Roland Çelmeta – the Deputy Director General of Metrology and Calibration, has left the cell and for the past two days has been with his family. At the prosecution’s request, he will await his trial under house arrest, following a decision by the Tirana Court of Appeal. TIRANA POLI HOXHA After 40 days in the detention rooms, the 40-year-old Çelmeta, a successful businessman, a well-known figure of the Socialist Movement for Integration, a former parliamentary candidate for this party in the 2005 elections, after much request, will await his trial on the charge of abuse of office, near his family. The news is confirmed by the Tirana District Court of Appeal for “Shqiptarja.com”. Just a few days after the high-profile arrests, the Court of Appeal rejected the request of Çelmeta’s lawyer to change the decision of the Tirana District Court of First Instance, from “indefinite pre-trial detention” to “house arrest”. At that time, the Appeal accepted the request of the prosecutor in the case, according to whom Çelmeta “poses a risk of repeating the criminal offense for which he is accused, corruption”. But only after 40 days, the prosecution, considering Roland Çelmeta as a person who does not pose a risk of leaving the country and because he has never previously... continues on page 2

RILINDASI There is no novel about communism! Pages 13-20 Rexhep Qosja: An examination of our historical memory BY REXHEP QOSJA

A coffee with Berisha BY ANILA BASHA This coming year 2012 will not be an easy year for Albania and Albanians. In fact, unlike Prime Minister Berisha’s statements, it will probably be the most difficult, not only politically but also financially. On the eve of our 100th anniversary as a state, we will not know whether we will be ready to celebrate as we should. So, at the beginning of the year, I had a coffee with Prime Minister Sali Berisha. Right after he came down from the villa in Dajt, where he also celebrated the arrival of January 1 with his family. I - Happy New Year, Mr Prime Minister. May this centenary year be a good one. He - Thank you, Anila, we have prepared many things for this centenary. There will be celebrations everywhere, there will be events organized by all institutions... ...you have even said there will be grand celebrations, you will tear down the Pyramid and build the new stadium; you will raise busts all across Albania and recreate the script of ’12 with Ismail Qemali. I - I know, I know, Mr Prime Minister. You have shown that this year we must rewrite history, history (as if such a thing can be done by order?); you have even said there will be grand celebrations, you will tear down the Pyramid and build the new stadium; you will raise busts all across Albania and recreate the script of ’12 with Ismail Qemali. But really, is it time to celebrate? Here we are at the beginning of the year, and the entire political class is caught up in the endless debate over the election of the president. You have firmly declared that you will have your own candidate for President. Is this a democratic ambition? And what will remain of this power, if as Prime Minister you also want to hold in your hands the President, the Prosecutor’s Office, and the SHISH (only a short time ago i... continues on page 5

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Commentary BY EDI RAMA The Danish presidency’s alarm Page 9

Denunciation