More than 500 emigrants have been detained in Rome and its surrounding regions ON PAGE 4

After water on a trickle, Tirana without water for 48 hours After water on a trickle Tirana without water for 48 hours The water supply system blown up ON PAGE 4

The Vlora file Replacements within the police force ON PAGE 4

Government officials are making excuses for the escape from Albania of Vlora’s crime boss Vlora’s crime boss was seen yesterday in Himarë, accompanied by four other people. On Tuesday, Zani, wearing dark glasses and an American-style hat, entered the Prime Minister’s Office Government officials are making excuses for the escape from Albania of Vlora’s crime boss Zani strolls around Tirana Vlora’s crime boss was seen yesterday in Himarë, accompanied by four other people. On Tuesday, Zani, wearing dark glasses and an American-style hat, entered the Prime Minister’s Office

The protests have begun. It has not taken long for the Albanian government to show its citizens its own incompetence. In two months in office, the government has done nothing but provoke a rising wave of people’s discontent, as they wait for better things from a government that is supposedly dealing with their problems, while shunting them from one place to another. Yesterday, hundreds of VEFA creditors blocked the Ring Road in protest against the government’s changes to the investment-company framework, through administrators selected from within the Socialist Party’s political team. None of those who trusted Alimuça can trust Fatos Nano, and Farudin Arapi even less. The country’s Prime Minister is even less acceptable to people who deposited their hard-earned money at the counters, although three months ago he declared that his government would return every last penny. The people gathered on the asphalt have joined the chorus of 1,500 refugees returned from Italy over the last four days, voicing their characteristic denunciations of the Prime Minister. At the ports of Durrës and Vlorë, the protests over the returns have not reached the gates of the Prime Minister’s Office. “Nano sold us for 200 billion lire,” they say, following their despair with the occasional bitter joke. It is clear to them that Nano’s premature agreement with the Italian government has given the Carabinieri free rein to round up every Albanian on Italy’s streets, including those not covered by the agreement who have been in Italy for a year, two years, or longer. Likewise, although the “Greek” minister Milo is in Greece for important meetings, the ferries departing from Patras bring back plenty of Albanians, the product of Greece’s quiet hope. No fewer are coming than from Italy, even though the noise is louder about the western neighbour. Nano is frantically preparing the crowds that will turn against him, and this is also being brought about by other government officials, who are doing all they can to join the smuggling race and gain the fat they need to stand up to another government. No tobacco smuggling on this scale had been seen a month ago, nor anything else on the Patras–Vlorë routes these days, just as fuel smuggling and Asian caricatures are getting under way. Government officials are the first to divide the protests. They are worried about the government. That is why the smuggling trucks have increased, along with calls by the smaller parties to break up the coalition. The leading bodies of PBDNJ have openly called for the coalition with Nano to be dissolved. New leaders of PAD and PDS have also warned of the same. The Agrarian Party has not done so, because it appears that this is like Golo’s appearance, and it cannot announce its departure from this coalition because there is no coalition agreement. The [unclear] of the protests in front of the government, [unclear] of [unclear] or meat, the government’s presentation of the bread that will be thrown away—in a word, all of this will begin in the coming days and become widespread. So far, the Democratic Party has raised its voice only over protests connected with politics. It has even built a national infrastructure for demonstrations, to protest in cities facing different problems and prospects. The voice of today’s protesters has been evident in the way they have organised themselves. And lastly, to mention the destruction of the cigarette-smuggling operation, it was during the actions against the PSS that the Albanian media were at the forefront… [illegible section]

A grand ceremony in Calcutta The leader of the DP, Sali Berisha, is the first Albanian politician to recognise the greatness of Mother Teresa, and to welcome and farewell her with great honours in her homeland. Berisha established the highest distinction, the “Mother Teresa” Order, in honour of this distinguished Albanian figure. Today, Berisha returns to his homeland The leader of the Democratic Party ... [unclear] “Mother Teresa”, which is

1,000 Vefa lenders oppose the decisions of the Nano government. Traffic is blocked along the 21 Dhjetori–Zogu i Zi road. . The protest by Vefa’s creditors, who are asking the government to unfreeze the company’s funds and honor the contracts Alimuça has with them, has continued for more than three to four hours. ON PAGE 5

The leader of the Democratic Party took part yesterday in the solemn ceremony held in Calcutta, India, to bid farewell to the Albanian saint, Mother Teresa. Foreign television stations that covered the ceremony showed Berisha on the main dais alongside prominent figures from around the world who had come to pay their final respects to the embodiment of humanitarianism, Mother Teresa. Around 9 million people followed the ceremony, which was attended by leading figures in world politics, science, culture, religion, and humanitarianism. Berisha has been in Calcutta for three days and paid his respects before Mother Teresa’s body in St. Thomas’s Church on Friday. During his stay in India, Berisha met with a large number of foreign dignitaries, who also received him in various audiences. Berisha had met many of them before, and all expressed interest in current developments in Albania. Berisha is the first leader of the Albanian state to show the Albanian Nobel laureate the greatest respect. He welcomed her and bade her farewell with the highest honors in her homeland, and made it possible for the benefactress of Calcutta to come to Albania. For the first time, Berisha also established the high state distinction, the Order of “Mother Teresa,” one of the highest honors awarded by the Albanian Presidency. Unlike during the years of dictatorship, when Mother Teresa was even subjected to insults by her homeland, with the victory of democracy Albania became a country whose troubles she shared. This is precisely what Berisha’s note in the book of condolences says: “For all Albanians who feel ashamed by the dictatorship’s attitude toward the great Albanian woman.” Only then did she feel more than ever that, although she was a citizen of the whole world, she nevertheless had a place of her own in this world, one she could visit whenever she had the opportunity. The country’s highest authorities also issued her an Albanian passport, which she always carried with her, along with her Vatican and Indian passports. By going to India, Berisha expresses his farewell to Mother Teresa and once again conveys the position of the democratic forces in the country: to always respect and honor the great figures of the nation, of whom Albania can always be proud before the world. According to reports, a senior government delegation from Albania, led by President Rexhep Meidani, also attended the ceremony bidding farewell to Mother Teresa. PD leader Sali Berisha returns to his homeland today.

The prime minister’s European tour has been a complete failure. The stop in the Italian capital has been canceled . Rome shuts its doors to Nano. Prodi’s ultimatum clearly explains why the Albanian prime minister’s stop in the Italian capital fell through. ON PAGE 3

The Ministry of the Interior seeks to penalize local government . Neritan Ceka thinks like Enver Hoxha. Disarmament is the duty of Ceka’s police officers, not of elected officials, whom the law assigns other duties. ON PAGE 2

The Minister of Defense responds to the former Deputy Chief of the General Staff . Brokaj does not deny Vinçani’s accusations. ON PAGE 3