EXCLUSIVE/ The academic gives 9 reasons why he congratulates Shqiptarja.com on its first issue “Be independent, say no to cultural and religious racism. Work also for Albanians abroad” The news Academic Rexhep Qosja writes exclusively for Shqiptarja.com in its first issue. In a long analysis, he examines not only the situation of the Albanian print and visual press, but also gives a complete overview of the political, economic, cultural and national situation. Academic Qosja explains what he expects from Shqiptarja.com BY REXHEP QOSJA Another newspaper is being added to the Albanian media: Shqiptarja is being added. The number of Albanian media outlets — newspapers, television stations and radio stations — is today large, very large, but the number of truly independent media outlets is small, worryingly small. For various reasons of favors, of various privileges, of various political and social promotions; because they were and continue to be blackmailed — some of them; because they were and continue to be threatened — others; because some are bought by the regime’s tycoons, these media outlets have turned into government drums, into drums for various groups or into drums for different sides of interest. They have violated and continue to violate professional standards and the basic principles of journalistic ethics. They have become tabloidized, banal media that produce lies, slander, intolerance and hatred in national life. They have become media that in essence harm the Albanian general interest today. SHQIPTARJA.COM, A FIGHT AGAINST LIES By congratulating Shqiptarja on the occasion of the publication of its first issue, I want to congratulate an independent newspaper: a newspaper that will not serve this party or that, this clan or that, this region or that, this religion or that, this sect or that. By congratulating Shqiptarja on the occasion of the publication of its first issue, I want to congratulate a truly independent newspaper; a newspaper that will serve all the citizens of Albania, the entire Albanian people. The staff of Shqiptarja, equipped with extensive experience in today’s Albanian journalism and publicism, is the promise that Shqiptarja will truly be such: an independent newspaper, in which... In the photo: Academic Rexhep Qosja In the photo: Academic Rexhep Qosja

Message BY ALEKSANDER ARVIZU US AMBASSADOR Page 9 Continues on pages 6-7

Editorial BY ANILA BASHA We will write what we see Today we are bringing Shqiptarja.com to readers. In this beginning of the newest newspaper that is falling into your hands, I do not have much to say or ask for, or to say more than what you will find inside the pages of this newspaper from day to day. So right from the outset, I want to tell you, my friends, that Shqiptarja.com, which you now have in your hands, will be different. We will not waste your precious time with the news you see on various television channels, or that, because of political bias, is presented differently in the print media as well. Therefore, we will try, in our long and irreversible journey, to be balanced and objective; truthful and investigative; moral and straightforward; far from political pressure and with the reader in mind; free and independent; inquisitive and professional; to promote ethics and culture; to be critical of the government and to write reliable news; to have passion and desire for the valuable profession we have. These are some valuable principles of modern journalism and we have several reasons to believe that we will achieve this goal. Among the most important is that Shqiptarja.com will have experienced and professional journalists. And taking into account our economic life as well, we have decided to reach the market for you initially with 16 pages and on weekends with the cultural supplement “Rilindasi”, for only 20 lekë. And finally, I want to remember a distinguished journalist, killed five years ago while following and investigating the news. Anna Politkovskaya wrote: I live my life and I write what I see. And we will do this. We will be balanced and objective; truthful and investigative; moral and straightforward

OPPOSITION Malaj: I wasn’t included in the working group OPPOSITION Malaj: I wasn’t included in the working group Behind the scenes of the congress, 40% of the Assembly changes BY LULI PROGNI The PS Congress is expected to bring new surprises for this political force, but the election of the ruling forums of the largest opposition party will be accompanied in silence by disputes. According to sources within the PS, 40 percent of the PS Assembly will be renewed, while all figures who have not been productive during the previous forum will have to leave this structure. Rama’s clear direction is the drawing in of as many figures as possible from civil society... On pages 2-3

STANCE The PD MP: It seems he doesn’t have a PPSH membership card STANCE The PD MP: It seems he doesn’t have a PPSH membership card Oketa: I regret for the colleagues who did not vote for Shehu BY ARBEN ROZHANI Gazmend Oketa, the Democratic Party deputy, is rarely at odds with his vote in parliament, against the government and personally against Prime Minister Sali Berisha. He voted against approving the import of waste and in favor of Sali Shehu’s candidacy for the post of chairman of the High State Control. “For the candidacy for chairman of the HSC of Mr. Sali Shehu I voted with iste se pasi se përson mendoj se Sali Shehu i plotëson të gjitha... On page 5

Page 7 The EU report on waste is revealed, the law passes in Parliament Page 5

Pages 12-13 Cyanide at the Dinamo market, food sold near the poison Pages 12-13

Periphery BY ALBA MALLTEZI Happiness as a political objective Page 9