Great tension yesterday in Tropoja, where, after many years, a prime minister dares to enter for a rally The political situation grows more tense after the incident in Fier, where an attempt could have been made on Berisha’s life Great tension yesterday in Tropoja, where, after many years, a prime minister dares to enter for a rally Meta challenges Berisha and Nano in Tropoja The political situation grows more tense after the incident in Fier, where an attempt could have been made on Berisha’s life page 3

BY FRROK ÇUPI Look what happened to me two or three days ago: I was travelling toward Durrës. At the entrance to Plepave, “a police sign ordered” stop “. The policeman comes over and asks for the documents. Here are the documents - You have broken the rules, sir. - Which rule? - I’m telling you that you’ve broken... - Then act according to the rules and the law, officer. - I’ll impound the car. - Impound it, if you have grounds; here are the keys. - No, I won’t impound it. - Then— - No, you’re not going, I won’t let you. A fine. - Then give me the fine notice; I have to continue my journey. - No, you won’t continue, and there is no fine either. - Who are you to behave like this in the name of the state? I ask him. - I’m Fred Tereziu, the policeman pronounces his name. Meanwhile, part of the outside of a car door had surely been dampened by the policeman’s spit as he leapt about as if on hot coals. I immediately informed the Beach Police station. One of the people who received me thought for a moment and began briefly to investigate Terezi’s brutal behaviour. - Did he find out who I was? - Yes, of course, the car documents showed it from the outset, I tell him. - So did he jump up because he realized that “ATSH is a state institution”. That is the reason, said the station officer. The fundamental issue lies precisely here: the Durrës policeman, Tereziu, had apparently previously been a senior director at the Ministry of Public Order, and then, step by step, had descended to the foot of the poplar tree, where he sees himself as persecuted. Now, being in the ranks of the state police, as can be seen, he considers himself opposed to the state and gets angry as soon as he sees a sign from the boss. (Continued on page 9)

page 3 The Chairman of the Muslim Community, His Eminence Hafiz Sabri Koçi, the Archbishop of the Albanian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Anastas Janullatus, the Vice-President of the Episcopal Conference of Albania and Archbishop of Tirana and Durrës, His Excellency Monsignor Rrok Mirdita, and the World Head of the Bektashi Order, Haxhi Dede Reshat Bardhi Photo: Alban Beqa