From Durrës to Vlora, dozens of roadblocks to prevent hundreds of Berisha supporters Leader of the DP: “If they stop me on the road, I’ll come in by speedboat from the sea” pages 2–4

ENTON ABILEKAJ The failure of the agreement on Vlora was no surprise. For a week, no understanding was reached, and now what will happen today has slipped out of the politicians’ control. Foreign diplomats are once again going beyond the call of duty, making their way to the city of Independence to establish peace and make the State function. Everyone except the ambassadors has taken up arms, and today has suddenly become one of the key moments for the country’s future. A great deal will be decided from today onward about the fate of the local elections and the fate of Albania. A few uncontrolled bullets could take us back to bad times and leave us once again without a future, again under the tutelage of others. Today, with the politicians having failed, everything depends on the citizens of Vlora or on the diplomats. Those who will begin Sunday by going to the Babicë cemetery to remember those who were alive three years ago are the main protagonists. They bear the heavy responsibility of respecting a flawed State; they have the difficult task of rising above themselves, of not seeking revenge at the expense of Albania’s fate; everyone else is counting on them to avert what they themselves would not want under different circumstances. If this does not happen, then others will continue to resolve everything for us. If the guns are fired, the ambassadors will once again go beyond their duties and play the role of the government in a State that has elected its own government. If there is no peace, voting will be pointless, because the vote would no longer bring real governance or a strong State. Once again in Flag Square. After 88 years, everything has returned to the place where Independence was proclaimed. Because very little has changed since then. Weapons continue to take the place of words, petty matters continue to sideline principles, illegal interests continue to overshadow the national interest, and foreigners continue to decide Albania’s course. And once again in Flag Square. It is up to the people of Vlora to proclaim Independence again; it is up to the victims to proclaim forgiveness again, for the sake of escaping the world’s tutelage and building the State themselves.

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Referee Luan Zylfo and Tomori president Ardian Çobo are killed page 10