Meidani legitimizes the pyramids of crime ON PAGE 5

Pensioners and unemployed people protest against the government ON PAGE 5

Police officers protest outside the Shkodër courthouse ON PAGE 4

The request by the President of the Republic, Rexhep Meidani, for a tax amnesty is the most important news Albania is sending to the international community just two days before the Sarajevo conference, which will decide the future of the Balkans and, in this connection, of Albania as well. Presenting Albania as a country identified with the Albanian mafia is a heavy blow to millions of Albanians, both abroad and at home, and to the country’s prospects. It is difficult for all Albanians to learn these days that their President is on the side of the mafia and of people whose eyes are fixed on the worst, most insecure and hopeless destinations, while the memory of those who are tied to honor and to the desire for a state and stability in the country is forgotten. The President of the Republic is now confirming institutionally as well the nature of the administration he leads and the state he manages. The tax amnesty he has proposed clearly expresses the mentality of left-wing governance, while also making concrete the permanent ties maintained by segments of the Albanian state—including the President of the Republic—with the mafia that has usurped the state administration. Before the President asked for an amnesty for the mafia, he should have asked for an amnesty for political prisoners in Albania. Ekrem Spahiu, a nationalist and leader of a party who still languishes in prison, costs the country more than the owners of smuggling ships, the masked robbers who steal millions on the roads and from banks, impose protection payments on businesspeople and take dozens of them hostage. Meidani must explain to Albanians what drives him to grant amnesty in more than eighty cases that have been sitting in the offices of the General Prosecutor’s Office for a year, from which the Albanian state has been robbed of at least 80 million dollars; what drives him to grant amnesty to Albania’s political prosecutors, who are pawns in the hands of the mafia linked to the state; what compels him to support traffickers of illegal migrants who have more money than any honest businessperson in the country; what obligation he has to drug traffickers who send tons of drugs to neighboring countries and Western Europe; or to other ordinary officials of the government who, using their influence on the roads around Tepelenë, transport cigarettes from the Coast to the national highway. With the tax amnesty, the President erases every divide that was thought to exist between left-wing governance and the mafia. In fact, those divides had already been shown to be nonexistent when the President and his seven collaborators, within a single day, [text unclear] the Deputy Minister of Transport, Gaqo Apostoli, to whom the President released 52 million dollars, while he builds apartment blocks; meanwhile, his parliamentary colleague Gjinushi builds one without a permit, with around four floors and a garage, while, in his own sphere and for his own reasons, dozens of prosecutors and judges released Albania’s gang boss from prison. Two days before the President’s statement, the “Friends of Albania” gave a realistic picture of Albanian reality, which they described as mired in crime, smuggling and corruption, the left’s failure to govern, a lack of expertise and the loss of money because Albania was unable to absorb it. In other words, the country has not fallen behind because it has failed to legalize the mafia or collect dirty money in Albanian banks, and so on; it has fallen behind because it has legalized and protected corruption, criminals and smugglers, failed to establish law and order, and supported criminals, mafiosi and people involved in dirty criminal activities. Which Western country would agree to invest in Albania as a partner of the mafia in this criminal sphere of the President, whose members dare not invest in Albania unless the mafia holds absolute power, as the President of the Republic also seeks? By calling for a tax amnesty, the President places himself at the service and under the protection of his own clan, which is active in politics, the state, the economy, and so on. According to studies by the World Bank and other international institutions, 90 percent of the state administration is corrupt and around 60 percent of the Albanian economy is held back by this harmful phenomenon. This is the President’s administration, and this is his economy. Rexhep Meidani is using his office to seek the [text unclear] of crime and the mafia.

