Foundations against the IMF: “We’ll do Albania ourselves” Sudia announces new super-interest rates. As of yesterday, 10 percent on two-month deposits The director of the “Populli” Foundation: “The criticisms recommended by the IMF have not infrequently proved [well-founded] in other Eastern countries” The director of the Albanian Center for Economic Research: “High interest rates are a serious obstacle to economic growth” TIRANA - While the International Foundation in Tirana [sentence unclear in the source] to speak with all Albanians, the “pyramid schemes” have begun [unclear] their [unclear] super-interest rates. Yesterday “Sudia” announced that it would pay its clients interest of 100 percent on two-month deposits. At the same time, the “Populli” Foundation has also announced that its new clients will be entitled to withdraw the first installment of their payment after 3 and 4 months. Meanwhile, the head of this foundation, Bashkim Driza, in an interview given yesterday, voiced doubts about the objectivity of the criticisms expressed in the name of the IMF concerning the activities of the so-called “pyramid-scheme business.” “The criticisms recommended by the IMF have not infrequently proved [well-founded] in Eastern countries,” Driza said, and hastened to assure his clients once again that their interest is guaranteed through 2001. Some time ago, Finance Minister Bode conveyed to Tirana the IMF's concerns regarding the Albanian “pyramid schemes.” Two further criticisms of this kind have also been repeated by Zef Preçi, director of the Albanian Center for Economic Research. Expressing concern about the difficulties that “pyramid schemes” create for production growth and macroeconomic stability, Preçi stressed that “the outlook is doubtful. It becomes dangerous both if these schemes are dismantled suddenly and if they are left to continue their activities undisturbed.” On page 7 Yesterday outside the office by the “Kamberi” branches (Photo: P. Hlo)

India, two planes collide Accident map NEW DELHI - A tragic collision in the skies over Asia: a Saudi Arabian Boeing 747 and a TU from Kazakhstan collided, causing a deadly explosion. There are still few details about the cause, but very little hope that any of the 351 passengers will be found alive. This will be confirmed tomorrow, after the violent collision [unclear] and six Indians [unclear] registered [unclear] in the fifth [unclear] largest [unclear] flight since its earliest days. On page 2

LIBRAZHD - A deadly game with the lives of hundreds of train passengers. A terrible disaster was averted, solely thanks to a child [unclear], through the intervention of the train driver. He reported the incident to the Librazhd police station as soon as he arrived at the station, and two minors were arrested. They were two 14-year-old teenagers who had placed steel plates on the railway tracks the previous afternoon, seriously risking the derailment of the passenger train coming from Pogradec toward Tirana. Panic [unclear] after the locomotive driver forcefully braked near the village of Dragostunjë. On Monday afternoon, at around 4:00 p.m., he noticed that the railway track had been [unclear] by steel plates. The driver stopped the train and, after [unclear], tried to remove the steel plates—they were about two meters long and 30 centimeters wide—and was then able to continue the journey. Terrified by the sudden braking, the passengers got out of the carriages and asked [unclear]; only the children’s [unclear] convinced them that the danger had passed. The driver remained safely at his post on the train. In Librazhd, he reported the act, which could have led to a railway disaster. On Monday afternoon, thanks to the police’s swift action, the two suspected minors were arrested. They had been playing on the railway and are charged with their actions. Fortunately, in this case, they were both suspects [unclear]. Editorial staff: Polli

Three trucks carrying cigarettes pass through like ghosts Tirana experts uncover a $600,000 fraud TIRANA - A massive fraud at Qafë-Thanë. Three trucks carrying cigarettes passed through like ghosts without being registered. A value of thousands of euros and over 600 thousand dollars escaped payment to the state. Everything was uncovered by experts from this department, who found that more than 150 thousand kilograms of packages had not been registered. Four customs officers, who were on duty that day, and two customs police officers are implicated. All have been reported to the prosecutor’s office for collusion in smuggling. The General Directorate of Customs in Tirana. A fax sent by their colleagues in Macedonia informed them that trucks loaded with cigarettes had crossed the border point. Checks carried out at Qafë-Thanë showed that On page 5

FIER - Two of the 15 people detained at Seman beach on Sunday evening, where 1 million packets of L&M cigarettes were seized, have ended up behind bars. The two drivers are accused of being accomplices in smuggling. Meanwhile, the minister [unclear] of the two trucks carrying the cargo from the coast. The police investigations so far have provided no information about the extent of this smuggling operation or the people directly involved in it. On page 5

Theatre festival? Taking a break this year TIRANA - The National Theatre Festival will not be held this year. The Ministry gives reasons according to the statute governing this event. The “big names” of contemporary Albanian theatre consider the failure to hold this festival a real paradox. On page 4

A battle of documents between two rivals TIRANA - Now a “battle” of documents between rivals for the post of Chairman of the Trade Unions. Azem Hajdari accuses Valer Xheka of corruption in the sale of BSPSH property. The accusations are immediately rejected by the leader of this union, who calls them yet another slander by Hajdari. The matter concerns a notarized deed signed in ’94 which, according to the PD deputy, was falsified by changing the year and the price of the land, resulting in a gain of 60 thousand dollars in the union chairman’s pocket, according to Hajdari. But Xheka categorically denies any connection to this scandal and places responsibility on the former Secretary General of BSPSH, Fatmir Musaraj. This name appears on the sale document and was also mentioned by the PD deputy. Hajdari Xheka: “It’s another slander by Hajdari” On page 3

Hafizi at a press conference TIRANA - For the second time in four days, Hafizi has reviewed the national team. “Generally, we played well; the players carried out all their duties, and the goal we conceded was accidental.” One thing has become clear to everyone: “There is no one irreplaceable in the national team.” The substitutions, although they did not produce the result, were necessary, according to Hafizi. Mema has been dismissed from the Tirana championship-winning team. It is surprising, after winning the league and the Cup last season (the only instance in the history of football for the white-and-blues) and putting in a respectable performance against the Armenia Under-21s, that the club’s board has appealed [unclear]. Former captain of the first-team side in the ’80s, Enver Shehu, has taken charge of the team in Mema’s place. The national cup has been played in Germany. Cottbus continues to surprise, while Trapattoni’s Bayern have beaten Werder after goals by Kinskman (2) and Ziege, who returned to the team after knee surgery. On page 6 Hafizi, the national team coach

Brojka puts on the chairman’s robe On page 3

Court resolves conflict among Orthodox Christians On page 5

Robbers seriously wound a merchant On page 5

German bunkers blown up On page 5