EXCLUSIVE Employee contributions for health and social insurance from 1 July INSURANCE, HOW MUCH WE PAY AFTER THE WAGE INCREASE The consequences of the “good news” after the government decision. The minimum and maximum amounts for pensions, sickness, accidents, or unemployment increase. Obligations in mountain villages, 32 percent more The news After the announcement of the minimum wage increase from 20,000 to 21,000 lek per month, the government has simultaneously approved the new payments for social and health insurance contributions, at 4.3 percent. This increase is the same as the wage increase in the public sector and for pensions. But for rural areas, this increase is nearly ten times higher TIRANE Genc Kondi From 1 July, employees in the public and private sectors will pay on average 4.3 percent more in contributions for mandatory social and health insurance. This increase was decided on 27 June at... ▼ continues on page 9 In the photo: Prime Minister Sali Berisha showing wage and pension increases

Commentary BY ARBEN MUKA Butrint, the unkept word During the discussion in the program “Log” by my colleague Artur Kopani on the eve of the summer season of 2010, I asked Prime Minister Berisha about the ordeal of getting to Butrint and Apollonia, as two archaeological sites known not only in Albania but also in the world. While for Apollonia the solution to reconstruct and modernize the road is still not in sight, the problem for Butrint was different. Although reconstruction of the Kanal i Cukës – Butrint road, nearly 23 km long, began in 2007, until... ▼ continues on page 19

STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE How is form A2 filled in? Here is the video Procedures are made clear. Completion in 20 minutes. Form fee: 20,000 lek TIRANE ESMERALDA KETA Instead of a written instruction black on white, this year the National Examinations Agency has distributed an instructional video on how form A2 will be filled out. The procedures will take place on 23-24 July and each high school graduate will have only 20 minutes... ► Pages 14-15

INTERVIEW “It hurts me that you forgot January 21 and the crime in Gërdec” The Dutch ambassador’s sorrow over the political developments and May 8 Page 7

Commentary BY LEART KOLA The little trivialities of the small parties The summer season is heating up, and along with it the relationship of the small parties with the new electoral code is heating up too. On a daily basis, the leaders of the small parties occupy television screens by declaring the impossible injustices done to them by the SP, PD, OSCE. But of course the most attacked is the SP, also because in the political environment of the Balkans, attacking the opposition party is generally easier than attacking the party in power. Paradoxically, even the parties that are in coalition with the PD blame the SP for... ▼ continues on page 6

EDUARD SHALSI Lulzim Basha, a 500,000 USD fraud at the municipality Page 6

THE DRAFT IS REVEALED Immunities, SP: Not abolition but limitation for MPs Pages 2-3

INJURY IN TIRANA She learned about the illness, the woman jumps from the eighth floor Page 16

DETAILS IN THE BOOK The testimony from the 1920s: Zogu killed Avni Rustemi Page 20

... always one step ahead... Spices and dried fruit Address: Tirana-Durrës Highway, km 7, Vora, Tirana. Tel: 042 406 500; 042 406 501; Fax 042 406 502; www.neranxif[?]esh.com

TODAY’S MATCH Skënderbeu, Zeqo: There’s no bonus for winning ► Page 22