Nano-Malaj stole 120 million dollars

The chairman of the SP refuses to be scrutinized by the opposition on page 2

90 million dollars belonging to VEFA disappeared in July 1997

Farudin Arapi declares for the ninth time that he will return the money deposited at interest on page 9

Government privatizes citizens’ savings, without any guarantees

Crowds at the counters of the Savings Bank. Customers panic over the loss of their money on page 2

The example of Mrs Akant

editorial By Astrit PATOZI The Council of Europe’s representative in Tirana, Mrs Akant, is leaving Albania these days, leaving behind the memory of a diplomat devoted to her duty, but also of a good friend of the country where she worked for a long time. Mrs Akant is leaving Albania after always drawing attention to this country’s greatest unhealed wound, which is undoubtedly “the murder of the century.” And for this she used her farewell dinner to make it clear both to those governing this country and to the opposition that Albania cannot have peace without the murder of Azem Hajdari being solved, and that this cannot happen in a country where there is no rule of law. on page 5

The Political Bureau continues to choose the winners

on page 13

Nano: In January I will begin the purges

The leader of the Socialists is preparing to wield the broom in the party on page 5

Meta sells Çamëria

Simitis: Relations between the two countries have never been at this level on page 3

The years ’45–’91, a black stain on Albania’s history

By Jozeina TOPALLI on page 3

Beja: Nano should get himself in order first

DP opposes the idea of establishing an AD-HOC parliamentary commission on page 2

Handcuffs ready for Dolores Velajin

on page 7

The government protects Azem Hajdari’s killers

Today, 464 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 shocked the entire Albanian world. The governments of the former Communists, who openly and untroubledly keep the old criminals at the helm, are showing Albanians that they have been and remain on the side of the killers, who have names and identities but are not touched by those in power. Democracies and all Albanians who loved and honored Azem Hajdari can by no means tolerate this fact. The government must either bring the criminals to justice or publicly declare that it itself committed the murder of Azem Hajdari.