A serious automobile tragedy ON PAGE 4

Diplomatic incident in the Albanian capital ON PAGE 4

Nano, Ceka and Havari have drawn up Zani’s release plan ON PAGE 4

The Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Culture are at the center of the accusations. Brokaj angrily walks out of the meeting. Agolli is pleased with Nano’s “reflection.” Majko gets ahead of his boss’s plans. The coalition is tossed aside. Nano: “Gjinushi and Ceka shouldn’t get spoiled.” Nano draws his sword at the KPD. The new government, 70 percent different. The war among communist clans flares up again. Brokaj calls for a motion of no confidence in the PS leadership.

The Socialist Party yesterday admitted the complete failure of its government over these nine months, deciding to replace up to 70 percent of Fatos Nano’s new cabinet. The marathon meeting of the Socialist Party’s General Steering Committee gave Nano a new mandate for sweeping changes in the government, which apparently are seen as the only means of keeping alive the badly shaken rule of the former Albanian communists. The fact that around 16 ministers will be chairs is more than eloquent proof that Nano 3 may have done everything over these nine months, but has not governed for even a single day. If the fate of the new government is once again in Nano’s hands, although the coalition slipped through his hands, the latter have ambitions far greater than their modest electorate. Nano and his followers must also understand that PAD, PSD and others, at best, will reduce the number of portfolios, bringing them closer to the share of votes they received in June 2–3 years ago. Nano even used insulting language toward Ceka and Gjinushi, calling them polished politicians whose voices should no longer be heeded by the socialists. It seems Nano has decided to cast aside many of his social-democratic and former Democratic allies, because he considers their mission to have ended: exposing certain … and the Socialist Party’s misunderstanding of the East and the West. Despite the seemingly moderate statements—

The opposition against Nano’s patchwork fixes Berisha: Governments fail Nano The opposition supports a technical government to restore order, halt the deepening of poverty, give the country a constitution, and lead the country toward elections ON PAGE 3

Brokaj: Nano is the head of smuggling alone for the survival of the severely shaken power of Albania’s former communists. The fact that around 16 ministers will leave their seats is eloquent enough to prove that Nano 3 may have done everything over these 9 months, but he has not governed for is once again left in Nano’s hands, even though he was left holding the wreckage of “shkërthokrasia,” because three-quarters of his “meritocrats” must give up their seats as, at the very least, incapable, this is due to the party chairman–prime minister arrangement. Although there is no doubt that the first failure of the coalition government is Fatos Nano himself, the Socialists had no other path to choose, because the prime minister is also the chairman of their party. His downfall would also mean the party’s downfall, so Nano’s next mandate for change requires prolonging the agony of the former communists in power. But Nano’s swords at the General Governing Committee were not met with a reaction. The government’s forced changes have reawakened the fierce struggle between communist clans, temporarily subdued by the sharing out of the power pie. Under the edge of criticism, the Minister of Defence, Sabit Brokaj, has fiercely vented his anger at Nano and his mafiosi in every speech, leaving the meeting room in irritation. His name and that of Arta Dade were among the most frequently mentioned yesterday, and it seems neither has much hope of surviving this vote; but Brokaj quoted a journalist who, from his phone, called Nano and his clan the heads of government smuggling. Strong accusations were also directed at their leader by other members of the KPD, who, as always, did not dare voice them publicly at the meeting. Meanwhile, very interesting developments are expected in the coming relations between the PS and the coalition’s smaller parties, which do not all agree with the political support for the flatterers, whose voices the Socialists should no longer heed. mission of exposing certain rough edges and making the Socialist Party more palatable to Western ears to be over. Despite the apparently moderate statements he made against PS militants’ demands to participate in government and the administration, Nano seems to have decided to sacrifice part of the coalition’s façade with the others in order to satisfy his party’s supporters. The warnings that PSD and PAD must stop expecting special treatment are quite clear. Such a thing will surely be considered entirely unacceptable, especially by Çeka, known for his firm and consistent positions, but signs of rebellion have also come from Skënder Gjinushi, despite his thin voice. In any case, Nano’s rapid decline can never be blamed on the ability or inability of Arta Dade, Sabit Brokaj, Elmaz Sherifi and Gaqo Apostoli, or on the antics of Neritan Ceka, Skënder Gjinushi and Preç Zogaj. The coalition government fell because of massive smuggling, unprecedented corruption, and political irresponsibility in failing to change anything for the better in this country, devastated by the very protagonists of this theatre; because of the super-deceptive promises of the election campaign; and because of the West’s understandable reluctance to help an administration with ice-cold credentials. This entire burden of sins will simply be carried on the shoulders of the new government, despite there being not even the slightest hope that Nano will bring it back to life. The next PS government will be like a battered wreck that can no longer be repaired and cannot last as long as it did when new—that is, 9 months.

