None are captured. The suspects have left for Greece. Page 2 None are captured. The suspects have left for Greece Page 2

BY BLENDI FEVZIU The skies over Rinas were stirred again yesterday morning by 60 military aircraft, bearing on their wings the emblems of 14 countries. The operation, called “Coordinated Cooperation,” the product of an alliance between NATO countries and those in the Partnership for Peace, was also supported by 1,700 troops. Most of them were marines, trained primarily for landing missions or similar operations. Beyond the framework of the military and political show, acceptable on an occasion such as this, the latest manoeuvres have taken on a different significance in the context of developments in the southern Balkans and beyond. NATO’s Commander-in-Chief for Southern Europe, Admiral Jozef Lopez, has not concealed this either. Asked by journalists about the connection between the manoeuvres in Albania and developments in Kosovo, Lopez replied that “NATO troops are ready to intervene in the Kosovo crisis, if their governments ask them to do so.” Prime Minister Nano was also caught up in the euphoria when he declared in his opening speech that “this is sending a message to the people who are being massacred and to those who are carrying out the massacres.” There is no need to debate whether yesterday’s manoeuvres were an emergency measure in response to the latest developments in Kosovo. Lopez himself raised this idea when he declared that “Belgrade and every warmonger in the region will receive the same message” and that “we are using the lessons learned from Bosnia.” What remains incomprehensible in all this is their actual significance. If it is thought that NATO manoeuvres and the deployment of ten aircraft over Albania and Macedonia will frighten Belgrade, that is a mistaken conclusion. While NATO spends several hundred million dollars on peaceful manoeuvres such as these, Milošević’s fighting forces are engaged in combat throughout Kosovo. The fighting is entirely head-on, and it does not result in the defencelessness and demands of their targets. It is unclear what action constitutes a “sin” for the West and when it will be punished. If ethnic cleansing really goes hand in hand with the razing of homes, the image of Bosnia is not far off. Europe and the US have no reason to forget other evidence, nor to use the cosmetic cover of military manoeuvres in countries bordering Albania in place of the real picture. Worse still, there is no reason to use these manoeuvres as a calming device, creating the illusion of a military intervention that is neither happening nor imminent. The West has no reason to ... link Belgrade’s power to ... military ..., to protect them from interventions, as happened in Bosnia. It must decide whether to intervene, or leave Kosovo to its dark fate, and demand ... convinced that Europe ... does not seem to offer hope this time either.

Page 1 A Lithuanian soldier yesterday during NATO manoeuvres in Bizë Photo: G. SHKULLAKU

Five days ago, a girl aged 18 was abducted in the middle of Tirana. After three days, she managed to find and rescue herself, by chance. Police, acting on the orders of Deputy Interior Minister Ilir Çano, searched all possible locations until, two days ago, they managed to arrest the young man from Elbasan, Maksim Brahja, the perpetrator of the violent abduction of B.L. from the city of Tirana. It must be acknowledged that the police operation covered the cities of Elbasan, Gjirokastër, Vlorë, Lezhë, Durrës and Kavajë, deploying substantial police forces as well as SHIK agents. Brahja, the kidnapper, is now in police custody awaiting a detention order from the court. Unfortunately, however, it seems that the prosecution wants to release such an offender; if that happens, the press will attack this corrupt prosecutor or judge, who should be brought to justice instead of the criminal whom the police arrested with such difficulty. The law must be strict with kidnappers and rapists of women, who fall victim to “love” or to men’s violence. How can a prosecutor dare to close a case like this, when the shattered heart of a teenage girl cries out for justice? How can Albanian society remain silent in the face of such cases, which are becoming commonplace in Albania? How can the High Council of Justice remain silent in the face of a justice system entangled with crime and, in certain cases, itself turn into crime?! F.M.

Relations and security measures discussed Nano meets Limon Page 3 Fear of poisoned bread; test results awaited 20 tonnes of flour seized Page 6 A 13-year-old shoots him with a gun while he is sleeping Vlorë: child kills his father Page 11 A truck carrying over 950 kg of marijuana is seized Albanian drugs also in Austria Page 2 Ballsh on the brink of disaster, the whole city at risk Oil plant catches fire Page 10 Notice to readers and newspaper vendors According to information received by the editorial office, in several cities such as Durrës, Sarandë, Elbasan, etc., the newspaper “Koha Jonë” is being sold for 60 and 70 lekë by people who have no contract with the editorial office, in violation of all the rules. We ask our agencies to put a stop to this negative practice of artificially increasing the price of the newspaper. We also ask our readers to excuse us (although it is not our fault) and inform us in which cities, or by which people, this trade is being carried out. It burdens not only your pockets, but also the newspaper’s finances.