Deadly alcohol reappears How Albanians are poisoned every day Albania is flooded with expired products How Albanians are poisoned every day. Albania is flooded with expired products. Page 7

The Central Election Commission imposes sanctions on international observers Page 3

EDITORIAL By Denion NDRENIKA The SP officially launches its campaign at the Palace of Congresses and asks Albanians to vote for it. Politically, it is doing its duty; honestly, it is all talk. The SP is asking for the vote, but does not say why. The party in power does not remind Albanians of the fear of travelling, costly policies, permanently tense relations with the opposition, the lack of electricity and water, poisoned food... In truth, the SP is asking for just one vote so it can remain in power and “enjoy” at least one [term] if it loses the government next year. Because in power, thieves, drunkards, petty pilferers, and people who sell the country’s interests “are born and raised,” as in the AM-CJ tender... This SP, this party asking for the vote, did not tell Albanians why they should give it the only freedom they have once every four years. Naturally, according to the SP, they should give it their vote so it can pave roads and provide electricity, water, cleanliness and peace. But the “mother party” never says that the roads it paves are paved shortly before the campaign and long after the victories of ’97; that the electricity which remains unavailable does not come in winter because of overload and in summer because of [distortion]; that its policy is icy toward the opposition and offers handouts to those called “allies”; or that it cannot win with decorative figures and a lick of paint on ministries... The SP thinks it should be rewarded with votes for this “decorative campaign.” Of course not, because one cannot and should not vote for the worth of ministries, for removing kiosks while leaving rubbish in the middle of the street, or for thieves, pilferers and tender-riggers. Nothing persuades you to vote for the SP. A country in darkness gives you no hope that you can trust the SP to put things right. For this reason, the SP’s campaign is like a news bulletin full of lies...

Socialists fear a negative reaction from the citizens of Shkodra in response to the armed incident against a female member of Parliament, Jozefina Topalli, in the city of Vlora. Sources from the central headquarters of the Socialist Party told “Republika” yesterday that the party’s leaders had expressed skepticism about holding the second major campaign meeting in the country’s largest northern city. Thus, after launching the local election campaign for 1 October the day after tomorrow at the Palace of Congresses, the Socialists had planned to hold a meeting in the city of Shkodra, which their leader, Fatos Nano, was to attend in person. In the photograph: Fatos Nano and Jozefina Topalli. Page 2

Albanian banks have not followed the rules. “About 9 billion new lek, lent to develop various businesses, have still not been repaid. The borrowers come from all strata of society, while the banks that have been most negligent are the National Commercial Bank (BKT) and the National Agricultural Bank (BKA), which account for about 76 percent of this amount. This situation has occurred because of our banks’ lack of experience. Page 11

The sick are at risk from infections in their surroundings To “recover” in hospital, you must also take into account the additional illnesses you can catch there. In the place that should be the most sterile part of the entire medical process, the unexpected happens: patients are more vulnerable than anywhere else. Patients contract additional infections, which they acquire precisely in hospital environments and from the instruments used for treatment. Doctors themselves confirm this, acknowledging the low standards of sterilization. Page 13

Today, at 11:00, at Hotel Tirana, PRSH presents its candidates for Mayor of Tirana. Media representatives are invited to attend.

On Sunday, 03.09.2000, at 11:00, in the hall of the Opera and Ballet Theatre in Tirana, PRSH launches its election campaign. All PR candidates for Mayor of the country’s municipalities and communes, as well as the Chairpersons and Secretaries of PR branches in the districts, must attend. The Executive Board

Page 5