Manipulation of mandates at today’s Conference The campaign in the SP is heating up. The specter of manipulation emerges at the Tirana Conference page 3

DIPLOMATIKUS The US Deputy Secretary of Defense was scheduled to come to Albania. Minister Hajdaraga, the cameramen and public television were waiting at Rinas. Suddenly the news came: Clinton’s envoy would not come because there was “fog” in Shkup. Some time ago, when the Majko cabinet was expecting Holbrooke, the news also came from Shkup: “He isn’t coming because it’s ‘raining’ in Shkup,” despite the fact that this “rain” did not prevent his plane from taking off for Sarajevo. Strangely enough, Prime Minister Majko, in America, also answered one of the questions he was asked: “I’m waiting for the rain to stop.” A new element is becoming apparent in Albanian-American relations. The Americans, under the Majko cabinet, have begun playing the diplomacy of “bad weather—with fog or rain.” The paradox is even greater because the weather in Shkup “became foggy” (meteorologists said Sunday’s weather in Shkup had apparently been excellent), three days after Majko returned from America and spoke of the great “success” of his visit and that of his cabinet over the course of a year, counting 199 delegations that had visited Albania!! “Fog” prevented the 200th delegation from coming. But what lies behind American diplomacy with its “bad weather”? For a year now, Albanian officials have been meeting America’s highest-ranking leaders in Shkup, Sarajevo and Washington, but not in Tirana! How can we translate American diplomacy of “rainy or foggy weather” into Albanian? It could mean this: “You, Mr. Majko, Mr. Meidani or Mr. Milo, can come and meet us when we are at an international meeting, for example in Sarajevo, and we can shake your hand there. It’s up to you to interpret it as your success for propaganda purposes. You can come and meet us in a Balkan capital, for example in Shkup, when we invite you. But we cannot come to Albania because it is ‘raining in Tirana.’” So what is left for Majko and Milo after this? They should acknowledge that the diplomacy of “foggy or rainy” weather shows that the visit to America failed. They should acknowledge that American pragmatism seeks serious partners in Albania, not propaganda balloons claiming that “we are America’s main partners in the Balkans,” as the Albanian prime minister declared upon returning from America. Only then should they declare that America will abandon its “bad weather” diplomacy and visit Tirana even if there is snow and a storm. We hope Mr. Majko and Mr. Milo have finally understood this message.

page 3 Ferid Murati, the Nobel laureate who invented Viagra, greets President Meidani. Photo: L.F.

Former socialist leader Fatos Nano will visit Washington on October 29, after the SP congress. He will be accompanied by MP Malaj. Nano’s pro-American moves have sidelined the efforts of some of his opponents, who have attacked him on this point. It is learned that Nano will spend three days in the American capital. Asked last night by “KJ” about his visit to America, Nano said: “Americans are Albania’s best friends. Kosovo was the clearest example of this.”

The duel between Nano and Majko has entered its final stage, although the former socialist leader is ahead. Nevertheless, sources within the SP say that those who are neither with Majko nor with Nano are trying to persuade the deputy speaker of parliament, Mr. Namik Dokle, to run at the congress, although the latter has not yet given a definite answer. The majority believes that Dokle’s candidacy, as someone known to be anti-Nano and to have an unblemished record in politics, could immediately threaten Prime Minister Majko, but also Nano. Dokle, who last year was proposed by President Meidani as prime minister in place of Mako, is known for his firm positions and opposition to corruption under the Nano and Majko governments. However, if Dokle runs on Sunday, both candidates so far could be at risk, which could lead to a new government, but with neither Majko nor Nano as head of the SP. Sources within the SP say that the candidacy of Brokaj, as well as Dokle, would automatically bring about Majko’s departure from the scene, but would also definitively jeopardize the future of the former socialist leader. It is thought that in the first round neither Nano nor Dokle can win, although it is not yet known whom Ilir Meta will back: the current prime minister’s office, or the prime minister of tomorrow. It is learned that Nano has said: “I can work with Meta or with Dokle as prime minister, but in no way with Majko.”