Page 3 Today in Athens, a meeting of the government cabinet. Greek officials: We will legalize all Albanian emigrants

Judging by the Albanian opposition’s activity so far, primarily that of the PD, it is not at all difficult to conclude that, at least for now, the coalition led by the PS does not feel threatened in the slightest. In fact, the PD’s activity so far has amounted to only a few protest statements against some of the government’s steps, such as replacements in the state administration, certain legislative changes or initiatives to draft and adopt a constitution; boycotting most parliamentary sessions; and putting forward the idea of a roundtable of parties. The truth of this is clear from the fact that the impact of these PD moves was negligible compared with the public response provoked by the hunger strike of former Speaker of Parliament Pjetër Arbnori. Yes, if we are talking about opposition to the PS, it is outside the country. This was evident at the Rome Conference, when the “Nano 3” government had been in office for only a very few days. At that meeting, despite the pledges of a “Marshall Plan,” several conditions were imposed on it, and they cannot be met as easily as one might think. It is enough to mention restoring order in a country where, at one point, the entire population found itself armed. More onerous, however, were the conditions imposed on the Albanian left-wing coalition government by IMF representatives, who stayed in Albania for several days. This is natural, since the matter concerns the economic aspect, which is the “Achilles’ heel” and to which Albanians are extremely sensitive. The fact is that economic factors were the main reason Berisha was brought down not long ago. The government’s challenge of meeting the IMF’s conditions to secure an economic and financial assistance agreement begins with the collapse of the last pyramid schemes. Although their lending activity has now been paralyzed, the consequences that will follow the disappointment of yet another large number of creditors, once they face their final losses, are unpredictable. In any case, the government will find itself in a difficult position when it comes to meeting conditions such as increasing VAT, lowering inflation and reducing the budget deficit. Given that these goals are planned to be achieved by raising taxes and reducing tax evasion, an overall rise in prices is inevitable, and everyone knows what that means for the circumstances in which most of the population finds itself. Yet the measures above risk putting quite a few businesses out of operation, thereby swelling the ranks of the unemployed, especially when combined with the other conditions imposed by the IMF. But even if it succeeds in this regard, the government will pay for it with a further slowdown in development in the short and medium term. To some extent, the conditions imposed are also a consequence of Berisha’s experience with unregulated pyramid capitalism, a “government” that, astonishingly, deceived the world’s economic experts. In this way, it can be said that Berisha’s inherited past will create more problems for the government than his present-day situation. Thus, the only opposition to this government is not the PD, but the difficult situation of governing left behind by Berisha. The PS wrecks the Constitution roundtable. No talks outside parliament. Vejsiu: Repealing the press law is extremism

Albanian traders on the brink of total bankruptcy The new measures that the “Nano 3” government plans to take regarding the increase in VAT could lead to the bankruptcy of many small- and medium-sized traders. The immediate increase in VAT on October 1, from 12.5% to over 18%, will immediately raise prices of all kinds, which will mean that hundreds and hundreds of traders will go bankrupt within the year, as there will be no one to buy their goods, given the population’s weak purchasing power. People have money and incomes below the minimum threshold for a normal Balkan-style life. Thus, the lack of purchasing power, resulting from price increases caused by the government’s VAT hike, will lead to the ruin of Albanian traders. The mass bankruptcy of small and medium-sized traders will automatically increase unemployment and lead to endless strikes against the “Nano 3” government. As usual, political crisis follows the strikes, all the more so because the country also has a fierce opposition, which is waiting for the moment to rise up the people and take to the streets.

Albanian designer Ajet Abdullai shows the design of the dress given as a gift to Diana

They distributed weapons using lists Page 9