National highway blocked in the South / Hundreds of cars and people held up for eight hours PD supports the action taken by the residents of Lazarat Page 2

BY GAVROSH LEVONJA Most political circles in Albania are aware that whatever Berisha does, at least Berisha himself does not pose any serious threat of taking Nano’s place. This is connected both with the fact that memories of the final years of the former president’s rule are still fresh, and with the path he has chosen to return to power, or his inability to present a reasoned alternative that would avert some of the negative effects of the current government team’s harsh financial policy. Moreover, politicians have by now been greatly discredited in the eyes of Albanians. It would be a mistake for the current government to focus on Berisha as an individual and relegate to the background the vital problems concerning the future of the country and of the governing coalition itself. Bearing this in mind, Nano and the others should at least free themselves from the tensions imposed by Berisha’s approach, as he likes always to be on the offensive. In this respect, what should worry today’s government more than Berisha himself are the effects on the country and its people of the policy embraced by the PD leader. Despite some achievements, it must be said that the current government is still far from some of its main objectives, which are principally connected with the arrival of foreign aid and loans, as well as the disembarkation of foreign investors. Even the most ordinary Albanian understands clearly that the tense political climate in Albania is itself the main obstacle to achieving the above objectives. Thus, according to simple logic, Berisha’s policy of escalating the situation is an effective means of preventing the fulfilment of the main promises of Nano’s government, which would explain its downfall. Nano himself, so far cloaked in the guise of a “European” politician, although he has not spared the fine-sounding phrases, has proved entirely incapable of thwarting his opponent’s game, who is in a sense holding the country hostage. But if things continue this way, the outlook for the future of the government and the country is not bright. This naturally calls for a change of course in the government’s political line, so that an end can be put as soon as possible to the present status quo.

PS: Ultimatum to Perikli Teta Page 3 Photo L.FILOPATI Perikli Teta All the family members and relatives of those killed during last year’s unrest protest Friday: Rally in front of Berisha’s house Last year’s tears have not yet dried. Dozens of families have lost someone: one a husband, another a brother or loved one, a sister or a child, to bullets taken from the looted army depots of Berisha’s army, which crumbled in a single day as if it were the army of Qazim Mulleti. They are demanding justice, that little bit of justice that prosecutor Rakipi and “lawyer”-prosecutor Agim Tirana are trying to provide, but Berisha is wounding their hearts and adding to their tears with his rallies for the “innocence of Zhulali and company,” even though this same Berisha called Zhulali a traitor last year and, had he still been president, would have been the first to arrest him—indeed, on the very day he won the elections. Although the tears of the relatives of those killed have not yet dried, they have modestly decided to protest on Friday in front of the home of former president Berisha. According to a police source in Tirana, “it is difficult to ban this rally, while we allow PD rallies attended by criminals too.” So on Friday we will see the first apolitical rally, a rally of those whose hearts ache for the dead. Z.M.

P. 3 At the top, PD deputy Pal Dajçi Mamurras, barricade in the road P. 2 Following the democratic leader’s statements about his Army

Late last night, anti-crime squads were formed, made up of specialists in the field of anti-crime. They will operate in all areas where there are problems. The anti-crime unit has an accurate list of the most wanted criminals. Its role is to neutralize these criminals by killing them if they do not obey police orders. Anti-crime squad members are very physically strong and excellent snipers. They know how to kill criminals. What the justice system is not doing, the anti-crime unit will do, starting this morning, although the competent authorities will deny such a fact, since that way the anti-crime squad can work more quietly. So criminals will now face the anti-crime unit. Members of these squads do not know one another, but have accurate information on the whereabouts of the most wanted criminals.

Barricades about his Army Fino: Berisha out of politics P. 4 OSCE and Council of Europe abandon the northern city Tropoja out of control P. 7