“Privatization of mobile phones, everything that could be achieved” The German Chancellor achieves the aim of his visit to Albania. Albanian-German friendship blossoms page 3

After receiving criticism in the Socialist Party parliamentary group over the “one-sided” arrests of criminal gangs, the Ministry of Public Order is preparing a list of arrests of the “blue gangs.” Prosecutors’ officials also said yesterday, without calling the gangs arrested so far Socialist Party gangs, that the police should also act against those from the Democratic Party who are wanted in connection with September 14. The debate in the group of Socialist MPs, which had in fact been prompted by their solidarity with the police’s work, has brought to the fore a problem that has been discussed for some time. Do criminals get a trial or not? Minister Poçi himself has said that everyone is the same to the police. But it has not turned out quite that way. Socialist Party people have labeled some of the gang figures who have now ended up behind bars as “ours.” And they have not been pleased that other bandits, who do not belong to their pink camp, are still free. And this is true. But it is a truth that now reveals a great deal. It seems criminals and gangs have a political armor. In fact, during election campaigns in the spring of 1997, as well as before and after, many politicians—red, pink, blue, or whatever other color—were seen in public accompanied by people their fellow citizens knew as “the tough guys of the town.” They became even tougher after their “bosses” took up high-ranking state positions. The political affiliation of gangs was being discussed as early as the major clashes between the groups in Vlorë. Everyone in this city admits that Kakami, Gaxhai and Zani had become enemies, not simply over the division of areas of influence. But soon after they armed themselves, they began to serve as a shield and a source of support for different political forces. Zani with the current governing coalition, while Kakami with the Democratic Party. And by now the outcome of all this hostility is known. Apart from Zani and Gaxhai, who are in prison, nearly all the others making up the gangs have been killed. And with them, many innocent people who happened to be in the fighting zone. On many occasions the Democratic Party protested the police’s arrest of its “activists”—“activists” who were nothing but perpetrators of crimes. Meanwhile, the other camp accused the Democratic Party of “protecting criminals.” But regardless of the latest pink-side complaint about only their own gangs being arrested, it seems to show that the real gangs are not those who have committed or are committing armed rampages in the streets.

Monika e Hajdaragës Page 27 Only Berisha used to bar “KJ” journalists from the Palace of Brigades Majko excludes the newspaper “Koha Jonë” from the meeting with the German Chancellor Last night, the leading newspapers and television stations in Albania took part in the meeting held at the Palace of Brigades, invited by Prime Minister Majko to meet German Chancellor Schröder. Only the newspaper “Koha Jonë,” radio “KOHA” and TV “KOHA” were not allowed to attend, because Majko had ordered that his relocation be postponed so that no invitation would be issued to the “Koha Jonë” media company, since it had published facts about the prime minister’s involvement in the legal dispute over the brick factory in Vorë. Of course, it is regrettable that we were not allowed to take part in the meeting with the German Chancellor, at least to congratulate him for his position in favor of the Kosovo issue during NATO’s attacks. Berisha himself excluded the newspaper “Koha Jonë” in the years 92–97, although we invite Majko to put aside his grudge against “Koha Jonë,” since the matter has now been referred to the General Prosecutor’s Office, which is investigating the “Majko and the brick factory in Vorë” scandal. If we were to use the same logic as Majko, then “Koha Jonë” would do nothing to cover the activities of our still-green prime minister, whose employment booklet lists only the words: “Prime Minister of Albania,” since he has never worked in any other jobs. Monika e Hajdaragës. Page 27.