Last night, the government decided to allocate the 12 million dollars donated by the US government to the Durrës-Kukës-Prishtinë motorway section page 3

By Gavrosh Levonja A few days ago, by proposing the organization of a roundtable on the Stability Pact, Nano was the first of the protagonists of Albanian politics to show that he had grasped the messages put forward by the very architects of this pact. According to them, when it comes to Albania, achieving the objectives cannot even be contemplated without cooperation between the government and the opposition—or, more precisely, without a PS-PD pact. The objectives of the Stability Pact cannot be achieved within a time span limited to one or two electoral terms. This fact alone is enough to compel the two giants of Albanian politics to sit down for talks and agree on the milestones for carrying out the tasks set out by the Stability Pact. The Socialists, as expected, have not only said they are ready to begin a dialogue with Berisha’s Democrats, but may even have prepared a draft platform to discuss with the PD leaders. In the PD camp, meanwhile, a certain hesitation is apparent. Perhaps its leaders fear some “trap” set by Nano. More likely, however, the PD leadership is waiting for Berisha to return before making its options public. Given the situation in the country, the difficulties facing the Socialists in governing, having been forced to bring their fourth government onto the scene, the growing consensus in favor of the opposition, and the West’s insistence on immediate PD-PS dialogue, the Democrats have an interest in accepting dialogue in any form, inside or outside the institutions, provided they are on equal footing with their opponents. Besides, this also accords with Berisha’s slogan of “struggle on all fronts.” By showing that he is a man of dialogue, Berisha would deflect the accusations directed at him following developments related to the PD’s recent congress. More than that, by depriving them of such a weapon, the “dissidents” in the PD would be definitively relegated to the background as an insignificant factor. As for the Socialists, Berisha has an opportunity to put his ideas and options to them; if they were not accepted, that would expose them, and the idea of dialogue would be revealed as nothing more than a farce. Given the wide range of issues covered by the Stability Pact, Berisha has an ideal opportunity to put back on the table the pact on public order or the one against corruption, once created by the leaders of the governing coalition. Under these circumstances, the response to the Democratic leader’s proposals is highly likely to create the conditions for a compromise, so strongly sought by the governing coalition and, at the same time, within both the governing coalition and the PD camp.

page 15 Last night, at the “Meta” government meeting: dismissals and appointments of deputy ministers. The season of new people in senior administration begins. The Deputy Minister of Transport, Pëllumb Vladi, accused by the State Audit, is dismissed. Once again, Meta’s hand has taken down several deputy ministers. Last night at the government meeting, the prime minister dismissed the Deputy Minister of Transport, Pëllumb Vladi, who has been accused by the State Audit of violating the law. He was replaced by economist Albert Çaqi, 36, who speaks several foreign languages. Last night, Prime Minister Meta said he would dismiss any official or minister for whom the State Audit (which belongs to the opposition) documents legal violations or provides evidence of corruption. Taulant Dedja, 32, was also appointed prefect of Tirana, while the well-known journalist Ben Blushi, 30, was appointed deputy minister of Foreign Affairs. Two deputy ministers of Health were also dismissed by the prime minister that evening, and only Gjergji Koja, 27, known as a capable administrator, was appointed deputy minister of Health. It is learned that within a few days the prime minister will review the work of several ministers who have been the subject of rumors, as well as that of three deputy ministers who have problems with the prosecution. If, Meta said, they are found to be tainted, he will dismiss them so that the prosecution can deal with them.