Sarandë, the smuggling mafia returns to the customs office ON PAGE 7

This is how the left-wing coalition fights corruption ON PAGE 4

Albina Karamirato speaks — The new taxes recycle the economic crisis ON PAGE 7

Speedboat operators abduct and mistreat the head of police in the coastal city. The Ministry of the Interior had no information about his fate Minister Petro Koçi accuses government officials and MPs of being involved in the serious incident in Vlorë and in the illegal trafficking of clandestine migrants in the coastal city ON PAGE 5

By Edi PALOKA There is no longer any doubt: Albania is wholly in the hands of the mafia. Yesterday the Director of the Vlorë Police was taken hostage solely because he had impounded some speedboats in accordance with the law noisily passed by Parliament. These people, simply because six speedboats had been impounded, held Sokoll Koçiu hostage until he was forced, in exchange for his life and left entirely without support, to release the boats—in other words, to break the law. A few days ago, the Police Director, Sokoll Koçi, had been optimistic about stopping the trafficking of clandestine migrants. A few days ago, the Police Director, Sokol Koçiu, had been optimistic about stopping clandestine trafficking, but yesterday he found himself in the most difficult position of his life. He was taken hostage by the traffickers and was effectively left helpless among them, without any support from the state, which in this case was on the side of his kidnappers. Clearly, this can no longer be treated as a matter concerning a police director, nor as a matter of the circumstances under which he was sent to Vlorë. This is about the state, and the clearest proof has been given that these officials cannot build a state. Petro Koçi is the person who should, in practice, resign over this extraordinary and frightening event for every citizen who does not intend to turn a blind eye or collaborate with the mafia in order to survive. Because it is he, and the state established by his party, that has allowed the mafia to take hold in Albania. In an interview about this event, the Minister of Public Order accused senior government officials and MPs of being involved in the Vlorë incident and in the trafficking of clandestine migrants in the coastal city. He has two choices today: either denounce them or leave office himself. At best, this is like crows pecking one another’s eyes out, each absolving himself of all responsibility, just as Fatos Nano did in his speech before stepping down as head of the PS. No commissioner can do anything against the traffickers, because in practice today in Albania the state is not law and order, but traffickers and criminals. This is the mafia. In practice, traffickers and criminals receive more support from today’s state and its officials than the police do. Koçiu cannot be stronger than the Speaker of Parliament, Skënder Gjinushi, or even stronger than his minister, who comes out and makes political statements after the Police Director has been taken hostage. In a state where illegal trafficking and crime in general are run by government officials, the police will certainly be left as victims. It is no coincidence that over these two years in Albania, among others, dozens of police officers have been killed, yet none of their killers has been convicted. The opposition has accused this state of being a mafia state not just once, but several times, and the facts so far have proved that accusation true. The latest case is nothing other than confirmation. The mafia state in Albania was built by Fatos Nano, Skënder Gjinushi and all their clans. Today Majko has given signs that he is different from them and their clans, but he has yet to provide any proof that he is creating a different state and a different order. Statements are not enough to launch a genuine fight. If Majko does not understand that he must wage a real fight against the mafia in Albania; if Majko does not have the power to do so; if Nano and Gjinushi, together with all their clans, are still more powerful than the current prime minister, then Majko must make this clear today and find a solution. Otherwise, it remains the opposition’s duty to resume the fight against the mafia. If Majko does not provide an answer, Albania will remain in the hands of mafia circles and anti-Albanian forces. As mentioned above, the Vlorë incident is merely an indication of how powerful the mafia has become in Albania; this is not about the name of a police director, but about the state. In Albania, no kind of trafficking or crime can be fought unless the state itself is willing to do so; otherwise, if the state is the one pursuing crime, there can be no hope. This is Albania’s problem today: organized crime has captured the present-day state, and as long as these officials remain, the same situation will continue. Therefore, the solution to this problem is a political solution. These officials must go; this is no longer about Pandeli Majko, but about those who, even if they have resigned, continue mafioso-style to control everything in Albania. If Majko is able to fight them, he should do so; otherwise, in Albania’s name, he must make way for another political solution, which would also be a solution to Albania’s problems.

The EDU Steering Committee approves declarations on Albania and Kosovo in Istanbul Europe’s right wing demands

Court proceedings halted in Tirana ON PAGE 5

Discontent grows following the creation of the RTV governing board ON PAGE 3

Democrats descend on the coastal city Secretary for Foreign Relations Leonard Demi, members of the leadership Jozefina Topalli, Ylli Vejsiu, Ferdinand Xhaferaj, as well as the gentlemen

Europe’s right calls for unity. In June, EDU and EPP aim to win a majority in the European Parliament . The EDU Steering Committee yesterday approved a declaration on Albania in Istanbul, condemning the killings and political arrests in Albania. In the declaration, representatives of 28 right-wing parties in Europe call on the Albanian government to take appropriate measures to uncover and punish the killers of Azem Hajdari, and to put an end to political trials against the opposition. EDU also encourages... ON PAGE 3

Secretary for Foreign Relations Leonard Demi, members of the leadership Jozefina Topalli, Ylli Vejsiu, Ferdinand Xhaferi, as well as gentlemen Hasan Halili, Flamur Shehu, etc., are working to strengthen the PD’s structures in Vlora Jozefina Topalli, Ylli Vejsiu, Ferdinand Xhaferi, as well as gentlemen Hasan Halili, Flamur Shehu, etc., are working to strengthen the PD’s structures in Vlora ON PAGE 2

Statement by the “December ’90” group ON PAGE 2

By Blerim ÇELA On the morning of 20.1.1999, when Fatos Nano resigned before the SP General Steering Committee, a friend of mine called me and said... ON PAGE 2

Today, 134 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 his successor in the crime that shook the entire Albanian world. The government of the former communists, which [unclear] in three days and leaves the criminals who took the December Leader’s life untroubled, shows Albanians that it has been and remains on the side of the murderers, whose names are known, but who are untouched by those in power. Democrats and all Albanians who loved and honored Azem Hajdari can in no way tolerate this. The government must either capture the criminals and bring them to justice, or publicly declare that it itself committed the murder of Azem Hajdari.

The Socialist Party must no longer fall prey to Nano’s repeated deceptions By Hasan HALILI ON PAGE 6

President Meidani repeats Russian theses in the newspaper of the Italian communists, “Avvenire” ON PAGE 3

The minimum wage covers only 23% of the minimum cost of living Anyone whose only source of livelihood is the minimum wage paid by the state cannot meet even 23 percent of their minimum monthly needs. According to a comparative analysis of the minimum wage in Albania and in other Eastern countries, Albanians are the poorest among them. Thus, it app-ears that the minimum wage compared with the cost of living in Albania is 23% of... ON PAGE 7

Violence and terror against the opposition continue Radeshi: They were hitting me on the head and body, saying, “Where are you, Sali Berisha’s puppy?” They punched me in one eye and knocked me to the ground, then left. They did their job, seriously injuring my eye and my body. ON PAGE 5

An order from him puts the clean police officers out on the street, wasting 47 million lek in investments 11 police officers, representing more than 70 families in Elbasan, are protesting. A story that began at the end of 1997 ended up at the doors of SHIK, the Ministry of Public Order, the Prefecture and Local Government. This was specifically based on a law under which the Ministry of Education rents the dormitory building to the Ministry of Public Order. ON PAGE 2