Luan Pobrati: The Serbs had spies in Albania The document in Serbian by Taulant Balla from 5 January 1987 is disclosed “I knew Berisha as a Party Bureau secretary in medicine. If this is true, the PS deputy must explain it publicly” The News The debate over the opening of the files, and especially those of former collaborators of foreign secret services, has been joined by one of the best intelligence-service experts, Luan Pobrati, who nevertheless denies the accusations against Berisha, stating that he knows him only simply as a PPSH secretary. TIRANE JAKIN MARENA The opening of the case of former collaborators of the State Security and, even more, of foreign spies and agencies, including agents of the Yugoslav UDB, has sparked a strong debate in the Albanian political and social environment. The involvement in this debate of names such as the country’s prime minister, Sali Berisha... Continues on pages 2-3 In the photo: Intelligence Services expert Luan Pobrati and Prime Minister Sali Berisha

Comment BY IGLI TOTOZANI* Let us protect the disabled Persons with disabilities belong to that part of society which needs continuous support from the state, in order to guarantee fundamental rights and freedoms, as well as access to some of the most basic experiences of life. The UN decision to add a universal instrument, the Convention “On the Rights of Persons with Disabilities” (already signed by Albania since 2010), aimed to guarantee this social group fundamental rights and freedoms that are denied to most human beings. This Convention covers the many areas in which persons with disabilities have been discriminated against, including access to justice; participation in political and public life; education; employment; protection from torture, exploitation and violence, as well as freedom of movement. Albanian legislation has regulated in a fragmented way, through special statuses, the rights of persons with disabilities, the blind, paraplegic/tetraplegic persons, work-invalids, etc. Taking into account the provisions of the UN Convention “On the Rights of Persons with Disabilities”, Albanian legislation regulating the rights and benefits of persons with disabilities also needs additions and improvements in defining multidimensional criteria for assessing disability, clear criteria and procedures for granting benefits, making and reimbursing payments, as well as monitoring the state agencies and companies that provide services. Regarding the two draft laws, on certain changes to the status of paraplegic/tetraplegic invalids and to the status of the blind, I consider the Council of Ministers’ aim in undertaking them, namely the definition of clear procedures for granting benefits... Continues on page 14

The municipality gives the calendar of activities. The mayor: The celebration is better in Elbasan, people also come from outside Albania CELEBRATIONS FOR 14 MARCH ELBASAN Today is Summer Day in Elbasan. The municipality has taken measures so that all those who have come from all over Albania, as well as from Albanian-speaking regions, have the opportunity to enjoy the spectacle of the Summer Day celebration. Even though it is a national holiday, more than on any other day, it is celebrated in Elbasan... Pages 12-13

“I’ll give Berisha land in Tirana and lessons in civility” Pages 4-5

The pedestrian zone in Tirana City Hall reinstates the market Page 19

The rubbish — here are the reasons why we are asking for a referendum Page 18

Pages 10-11 Commissioners voted in place of 109 people

LUNCH.com Page 15 Ylli Rakipi: Only Sali Berisha can defeat Berisha

Page 9 Amendments to the law on the return and compensation of property

... always one step ahead... Syrups for cocktails and liqueurs for bars and restaurants Address: Tirana-Durrës Highway, km 7, Yrshek Tirana; Tel: 042 406 500; 042 406 501; Fax 042 406 502 e-mail: neranxi@neranxi.com: www.neranxi.com