Harsh sentences in Rome against the “cruel and dangerous” gang of Albanian girl traffickers Their activity peaked at the end of ’98 and the beginning of ’99 in areas around the Italian capital PAGE 20

Prime Minister Meta meets his Montenegrin counterpart; Vujanoviç: Albania–Montenegro cooperation is expanding First fruits of cooperation: Meta and Vujanoviç inaugurated the fibre-optic telephone link • Political assessment of the confrontation with Millosheviç, Corridor 8, keeping the borders unchanged, the fight against trafficking, and economic cooperation (REUTERS)

Athens inaugurate the OSCE office in Elbasan yesterday: “What can a referee do if a team abandons the field of play?” PAGE 24 The RTSH statute disappointed us; it was nowhere near the required standard OSCE spokesperson Porta: Some of the comments by the RTSH Governing Council could leave the International Community with a very negative impression PAGE 24 Handcuffs are ready for the people who vandalized the entrance scene of the treasury tunnel PAGE 18

EU–Albania relations at a decisive stage; EU–Albania political dialogue held yesterday in Brussels Milo calls for speeding up the pace to begin negotiations on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement PAGE 3

ISSUE OF THE DAY The latest decisions of Prime Minister Meta, taken with the full understanding of the country’s central institutions as well as its citizens, have prompted some leaders of parties in the Alliance for the State to hasten to say that the coalition has broken up, that it no longer exists, and so on, along these lines. The PS’s allies should not complicate simple things. They should understand that the coalition is not an organic union, but a pooling of energies to shoulder responsibilities. If the roads turned into a cancer for this country, nobody blamed the PSD, but everyone complained: - Why does the PS allow this shameful situation? Because the PS won the election and bears responsibility for the four-year term entrusted to it by the Albanian electorate! Some leaders, when their parties do not think as they do, see the coalition as influence over government departments, and they failed precisely because they tried to turn ministries from instruments of the executive into party instruments. This is not the concept of a coalition! This is the concept of a fiefdom, an archaic concept! No one should forget the fact that the PS dismisses and appoints people according to the abilities they demonstrate at work. It began implementing this modern concept of governance by removing its own figures from their jobs. The former Minister of Privatization, or the director of KESH, were not figures of the PAD or the PSD, but figures of the PS! The PS cannot become a spectator to destruction when its mission is to be the protagonist of construction. Therefore, some leaders should not rush to complain and make calculations as they please. If they claim they can govern better than the PS, the opportunity is there for everyone in the local elections that are just around the corner! Albanian public opinion is calling for the PS to deepen reform, and for this reason it supports its latest decisions. We must all fight our weaknesses; otherwise, we will lose precious time, a fault that deserves punishment

• They paved the roads with their own “money”; donors persuaded to give additional funds; USA gives 50 thousand dollars to neighbourhood 50 ........................ 7 • In Vlorë, Greek loan for those who lost their homes in pyramid schemes nearing completion ................. 7 • Signatures in Istanbul next week for the privatization of BKT ................. 16 CULTURE • 300 million Lek more for restorations and premieres ................. 17 • The head of the Hombah Pact, at Butrint for “Miss Albania” ................. 17