The above statement has only pickled tomatoes, while President Berisha’s also has red tomatoes; it is one of those made in Korçë, where Berisha said that today, with a strike [unclear], you can buy… Whereas today the Albanian market is a highly developed market; everything can be found there People ask: but where is the money? The above statement has only pickled tomatoes, while President Berisha’s also has red tomatoes; it is one of those made in Korçë, where Berisha said that today, with a strike [unclear], you can buy only 25 kg of them. I’m taking tomatoes as an example, which cost 100 new lek per kg, because you too, in Korçë, to show the great achievements of the Albanian government, mentioned pickled tomatoes! It seems absurd to me for a President to talk about tomatoes at a time when many people in Albania don’t have money to buy bread. There are whole families on welfare. Almost nothing is produced, except newspapers, films and scandals. Mr. Berisha, when you talk about tomatoes, I was reminded of Enver Hoxha’s statement, in which he had said «that the potato is half-bread, half-stew». Mr. President, what can a teacher buy with a salary of 2500 new lek a month? And a doctor? And the hundreds of thousands of unemployed workers, whose welfare payments aren’t even enough for coffee and cigarettes? Mr. President, it is true that today there are not only pickled tomatoes, but red tomatoes too; but with such a salary today you can buy only 25 kg of them. I’m taking tomatoes as an example, which cost 100 new lek per kg, because you too, in Korçë, to show the great achievements of the Albanian government, mentioned pickled tomatoes! It seems absurd to me for a President to talk about tomatoes at a time when many people in Albania don’t have money to buy bread. There are whole families on welfare. Almost nothing is produced, except newspapers, films and scandals. Mr. Berisha, when you talk about tomatoes, I was reminded of Enver Hoxha’s statement, in which he had said «that the potato is half-bread, half-stew». Mr. President, it is true that the market is full, but citizens’ purchasing power is low. Hunger, I think, is the indicator of the government’s policy, not the fact that there are no longer any pickled tomatoes. Mr. Berisha, only someone who does not live in Albania could speak the way you do—or perhaps you do not know this country’s problems? Of course, if you looked at Albania only through your Democratic television channel, you would get the impression that Albania is the happiest country. The market is full. But where is the work? Where are the major investments you promised, to employ the hundreds of thousands of unemployed? The market is full. But where is the money?

STATEMENT BY MR. AZEM HAJDARI IN PARLIAMENT — Mr. Chair of the session, I ask you today to set up a parliamentary group to verify SHIK’s activities, because I am convinced by the various phone calls, as well as by the article published today in the newspaper «Koha Jonë» and other newspapers concerning the writ… «[unclear] the Minister of Justice’s request to revoke Mr. Ngjela’s lawyer’s licence, as well as the response I have been given as a deputy for six months in a row, and the politicisation he is bringing to the Frangaj trial, lead me to ask the presidium of Parliament today to set up a parliamentary group to verify the activities of this Service in accordance with the law. We all fought for the State Security in Albania to be dismantled and reorganised as a National Intelligence Service, a dignified service that would serve the democratic state, protect freedom, sovereignty and national integrity, and monitor people in accordance with the laws concerning the seven categories of crime pursued by this Intelligence Service. Any other action or statement, as in the case of Ngjela at the Frangaj trial, compromises this service, and I urgently request that this parliamentary group be established.

PRESIDENT BERISHA MEETS WITH UNAUTHORIZED PEOPLE. MEETING WITH MR. GJONAJ A DECEPTION VIA TV. TIRANA — The hunger strike in Tirana continues and so far it is unc… The inaccurate information broadcast by Albanian TV about the President’s meeting with the «representative» of the hunger strikers caused indignation among the strikers, as well as a determination to continue the strike to the end. The situation is becoming more serious. According to the information we received, 76 percent of the approximately 100 strikers have received medical assistance, and 24 percent of them have been admitted to a specialised hospital service. Meanwhile, we learned from the Central Strike Committee that the strike has spread not only to the cities of Shkodër, Tirana and Lezhë, but also to Elbasan and Lushnjë. According to the latest information, confirmation is expected that solidarity strikes have begun in other cities as well. «Koha Jonë» correspondent

If the people bear some of the blame, their only fault is this: they have allowed the drivers, the baggage porters and the political quacks to lead them. Read on page 5: BY KIÇO BLUSHI

Director: NIKOLLË LESI Editor-in-chief: ALEKSANDËR FRANGAJ Deputy editor-in-chief: ARMAND SHKULLAKU Head of the political desk: FRROK ÇUPI JOURNALISTS: PLATOR NESTURI, BUJAR XHAFERI, DRITAN KABA, MARTIN LEKA, ROALD NASHI, ZAMIR DULE.