre of the Hakaj family Gunfight; Muharrem Haka’s cousin and a 35-year-old woman killed Massacre in Fushë-Krujë. Two people died as a result of an armed clash between two rival groups. One of the victims was a member of the Haka family in Nikël, Krujë, a cousin of Muharrem Haka, a man who was heavily accused and was killed several days ago in the city of Tirana. The other victim was a young woman who was in the establishment together with Haka. P. 11