The uproar over Greek espionage in Albania’s state structures continues. The Prime Minister denies the infiltration of Greek agents, while the opposition provides facts and specific names “Milo is a legacy of the State Security Service. Imami is the man who was tasked in ’97 with proclaiming the Southern Federation in cooperation with Major Panajot Barka” page 3

The idea of delegating to the grassroots the authority to select candidates who will compete for local government is undoubtedly a highly significant step in the development of democratic concepts and their implementation. Looking at it purely pragmatically, simple logic suggests that local structures are much more accurate in identifying successful candidates than central governing forums, which find it difficult, if not impossible, to find the right people. On the other hand, having personally experienced the effects of a sound or mistaken selection, grassroots activists will soon give up horse-trading in this area, which greatly narrows the scope for the flourishing of the clan mentality that has characterized all Albanian political forces so far. Remnants of clan-based clashes have also appeared at some activities of PS and PD branches in various districts, where things have escalated to beatings and even the use of knives. As a result of the absence of diktats from the party “dome,” grassroots activists feel freed from a certain inhibition about taking action. And this soon leads to the breaking of anachronistic concepts inherited from the past, such as the cultivation and worship of cults, the tendency to wait for the “leaders from the center” even for the most trivial things, etc. Secondly, and more importantly, the tendency to transfer as much authority as possible to the grassroots sets them in motion, making the electorate more responsive to political developments and more cohesive, thereby developing a normal party life. Nevertheless, at the current stage, not everything in this regard can be considered without a degree of caution from the center. Since the current practice of leaving candidate selection to the grassroots is closer to an experiment than a routine action, irregularities in carrying out the procedures are entirely to be expected. Even if the gangs in local structures mentioned above are nothing more than a consequence of this. And if there is talk of “intervention from above,” it should be limited solely to ensuring that procedures are followed.

Page 19 The nine Brazilians who arrived yesterday for Albert Xhani’s Partizani

Yesterday, police arrested the peacekeeper together with his sister He had been with the Turkish Company in Albania during the Kosovo War page 6