The Prosecutor’s Office against the independent investigative group ON PAGE 4

The “Meznik Well Gang” back in court ON PAGE 4

Masked men strike again. Robbery in Durrës ON PAGE 4

After 13 days in confinement, the hunger strikers declare the protest a success. The government yields to the students’ demands Three ministers and two deputy ministers in the Majko government guaranteed the students that the vast majority of the demands submitted would be met, also setting deadlines for their implementation ON PAGE 2 Students immediately after ending the strike

The meeting between the PD and PS was widely welcomed by all serious, responsible and influential political forces in the country, international organizations and friendly countries. A minority of individuals and groups who spoke out against dialogue and the meeting are individuals who have struggled to steal and conceal themselves behind critical statements, or groups that represent nothing. Meanwhile, the all-encompassing crisis in the country is evident in all its dimensions as a continuing threat to Albanian society. It is unreasonable still to think that all the very acute problems facing citizens—from governance, public order and freedom of movement to the widespread economic misery that has engulfed every Albanian family—can be ignored. The Democratic Party, as a force that throughout its history has been committed to dialogue and to resolving problems according to recognized democratic principles, once again demonstrated that it remains a deeply Western political force, deeply interested in the country overcoming the crisis. In every normal country, the opposition is the opposition, and its responsibility and role are not simply to be the government’s subordinate, but to scrutinize it. The government, which assumes responsibility for governing the country, is accountable to citizens not only for fulfilling its election promises, but also for the other problems facing the country. This was precisely the point made by the meeting between the country’s two political forces: each side’s responsibilities are entirely clear. Dialogue between the opposition and the government is a truly important opportunity for Albania, but unfortunately its use as a means of saving the country from crisis risks having a boomerang effect. Because the Albanian opposition cannot raise pensioners’ pensions, create new jobs, expand the market for trade, or establish public order, since it is not the police; it is not responsible for corruption, smuggling, organized crime, and so on. All these and other problems depend on the government for their resolution, as does the way they are handled. Unfortunately, these problems are still unresolved; indeed, most of them have worsened. Slogans and false figures will not convince citizens who voted against the party in the elections, and so on, nor will the government’s actions and the appointment of its officials. The example set by PS representatives who led the left-wing government by agreeing to dialogue with the opposition and not treating it as an enemy is to be welcomed. However, their ability to keep the promises made remains to be verified. It also remains to be seen whether the government and its representatives will manage to restrain all the elements and forces that are fueling the crisis and have appeared publicly within the ranks of the governing coalition. If the government thinks that meeting with the opposition will prolong its time in power, that would be a misfortune and would only shorten its days. The all-encompassing crisis was merely identified concretely in plain, realistic terms, and the government has taken this as an opportunity to justify itself to citizens by claiming that the opposition is preventing it from working. The way it confronts the crisis and responds to it will also prove the government’s sincerity and seriousness. Sh.D.

The governing coalition splits: Left-wing MPs will not vote in parliament for the law establishing a commission to investigate the Hajdari case The two senior figures, appointed by Ramiz Alia to the last government of Enver Hoxha’s dictatorship, have opposed the plans of two senior government officials to improve the political climate in the country by replacing conflict with a spirit of compromise. The two senior figures, appointed by Ramiz Alia to the last government of Enver Hoxha’s dictatorship, have opposed the plans of two senior government officials to improve the political climate in the country by replacing conflict with a spirit of compromise ON PAGE 3

The Italian Atlantic Committee supports the opposition’s sound proposals ON PAGE 7

Today, 101 days since the murder of the December Leader Every day that passes since the murder of Azem Hajdari, the symbol of democracy and pluralism, proves the involvement of Fatos Nano’s government and its successor in the crime that shook the entire Albanian world. The government is compromised, [illegible text] … (part of the image text is unreadable) ON PAGE 3 [Photograph of Azem Hajdari]

The PD chairman meets with leaders and activists of the PD branch for Tirana: The meeting with Majko is nothing secret Yesterday, the chairman of the Democratic Party, Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha, held a wide-ranging meeting with grassroots leaders of the party in the city of Tirana. The meeting took place around lunchtime in one of the rooms at the party headquarters in Tirana. The Democratic leader... ON PAGE 3

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The American human rights organization “Freedom House” places Albania alongside Congo, Belarus and Tajikistan Albania ranks among the countries without freedom. This is what the American organization for the protection of human rights and the promotion of democracy, “Freedom House,” stated in its annual report. Albania is a partly free country, the American human rights monitors say, and it is placed on this list below many countries in Africa and Asia where rights are a major problem. Albania is now included among the roughly 58 countries without freedom and is not far from Congo or Indonesia, while being ranked alongside ... Albania was also included in the annual report of the “Freedom House” organization, classified as a partly free country compared with other countries. According to the organization’s annual report, Albania ... Albania has also fallen far behind Romania and Bulgaria in the area of rights and freedoms, as emphasized by the president of the “Freedom House” organization. Just two years ago, our country was listed among the most advanced in the field of rights and freedoms, ahead of a large number of Eastern countries, including Romania and Bulgaria. S.N.

The right-wing parties comment on the PD–PS meeting The political forces of the right-wing spectrum initially welcomed the dialogue between the opposition and the new PS leadership... The political forces of the right-wing spectrum initially welcomed the dialogue between the opposition and the new PS leadership, but also examined other developments of the period: the pressure exerted by the Majko government on students, political arrests and imprisonment, the continued maintenance of the coup d’état charge, the grave economic and social situation prevailing in the country, etc. ON PAGE 3

Soldiers give the government the runaround: Soldier registration drive begins The Ministry of Defence has now been tasked with conducting a detailed “inventory” of units and divisions, so that the state knows how many soldiers it has ON PAGE 4

Albanian Miners’ Unions protest: Chromium miners throughout Albania have sent a protest to the head of state, calling for a review of the privatization phase of the enterprises and for conditions to be set to safeguard the livelihoods of all employees who become unemployed as a result of this privatization ON PAGE 5