Ceka: Four years wasted for nothing. Shehu: The battle for Kosovo is din[?]… pages 3, 5

. The three most powerful firms taking in money, Vefa, Kamberi and Gjallica, have decided to offer their clients the same interest rate—five percent. Starting in the first days of January, rates will be lowered to the aforementioned figures for all types of deposits. It has been promised that the rate on existing deposits will not change. In exchange for this contraction, statements have come from the companies’ headquarters to reassure citizens. “You will receive less, but you will be more at ease”—this is the message to which Albanians seem set to respond as before. Shaken by the collapse of Sudes and mi[?]… clients left in its pyramid, who have lo[?]… part of their profits, are willing to make sacrifices[?]… theirs in exchange for secu[?]… from the firms is now understood. The lowering of the rates[?]… by people as a financial measure to sa[?]… save them, and with them the deposited money, which often represents several years’ work in Greece or a house that has been sold. The companies also seem to have had the same precedent in mind when they decided to lower interest rates, which, after several years of activity, have now reached frightening levels. Such a decision by the three firms that currently control the pyramid-scheme market was made without consulting the other partners, not all of whom agree with this tactic. The president of the Xhaferi foundation declared that he would not be influenced by the troika’s pact. Nevertheless, competition from small firms does not seem to attract much interest, as security, rather than high profits, has come to the fore. If everything goes according to predictions, if the mechanism works as envisaged, 1997 will be less lucrative for Albanian clients, but nevertheless safer. They are willing to be satisfied with little; will the firms be willing to pay through to the end

Russia, swimming at minus 25 degrees Celsius

Creditors: OK to the lowering of interest rates, page 7 New Year in prison: Fëllule and halva, page 11 What the New Year’s Concert will be like, page 17 Telenorba buys a house in Tirana, page 19 Lushnja triumphs in the capital, page 23