The government hastily declares the Independence Monument, sculptors revolt Hektor Dule: This one in Tirana could have been the Monument of Freedom. Aurel Plasari mocks it with a joke: We chose by cherry lot. Berisha, an art critic, imposes the jury. Rama: Ridiculous, even shameful News The Interministerial Committee for the 100th anniversary of independence decided yesterday to select, as the independence monument in Tirana, the work created through the collaboration of the Kosovar artist Visar Obrija and the German artist Kai Roman Kiklas. On the outer sides of the monument there will be laser-drawn elements such as the Declaration of Independence, the national symbol of the eagle, and human figures TIRANA Dhurata Hamzai Prime Minister Berisha hastily selected yesterday, just a few hours before leaving for the USA, the winning sketch for the monument... ► continued on pages 2-3 In the photo: Director of the National Library Aurel Plasari and sculptor Hektor Dule (below) Monument for the 100th Anniversary of Independence (photomontage)

PETRO KOÇI INTERVIEW The chairman of PSV against the former prime minister. Tavo: he is a consensus candidate ► Page 4-5

Comment BY ENTON ABILEKAJ Nano runs as ambassador Fatos Nano seemed as if he were running to be appointed ambassador to Albania by some Western government on Thursday on Sokol Balla. Especially in the stance he took toward the two most important events of 2011. January 21 and May 8, for Nano, happened exactly as they are seen by US and EU representatives. But while the ambassadors of the countries have never been and have no plan to become members or leaders of the Socialist Party, the historical leader of the left, despite thousands of socialist hearts, did so with his stance. Even Erjon Braçe reacted immediately, while Nano followed up the reply of his American friend, Ambassador Arvizu. This is the path Nano has chosen; a cool stance toward everyone and a little flattery toward the one most worth flattering, Meta. A forced equidistance from the decisive forces for his election and a non-critical stance toward everyone, but also the return of schoolboy feelings for Meta... ► continued on page 3

Analysis BY AURON TARE The culture of a ministry without culture Rama's latest shot at the English translation on the official website of the Ministry of Culture Artrat e Babë Myslimit in Pezë, “Baba Nuts Myslymi in Peza Kingdom” I took as one of his brilliant finds to show the great degradation that has overtaken this institution of our culture. Opening the online page of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Albania, I hoped I would find somewhere this MKRS-style translation that had prompted Rama to use it in his joke. But what met my eyes as soon as I opened the online page of the Ministry of Culture was something unbelievable. Only the pen of Faik Konica could describe this provincial, all-Albanian-style fashion worthy of officials from Anatolia in the west of the Ottoman Empire. Konica’s description of provincial, ignorant civil servants, with greasy mustaches and flies buzzing around them all day in the empty offices of a washed-up state that was waiting to collapse at any moment, was the first image... ► continued on page 21

PHOTOS AND NAMES ► Page 7 Elections in Greece, four Albanians run for parliament

Electronic counting prevents vote theft ► Page 10

Diary of abused women uncovered ► Page 19

BURREL ► Page 15 He harasses the 27-year-old woman, the police chief is held hostage for 5 hours

INTERVIEW ► Page 9 Veliaj: FRESSH competes according to the American model of elections

ALBANIAN TELE BINGO From the draw dated 24 April 2012 played on TV Klan at 18:50 Winning numbers read on page 13

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