In the Albanian game, the intelligence agencies of the great powers. “Top secret” information from SHIK on the Government’s table . Page 2

The return of explosions in Gjirokastër showed once again that politics has been completely defeated by crime. Indeed, the attack against the local headquarters of the PS in that city was also interpreted as an act of revenge by the criminal underworld against the state’s latest measures against smuggling and other crimes. It would be unfair to burden the officers fighting crime with accusations over this, since even if some progress has been made compared with the first months of last year, it is solely thanks to their commitment, self-sacrifice and professionalism. In reality, the accused in the face of the challenge crime is posing to society at this moment is politics. The relations between government and opposition, which are constantly strained, and the unscrupulous struggle waged by Albanian political forces, dominated by a spirit of conflict that inevitably affects the country’s entire life, are in fact the main catalysts inspiring crime in all its forms. In its efforts to regain power as soon as possible, the PD makes no secret of its interest in preventing the current government from achieving its objectives, the foremost of which is restoring law and order. In this respect, several leading figures in the PD do not hesitate to obstruct the government’s efforts to return the country to normality. By making appeals related to not handing in weapons or to other forms of disobedience, they inevitably encourage a tendency to disrespect state institutions, one of the main factors creating fertile ground for crime to flourish. However, it would be a grave mistake to think that all responsibility rests with the PD and its leaders. Other political forces, especially those in the governing coalition, have not only failed to act together against crime, but have also played a part in politicizing the issue, which benefits their opponents more than anyone. On the other hand, a certain reluctance to speak out firmly against some protagonists of the criminal underworld and to act energetically raises doubts about the opposition’s claims that government officials are collaborating with gangs or committees. And as if that were not enough, various government officials, thinking they own the state structures as private property, appoint or dismiss police officials without giving it much thought or worrying that they are undermining its work—something that could even lead to a worsening of the scenarios of last year’s May.

The ruins of the Gjirokastër PS headquarters after it was blown up with 30 kg of TNT. Photo: Reuter

Tense meeting of the PS parliamentary group Majko: I will resign Socialist MPs: “We can no longer talk to our ministers. The thugs guarding them won’t let you. We come here to be held accountable for the fight against crime.” The Socialists’ main concern was summed up yesterday in a sentence by MP Servet Pëllumbi: “When people told Chilean President Salvador Allende that Pinochet’s men had taken up arms and would overthrow him by force, he was not worried, saying he had the people’s vote behind him. Only when the dictator’s forces entered the palace did he remember to take up a weapon, but it was too late.” Pëllumbi spoke at a meeting marked by unease and tension over the climate of terror created in the country. P. 3

The PD leader is absent from the meeting with ambassadors in Tirana P. 5

Two helicopters and 200 police officers in the major cigarette operation P. 7

Secret operatives in neighboring countries will provide information about goods P. 7

Tests detect the virus. The number of people affected reaches four P. 10

Elbasan: One dead and two in hospital. The mystery of the deadly liquid P. 10

Foreign intelligence services inform Tirana: “An organization of an ISLAMIC state finds partners in Albania for anarchy”