The Minister of the Interior exposes his links with the Elbasan gang ON PAGE 4

The coast is being ravaged by the trafficking of undocumented migrants and cigarettes ON PAGE 4

Cigarette smuggling continues along the Lumgumenicë–Velipojë route ON PAGE 4

Nano is forced to promise that human rights will no longer be violated. The prime minister takes Albania five years backwards in its relations with the Atlantic Alliance. Albanian emigrants in Italy accuse him: Nano sold us out for Italian aid A stern message from the Italian prime minister to the Albanian government. The Albanian prime minister fails in Vienna and Brussels “Be careful, Albania cannot develop either on its own or in conflict with its neighbors. Italy is interested in reaching an agreement.” You must then guarantee this agreement. This is what we are telling you; otherwise, our investments will not come.

The European tour of the supposedly innocent Nano is ending as it began, with strong warnings from the West to guarantee Albanians’ freedoms and not to abuse power as before—basic conditions even for Europe to provide minimal support to Albania. While in Vienna the Albanian prime minister did not know where to turn, having been taken to task at every meeting, Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi was warning him to be careful and not abuse power, otherwise he would have to forget about Europe’s aid. Prodi reminded Nano that his policy, which was isolating Albania from the world, could have no future whatsoever. In his direct message to Nano, the Italian prime minister personally obliges him to respect the agreements with the West, whose fundamental condition is respect for freedoms in the country, as a prerequisite for international support for Albania. Prodi’s direct warning to Nano is also another signal that Europe now clearly understands that Albania has an all-powerful prime minister and a puppet president, contrary to the main constitutional provisions. Prodi’s stern warning comes on the same day that Nano takes Albania several years backwards by signing in Brussels an agreement with the Atlantic Alliance that the Meksi government had exhausted long ago. The new Albanian government’s poor credentials in the West, which led to the Rome Conference being postponed—with serious consequences for Albania—are a direct result of the revanchist and irresponsible policies of the new rulers, who came to power after organizing the armed rebellion that dictated the 29 June elections. The return to the levels of five years ago in Albania’s relations with NATO comes after a vicious purge campaign by the enthusiasts who have taken over the Ministry of Defense, targeting generals and other senior officers of the Albanian army. The previous day, General Vangjani, former Deputy Chief of the General Staff, gave shocking factual testimony about those who prepared the grave for the Albanian army—people with the same faces and names as those who call for attacks on and looting of military depots. Thus, Nano’s government bears witness to being surrounded by its own people, while the forceful messages from Brussels, Vienna and Rome signal a very bleak future for Tirana’s relations with Europe, something that seems likely to burden Albanians for a long time. Prodi’s message, expressed in the diplomatic phrasing customary on such occasions, proves that Nano’s cabinet—which will have governed Albania for only a few days—has already shown what kind of “government of discord” it is. It is an unimaginable situation for such deep rifts and open conflicts with all of Europe’s advice to emerge in so little time, while the Nano government of P. Kokëta exercises this revanchism wherever it can, a revanchism of those who came to power with the help of armed gangs and are harsh not only toward the opposition, but also threaten the standing and rights of all Albanians, including those who fundamentally believe in democratic Europe. Nano is expected to return to Albania along with the outcome of his mission; it can be said that its failure was evident from the moment he took office, as seen in Europe’s media. It is clear that this failure promises nothing good for the country’s future, already burdened by many difficulties. A. P.

The leader of the DP sets off for Calcutta, India The leader of the DP, sets off for Calcutta, India. Berisha at Mother Teresa’s funeral ceremony. Berisha set off yesterday for Calcutta, India, to attend the funeral of Mother Teresa, the Nobel laureate of Albanian origin. During his presidency, Berisha welcomed Mother Teresa to Albania twice. He has always held the Albanian benefactor’s work in high regard and also decreed the “Mother Teresa” Gold Medal. Mother Teresa’s burial will take place on Saturday in Calcutta, and political dignitaries from around the world will attend her funeral ceremony. Albania has declared three days of mourning in honor of Mother Teresa. A high-level state delegation from Albania will also attend the burial ceremony of the Albanian Nobel laureate, led by the President of the Republic.

Vienna gives Nano a sharp dressing-down Fatos Nano promised on Tuesday in Vienna that he would guarantee human rights and civil liberties in Albania, as well as support for those in power in the country, by cooperating closely with international organizations. His promise comes after Europe’s harsh messages, which postponed aid to Albania indefinitely because of the new Albanian rulers’ campaign against the opposition and the freedoms of Albanians in general. ON PAGE 3

The Italian police roundup of Albanians continues at a rapid pace Most of the emigrants apprehended by the Italian authorities are from Vlora, and they speak out in very harsh terms against the Albanian government ON PAGE 3

PSD and PAD rebel. Major cracks erupt in the government coalition of gangs The first tremors are being felt within the installed government. First the rats leave… ON PAGE 3

Stop the Prime Minister’s dismantling in Brussels ON PAGE 3

Today in Tirana, the rapporteurs of the Council of Europe A parliamentary delegation from the Council of Europe will arrive in Albania today to observe at close quarters the Albanian rulers’ recent positions on freedoms and human rights in the country. According to a CoE statement, “discussions will focus on the measures taken by the new government to ensure democratic normalization, bearing in mind in particular certain obligations and commitments undertaken by Albania towards the Council of Europe.” The text emphasizes that “the Assembly attaches particular importance to political dialogue between the government and the opposition.” The delegation, headed by Dutchman René van der Linden (European People’s Party, Christian Democrats), rapporteur for the Political Affairs Committee, will hold talks with Prime Minister Nano, as well as with members of parliament from the coalition and the opposition. The European parliamentarians will record the information gathered in Tirana in a report scheduled to be discussed on September 24, as part of the autumn session of the Parliamentary Assembly. This is an extraordinary mission by CoE rapporteurs to Albania, since the normal procedure is ad hoc, with any questions taken up in December of this year. The alarm at the CoE over violations of human rights and freedoms in Albania compelled the Assembly to accelerate the monitoring procedure for the rulers in Tirana.