“I called Edi to make him a minister because in Paris he didn’t even have enough money to buy nail clippers. He was stealing to get bread.” Nano said this some time ago, while a meeting between him and Edi-vini at the Socialist Party headquarters led to the red culture vulture taking his place in the PS hierarchy, together with his “discussion and walking” type of platform. — on page 5

The PS robs the Textile Combine, leaving 1,200 people unemployed — on page 8

The renowned magazine «L’Espresso» publishes the sensational article. Here is who lies behind the enigmatic initials in the Italian agents’ reports. Socialist Party figure G.R. — Gramoz Ruçi. The husband of a ministry employee — Iljaz Çeço, husband of Makbule Çeço. The Italian Secret Service reveals links between Tirana officials and the mafia — on pages 6, 7 L’Espresso EXCLUSIVE / SISDE AND SISMI REVEAL THE ALBANIA CONNECTION And drugs went into government The husband of a minister involved in a drug-trafficking ring, the wife of another who profits from humanitarian aid... The files of the secret agents by Angela Deligi and Peter Gomez Report by the Italian secret services on the links between Albanian politicians and traffickers in drugs, people and weapons. Topographical maps of Tirana, Valona, Fier and Duraz, highlighting the public venues where criminal organizations gather. Sisde informants infiltrated among the refugees to report, almost in real time, the illegal trafficking schemes devised by Albanian and Kosovar bosses on the run. If the Mafia of the Eagles really has its hands on part of the aid intended for Operation Arcobaleno, as Bari prosecutor Riccardo Dibitonto claims in a loud voice, it would thus “make a leap in quality.” “RD” publishes the full version of the article

By Jozefina TOPALLI — In the 10-year history of our arduous transition, it has never happened—not even in 1991—that the electoral process and its outcome were the exclusive preserve of the party in power. — Never in these 10 years has the electoral law been more arbitrary, more one-sided, and less acceptable than this one at the beginning of this millennium. — The elections this year, as they are getting under way, will be a complicated operation with high risks. Under this law, the hope for an election result that reflects the will of the voters is discounted. — on page 3

Intensive meetings of local sections and departments in Vlora — on page 4

The demagoguery of the Socialist campaign is exposed by the prime minister himself Ilir Meta and the PS have planned so many “projects” to build in Albania that they don’t even know their names — on page 5

— on page 2

Today, 591 days since Azem’s murder Each passing day 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 leaves free and unmolested the killers who took the life of the December Leader, shows Albanians that they have been and remain on the side of the murderers, who have names and identities but are untouched by those in power. Democrats and all Albanians who love democracy and Azem Hajdari can never tolerate this fact. The government must either apprehend the criminals and bring them to justice, or publicly declare that it itself committed the murder of Azem Hajdari.