The Italian mafia boss had been living for some time in a villa in Durrës and was being tracked by the Bari police headquarters squad ON PAGE 4

The National Council of the PDSH sets September 30 as the date for convening the V Congress of the PDSH. Working groups were also approved to prepare the congress and the necessary changes to the PD’s statute and program ON PAGES 2–3

Yesterday afternoon, the Chairman of the Democratic Party, Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha, met with the US Ambassador in Tirana, Mr. Robert Frowick. The Stability Pact meeting, the situation in Albania, the conclusions of the Brussels Conference, the Democratic Party’s commitment to a spirit of consensus in resolving the major problems facing the country, and other issues were discussed at the meeting, which was characterized by a spirit of complete understanding. ON PAGE 4

The Democratic Party delegation concludes its visit to Kosovo The PD delegation held meetings with all Albanian political forces in Kosovo and visited several towns. The Democrats offered condolences to the families of Prof. Fehmi Agani and Prof. Bajram Kelmendi. ON PAGE 7

Minister Poçi makes replacements at several police stations Edmond Koseni is known by everyone in Elbasan as a collaborator of armed gangs and as an unwavering fighter against the opposition and right-wing press journalists. He has been accused of taking part in the 1997 Cërrik massacres. ON PAGE 4

The UN envoy for the Balkans expresses concern about the situation in Albania The UN envoy for the Balkans focused on creating a pluralistic climate in Kosovo, where representatives of different political forces sit at the table and discuss the future of their country. ON PAGE 3

The PD parliamentary group calls for the draft that the government will present at the international conference to be made public “Without seeing the draft, it may be good, but there may be some points that could be reconsidered, or room to add new points. We are asking to present our alternatives.” ON PAGE 3

Today marks 312 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 the left-wing government and, consequently, its servant, in the crime against him and all Albanians. The government of the former communists conceals the source of the insecurity. His killers have been put at the service of the December Leader; it has emerged that the first judges are on the side of the killers, who have names of their own but remain nameless behind those in power. Democrats and all Albanians who loved Azem Hajdari and still [unclear] him cannot tolerate this crime being excused. The government must either open the case and bring the criminals to justice, or publicly declare that it itself committed the murder of Azem Hajdari.

PD condemns the foreign minister’s statements against the “Friends” PD/SH praised the conclusions of the Brussels meeting, considering them concrete assistance for Albania PD condemned Paskal Milo’s statements at a press conference concerning the official press conference of the “Friends of Albania.” A statement released yesterday by the PD headquarters says, among other things: “The Democratic Party of Albania considers the statement made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paskal Milo, about the ‘Friends of Albania’ following the conclusions of the Brussels meeting to be entirely irresponsible. Milo’s statements are a direct condemnation not only of the ‘Friends of Albania’ but of the entire international community, of those who have supported and continue to support Albanians. A foreign minister who calls the criticism of the ‘Friends of Albania’ worthless or empty lessons, and typically tries to evade the issue by saying that Albania does not need an inflation of friends, precisely before the Sarajevo Summit, may hold the foreign minister’s portfolio in any other country, but certainly not in the Republic of Albania. These statements make it clear that certain power clans are seeking to leave Albania isolated and under the control of mafia groups. Meidani’s and Gjinushi’s recent statements also reflect this view. For these reasons, the Democratic Party calls on Prime Minister Majko to comment on the Foreign Minister’s position and to state clearly where he stands regarding the conclusions of the meeting of the “Friends of Albania Group” in Brussels. PD/SH praised the conclusions of the Brussels meeting, considering them concrete assistance for Albania. For this reason, the party has proposed cooperation among political forces to solve the problems, offering its alternatives and welcoming those of other parties.”

ON PAGE 5

Prosecutors have still not abandoned their absurd charges ON PAGE 3

We inform our readers that soon they will receive “RD” in a new look. A smaller format, more information, more sections and more visual appeal throughout the pages of “Democratic Rebirth.” The war is over?! Milošević surrenders. NATO: Let’s verify NATO monitors The government in parliament The opposition The elections Who will win? Years near the local [unclear] The bloody efforts Democratic Rebirth