The fate of the dinghy carrying seven Albanians is still a mystery ON PAGE 4

The brother of the Minister of Defense dons a police uniform at the age of 59 ON PAGE 4

Police still in the preparatory phase of the fight against illegal trafficking ON PAGE 4

His personal lawyer, Përparim Sanxhaku, who calls the shots in the High Council of Justice, has prepared the file. The theft of aid intended to relieve hunger in Albania in 1991 cannot be covered up with a judicial farce After violating the independence of the courts, the compromised prime minister seeks legal absolution

A delegation from the European Parliament, led by Ms Doris Pack, is staying in our country to see for itself the situation and the general climate. This delegation follows a series of other fact-finding missions by international institutions and organizations. Most of them were planned as summer visits to see at first hand the concerns in our country regarding the government’s positions and conduct; the circumstances forced them to arrive earlier than planned. The ongoing international missions monitoring the situation in our country observe, above all, conflict and a lack of dialogue in the country. At the same time, the opposition cannot be held responsible for this, because in a democratic country the opposition has a defined role as the opposition. The government’s efforts to misuse its advantages have turned into a kind of opposition that neither convinces nor achieves anything, and this is no surprise, because the government inevitably bears primary responsibility for the political and social life of a country; power is the source of government, the granting of permits and other developments in a democratic system. If the opposition is prevented from playing its role by restrictions imposed by the ruling coalition, it is clear that those in power see its role as a façade within the country’s right-wing political life. Today’s rulers respond to the interest of foreign missions by pledging their supposed cooperation with the opposition. In fact, the international community has already understood, after four months of Socialist government, that there is a clear divide between their statements and actions, and a marked lack of sincerity. Today, after four months, an analysis of the actions of the missions and those in power would find that throughout developments in democracy there have been violations of laws, constitutional breaches, political purges and interference with justice, as well as the shutting down of the state’s electronic media, which has done nothing to prevent all these distortions. It should even be noted that the opposition has opposed and denounced all these things, and that they have been directed against the real opposition, not the opposition manufactured in government offices. In a free and civil society, this is the role of the opposition: to represent the people, which must be acknowledged in every way. The Democratic Party has played this role and continues to play it, despite the difficult conditions imposed by the government under which it operates, as a consequence of the authorities’ violent efforts. The Democratic Party understands its role in opposition and is playing it. It cannot be held responsible for the dictatorial symptoms and communist nepotism in the activities and governance of the prime minister and the current authorities, who regard the opposition as a mass organization. No one, either in Albania or in the international community, would describe the opposition’s role in this way if they understood pluralism and other societies. The visits and missions of the international community, through their observation and clear findings, have brought the truth to light and put the authorities under scrutiny. The authorities’ attempts to interpret their presence notwithstanding, the missions have helped promote democracy and strengthen the opposition, because society and their findings affirm democracy.

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A European Parliament delegation arrives in Tirana The Speaker of Parliament declared himself yesterday against the national reconciliation process, while the MEPs called for the process to continue ON PAGE 3

“Ceka, name the killers of the commune chairman” ON PAGE 3

The government is provoking protests by the armed forces The government of Fatos Nano has reduced the food allowance for active-duty soldiers, provoking protests among the green uniforms, who now fall under institutions headed by Sabi Brokaj. In many military units in Tirana and other Albanian cities, soldiers are having to make do with a new food ration that leaves them without dinner and, in some cases, without breakfast as well. This has prompted sporadic protests by soldiers reporting to army units to perform guard duty, until the food ration prescribed by law is reviewed. Meanwhile, reports have spread through the army that the period of compulsory military service is to be extended; the proposal is expected to go before the Albanian parliament following a government proposal. The food shortages in army units throughout Albania, along with provocations and the actions of Ministry of Defense personnel, as well as strikes and protests by school students across the country demanding that their needs be met so they can live comfortably, are all part of the picture. While the food cuts have affected those currently serving in the army, reports of an increase in the length of compulsory military service have caused great concern among those waiting to put on the green uniform and fulfill their duty to the homeland. The conflict between the army administration and soldiers over the very poor food and other basic necessities is one of the actions of the Fatos Nano government, which is provoking major problems throughout every part of the Albanian state. After cutting police officers’ pay from normal wages and restoring it to normal wages—then reducing it to the minimum—while increasing sales and moving all the goods that are immobilized, and dealing with illegal activity in which many government officials are implicated, the government has created further problems. Instead of reducing the army’s ration of mess tins, the Minister of Defense, Sabi Brokaj, could act loyally by sacrificing the operation of some speedboats used for smuggling, which set out from Vlora, and blocking them; then the soldiers would no longer have problems getting food. He could also intervene to prevent a truckload of cigarettes from being legally brought through and unloaded in the Ionian’s hidden coves, and then army units throughout Albania would not have to discuss feeding new recruits. A.GJ.

Czech parliamentarians at the headquarters of the Democratic Party The chairman of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, welcomed the Czech parliamentary delegation headed by Mr Jiri Karas. Those present at the meeting included the chairman of the DP, Genc Pollo; the chairman of the PDK, Zef Bushati; the chairman of the Pll, Selim Dervishi; and the chairman of the Democratic Union, Remzi Ndreu. At the meeting, Mr Berisha told the parliamentarians that the climate in Albania remains highly confrontational and that this is the strategy of the government, which uses violence and tension against the opposition and anyone who comes into contact with it. The confrontational climate is rooted in the promotion of violence and the physical elimination of opponents, including the opposition’s leading national and local figures. The confrontational climate is the result of the dismantling of the rule of law through changes to constitutional laws, replacing democratic laws based on European standards with laws of monocracy and the new dictatorship being established in Albania. Thus, within three months, complete political control over the courts was established by shifting the balance of KLD members in the government’s favor. The confrontational climate is rooted in the dismantling of the rule of law through changes to constitutional laws, replacing democratic laws based on European standards with laws of monocracy and the new dictatorship being established in Albania. Thus, within three months, complete political control over the courts was established by shifting the balance of KLD members in the government’s favor. Meanwhile, a delegation of the chairmen of various opposition parties visited; those mentioned were the chairman of the PDK, Zef Bushati; the chairman of the Pll, Selim Dervishi; and the chairman of the Democratic Union, Remzi Ndreu. In Albania, the confrontational climate is rooted in the collective dismissal of 420 local-government secretaries, nearly all the ranks and senior officers, 22 ambassadors and around 11,000 public-administration employees. The confrontational climate is rooted in the dismantling of the rule of law through changes to constitutional laws, replacing democratic laws based on European standards with laws of monocracy and the new dictatorship being established in Albania. Thus, within three months, complete political control over the courts was established by shifting the balance of KLD members in the government’s favor. The Czech parliamentarians, having noted Mr Berisha’s special role as President in overthrowing the dictatorship and setting Albania on the path to democracy, praised the analysis of recent developments presented by the DP chairman and the other participants. They emphasized that the refusal to include opposition leaders in the media, and the restrictions on information available to them, were among the signs of the opposition’s isolation in the electronic media and its limited access to information. Regarding the Czech parliamentarians’ suggestion that participation in parliament would help the opposition defend its efforts and alternatives and challenge government policies, Mr Berisha stressed: “While I appreciate your suggestion, I want to tell you that, under conditions of systematic procedural violations, our presence in parliament would serve only as a façade. Nevertheless, the DP National Council has decided to reconsider this issue and regards your suggestion as a friendly one.”

Irritation, anger and helplessness. The faces of several hundred creditors darken the square in front of VEFA’s headquarters: The Prime Minister must return the money as promised ON PAGE 3