The hydrocarbon industry at the crossroads of Mafia schemes ON PAGE 5

Armed bandits control the national roads ON PAGE 4

After 35 days without electricity, the government signs the energy import bill ON PAGE 5

Intensive meetings in Rome between the PD parliamentary group and leaders of the Italian opposition Xhanfranko Fini: Self-determination for the Albanians of Kosovo. The chairman of the National Alliance Parliamentary Group, Gustavo Selva, rejects the accusations of the Albanian minister; Koçi must respond ON PAGE 3

By Edi PALOKA The US Department of State has remembered the political prisoners whom Albania’s rulers have forgotten in their cells. In its annual report on human rights, the Department of State, among other things, points to the influence and the dozens of political arrests and imprisonments among the opposition. In fact, dozens of Democrats or former senior officials of the democratic government have been held for several months in the regime’s prisons. They were arrested and imprisoned on the most absurd charges and without a single fact incriminating them, but that is not all. They have all been in cells for several months, and yet so far not one of them has been questioned by the prosecutors who imprisoned them. They continue to be held in prison despite being innocent, and have no hope of ever standing trial. The same has happened to other Democrats, who were again kept in cells for up to a year without being questioned or brought before judges, and were then released because their trial deadline had expired. But this is the usual way for the rulers to keep their opponents in cells. And this happens at a time when criminals responsible for the many murders are appearing in courtrooms, or are expected to be released from prison any day. Thus, while Sali Shehu remains in prison, Zani Çaushi is preparing to leave prison. This is a crime in its own right by today’s rulers. Zani Çaushi and his gang are the ones who killed, slaughtered, burned, robbed and destroyed Vlora, and yet at the end of the trial it would be no surprise if the court’s ruling acquitted them. This impression is created by the whole farce being played out in court, where prosecution witnesses speak in favor of the accused and the criminal emerges as a hero. Sali Shehu and other former law-enforcement officials from the period of democratic rule remain in prison. Sali Shehu is a man who, in the most difficult period, in March ’97, did not allow Tirana to turn into a hell, as happened in Vlora. Only a group of people were engaged in keeping order in Tirana, and they did so to protect people; they carried out their work superbly, far better than the police do today. It is enough to mention that on 14 March, Sali Shehu was the police officer in charge who carried out four arrests of very dangerous criminals, in an operation to prevent murder. These same people maintained order and did not allow Tirana to fall into the same state. Nëntë Ceka, before removing Sali Shehu from his post, had praised and commended him for his good work, but a short time later Sali Shehu ended up in prison. This happens at a time when those who burned Albania have become chiefs and are seeking out the very people who burned Albania, all in the police stations. This can be nothing other than open revenge, destructive revenge against those who did not allow Tirana to be destroyed as Vlora was. What can one expect today from such a state, a state that protects Zani Çaushi and keeps people like Sali Shehu in prison, “forgotten”? A state that, instead of imprisoning Eren Sphianë, who killed you, imprisons people who did not do what they are accused of. A state where criminals are free, prisons are empty, and the people who should be behind bars are elsewhere. This is the policy of today’s rulers, but they must understand that those selected for justice are not chosen on paper. Justice will be done in Albania. It will return, and criminals will go to prison along with some of today’s rulers, starting with those who have been in power over the years.

Strong accusations by the head of Rinas. The blue uniforms delayed the plane that was to take Kleanthi Koçi to Italy According to the airport police chief, the three-hour hold-up at Rinas proved fatal for the injured man, who subsequently died. The police held up for about three hours the plane that lawyer Kleanthi Koçi was to take to Italy to receive medical treatment. “If the plane had departed at the scheduled time, the lawyer would not have closed his eyes,” a senior Rinas police official said yesterday. The head of criminal police at Rinas has leveled serious accusations against the police over the death of lawyer Kleanthi Koçi. The plane on which he was to travel...

Prime Minister Bukoshi contradicts the foreign minister’s statements Godo and Milo were not allowed to enter Rambouillet Castle ON PAGE 3

The PD’s Secretary General, R Alban Bode, sends invitations to all parliamentary parties At this meeting, a joint declaration will support the signing of the agreement reached by the representatives of Kosovo at Rambouillet, and will call for a guarantee from one of the Atlantic Alli[?]ance through its presence in Kosovo ON PAGE 3

Berisha welcomes the position of the American administration and thanks Senator Bob Doll for his commitment in support of the Albanians of Kosovo Berisha expressed regret at Demaci’s position on the agreement and publicly invited him to reconsider his stance ON PAGE 3

The PD chairman, Sali Berisha, writes to Pope John Paul II on the occasion of the commencement of the process for the canonization of Mother Teresa To His Holiness Pope John Paul II Your Holiness, Your Holiness’s decision to begin the process for the canonization of Mother Teresa is a great honor and a precious message of hope and faith for the Albanian nation, which has had and continues to have in Mother Teresa its most distinguished daughter of all time. For us Albanians, Mother Teresa is the nation’s eternal daughter, the support of the spirit of the language, a mother, an Albanian daughter, a well-wisher and protector, devoted to the love of God and humanity with extraordinary strength...

Today, 170 days since the murder of the December Leader Every day that passes since the murder of Azem Hajdari, symbol of democracy and pluralism, proves the involvement of Fatos Nano’s government and its role in this crime that shook the entire Albanian world. The former communist government, by allowing the criminals who took the life of the December Leader to live undisturbed, shows Albanians that it has been and remains on the side of the killers, who have names and identities but are untouched by those in power. Democrats and all honest Albanians who condemned the killing of Azem Hajdari cannot tolerate this crime remaining unsolved...

In one of the neighborhoods of the city of Vlora, masked police have continued to intensify the persecution of the sister of the Democrat, Jenish e Dino Licaj. In one of the neighborhoods of the city of Vlora, masked and unmasked police have continued to intensify the persecution of the sister of the Democrat Jenish e Dino Licaj. The history of this persecution began in June of last year, when they stopped her at the Mifol Bridge and beat her solely because she supports the Democratic Party. The threat at the time was this: try to continue spreading propaganda against the government and you’ll see where you end up. Everything is explained by this government’s inability to take revenge against her brother...

The PD’s organizational secretary calls for all political forces to engage on the issue of Kosovo “Voices of division, such as those of Foreign Minister Milo or of another Socialist leader, are anti-national voices that may serve...” ON PAGE 2

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