The Prosecutor’s Office seized the bank account of the Albanian company that won the tender Massive fraud in collusion with the Italians The Prosecutor’s Office seized the bank account of the Albanian company that won the tender 1 million dollars stolen, state reports the thieves Massive fraud in collusion with the Italians page 7

MENTOR KIKIA It seems that the Balkans have not yet finished with war. After the end of the battle for Kosovo, Montenegro is now the last “bone” over which NATO and Belgrade will clash. While Kosovo, as US President Clinton informed the Kosovars, now has the battle for peace left to win, the people of Montenegro still have to win the battle of war. The interest shown by UNHCR in Shkodra two days ago in the situation at the refugee camps, and its warning to prepare for a new influx of refugees from Montenegro, had nothing diplomatic about them. It was simply preparation. But could there really be a second war in the Balkans? Until what happened in Kosovo a year ago had happened, this could not be believed; now it seems to be simply a repetition of “procedures.” A year ago, everyone warned that the war in Kosovo would intensify in the spring. Now it seems that Montenegro’s spring is also approaching. But will this be the end of the wars in the Balkans? It is not desirable that this should be the end of the Yugoslav “empire” and, with it, the end of a Russian dream of reaching the Adriatic. But what will happen to Macedonia, the phantom state that until now has been kept alive with injections from the United States of America? And Greece, the state that is what it is today thanks to US economic aid, and which, throughout the war in Kosovo, sided with the Serbs and Russians—will it be “punished,” according to the victors’ rules? It is difficult not to speculate about what will happen in the region where we live, but one thing is certain. Serbia will lose Montenegro as well; Greece, it is said, after the position it took, should in no way be rewarded with control over most of the trafficking and the market in Albania. It is not known what lies behind Prime Minister Meta’s statement during his visit to Greece, about discussing the Cham issue. But for Athens this was not unexpected. Although Albania has regarded Greece as a trade partner, our southern neighbor seems to have become more than a partner. It has become a master, at least in trade. After the war in Kosovo, economic and strategic relations do not seem to be what had been anticipated. Bill Clinton, three hours after the bombing began on 24 March last year, spoke to Americans from the Aviano base and said: “I am not asking you to approve; this is my decision. I want you to understand me. The United States does not want a decision of mine. I want you to understand me, the United States does not want a Balkans at war; we want a Balkans at peace, a Balkans that is also a partner, where we can sell our products.” So, it seems there is still work to be done in the Balkans...

Page 11 Ministers Shuli, Angjeli and Poçi at yesterday’s meeting photo P. ILO

The surprise operation by the Public Order forces causes panic Police checks sometimes end tragically even for completely innocent people. A guard died of fright when a squad of policemen with black hoods on their heads “stormed” the institution he was guarding to carry out an inspection. The heart of the “poor” guard, a father of five, stopped beating last night when some people with black hoods and automatic weapons in their hands appeared before him. This time they were not the masks of robbers, but police forces who, according to a plan, had undertaken to inspect quite a number of buildings and areas in Tirana. When the hooded men appeared in front of the “Palace of Pioneers” building, the night guard suffered a severe heart attack and died on the spot. Page 8