Scandal over the US Lottery 3,000 Albanians deceived . Scandal over the US Lottery. 3,000 Albanians deceived. Page 7

EDITORIAL. “Money makes water flow uphill.” The Albanian pre-socialists know this very well. A staggering electoral [o] figure is being prepared in the offices of their party. They are thinking of 2 billion lekë, at least until the money is poured into propaganda that will bombard the brains of Albanians. That is only what they have in mind so far, because God alone knows how much more will be spent later. Naturally, ordinary people cannot know where so much money flowing into the SP’s coffers comes from. It is no wonder they believe Nano may have found it, as people commonly say in such cases, “at the fish’s command.” And indeed, he has done this. For three years running, those in power in Albania have directed the Albanian branches of organized crime, illegal traff[icking] and international smuggling. Some of their money is now paying for the posters and advertisements with which the SP will once again try to lull Albanians with the beautiful fairy tale of peace and safety in their lives. The SP has meanwhile been joined by a pack of civilian “fellow travellers,” capable of squeezing fat out of a flea, who offer money in exchange for the revolving chairs of the current government. And as if all that were not enough, the state itself has been put to work for the campaign. Fuel, tires, per diems and services—everything in a campaign supported by money alone. Meanwhile yesterday, Albanian police officers took to the streets. Without the service paid for by the abolished solidarity tax. Just a symbolic amount of money, not even enough to feed their families. While the Government pours money like a river into its own party, the police have lost hope of receiving the promised service. Because Sesame does not open for them. It opens only for those in power...

The list of students who must report tomorrow, from 9:00–14:00 and 15:00–17:00, to the Italian Embassy, as well as the documents they must bring . Page 13

. Public Order officials, bodyguards and advisers have communicated with the Turk Xhevdet Çelik. Page 3

The Socialists open the purse for the elections . The SP’s campaign: 2 billion lekë. The Socialists are digging up the money accumulated for their campaign in the 1 October local elections. Thus, their party’s chief financial officer goes and complains to the Central Election Commission about the funding allocated from the state budget for the campaign, the largest of the governing coalition; meanwhile, the finance team she heads at her party’s central headquarters calculates colossal sums in expenses for the SP campaign. According to highly reliable sources within the central electoral headquarters of the Albanian Socialists, the amount calculated for spending on this campaign by the Albanian left is around 1.2 billion lekë.

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The PR is founded on family, property and dignity . “A nation cannot develop and have values unless it separates itself from crime, which has now taken hold of Albanian institutions and Albanian society in general. The PR will turn Albanian society around. The PR will once again turn its attention to the fight against crime, to the death of crime in the name of the lives of Albanian citizens, in the name of our children and our families.” This was stated at yesterday’s press conference by Fatmir Mediu, chairman of the Republican Party. Page 2

The number of required documents has doubled . Over the past year, checks to verify the documents Albanian citizens submit when applying for visas at foreign embassies have become increasingly stringent. And that is not all. The difficulties in obtaining visas have become increasingly apparent. For 2000, the annual quotas for Albanians wishing to work in Italy have been reduced by 1,000 people. Page 14

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Armed ambush against the Deputy Speaker of Parliament . Jozefina Topalli shot at in Vlora. Page 9

The former President takes refuge with Antoni Athanas in the USA . Ramiz Alia seeks political asylum. Page 9

The week’s chronicle/Crimes, executions, accidents . 25 dead in 7 days of the week. Page 6