THE CABINET IS APPROVED Majority with the votes of Kadeli, Dogjani and Islami. Dule against, LSI abstains Debate among Socialist deputies. Kadeli: There were no raised voices. Dogjani: If the government had failed to pass, the country could have gone to early elections ▸ Pages 2-3

Commentary BY Genci Kojdheli In the name of morality If there is one epithet that has been overused during the attempt these days among commentators on Albanian politics or even supporters of all political forces, it is “immoral,” which has been more or less the description of the newborn coalition between the PS and LSI. To make it clear from the outset, I personally was not an enthusiastic supporter of the coalition, but my position is irrelevant to the debate in question. This is because speaking about the morality of Albanian politics as if it exists as a well-defined, rigid entity based on such solid, immovable foundations of the political caste is, at the very least, a logical flaw, but also a deliberate amnesia regarding the events that Albanian politics has experienced in these last 22 years. In a dialectical approach, the morality of a society represents a code that its members accept and use as a reference system for their actions. Consequently, politics and politicians (emerging from this society) must also reflect such a moral code in their approach and actions. And while they play the role of political moralists, they should always keep in mind how many Machiavellian politicians and parties have been swept along wherever the wind of short- and medium-term interest has blown (which surely these political moralists do not have... ▸ Continues on page 11

LAD MYRTEZAI He painted Tirana with colors, because he could not undo the architectural catastrophe, huge sums were needed ▸ Page 20 IN THE PHOTO: (left) Edi Rama at the “Academy of Arts” in 1992 (right) Vladimir Myrtezai

WEEKEND SUPPLEMENT ▸ Pages 13-17 Iris Elezi: My “Bota” brings you Artur Gorishti The challenge of the young director. From simplicity toward the universal

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DOCUMENT / KRISTO NIKOLLA The testimony of the Albanian who fled to Greece in 1949 TIRANE Armand Plaka He recalls that Major Axhem Radhima, head of Enver Hoxha’s bodyguards, stood very close to him with the pistol at his head and was like a hawk, throughout the whole process until it ended... ▸ Pages 18-19

... always one step ahead... Spices and dried fruit Address: Tirana-Durrës Highway, km 7, Yzberisht Tirana; Tel: 042 406 500; 042 406 501; Fax: 042 406 502; e-mail: neranxi@neranxi.com; www.neranxi.com

PORTRAIT ▸ Page 10 A Spahi, red and black BY Edmond Arizaj

THE NEW MINISTER ▸ Page 21 Visar Zhiti: Here are the changes I will make to culture

INVESTORS ▸ Page 8 264 million euros deposited outside Albania