EXCLUSIVE/ The document of Dritan Selo, former director of External Relations SECRET FILE OF PARLIAMENT The behind-the-scenes diplomacy of Topalli “I was dismissed three days ago for no reason at all.” Topalli’s meeting with Ambassador Dervishi in Athens over the deadlock with the Greeks. Serbia’s blocking of Jakup Krasniqi’s invitation and the ambassadors leaving without shaking the chairwoman’s hand

The former general director of the External Relations Service in the Parliament of Albania, Dritan Selo, dismissed three days ago with a document sent to the secretary general of the department, not only undermines the claims made to remove him from his job by replacing him with another name chosen by Parliament Speaker Topalli, but also exposes Albanian diplomacy. TIRANA ARBEN RROZHANI Those who know best why Dritan Selo was dismissed are the deputies: they say that the chairwoman got angry when the foreign ambassadors accredited in Tirana did not even deign to shake her hand on 17 January 2012, when a grand ceremony had been prepared in the plenary hall in honor of the National Hero, Skanderbeg. The fault? Dritan Selo. A few days earlier, when he was in... ► Continues on pages 2-3 In the photo: Former Director of External Relations in Parliament, Dritan Selo, and a facsimile of the correspondence with the Secretary General of Parliament

Comment BY GENTIAN BALA Tirana’s political comedy in the Caucasus Unlike dictatorial countries, which are characterized by linear and aggressive foreign policies aimed at strengthening state interests, in Western democracies and in countries aspiring to become such, foreign policies are more complicated and may experience fluctuations from one legislature to the next. Nevertheless, regardless of the structure of power, different cultures, and specific weight on the international stage, all states worthy of the name share what is the backbone of foreign policy, the ABCs of diplomacy, the defense of state interests. A concrete and quite close example to Albania’s geostrategic position is Macedonia and the excellent management of the conflict with its larger and more powerful neighbor, Greece, over the name issue. It does not matter which party is in power, it does not matter who the opponent is at the diplomacy table, even the consequences lose importance when a state’s foreign policy is guided by the ABCs of diplomacy, the defense of national interest. For many, the above is completely normal. Normal, if we did not live in a fairy-tale republic like ours, where we would feel more honored if they called it a banana republic... ...if we did not live in a fairy-tale republic like ours, where we would feel more honored if they called it a banana republic... ► Continues on page 3

INTERVIEW WITH GAZMEND OKETA I’m leaving PD, I’m going to Topi’s party The former deputy prime minister reveals new plans for politics in the president’s party and why he left Berisha TIRANA ILVA TARE Former Defense Minister Gazmend Oketa announces his departure from the PD parliamentary group toward Topi’s new party. He says there are other MPs as well. He declared that the new party will be made public by the end of March... ► Page 5

The brother’s interview: We didn’t want Genta to go into BB5 • The new housemates who enter the house tonight ► Pages 13-20

The truth about the execution of the nightclub owner ► Page 8

► Page 11 Lulzim Basha finds Edi Rama’s 357 million in the Treasury

► Page 9 The prosecution suspects that Yllka is involved in Eleni’s murder

► Page 12 “CARLSBERG” Begins its courageous journey in Albania

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