More than 40 socialists heading toward extreme action. Meeting with Prime Minister Nano expected “Local leaders must leave the party leadership. They are nepotistic too, like PD” More than 40 socialists heading toward extreme action. Meeting with Prime Minister Nano expected Vlorë, PS on hunger strike “Local leaders must leave the party leadership. They are nepotistic too, like PD” Page 3

As soon as the European troika had left, Berisha, at one of his routine rallies, spoke in favor of defending the options of a technical government and early elections, options categorically rejected by the European parliamentarians. But no more than three days had to pass before the leader of PD publicly agreed to his party’s return to parliament and its participation in the process of drafting the constitution. Also, two days ago, the leadership of PD took another step by suggesting that the National Council reconsider the decision made some time earlier, as a result of which it had remained outside parliament for months. Yet yesterday, when public opinion had come to believe that PD’s entry into parliament was a done deal, Berisha, while expressing support for the troika’s positions, informed public opinion that he had asked all PD branches to work to create the conditions for implementing the technical-government option, which should normally be followed by early elections. It is clear that in this way the Democratic leader seeks, on the one hand, to lull the outside world while, at home, he does not want to waste time in shortening the life of the coalition government. Such a two-sided position by Berisha, if conducted somewhat skillfully, could be considered normal, since a politician must be prepared for all the possible scenarios that may arise in the future. It should not be forgotten that Berisha is a politician who uses surprise effectively, but now, without power, he is almost deprived of such a weapon. Among other things, by keeping alive the idea of a technical government and new elections, Dr. Berisha aims to preserve the combative spirit and militancy within his party, which make his preferred instruments of political struggle effective. Yet, by continuing to campaign for a technical government and early elections, the chairman of PD is in a sense seeking to preserve his standing intact after the spectacular U-turn he made in bringing the party back to parliament. In fact, the way he is operating to fulfill the troika’s commitment brings to mind “Penelope’s pigeon.” It would not be surprising if, in this national article, Berisha floated the idea of extending this issue through his party branches as well, in order to “respect democratic norms.” In any case, even if one day Berisha takes his seat in the parliamentary chamber, that does not mean he will sit quietly.

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“We are being sabotaged, intervene.” Nano and Meidani summon Legjisi

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Meidani: UN

The prosecutor signs: the post commander and the tank driver are detained Kučovë, two in handcuffs for the massacre? A major operation over the incident in which 9 people were killed last June. Charges: terrorist acts and participation in gangs Prosecutor’s Office sources say that 30 people were implicated in this incident, including 10 military personnel who had links to two gangs, the one from Ura Vajgurore and the one from Kuçovë. During this period, 150 people will be questioned, and the investigation’s conclusions are expected to take around 3 months. These sources add that other state agencies are also implicated in this incident. F 9

The President of VEFA Company, Vehbi Alimuçaj, sued yesterday at the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office Photo BLEND ÇOTA

OUR WORLD with 32 pages F 2 The President meets Secretary-General Kofi Annan Meidani: The UN, always in Albania F 4 The unexpected decision by court member Alfred Karamuço Constitutional Court: Judge suspends himself F 4 Secret documents at the Ministry of the Interior Terrorism, the alarm as early as 1994 F 2 Shehu, Gazidede and Zhulali on the list of those responsible Ngjela closes the ’97 file F 7 COMING SOON OUR WORLD with 32 pages