Gravediggers make a horrifying discovery. Newborns disappear from the maternity hospital They were listed as dead, but the coffins were empty... Page 7

BY RIDVAN PESHËKËPIA When Pandora’s Box was opened, along with the issue of changes in Fatos Nano’s government, the issue of scale also emerged. A group of politicians from the SP and various publicists pointed their fingers at everyone who spoke and thought differently. They also pointed their fingers at allied politicians and parties, telling them more or less: “Quiet, you’re small”! Albanian megalomania has had more than one opportunity to show its ugliness, but this time, when it happened among friends and allies who have been working together for some time, it seems especially ugly. The bad thing is that here we have always “honored” and “respected” whoever is physically strong, even though they may be empty-headed. This little point leads parties, in order to look as strong as possible, to recruit as many members as they can and, instead of filling political discussion halls with ideas, to try to fill them with as many applauders as possible. Having many followers in politics is a positive thing and an indicator, but it does not always depend on the merit of the leaders of that political force. What matters for leaders is how they know how to lead these ranks, and our not-so-distant history can testify that these “strongmen” of politics have often led the crowds following them into historical dead ends. Back when the SP had its tail between its legs, neither the Democratic Alliance nor the Social Democratic Party seemed like small parties, and the Socialists often visited their offices, consulting with them as physical equals. Even when it came to establishing the Forum for Democracy, physical dimensions were forgotten. I find it shameful that the coalition parties, after only 8 months of governing together, should withdraw from changes, call them normal and open to discussion, and turn them into a threat to one another. We accept change as a philosophy of life, but what we do not accept is arrogance. Certainly, it would have been desirable for the PBD to have received more votes in the last elections, but in an imaginably conservative Albania, the penetration of liberal democracy will take time. We joined the governing coalition to work and speak as we know how. That, after all, is our identity. Ultimately, it is also a responsibility toward all those who have placed their trust in us. We valued the coalition, gave it our thoughts and our hearts; no decorations were needed for that—we thought we were doing something good for the country. Meanwhile, our “great” friends should not forget the relativity of phenomena in this world, all the more so in politics, where yesterday’s great ones are a little—or nothing—today, and vice versa. What matters is that we are trying to bring into Albanian politics a spirit and ideas that have not been represented before. And all of this remains more important than the party’s initial result under Evor.

Page 3 Prime Minister Fatos Nano, who yesterday issued an ultimatum to the ministers. Photo: GENT SHKULLAKU

Sunday, 12 April: two performances in one day At last, after all those announcements, “Koha Jonë” is organizing two performances for Albanian emigrants on Sunday, 12 April. The large troupe of 53 Albanian artists includes some of the best-known performers: Ardit Gjebrea, the winner of two festivals Elsa Lila, the student and prolific singer Aurela Gace, the distinctive voice Aleksandër Gjoka, the charming singer Redon Makashi, the singer of “Banana” Dashnor Diko, the little girl who is beginning to attract a myriad of fans, Bleona Qerreti, the young woman from Lezha, or, in other words, “Djemtë e Detit,” the artist Merituar Mirush Kabashi; not forgetting the well-known singer Irini Qirjako and the promising newcomer Artiola Toska. All of this is interwoven with the dance group of the Song and Dance Ensemble. They will all be accompanied by the exceptional presenters Koço Devole, Agron Llakaj and Pranvera Veizi. Meanwhile, paradoxically, e Vlorës and Çekja e Beratit will be the “dessert” of Sunday’s two performances. Today they set off for Athens accompanied by a police escort, which will see them through to Kaka[v?]jë.

Counterfeit dollars have flooded Albania Alert: USD 5 million P. 6 Yesterday Parliament repealed the law against the PK Communists legalized P. 5 Police headquarters attacked; the chief also targeted Kukës, terror at the police station P. 11 Six people leave the Governing Council RTV, former chiefs resign P. 2 Final date set for local elections Local elections, voting in June P. 2