“Unimplemented reforms and major backwardness” The new European Commission rejects the project for imminent accession page 3

The most positive aspect of the Albanian government’s overall activity over these past few months is the policy it has pursued toward Kosovo. Of course, the stance of the international factor has also played a part here, thanks to which suitable ground has been created that is visibly favoring the strengthening of all-round ties between Prishtina and Tirana. Thus, the government headed by Majko, despite the extremely difficult problems at home, compounded by its lack of experience, is paying considerable attention to developments in Kosovo and acting realistically. With the departure of Serbian power structures and the absence of Kosovo Albanian institutions, as regards the functioning of the mechanisms of a normal state, it must be said that a large vacuum has been created. Although Kosovo is now under international administration, it would be naive to think that the structures of the UN, OSCE or NATO would be able to direct and control every cell of life there. Kosovo naturally needs specialists in various fields, such as education, etc., but it also needs assistance that its mother country can provide better than anyone else. Majko has seized precisely this opportunity to launch an offensive toward Kosovo to fill the vacuum created by recent developments. Only a short time ago, at a meeting with Albanian education specialists, he called for work to begin on unifying the education system in Albania and Kosovo, starting with textbooks and educational curricula and, above all, by creating the conditions for teachers from Albania to go and work in Kosovo. Following such a step, it has now recently been learned that it has been requested that citizens from Albania go to Kosovo to practise their professions in resolving issues there, and even to adapt Albanian legislation. Such a trend, which could also expand into other fields, is above all in the service of the future, constituting an investment in the homogenization of the Albanian factor. Undoubtedly, the idea of the Albanian corridor Durrës-Prishtinë also serves this purpose. Of course, the realization of all these initiatives aimed at bringing Albanians closer together depends on other factors, primarily the international one and the circumstances that will take shape in the region in the future.

Page 7 Zani, heading for Tirana with a sack over his head

FRESH owner Bezhani escapes by chance A three-man gang attacked him as he was returning from the bank with 60 million lekë in the car. After the first volley of shots, Bezhani ended up off the road, while the bandits pursued him, shooting without pause. A police van that happened to pass nearby was his good fortune: it had been flashing its lights at them for several minutes and saved him from the hundreds of bullets fired at him. But it seems the trackers of the millions were not professional robbers, since the arrival of the police immediately neutralized their attack, while they themselves became victims. page 12

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