Today, a new list with the names of 83 citizens who have won the right to employment in Italy . Page 15

BUSH - AL GOR. The battle continues. Florida holds the fate of the presidential contest in its hands. Republicans have the majority in the Senate and Congress BUSH - AL GOR The battle continues Florida holds the fate of the presidential contest in its hands. Republicans have the majority in the Senate and Congress Pp. 2,3

By Alban Shkodra “How did the elections in America go?” a senior Socialist official, just woken from his afternoon nap, asked anxiously yesterday afternoon at the pink headquarters. His conversation partners immediately split into two camps, praising or insulting “the tough Bush” and “Al Gor, who lives in his father’s shadow.” Engaged in utterly banal comments about this event in the highest-level politics of the ... globe, politicians in Albania, and particularly representatives of this politics in power, once again showed themselves to be hasty, or, at best, became transmitters of immature and completely inappropriate statements. Ignoring that stratum which knows nothing about football, let us pause over the statements that called American foreign policy into question and speculated about how it would change with the victory of one candidate or the other. The greatest concern of these Albanian rulers “of caliber” was Bush’s statements about withdrawing American troops from the Balkans in the event of his possible victory. A few hours before the polling stations opened, Bush withdrew this statement in a letter issued by spokespeople for his electoral team. Completely ignorant of the above statements, they even offered opinions on the strategy of American foreign policy. Apparently sensing this street-level politics, the American ambassador in Tirana, Jozef Limpreht, took care to issue a “reassuring” statement, which in fact says what everyone knows, except the “greenhorns” of Albanian pseudo-politics: American foreign policies are traditional and will not change with a new person at the helm of the White House.

...what has been happening in recent hours in the most important country in the world, and those who see the electoral contest between the Republicans and Democrats there as a football match, policies into question and speculated about how they other. The greatest concern of these Albanian officials of cal- ... this fact, some officials in the Albanian administration turned Bush’s position into café talk, judging the statements above “harshly” or “justifying” them, and even offering took care to issue a statement ...

In 2000, every Albanian owes USD 200 Albania’s external debt grows every year, while the Albanian state’s financial capacity to repay it continues to decline. According to a source at the Ministry of Finance who spoke to “Republika,” Minister Angjeli himself has said that this year repayment of the obligation on this debt is based on revenue that may be generated from privatization. According to the information in question, Angjeli expressed optimism that, of the 3.5 billion lekë planned to be collected this year from the sale of various properties and enterprises, twice as much is expected to be collected—that is, around 7 billion lekë. At least half of this money will go toward repaying the debt. Page 14

Bad weather causes immeasurable damage Since evening, 350 families have faced the fury of the river waters. Their flooding caused extensive material damage. Because there is no sewerage system, river water entered shops, warehouses, and low-lying homes. The flooding even completely inundated the bus agency. Fortunately, the rain continued for only a few hours; otherwise the situation would have become catastrophic. This is not the first time the river has burst its banks.

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Meidani decrees changes to the Government President Meidani decrees changes to the composition of the Government. The head of the Presidency signed the decrees yesterday at midday, in the presence of Prime Minister Meta, approving the latest changes in the Government. Meidani appears to have consulted with Meta the previous night about the possible changes, thus pre-empting conflicts that have often arisen on such occasions. The Head of State complied with the Prime Minister’s wishes. Page 4

Social . The maternity hospital fully dedicated to women. Page 12