EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW/ I tell you the opposition’s testimony about the tragedy in front of the Prime Minister’s Office Sokol Malaj: Rama was not the organizer of the demonstration, so we did not question him

The head of the Tirana prosecutor’s office, Sokol Malaj, says to “Shqiptarja.com” that the testimonies of Socialist Party deputies about the events of “January 21” are formal and do not constitute news. The investigation into the sensational events of the end of last year is now focused only on the killers of the four protesters.

Incident with the journalist for taking a photo Page 3 In the photo: Berisha coming out of Meta’s house last night Prime Minister Berisha, visit to Ilir Meta at the house in the former Bloc BY ARBEN RROZHANI In the photo: Berisha coming out of Meta’s house last night

■■■ TIRANA POLI HOXHA Although the Parliamentary Commission for the “Coup d’État” has not been closed, the investigation into the organizers of the rally continues. In a phone statement to “Shqiptarja.com”, the chief prosecutor of Tirana district explains that the interviews of opposition representatives who signed as organizers of the rally were carried out of their own free will and that from their testimonies it is merely learned that, before the rally, all the grassroots organizers were instructed to respect the law. Three Socialist Party deputies, as well as the head of the PS for the capital, Pjerin Ndreu, were summoned to the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office just a few days after the event to give their explanations about the events of January 21. Allies Gjinushi and Ndoka were also questioned. The first to be questioned were the deputies Tom Doshi and Paulin Sterkaj, who initially refused to appear at the prosecutor’s office, on the grounds that they would take part in the funeral of... continued on page 3

Editorial BY AFRIM KRASNIQI Without diplomacy At the end of December, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it had found an original solution for the appointment of ambassadors in vacant posts: it would appoint chargés d’affaires. The latter are not ambassadors, there is no need for the president’s signature, nor for a hearing in parliament. This method was applied in 2004 and 2007 when the government of the time had disagreements with the President over ambassadorial appointments. In both cases the problem is the same, the “obstacle” is the same and the “solution” is the same. If a political candidate I want as ambassador is not accepted, OK, then I will appoint chargés d’affaires everywhere until the President’s term ends! ...the undiplomatic solution to diplomatic problems risks turning foreign policy into a negative appendage of domestic policy.... The undiplomatic solution to diplomatic problems risks turning foreign policy into a negative appendage of domestic policy. On three occasions the head of state has rejected ambassadorial candidates for the same reason: the law on the diplomatic foreign service has been violated, according to which only 20% political appointments are allowed in these embassies. In 2004 this ratio was 45%, in 2007 it fell to 40%, and currently it is 42%. Instead of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the government respecting the law in every case, correcting appointments and turning diplomacy into a dignified constitutional asset for the country, other extra-legal solutions are being sought, which bring triple negative consequences for diplomacy. First, reducing representation from ambassadors to chargés d’affaires is a political stance and when this is applied in states with specific weight in the EU, then the message we send to those countries is negative and has consequences for bilateral relations. Second, we risk diplomatic staffs becoming appendages of party-political staffs.... continued on page 5

ESMERALDA KETA The directorate of Tirana’s Military Hospital has been forced to issue an unusual order for filling out the patient’s clinical record. Forced by the fact that nurses and head nurses, in no few cases, do not know how to write and fill out the clinical record in such a way that it is... continued on page 10

Page 5 The Danish ambassador: Some third party comments on my interview Page 4 Rama gathers the mayors, Ruçi surprises: There may be elections

Page 14 Police officer kills police officer, wife speaks: My husband suffered from jealousy Page 7 World Bank sets conditions for government for the USD 200 million loan

Lunch.com BY MIRA KAZHANI Sacrifice like a priest? Dom Gjergji tells his story Page 9

Shoes Made for walking...

The order from the directors for filling out the records: Capital letters must be used

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