Unexpected meeting of the Socialist Party leadership. Dizdari: Meta called for the dismissal of ministers Zef Preçi and Prec Zogaj Prime Minister’s lightning strike against corrupt ministers Urgent inspection also at the Ministry of Finance and the Tourism Committee page 3

GAVROSH LEVONJA In recent days, at his meetings in various cities across the country, opposition leader Berisha has been denouncing what he has dubbed a “tax dictatorship.” To be realistic, over the past two years the volume of taxes ... that Albanians pay to the state has continued to rise steadily. However, this tax increase ultimately weighs on the pockets of all Albanians, continually reducing their real incomes. Nor should it be forgotten that the increase in the obligations all citizens pay to the state is many times greater than the increase in their wages. On the other hand, rising taxes inevitably increase the likelihood of the failure of many businesses unable to compete in the face of these tax increases. Moreover, by also affecting foreign economic operators, this tax increase has made Albania an unsuitable country for their activities. Thus, alongside other factors, chief among them the lack of security, the moratorium on tax increases is one more reason that has encouraged the exodus of foreign investors. As a consequence of these and other effects of increased taxes, the growing dissatisfaction among various sections of the population, caused by declining income levels, is entirely natural. Ultimately, every government is judged by the electorate above all by the way it affects the population’s income level. And, bearing this in mind, it would be shortsighted of the opposition not to take advantage of tax increases and their negative impact on people’s daily lives. Given the scale of the corruption epidemic, before resorting to tax increases as a way to fill state coffers, it would be better for any government to settle accounts with corruption, whose protagonists include a large portion of the officials themselves, including those at the highest levels. Above all, with corruption on such a scale—also a cause for concern to the international community—it is certainly impossible to assess the effects of fiscal policies. This is because at least a large portion of the revenues intended to enter the state budget are diverted into the pockets of those in power and some employees of the administration. Another evil is that in these years the government has been completely lacking in the necessary transparency. In fact, although Albanians pay tribute to the state in the form of taxes, in one way or another, they have not the slightest idea what the state does with their money. And, in the presence of corruption everywhere, anyone has the right to suspect that some of what is paid in taxes serves to enrich various individuals in power.

Agreement Concluded today, on 26.09.98 ... between Mr. Koco Kokedhima, represented by power of attorney ... [the rest of the document is illegible/cut off at the bottom of the image]

Concluded today, 26.2.97, between the firm “2K,” represented by Mr. Koco Kokedhima, duly represented by power of attorney by Mr. Vjollca [?], and Mr. Sadete Doçi, on the one hand, and Mr. Sadete Doçi, born in ...; residing in ... — Article No. 1 — Mr. Sadete Doçi ... legally owns an amount of 800,000 [?] ... securities (security). Mr. Sadete Doçi freely transfers possession of this quantity of privatization vouchers[?] to the firm “2K” Kokedhima, for the purpose of investing them in the enterprise in which Mr. Koco Kokedhima will invest his own amount. — Article No. 2 — In exchange for the privatization vouchers or securities, Mr. Koco Kokedhima undertakes to give Mr. Sadete Doçi shares in enterprises to be privatized after 1 January 1997 and thereafter. — Article No. 3 — The number of shares that Mr. Koco Kokedhima undertakes to give Mr. Sadete Doçi is 70% of the number of shares to be held as a result of the quantity of securities or privatization vouchers belonging to the citizen and used to purchase shares in the enterprise in question. — Article No. 4 — The enterprise in which these securities and privatization vouchers will be invested is ... and the voting and Mr. Koco Kokedhima ... will decide, and Mr. Sadete Doçi has no right whatsoever to ... in this enterprise. — Article No. 5 — The degree of success in purchasing an enterprise (and consequently the number of shares acquired through the purchase) does not give Mr. Sadete Doçi the right to appeal. — Article No. 6 — The transfer of shares by Mr. Koco Kokedhima for the account of Mr. Sadete Doçi shall take place immediately after the privatized enterprise has been registered. — Article No. 7 — This agreement is made in three identical copies of equal legal value and, under no circumstances, shall it be considered terminated unilaterally without the consent of both parties. — The contracting parties — Seller (Sadete Doçi) Buyer Mr. Koco Kokedhima Represented by power of attorney by Mr. Vjollca [?] 2K FIER This is a facsimile of the Agreement concluded on 26 February 1997 in Durrës between Mr. Kokedhima’s firm “2K” and Sadete Doçi for the sale of securities. This is one of the many Agreements that Albanian creditors have given to this private firm.