THE PRIME MINISTER SENDS THE COMPLAINT TO THE TIRANA PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE Prime Minister Majko begins his crusade against Apostoli and the ministry he heads over the destruction of the roads. Yesterday he filed a complaint against those responsible for asphalting Tirana’s roads. The dire condition of several major road sections in Tirana, following the work to repair and asphalt them, compelled Prime Minister Pandeli Majko yesterday to call for criminal proceedings to be initiated in order to hold these individuals accountable. On page 9 The Kosovo settlement has now sparked a new diplomatic storm between Moscow and Tirana. The Russian Foreign Minister does not agree with Majko and Meidani in Tirana. Yesterday: A new winter with the Russians — On page 4

THE REPORT The State Department’s criticisms of the Albanian government and politics for 1998 are published THE REPORT Albania under US accusations The State Department’s criticisms of the Albanian government and politics for 1998 are published American diplomacy has performed an autopsy of Albania’s political life. “GDP may not be entirely accurate, since a significant portion of income is thought to come from activities that are partly or wholly criminal,” says the annual report on human rights in Albania for the previous year, prepared by the US Department of State. Fatos Nano left the post of prime minister after a series of often violent demonstrations against his administration, the annual report says at the outset. The United States considered the elections that toppled Berisha’s regime satisfactory and acceptable given the conditions under which they were held. On page 2

SOCIETY The National Institute of Statistics announced in a television news report the final figure for the unemployed in 1998: 40,000 [vote?]. Adding the number of the uncounted army of people without work (195,000), this means that there are 235,000 registered unemployed people in Albania. On page 10

IN KUKËS It has been considered one of the most serious incidents and has mobilised the entire Kukës police force. The incident, which happened within a single day and involved OSCE observers very close to the border with Yugoslavia, prompted a special investigative team to arrive at the scene from Tirana. On page 18

PROPAGANDA Meidani denounces corruption and incompetence in the justice system, as well as changes in politics. Yesterday, the head of state returned to the university lecture halls, this time no longer as a lecturer. The President of the Republic spoke at length about subjects relating to justice, ethics, the rule of law... On page 3

The draw takes place on 22 March The rules 1. Keep this copy of the newspaper with your competition number 2. The game numbers are published every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. 3. On Monday, 22 March, the card draw will be on TV KLAN for a trip for 2 people to ITALY and 2 SCHENGEN visas. • More information on the inside pages of the newspaper.

Albanian Gazette

SERIES GH 260166