410 cases of cigarettes discovered in coastal caves Page 2

BY TEODOR KEKO The Albanian press gave considerable space to the Nano-PS conflict in Parliament over the article on the Budget. Regardless of how such a conflict may be interpreted, it is a matter of concern. The budget is the most tangible issue for a people, because it is the poor who pay, and the concern of every governing team begins here. Yet the debate in Parliament between the government and the head of their party degenerates when the people (not their electorate!) see that politics disregards the money paid by the people—that is, when politics kicks aside the budget we have paid for. When a people pays, you must explain things to them. All the more so when they are being asked to pay extra taxes for law and order! In theory, we also have a whole host of government spokespeople who offer no explanation as to why senior justice officials, people of particular importance for whom we pay—or to whom we, as a people, demand accountability when they do not do their jobs properly—are removed from their posts, placed at the disposal of others, and so on. Could it happen in a European country that the chief of police in Shkodër (after a month and a few days on the job), or the chief of police in Tirana, is dismissed or resigns without the relevant ministries telling the people a word about why these changes were made? In the world, this is called madness! In the world, it is also called madness when taxpayers are given no account of how they are governed, even when the smallest reprimands are issued. What is happening here? Could it be that this Government, too, is based on CLANS? Could these thoughtful young men and women also believe that it is better to work with a friend than with a state employee? If so, then this Government, too, will have neither a future nor a reputation, nor our support, nor any strength to inspire optimism. The state apparatus is not in the hands of this, that, or whichever ministers may come along. Our ministers must respect those who pay. From now on, our ministers must be transparent with us if they want to have a state, because the person who fights crime directly, not by measuring women’s skirts, is paid by us, is accountable to us, and must be protected—or punished—transparently! They must not be profiteers! Nor avengers, nor judges from the time of Ali Pasha and the state apparatus. Naturally, if they want a state!

PD Chairman Sali Berisha, at yesterday’s rally in the capital, despite having flu, called for early solutions — REUTERS photo

TIRANA Azem Hajdari is also proclaimed an “Honorary Citizen” in Tirana. He received this title posthumously in several districts, including the city of Vlora. Yesterday marked exactly forty days since the murder of one of the foremost figures and leaders of Albanian pluralism in 1990. The memorial ceremony for the Democratic Party deputy, marking 40 days since his death, was held in one of the halls of the International Centre of Culture in the capital. Tirana Mayor Albert Brojka proclaimed Deputy Hajdari an “Honorary Citizen.” PD figures, Azem Hajdari’s relatives, other members of the municipal council, and many Democratic Party supporters attended. Despite the fact that this was a memorial day for the Democratic Party deputy, all those present in their speeches (and especially the senior PD leaders) once again continued to accuse former Prime Minister Fatos Nano of being the mastermind behind this heinous crime. But while they accused Fatos Nano, they also insistently demanded that the real perpetrators of this heinous crime be found and brought to justice. E.H.

PS press conference Nano: I am right about the constitution “I will continue to allow people to speak” Page 3

PDK decision Bushati out of politics After the referendum, the democrat leaves the party Page 4

STRASBOURG - On Thursday, the European Parliament decided to award the 1998 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to Kosovo Albanian leader Ibrahim Rugova. The nomination for the prize, which will be awarded in December, was made by the Christian Democratic European People’s Party group. Rugova was chosen by the conference of presidents of the Parliament’s political groups from among three people: Turkish human rights activist Akin Birdal and Kosovo professor Ukshin Hoti. Previous winners of this prize, worth 18,000 dollars, include Nelson Mandela, Sung San Suu Kyi, leader of the National League for Democracy in Myanmar, and Chinese dissident writer Wei Jingsheng. The European People’s Party put forward Rugova’s candidacy on the grounds that “since 1989 he has campaigned for the peaceful resolution of the apartheid regime imposed on Kosovo by the Serbs.”

CROSSWORD “100 THOUSAND LEKË (new lekë)” CROSSWORD 100 THOUSAND LEKË (new lekë) Whoever solves 26 crosswords in a row wins the grand subscription PAGE 31