The Prime Minister meets with artists. The strikers return to the legal institutions Meta: The state’s “iron fist” is beginning Government representatives are not backing down from the threat pages 6–7

GAVROSH LEVONJA After several visits that were cancelled on the grounds of “weather conditions,” Tomas Pickering is the first senior American official to set foot in Albania since the events of 14 September 1998. Naturally, this fact has significantly increased the interest of Albania’s political class in the visit. This is because the American official’s assessments were eagerly awaited by both the government and the opposition, to be used as political capital. Thus, Mr. Pickering’s positive remarks about the government would be used by Meta and his team to counter Berisha’s campaign of recent days, while any observations and criticisms by the US Undersecretary of State directed at the government would soon become part of the opposition leader’s propaganda arsenal. But in this respect, Mr. Pickering’s visit brought disappointment to both sides of Albanian politics. It was as if he knew that every word of his would be turned into a weapon by Albanian politicians to fight one another. Mr. Pickering’s assessments were general, mentioning only in passing the things heard every day, which are a favorite topic of all foreign envoys who come to Albania. Above all, however, it was clear that the American official’s visit to Albania was connected to a much broader area than Albania itself. Indeed, it can be said that the purpose of that part of Pickering’s visit concerning Albania seemed to be to explore Albanian policy on developments in the region, especially with regard to the Stability Pact and its implementation. The Socialist leader Nano was undoubtedly the most realistic on this matter: he used his meeting with the US Undersecretary of State to present his ideas and initiatives for the Stability Pact, perhaps also because he sees himself as being in a more advanced position than the others. On the other hand, the official’s position and the American official’s particular interest in the city of Durrës were highly significant. This interest also followed statements made by US President Clinton about Albania’s largest port during the war in Kosovo. Such American interest in Durrës is connected to the fact that it is the terminal of Corridor 8, the main artery passing through the countries involved in the Stability Pact. But this openly expressed interest in Durrës and Corridor 8 may also be interpreted as a “tug on the ear” for official Tirana, and especially for those officials who promote and sign off on various so-called “corridors” to which they assign numbers or names.

Corridor 8, the government’s sure route Page 3

Police: The incident is linked to an old blood feud When Aleksandri, 8 years old and hungry, was pleading with his mother to hurry up with making the soup, whose aroma had spread through the kitchen, the Gjojakaj family’s peace came to an end. Noise and smoke burst brutally into the six-room home. Someone, driven by the instinct for revenge, destroyed everything and put the lives of six families and their parents at risk. Fortunately, no one lost their life, but it will be very difficult for the family to return to normal. Their sense of security was lost, in addition to other damage that can be repaired. The family, who had come from Tropoja, had built a life in Tirana without making many demands. The revenge, which may have begun somewhere else long ago, has also struck innocent children. page 11

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