There are faults; the grid cannot handle the electricity load ANXIETY KESH cannot guarantee power on New Year’s Eve

The “first round” of the new 2000-2001 lottery begins in March-April So far, Tirana has only 62 winners for the third phase Page 7

Page 3 EDITORIAL Whenever the press “dares” to speak about the troubles and hardships this people is enduring, the Government is not ashamed to unleash its entire rich arsenal of Albanian political curses against it. “Don’t spread panic!” Meta cries in a threatening voice, typical of a failed Albanian prime minister, who nevertheless sees all the insults directed at his opponents as concerning only his resignation—no. “Republika is spreading lies,” Xhuveli yells in Parliament, moving even the MPs who ask him for an interpellation to explain the situation created by Mad Cow Disease, and once again the Government complains: “Don’t spread panic!” Once upon a time, such expressions were also accompanied by prison, accusations of hostile activity, a class struggle spanning generations, etc. Today, at least, those of us who have the courage to “spread panic” cannot be said to face the same punishment. Nevertheless, we are condemned never to escape the curses. Because the Government does not want panic to spread and does not want the press to say that there is no electricity, that Mad Cow Disease does not threaten us, that chickens and roosters can be eaten even when they have cholera(!). All this disturbs the deep sleep of a government which, to tell the truth, should itself have been the first to sound the alarm bells, warn its citizens about the dangers facing them, and seek help over the darkness, instead of lying during election campaigns and in leaflets that the newspaper itself cannot be [unclear]. And if two more votes for an Edi Rama are worth more than electricity for hundreds of thousands of people, who have forgotten that there are countries in the world where the lights are on 24 hours a day, then what more can we expect? Our touching patience does not move the Government. On the contrary! It increases its sarcasm and the degree of mockery directed at those who put up with it. Because Meta’s sleep must not be disturbed. The Prime Minister is still young and must grow up without worries.

Mad Cow Disease rages in Europe, Xhuveli mocks it in Albania Albanians unprotected against Mad Cow Disease Specialists: If it comes here, we are no better equipped than others... Mad Cow Disease has shaken Europe. Not a day goes by without the leading newspapers in all Western countries opening with an important article warning about the danger from Mad Cow meat. All central institutions in Europe have taken extraordinary measures.

They were supposed to return to Athens; they are discriminated against Port authorities do not ensure their return Page 6

Holidays Pages 12, 13

The Government finds an excuse for the darkness The Prime Minister urges Albanians not to use heating Meta blames citizens for the lack of electricity in their homes. After noting that the energy crisis is worsening, the Prime Minister has called on Albanians not to waste electricity on heating. Page 4

Figures expose tobacco smuggling The losses inflicted on the state in one year by cigarettes not being cleared through customs are colossal. For the year now ending alone, at least 32 million dollars are believed to have been kept out of state coffers as a result of imported tobacco being smuggled in. The latter is one of the most supported and most talked-about practices in recent years, but it has never been possible to eliminate it. Page 11

“Republika” wishes all Muslim believers well on the occasion of the Eid al-Adha holiday