The leaders of the SP and the government descended yesterday on the “stubborn” city The socialist leader signs the “entry form” for the democratic leader page 3 The leaders of the SP and the government descended yesterday on the “stubborn” city Nano marches in Vlora: Now let Berisha come too The socialist leader signs the “entry form” for the democratic leader page 3

Keida Kостreci Not much time has passed since the OSCE Ambassador in Tirana, Ahrens, declared that “it would be a catastrophe for the U-

Blood feud

Not much time has passed since the OSCE Ambassador in Tirana, Ahrens, declared that “it would be a catastrophe for Albania if this year’s local elections failed.” Keida Kostreci Albania if this year’s local elections failed.” The message was clear and implied that these elections are also the last opportunity the Albanian political class has to demonstrate its responsibility and not deprive Albania of Western support. Nevertheless, following Ahrens’s statement, there have been no signs of any easing in the country’s overall political climate. While the country’s two main political forces, the SP and the DP, are very busy quarrelling with each other—the quarrels being the core of their local election campaigns—a fortunate coincidence, if it did not resolve matters definitively, would at least increase the chances of a solution that would serve the interests of Albanians. Perhaps it was chance that brought Ambassador Ahrens and the President of Albania, Rexhep Meidani, to visit the United States at the same time, albeit for different reasons. A meeting between them, perhaps in one of the offices of the prestigious international institutes in the USA, away from the tensions that characterize the pre-election period in Albania, is quite possible. Both could take advantage of the opportunity of “neutral ground” to discuss all the problems of the electoral process, bearing in mind, on the one hand, the full mandate the International Community has given the OSCE Chief in Tirana to assist with the local elections and, on the other, Meidani’s constitutional role in appointing the Central Election Commission. The composition of this commission is also the reason the opposition is citing to boycott participation in the process. Ahrens has been invited to take part in the Albanian Forum organized by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., which will be held on 4 May. Meidani, meanwhile, invited by the East-West Institute in New York, headed by the Finn Ahtisaari, will travel to the USA on 1 May for a meeting where Kosovo will be discussed in particular. Although their meeting is not included in the official agendas, favorable winds for resolving Albania’s complicated problems—which in many cases have been initiated by the United States—as well as both sides’ willingness to talk away from Albania’s confrontational atmosphere, could pave the way for an informal meeting that would nevertheless be very fruitful for the future of the electoral process. The composition of the KOZ is the Achilles’ heel of an almost-normal electoral process. It would not be surprising if Ahrens and Meidani discussed the possibility of “removing” the current names included on the commission and creating a commission with new names. A meeting between Meidani and Ambassador Ahrens to discuss the KOZ would also be quite possible in Tirana. But it seems that even if it were held in Albania, it would be unlikely to satisfy the opposition, which is eager to find reasons to refuse. Thus, an American presence, even if only as a geographical backdrop, would deprive the opposition of the “social commission” card as well as the opportunity to challenge it.

The blood avenger had ambushed him as he was on his way to school page 11

September 14 The “bigwigs” who refuse to testify page 9

Tirana/Hygiene Soldiers in action for the cleanup page 18

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