The Prime Minister presents the program in parliament. The Constitution, law and order, the economy, emergency priorities Three-year program: Fight against smuggling, which was not eliminated by “Nano” The Prime Minister presents the program in parliament. The Constitution, law and order, the economy, emergency priorities Majko, a government with Friends Three-year program: Fight against smuggling, which was not eliminated by “Nano” Page 3

We are in a bad way, and yet we ask for the best. We see things getting better, and yet we do not believe. The paradox is among us. Why is this happening? First of all, let us judge what is good, what is best, and what is bad. Starting from the worst point, we seek what we can call “good” or “better.” Unfortunately, our point of reference was in the abyss of the crisis left by the fading regime in June 1997. Many people want to know what is happening now. This is precisely the phenomenon taking place: Albanian civil society and Albanian politics are changing their point of reference for comparing the good and the better—not from the abyss of the past, but from a more elevated vantage point. Reaching this point has two explanations: the first is the colossal effort made by the government, together with the governed, for more than a year; the second is based on the new conditions that have arisen recently. The first condition is the new government, which has slipped from the hands of mafiosi, smugglers, and anti-communists. No one can accuse this government, at least. The second condition is the Evil that has been heaped up excessively. Perhaps this is a little hard to understand. But if the regime that was lost in June 1997 had not gone beyond evil, we might not have believed how bad things were. Because that earlier evil brought Albania, as a “gift,” terrorism of the Islamic fundamentalist kind, the advanced world is now so aware of Albania. This must finally be understood seriously: this country cannot be left to become prey to terrorism of any kind. World power is involved in this great effort, along with us. Is that not at least another reason for hope?! Another condition is the global civic community’s effort to heal sick Albania. A few days ago, America’s President, Clinton, announced his initiative to create “Friends of Albania.” This initiative involves neither five nor five hundred friends, but entire Western states and institutions that carefully “surround” Albania. When has anything like this ever happened before? Why do we not believe, while we see things getting better? We do not believe because bad governance from 1992–1997 deceived people in order to destroy every last shred of their faith. Now there is fire and desire, and then to build the pillars of the state. But it will be done. We do not believe because politics and sociology do not know how to speak. People are being spoken to in a cynical and indifferent language. Those who speak here are merely intellectuals and illuminati. Unfortunately. We must believe in what is good, because that is how we are true and how we help it.

The American aircraft carrier Eisenhower sailing in Mediterranean waters during a NATO exercise Photo REUTERS

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