In Albania, pyramid schemes are essential We don’t collect money to launder it! In Albania, pyramid schemes are essential Gjallica: There will be no reduction in interest rates! We don’t collect money to launder it! • Around 40 million dollars belonging to the country’s 341 industrial enterprises have been placed in pyramid schemes to finance all of these enterprises’ future investments. • For 1996 alone, it is estimated that around 340 million dollars have entered Albania from Albanian emigrants through the establishment of pyramid schemes. • The transition to private banks will also be accompanied by a reduction in interest rates. But it is still too early to talk about such a thing. High interest rates persist because large companies are eager to invest. The drachma is putting up a fight against the dollar. The lek remains a spectator. F.4

Albanian pyramid schemes reach Germany Alarm in Tirana’s hospitals. Surgery is unable to operate A 14-year-old girl is raped in her bathroom F.2

Hajdari expressed surprise at why Meksi had congratulated him by mobile phone after the Durrës conference and later changed his mind. “I have experienced the unbelievable,” he said, “and I have seen how people who opposed the institutions and resorted to terror and threats against me, my family and my supporters have been transformed. F.3

…is raped in her bathroom F.2 Flamurtari releases Bushi to Tirana F.8 Balli decides: Let’s leave LDSH F.3 4 songs stolen from U2’s album. F.6

…spaper “REPUBLIKA”, “Sami Frashëri” Street, near “Petro Nini Luarasi” high school, Tirana, Account No. BTK 986/110 Tel/Fax 259 88