The DP deputies who oppose Berisha’s practices are not leaving the party, but will insist on taking over its leadership page 4

The impassioned speeches devoted to the “unification of Kosovo’s Albanian factor,” repeated excessively in recent days by political circles here in Tirana, are viewed with a certain skepticism by the public—to say nothing of the suspicion that they are made to gain political capital. The reason for the public’s distrust of the Albanian political class in this regard is the divisions that exist not only between different political forces, but also within the parties themselves. The clearest example of divisions, accompanied by usually artificial conflicts but also connected with narrow problems that sometimes have nothing to do with politics, is the Socialist Party. The clashes of three years ago, which the public welcomed enthusiastically as a sign of open debate and the confrontation of opposing ideas aimed at democratizing the party, have now, judging by the way they are unfolding, taken on the character of a sordid clan war. Instead of principled issues concerning the future of the country and the party itself, the conflicts between the party’s leading figures are essentially about the narrow interests of one group battling another. This has created the impression that the struggle for the party leadership is likewise connected precisely with this aim. The troubling thing is that, to achieve these aims, backroom dealings, intrigues, slander and denigration of one another are preferred, increasing to worrying proportions the alienation and distrust among Socialist supporters toward their leadership. Thus, the leaders of the largest party in the governing coalition spend almost all their energy trying to “dig each other’s graves,” tripping one another up or stabbing each other in the back, when it would be better to devote all this energy to much nobler purposes. In other words, Nano, Majko and Meta should unite, naturally by means of new approaches. This is all the more imperative when they face a powerful clan within the Coalition, one that also casts a presidential shadow, and when Berisha is growing stronger and preparing to attack the government. Once, emancipation in the SP meant a diversity of views and factions within the party; today, it seems that the time has come for this emancipation to mean tolerance within the party, and the ability to reach honest compromises that serve everyone. For example, it would not be bad at all if Nano’s path back to the party leadership were closed, on the condition that he give up his ambitions to head the government for a relatively long time, guaranteeing “calm” governance by the Majko-Meta duo, while also renewing certain aspects of government—in other words, removing some mediocre and corrupt ministers, who are no longer aligned with anyone, neither Meta nor Nano, nor Meta. Those ministers belong to the world of the mafia and theft, and they could put the entire government at risk. It is much sadder to have Nano, Majko and Meta united than a divided trio that attacks one another and wastes its energy for nothing.

A NATO soldier assembling the parts of a missile that will be fired at Belgrade photo REUTERS

Fino: Nano party leader, Majko prime minister (interview) pages 16–17 Here are the ministers who will leave the Majko cabinet page 3 Socialists: Unite, otherwise

we’ll thrash you to within an inch of your lives page 2 Speedboat smugglers threaten the police: “Let us through, or there’ll be a fight” page 7 Police assure the trader: “We’ll catch Kაკamin” page 10

Arrests imminent for ten trading companies page 8 Sunday supplement: culture, fashion, youth, entertainment, amusement, humor pages 21–31