LSI leader to Parliament: I want the darkest cell, without lights, with more dampness CHARGE / The prosecution is seeking two years in prison and a fine of 10 million lek for the former deputy prime minister

The accusation in yesterday’s request against former prime minister Ilir Meta has brought to light his extensive phone communication with businessman Bekim Halilaj, precisely during the period of the auction of crude oil by ARMO, which was held and then blocked. The two communicated as many as 192 times, while Halilaj and former minister Prifti spoke only 13 times. ■■■ TIRANE POLI HOXHA The prosecution considered the testimony of Agim Rrapaj and Bekim Halilaj “unbelievable”, two people mentioned in the video. To support this fact, the representative of the accusation presented their phone records as evidence. “Only during 2010, the period when the oil auction at ARMO was being discussed, Bekim Halilaj communicated by phone with Ilir Meta 192 times and 13 times with Dritan Prifti. This disproves Halilaj’s statements that he was closer friends with Dritan Prifti than with Ilir Meta,” said the prosecutor. Also, the representative of the accusation, Sheshi, tried to argue to the Penal College that precisely on the day the video surveillance was carried out, before the recording time and after it, until 24:00 at midnight, Halilaj had communicated intensively with Ilir Meta, but also with Dritan Prifti, always regarding the issue of the crude oil auction blocked by ARMO... continues on page 2

Monuments Pages 12-13 Korçë, the house of the Independence photographer, Petro Dhimitri, is demolished BY NIKO KOTHERJA

Editorial BY DR. GËZIM ALPION The monopolization of politics in the century-old state 2012 is a special year for Albanians and especially for politicians. I congratulate the honest politicians for what they have achieved since they began political activity in the early 1990s, motivated by idealistic goals to serve the country at a critical moment. Unfortunately, a large part of Albanian politicians since 1912 belong to that category that Max Weber considers ‘dilettante’ leaders and ‘street dictators’ who suffer from the political sin of futility. This group also includes politicians who, according to Weber, lack a sense of responsibility and intellectual integrity. We hope that politicians will understand how important it is during this jubilee year to prioritize Albania and not the parties they founded or inherited. This will be a hopeful change at a time when Albanian politics remains deeply divisive and has become a ‘push’ for staying in or coming to power at any cost. The behavior of some politicians over the last twenty years has mostly been of a bey-like, clan chieftain nature. For some time now, Albanian politics has viewed them as despots from the Arab world from the end of the changes, who we hope will draw the necessary lessons before it is too late. When I was studying in Cairo, I remember that my Egyptian friends often returned rarely to the university campus because they were demonstrating against Mubarak’s regime, one of the “Free Officers” who forced King Farouk to leave Egypt in 1952. The “Free Officers” promised to return Egypt to the Egyptians... continues on page 12

ARBEN RROZHANI Shkëlqim Hajdari, prosecutor and close friend of the late prosecutor Xhevat Hana, who passed away two days ago, in an interview for “Shqiptarja.com” расскаles about his professional and personal ties with him. According to him, he was the symbol of a man who enforced only the law... continues on page 5

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Prosecutor Shkëlqim Hajdari tells about the connection. Ministry of Health: We did our utmost

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