The selection of candidates causes the first casualties among the Socialists Minister: I know nothing about the incident; the meeting went very well page 5 —

By MARTIN LEKA In the end, it was proved that when politics does not sink to a grotesque level and does not become amateurish (as has often happened in Albania), not only does the standard of political governance rise, but so do the overall tangible results. The latest incident in the territorial waters of neighboring Italy, in which two Italian servicemen and one Albanian or clandestine migrant lost their lives, summed up the conclusion above. On the day the incident occurred, part of the Italian opposition used ultra-nationalist political rhetoric, going so far as to call for aid to Albania to be cut off. By coincidence, the incident took place just days before an announced visit to our country by Italian Prime Minister Xhuliano Amato. These circles in Italy raised questions and even applied pressure for the visit to be canceled. For its part, the Albanian Government and Diplomacy steered clear of emotional statements and did not fall into the trap the Italian opposition—seeking power in Italy—might have led them into. There was a tremendous media “hunger” in Italy to provoke statements from the highest-ranking Albanian state officials. And for what? Simply over an incident in which the three victims died following a collision between vessels, an event that took place in the waters of the neighboring country, and when it is known that recent bilateral efforts to stop trafficking have had admirable results. It is pointless to remind the Italian opposition and part of the press that we, like everyone else, grieve for every innocent person in this world who loses their life. These people, moreover while performing their duty, died needlessly. These people, moreover while performing their duty, deserve great attention at the cross of Christ. The Italian opposition and the irresponsible part of the media supporting it should know that three years ago an Italian vessel sank more than 80 innocent Albanians, not to mention other cases. We do not need to declare anyone innocent; more than that, it would be immoral to turn anyone into a statistic and, above all, it would be immoral to do so with the lives of innocent people. But why does this opposition and this part of the irresponsible press not cry out just as fiercely to demand that the Italian authorities liberalize visas?! Why don’t these people help their Albanian neighbors travel to Italy like human beings, instead of being discriminated against in endless queues outside embassy doors?! Do these people know where the lion’s share of the money from clandestine-migrant trafficking goes, and why don’t they denounce this fact?! That would be a civic service and would also help prevent thousands of innocent people, Albanian or Italian, from being robbed. Anyone can understand that Albania is not the center of trafficking. Anyone can and should understand that trafficking will continue for as long as Albania and Italy exist. The question is how we can all help avert tragic consequences, such as the one in recent days. The Albanian and Italian governments showed that this is possible. The Albanian and Italian governments showed that they know how to work more for the future than for the past or the present. In two days, even if someone, openly or behind the scenes, in Italy or Albania did not want it, Italian Prime Minister Amato will be the friend of our Prime Minister, Meta.

Bujar Bukoshi, former Prime Minister of Kosovo, sponsors a campaign by part of the Italian press against the official authorities of Albania. Journalist Elisabeta Burba of the magazine “Panorama” is part of the smear campaign for political purposes The head of the mafia is in Rome, while its hands are in Vlora Even after the latest incident in the waters of the Otranto, as has often happened, the accusations fell on the “Albanian mafiosi,” as well as on some of the protagonists of Albanian politics, whose names are mentioned from time to time in the Italian media as being involved in illegal trafficking. While, so far, evidence and concrete facts have been lacking regarding specific names in Albanian politics, it would be a grave mistake to categorically generalize such a possibility. (continued on page 7) Goodbye, RSH license plates! Page 9