The former U.S. ambassador’s slap and the warning from the State Department official Interview on TopStory: “Albania is on the brink of the abyss. Immunities? Berisha wants them to threaten the opposition.” Secretary Riker: You have critical weeks ahead, we will follow you closely next year —The story— The former U.S. ambassador to Tirana, John Withers, in an interview for “Top Channel” warned that the country is sliding toward a dictatorship, where the prime minister has taken all powers into his hands and the country’s democratic future is at risk. TIRANA Sokol Balla Albanians should raise their voices.” John Withers, former U.S. ambassador in Tirana until two years ago, in a long interview for “Top Channel”, from his home in Maryland, analyzes the years of... ▼ continues on pages 2-4 In the photo: John Withers, former U.S. ambassador in Tirana In the photo: John Withers, former U.S. ambassador in Tirana

Page 5 Topi becomes FRD chairman, today he takes over Oketa’s office

Falls asleep at the wheel, kills the mother and the child Page 22 Falls asleep at the wheel, kills the mother and the child

Cukali: Release me, my father has died Page 22 Cukali: Release me, my father has died

The Prosecutor’s Office, charge reassessment for Nazime Page 14 The Prosecutor’s Office, charge reassessment for Nazime

A coffee with... BY ANILA BASHA Does the U.S. see critical weeks? The holidays are over, Albania burned (and not only from the fires), the government went back to work, and diplomats started once again shuttling to Tirana. It was time for me too to meet with the prime minister. He has set the record in swimming, I the record in tanning, but in the end, we ended up in his office. Me - Hello, Mr. Prime Minister. Him - Come in, Anila. Me - So, we’re back to reality. Again to immunity, the country’s status as a candidate, and most importantly the challenge of the 2013 elections. Being critical of what has happened, I like to share these thoughts of mine with you, Mr. Prime Minister. In the messages from the U.S. yesterday, they did not seem quite so “p[e?]ampering” toward the government as at other times, when they had your back and told you that you were doing very well. Indeed, Mr. Riker thanked you yesterday for your generosity and your time (and who does not do such a thing? Everyone knows that Albanians are very generous), but between the lines the messages this time came through more clearly. “Washington will follow closely next year,” said Mr. Riker, leaving all of us with the big question of whether they have not been following us until now? For the first... ▼ continues on page 3

ARRIVAL AT RINAS Fazliç arrived in Tirana last night; the Albpetrol tender opens today The Serbo-Bosnian intermediary, representative of a company. How the oil is being sold TIRANA Genc Kondi Damir Fazliç, the Serbo-Bosnian intermediary, arrived last night at Rinas, a few hours before the government opened the tender for the sale of Albpetrol... ▼ Page 8

Filmmaker Robert Budina: the 20 thousand souls of “Nave dolce” in 1991 Pages 15-21

Page 9 Lulzim Basha cancels the meeting, the recidivist: “We only want Roma”

Page 8 The changes the PS proposes for the Constitution are made public

Page 8 Bus lines with Greece are blocked, protest

A1 REPORT! the origin of the news...

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