Brokaj: Nano is the head of smuggling Harsh accusations against Fatos Nano at the meeting of the PS Governing Committee. Sabit Brokaj called the meeting a scandalous episode in a university hall. He accused Nano of corruption and smuggling. He told the prime minister that he was building up his own clan and his own people. Brokaj, who later effectively [left] the meeting, said that he had been one of the people who had helped Nano come to power the most, by leading the iron-fisted communist headquarters. After the 29 June elections, when Brokaj was appointed to the government, he served Nano; but when he noticed that work was no longer being done on the programme, he began criticizing him openly. The prime minister has become a communist alongside his youngest associates. He admitted that he was ready to resign from the Ministry of Defence. He said, “Fatos Nano is the head of government smuggling.” He had watched with concern as the party, the government and other structures were taken over by people close to Nano, his in-laws or his family, and he had also faced attacks by people directed by Nano. At this point he was not so naive: he counterattacked, accusing Nano of being the head of smuggling, and walked out of the meeting. Other members of the Governing Committee, who did not speak during the meeting, had as much to say as Nano, recalling Mehmet Shehu. This was not because their brother lives in one of his houses, but because they, too, used his model during the meeting. Their accusations against the PS prime minister made it clear that he is an autocrat within the PS and that he does not consult anyone else; all of this brings to mind the kind of man who once was the Socialist Party’s strongman, along with its people and structures.

“Union for Democracy” expresses indignation over the attack on British diplomats The parties of the “Union for Democracy” express their deep indignation over the attack by masked men on diplomats from the British Embassy in Tirana, particularly the Ambassador of the Embassy of the United Kingdom of Great Britain in Tirana, Ms Katrin Janes, and the Deputy Consul of that Embassy, Mr David Bicher, just two days after the government had declared that order had been fully restored in Albania. This attack by masked men is further evidence of the complete failure of the rule of the masked men. It is not an isolated incident, but a shameful episode in a series of attacks against foreign investors and diplomats. These attacks are part of a strategy aimed at emptying Albania of foreigners, driving the ambassadors of friendly countries out of Albania, isolating the country and turning it into the fiefdom of the ruling clique. The parties of the “Union for Democracy,” wishing the British diplomats a speedy recovery, call for immediate measures to guarantee the safety and normal activities of the foreign diplomatic corps in Albania, as well as the punishment of the perpetrators of these attacks, which have nothing in common with Albanian hospitality and respect for foreigners.

The opposition offers condolences for the Shkumbin victims. TV reports the news at the end On Monday, the “Union for Democracy” party expressed its most sincere condolences to the families, friends and relatives, as well as to the communes and municipalities of the victims who lost their lives in the Shkumbin River on 12 April 1998, and shared with their family members, friends and relatives their profound grief over the loss of their loved ones. The “Union for Democracy” party proposes that the municipalities and communes of these victims assume all the expenses required for their construction and burial. “Union for Democracy” condemns the belated response of the government authorities to this catastrophe, the burial while the search and recovery of the bodies was still under way. It expresses its deep sorrow over the catastrophe in which 9 young Albanians lost their lives during the flooding, and over its being broadcast as the last item by Nano’s television, which is today the sole national broadcaster.

Faced with the devaluation of the lek, demand for foreign currency is being hit The introduction and distribution of counterfeit dollars through state banking channels is part of the falsehood at the heart of the left-wing coalition’s governing philosophy Faced with the devaluation of the lek, demand for foreign currency is being hit Counterfeit dollars, the rebels’ reward The introduction and distribution of counterfeit dollars through state banking channels is part of the falsehood at the heart of the left-wing coalition’s governing philosophy ON PAGE 3

The US seeks greater cooperation from the Albanian government on the Kosovo issue ON PAGE 3