BERISHA IN VLORA?! Dozens of protests from Vlora foreshadow the failure of Berisha’s visit

The Association of those who drowned in Otranto on 28 March 1997 protested yesterday PAGE 3

Court: Sali Berisha to stand trial in public, like every other citizen

The Supreme Court panel ruled yesterday on the matter of any kind of trial for citizen Sali Ram Berisha Sali Berisha, a member of parliament without immunity, will be tried by any court of first instance for every charge brought against him. • Sali Berisha, a member of parliament without immunity, will be tried by any court of first instance for every charge brought against him • Berisha will sit on the same defendants’ bench as any other person accused of any kind of criminal offense • The charge of defamation against the Haxhia brothers (the brothers of his former bodyguard, Izet Haxhia), in connection with the murder of MP Azem Hajdari, remains pending for now BY ELA MARKU, PAGE 10

Bilbil Mema to head Tirana police

Tirana gets a new police chief Bilbil Mema to head Tirana police TIRANA—Bilbil Mema will succeed Mithat Havari as head of the capital’s police. Prime Minister Meta signed the appointment yesterday evening. PAGE 9

Nano: Implementation of the projects begins in May

Socialist Party leader and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on the Stability Pact Fatos Nano began yesterday his two-day work programme at the office of the Stability Pact’s chief coordinator, Hombah

Nano: Implementation of the projects approved in Brussels begins in May

Socialist Party leader and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on the Stability Pact Fatos Nano began yesterday his two-year work programme at the office of the Stability Pact’s chief coordinator, Hombah the Stability Pact Fatos Nano began yesterday his two-year coordinator, Hombah. Nano: Implementation of the projects approved in Brussels begins in May • The next meeting of the Regional Table of the Pact will be held on 12 May • American Kurch: although I am not part of the Friends of Albania Group, I truly feel like a friend of your country and people • Nano presented the chief coordinator Hombah’s office with a new project under the first table: a “Balkan Internet Radio” that would broadcast in several languages and serve as a model of free, borderless radio in the Balkans. PAGE 3

The “Meta” package, $4.8 million for 29 roads in the former municipalities

Here is what the Government will do for Durrës Prefecture Asphalting 43,196 metres of roads in the cities of Durrës (7 roads, 7,208 metres in total), Shijak (6 roads, 2,988 metres in total), Manzë (2 km), Krujë (9 roads, 16.8 km in total), and Fushë-Krujë (6 roads, 14.3 km in total). PAGE 11

The business lobby will now have a voice of its own in government

State-business representatives, Business Development Advisory Council “Meksi: The Business Development Advisory Council will serve as an intermediary for businesspeople’s issues, which will help strengthen ties among the directions of the Stability Pact.” • Following Prime Minister Meta’s decision, the Business Development Advisory Council has been established. It will make its own recommendations for the future of this sector and, in each case, provide its own assessment of the future of business. PAGE 5

Emigration to Italy: Albanians, find guarantors by May 15

Here are the conditions for the 6,000 people who will go to Italy as legal emigrants WHO CAN PROVIDE A GUARANTEE • Italian citizens • Albanian citizens or citizens of another nationality, provided they reside legally in Italy. • Italian regions or local authorities (including mountain communities and their associations) • Professional associations or their trade unions. • Entities and voluntary associations in Italy that have been active in the emigration sector for at least 3 years. PAGE 5

Jankovich: The situation in Albania is now much better than before

Viktor Jankovich, director and US ambassador at the Marshall Information Center in Germany, exclusively for “Zëri i Popullit” “I want to say that, in fact, we want to have a normal relationship with Albania, meaning that your people come to us and our people come here. It is in our interest for this relationship to be stable. You are right, the situation in Albania is now much better. I also want to emphasize that we will organize similar programs in the future, because we have our own ideas about stability, but we also need to hear what the people here think about this issue. We also want to organize these programs in full harmony with the Albanian representatives.” BY LIDRA ZEGALI ON PAGE 3

Islami: Electoral issues platform to be ready by the end of April

The Electoral Issues Commission at the PS meets. An action plan is envisaged PAGE 3

Let’s not give organized crime time to reorganize

TIRANA—Minister Poçi seeks support in the areas of mutual information-sharing, training, and logistics PAGE 9

Exchange of information on criminals moving across the border

SHKODER - The regional police structures of Shkodër and their counterparts in Montenegro decided to cooperate to combat crime on both sides of the border PAGE 10

Poçi–Tantan talks yesterday

Cooperation between the Montenegro and Albania police forces

The “Meta” package: 4.8 million dollars

Here is what the Government will do for Durrës Prefecture