The Christian-Democratic International contradicts the leader of the Democrats
Ruperez: Berisha was not invited
I refused to give him the floor; now I ask him to respect the truth and stop the major distortions and manipulations
Page 3
Construction bosses buy the state’s silence
Profit tax—the big loser
By Fation TIRANA
Over the last 8 years of the open tax system (1991–1998), the Achilles’ heel of Albanian state finances has been profit tax. While in other countries, developed and otherwise, it is the main source of State Budget revenue (indeed, in countries such as the USA it is applied progressively, meaning that large businesses pay a higher tax, up to 40%), as well as the true foundation for developing the public economy—creating jobs in state sectors—in our country, revenues from business profits have been a minor item. From this one can conclude that tax evasion in Albania, from sources that were and remain significant, is considerable, almost equal to the revenue the state collects from excise taxes, i.e. 30–40 million dollars a year. It is clear that many people in official state circles are scandalized by the request of the Union of Domestic and Foreign Investors for a tax holiday (zero taxation) on profit tax for 10 years. The state can only benefit from this measure in favor of production businesses (creating new jobs, increasing productive capital in the country, expanding service activities in support of productive capital), while even in its current state, the revenue it collects from profit tax is at scandalously low levels. What is happening?
50m REFERENDUM
CONSTITUTION
Illus. Medi Belortaja
Cartoon bearing the words “REFERENDUM” and “CONSTITUTION”.
AIDS, the disease of the unemployed.
Drugs: 228 drug users in five months Page 6
Serbs wound Albanian police officer.
Provocateur disguises himself as a KLA soldier
The defendants do not recognize Altin Dardha Page 5
Mediu invited to Strasbourg. Doris Pak: Milošević is like Hitler
Inside:
The mystery of two deaths. The secrets of the Islamic storm in Albania. Who killed the 27-year-old Saudi? Is his body in the morgue, or has it disappeared? Page 2
Kadri Roshi tells his story on celluloid Page 13
The French block Alain Delon. Shadows follow Mitterand to the grave Pages 11–14
