The debate on the Writers’ Union / The painter’s account accusing the Agolli-Buzi duo continues “Enver’s first appearance after the killing of Mehmet Shehu was his visit to the Writers’ Union. He had Dritëro and Kujtim Buza by his side. The artists applaud with the dictator” The story Two surprising photos show us Enver Hoxha beside Dritëro Agolli and Kujtim Buza. This is the dictator’s first public appearance after the killing of Mehmet Shehu. An urgent meeting, and precisely among artists... Here are the reasons. By Admirina Peçi These two photographs, the event that accompanies them and the context in which we present them fully reveal the true role that the Writers’ and Artists’ Union had. Maks Velo brings these images, revealing to readers a very striking fact. Enver Hoxha appears in public for the first time after the killing of Mehmet Shehu, and he appears precisely among artists, at the National Gallery of Arts, with Dritëro Agolli and Kujtim Buza at his side, in a meeting organized at lightning speed, within 2 hours... What had happened? How are these two photographs linked to the role, tasks and punishments of the Writers’ Union? Maks Velo brings it to us today through this interview. Maks, in your direct answer regarding Kujtim Buza, whom you never separate from Agolli, you bring two photographs that have a special history and connotation... Can you explain them to us? Yes, it is a very important event for me. That photo shows Enver Hoxha’s first public appearance after the killing of Mehmet Shehu. At that time I was in prison. We experienced his suicide with great joy. For me it does not matter much whether it was murder or suicide. His family preceded him. Mehmet eliminated the generals, Beqir Balluku, Abdyl Këllezi... They eliminated one another. It was a mechanism that ate them alive. In that sense there was no reason to feel sorry. But the way they did it was terrible. For example, I knew his eldest son Lladin, he was a well-brought-up boy. He was killed in Gramsh... Continues on pages 14-15 EXCLUSIVE PHOTO In the photo: Enver’s first appearance after Mehmet Shehu’s death (circled on the left) Dritëro Agolli (circled on the right) Kujtim Buza

Editorial By Eno Çaçaj Politician writers Politics apparently is showing the first symptoms of fatigue in the face of public interest. So the political makers are thinking about how to make it more attractive. In addition to social networks on the internet, conversation, or the audience for political actions, books are also becoming a very fitting form. Alas, this latter is suffering the darkest period since Albanian began to be written. A drama that coincides with the dissolution of the Writers’ Union of Albania. That Union from which Kadare emerged, the Prince of Asturias and the perennial candidate for the Nobel Prize. That Union from which the great Dritëro Agolli emerged, whose birthday is celebrated both on the left and on the right. And after them, a whole host of distinguished writers, poets, novelists and prose writers. But today writers have become politicians. Not because there are no writers among them, but because apparently it is a very successful and attractive form of reaching the public. Today, apparently, times have changed and the leaders of the PS have the luxury of speaking and debating in front of cameras like writers, like Twitter users or FCB users. Do not expect Bardhyl Londo, Fatos Kongoli, etc., to be Blushi’s rivals at the next book fair that will crown the best-selling book. Nor Kadare. He is none other than, and none less than, the chairman whom he has criticized the most, Edi Rama. Indeed, it is nice that two currents, or two different lines within a party that has never stopped thinking differently, have today left room for debates and are discussing books. But what answer does Blushi’s preferred writer have today, the one who recently gathered us in a hall and told us that Rama’s totalitarianism is the worst venture PS has seen in these 20 years? What are the paths and how will PS claim to come to power in 2013. Will the government fall, or will it fail, or will we have a PS that is the most voted political force? Be careful! It is indeed the most voted political force, but not the winning coalition. Today, apparently, times have changed and the leaders of the PS have the luxury of speaking and debating in front of cameras like writers, like Twitter users or FCB users. Yet the voter does not have money to buy even notebooks for his children or their books. Much less a laptop or internet connection to follow with interest the statuses on social networks. If this was the path, then let them do something of added value for Albanian society. The PSP building or let’s make a Writers’ and Artists’ Union. They have long been looking for one.

Police reveals details of the operation: He hid the weapon in the dashboard ARREST It has still not been made known who the third person was who escaped the police forces, but confidential sources indicate that at the moment of the escape they saw him leaving with a pistol in his belt. Thanks to an operational route, the police had received the necessary information that Shullazi and two other people had been circulating in the capital for several weeks with this car... Continues on page 11

THE BRUSHY ARREST By Besmira Muçaj One day after the arrest of Emiljano Shullazi, the police confirmed the fact that he, together with two other people, was moving around the capital in a vehicle owned by the People’s Assembly. The vehicle, a black Benz 240 C, identified by the capital’s police, bears the license plates TR 2703 L. According to preliminary data, this vehicle is suspected to belong to the People’s Assembly of Albania. During the police investigation, it emerged that this vehicle initially had the license plates U 204 Z, and later the other plates were fitted.

Page 4 Blushi to Basha: You will meet Rama, but learn how a square is made Page 5

Pages 2-3 The government sells hydropower plants at a lower value than they really are Page 7

The Mayor, Elvis Roshi: This is how I am managing Kavaja, from a challenge for Berisha to flowers Pages 8-9