The decree cuts six months off his prison term. 102 convicts on the list The PS leader will be released in September. The Socialists reject the pardon: “It is nothing but a farce” Presidential pardon. Nano closer to release. In September, farewell to prison TIRANA - Six months less in prison for Fatos Nano. A presidential pardon grants clemency to the Socialist leader, but only six months off his sentence. Two days ago, a list was issued by the president’s office naming 102 people convicted of various crimes who will benefit from Berisha’s pardon. Lenka Çuko also has her sentence reduced by five years. Meanwhile, the list of other convicts who benefited from Berisha’s pardon remains a mystery.

Armand MERO N[?] without narrowing them, b[?] the year 1996 for us Albanians. Perhaps a great shock took place during it. In politics, the balance of power was overturned, and the Election was doubled. In the economy, prices rose, wages also underwent a change, but what engulfed the state’s call was the pyramid-scheme phenomenon, whose inexplicable explosion at the end of this year brought no small amount of disappointment. During these 12 months, Albanians still felt the anxiety and shock of crime. Serious attacks struck the country. Prominent figures were attacked and innocent people were left dead. And for the first time, the discovery of a shocking terrorist organization showed that crime is no longer an infant or child, but has grown up and become organized. Elections change the political balance Accompanied by controversy, accusations and counter-accusations, both elections this year almost overturned the existing political balance in the country. In practice, the PD consolidated its position as never before, gaining much more space both in Parliament and at local levels. The opposition, which had always carried the Socialist banner, did not accept the result, but its protests changed nothing in concrete terms. Although it tried the Albanians of gomos[?] Assassinations, the new form of crime A wave of assassinations killed people, striking the capital on May 12, 1996. The intended target, who was lost, was caught with Tirana’s redhead, Çuçi Gjoni, the executioner and his wife. Tr[?] the biggest thing happened at “Veç” and later, in the middle of Drjetës? and Rendit, they were struck one after another. In Pogndec[?] municipal officials, in Tirana the director of Prisons and Serbs, brought several weeks later, on the evening of April 5. Meanwhile, nationally, it rose in quality and, as all these things took shape and exp[?]r[?] in it, that brother directly struck the state by attacking its people. And that this crime was organized was also demonstrated by “Hakmarrja për Drejtësi”, which operated according to the scheme presented by Rendit—as a ministry in its own right. The escalation and spread of the pyramid-scheme phenomenon Started quietly and without fanfare, the pyramid-scheme business gradually grew, penetrating the cap[?] and the Albanian economy. And it must be admitted that for several consecutive years, “fajdeja” modestly provided for family needs, adding to the poverty of the transition, and even raising hopes among some people of getting rich quickly, as in fairy tales. But the year now drawing to a close saw several significant shifts in this phenomenon. In some cases, people lost hope and the losers were seized by panic and uncertainty. S[?] of firms closed, the nearest ones, and other work in[?] …the consultative body, unlike ever before, [strengthened] its position, taking up The opposition, which carried the socialist flag, never accepted the results, but its protests changed nothing in practical terms. Even though it [unclear: “protoi shkakpinte e gomës”] in the middle of the square, it failed to turn this misfortune into any good. On the contrary, it gave ground to the right so that it could grow stronger. This was especially true after the local elections, when Shkodra fell into the hands of Balli and Lezhat, two new forces that also won seats in Parliament and quickly set about making up for lost time. Meanwhile, the socialists became embroiled in an internal conflict that [unclear] … [partially illegible] … modest material possessions, rescuing them from the poverty of the transition, while seeming to awaken them among a part of the prosperous and quickly growing population, as in the confrontations. But the year we are now going through saw several significant upheavals of this kind. In some cases, decisions and outbreaks occurred, and the losers were seized by panic and uncertainty. The closing of the counters of well-known companies and crowds of people gathered in front of them were not rare events in 1996. Today we will leave behind the spaces of ’96 and enter a new threshold. And on this occasion, both as ancient as it is new, there can be no better wish for our friends and our country than a word that contains within itself the dimensions of all successes and losses. Happy New Year!

On page 3

SPECIAL ON THE EVENTS OF THE YEAR Special report on the events of the year in Albania and around the world In the newspaper’s pages, the 12 Albanian months. Everything from politics, the economy, sport and culture. Yeltsin and Clinton remain presidents Serbia: prophecy in the opposition square Elections in Albania: votes and protests The pyramid-scheme fever step by step: from the IMF to Sudja Football: Germany’s “champions” triumphed in Europe On pages 5–8

Traders spoil the joy of the traditional holiday Many food items in the markets are 100 percent more expensive

TIRANA - Merchants are “killing” the joy of the biggest holiday of the year. It seems that the sky will not now burst into multicolored whistles, but the sky-high prices of food products have soared far too high. Food products essential for the New Year’s table have been “armed” by their owners on this day with very high price tags that terrorize the psychology and modest budgets of the many shoppers. In just a few days, many food products have become up to 100 percent more expensive compared with the period before the holiday, registering rates typical of rampant inflation.

An anti-crime mechanism is being established. Shamata optimistic about 1997. “We will strike at and curb crime” TIRANA - The Ministry is creating anti-crime offices. The head of the Interior Ministry himself outlined at the latest press conference the mechanism that will operate against crime, drug trafficking, kidnapping and prostitution. In his address to journalists, Minister Shamata gave an account of the fight against crime in ’96 as well as an optimistic forecast for ’97. MINISTER SHAMATA The Ministry’s chief...

TIRANA - Juventus has already pulled 9 points clear of its closest pursuer, Napoli; Lazio and Roma are the disappointments of the championship. Milan, despite changing its coach, has not emerged from its crisis. Scala is the new coach of Perugia. He promises the team a place in the UEFA zone. Boxing in action

Berat, dozens of bets on the new hobby BERAT - The turkeys “honor” their owner. A few days before the New Year’s festive preparations are completed, they “take part” in a rare activity. They fight one another in the form of a championship, where crazy bets are also common. The losing rooster reportedly becomes the property of the winner, but it often happens that it brings its owner [unclear], with sums reaching as much as 500 dollars. Roosters are no longer the “exclusive preserve” of rural farms. Adults, too, have fallen prey to the sporting desire to pit their strength against one another. “Strength championships” are held everywhere, and even parties have not been left out. A 24-year-old from Berat, a participant in this “bombardment,” and just as many roosters, [unclear] has waited a long time for luck to smile. He [unclear] the heavier rooster and, in difficult conditions, weighs 75 kilograms, which he managed to take. ... [part of the text is illegible]

LONDON - Europe is bidding farewell to 1996 amid a white landscape. The severe cold that has gripped the entire continent has claimed 90 lives so far. It has thrown roads, traffic and telecommunications into chaos. In Russia, perhaps 300 people will have to spend New Year’s trapped by bad weather in a tunnel in the Caucasus Mountains. According to reports, two women gave birth in those difficult conditions and brought two children into the world, whom the extreme cold killed. The article continues on the next page: heavy snow ...

SPORTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD Juventus team of the year in Italy

dated 27.12.1996, of the Albanian Red Cross lottery ALBANIAN RED CROSS Win a prize of 500 lekë with tickets ending in 14 Win a prize of 2,000 lekë with tickets ending in 747 Win a prize of 5,000 lekë with tickets ending in 1916 A prize of 50,000 lekë goes to ticket number 13/7096 150,000 lekë: ticket number 14/8023 800,000 lekë: ticket number 15/1993 The Albanian Red Cross wishes everyone Happy New Year 1997!