Creditors’ representatives: Begin immediately returning the remaining money Page 4

After a more or less lengthy pause, today Fatos Nano, former chairman of the SP and former prime minister of the country, returns to the parliamentary chamber. At first glance, this fact does not constitute any significant event, especially since Nano is not at the podium today but seated in the chamber as an ordinary deputy, only later to recycle almost the entire leadership staff of the SP and the government. Nevertheless, given the calendar of political events in the country, and first and foremost within the SP, this return of the man who led the main grouping of the left wing may personify the beginning of his decisive battle to regain the ground he himself gave up a short time ago. In fact, Nano, disillusioned with his party’s forums over the challenge of reform—a matter that was also one of the main reasons for his resignation—had warned that “after this he would seek to win the consensus of the party base.” However, it would be a mistake to think that a politician like Nano would accomplish this through meetings and rallies in cities and villages or by staying “cheek by cheek with the people.” The former Socialist chairman has in fact shown that he cannot stomach political forms and methods based on populism or fanatical militancy. He has always preferred to conduct political battles at tables and in institutions, adhering to the line of normal politics and precisely respecting the rules of the democratic game. Otherwise, it is no coincidence that he chose parliament, the most important institution. By taking his seat in the parliamentary chamber today, Nano seems, first of all, to be definitively invalidating all the hypotheses and assumptions concerning his permanent departure from political life. On the other hand, he may have chosen parliament as the first stop on a march that he hopes will take him all the way to the head of the party, since here he feels freer from the suffocating atmosphere of the SP forums and the machinations of the various clans within it. Moreover, news from the SP offices indicates that the leaders of these clans have drawn up plans and prepared various platforms to “settle scores” with opposing groups and, above all, to definitively sideline the man who is trying to give a new lease of life to this political formation, weighed down by the “sins” of the past. It would not be surprising if, seeing the former Socialist chairman in the parliamentary chamber, his opponents were forced to change their plans, although most Socialists, in times of crisis, want to get some promotion in the customs service from those in power, while at night they look up and pray, “we are with you, Mr Chairman.” If Nano does not now make a clear distinction and selection in assembling a staff of serious people with public standing, then there is no point in relying on the groups, even though voices are saying that Majko and Nano are moving toward an understanding—though in any case with Nano as chairman and Majko as prime minister.

President Meidani’s political adviser, Preç Zogaj, speaks about the latest developments in Kosovo . “Tirana helps, advises, makes suggestions, but does not impose. Kosovo is not a matter of rivalry between Albania and Serbia, as Belgrade wants to portray it.” Official Tirana has not denied that it has communicated publicly with the political wing of the Kosovo Liberation Army, but on the other hand it does not accept that it has commanded it. Preç Zogaj, Political Adviser to President Meidani, explained to “KJ” yesterday Albania’s role in resolving the Kosovo issue and the Presidency’s position during the negotiations with Kosovo’s political leaders. Page 7

Deputy Prime Minister Ilir Meta being advised by Janullatos. Photo: Leonard Filopati