Four fishing boats carrying out illegal trafficking impounded in Vlora Midnight operation; the vessels’ owner in police custody page 9

By ILIR META Prime Minister of Albania All the citizens of this country have the right to be concerned about smuggling and corruption, especially when they read the press and hear “duty-free” statements here and there. They have the right, because they want a better future. This future cannot be achieved without fighting crime, smuggling and corruption, and without taking money away from mafiosi and irresponsible officials so that it can go into the state budget to invest and improve the lives of this country’s citizens every day. This is not an easy challenge after ten years of the destruction and degeneration of the state administration, and the fiscal administration in particular. Nevertheless, the Government’s results and its growing determination to take on this challenge are greater today than ever before. Since I promised Parliament on the day the Government received its vote of confidence that we aim to have a Government of results, open to public opinion, I am presenting just the contrast between a few figures that speak for themselves, in order to make them public and ask Mr. Berisha and his likes a few questions. Everyone knows that 1996 was the year of the Pyramid schemes’ heyday, and also a year of unprecedented artificial consumption. So how is it explained that only 668 tons of coffee were cleared through customs that year, while 2,356 tons of coffee were cleared in 1999? That is, more than three times as much. Likewise, 942 tons of cigarettes were cleared through customs in 1996, while 2,196 tons were cleared in 1999. That is, more than twice as much. As for fuel, since Berisha has taken such a passionate interest in this issue, he cleared 80,000 tons through customs in 1996, whereas 178,000 tons were cleared in 1999. Again, more than twice as much. Customs revenues in 1996 were 16 billion lekë, while in 1999 they reached 36 billion lekë. And Berisha’s and others’ latest anti-smuggling outcry seems even more absurd when you look at the January results for customs and taxes at the start of this year. For the first time, the customs plan has been achieved at least 93 percent, or 560 million lekë more than in January 1999. This is the best indication that we have the capacity and the will to achieve 100 percent of the plan. Meanwhile, this figure is 30 percent higher than the 1999 result, which we compared above with Mr. Berisha’s 1996. (continued on page 3)

EDU delegation at a press conference yesterday Berisha—the last dictator Page 5 photo P. ILO EDU delegation at a press conference yesterday. Berisha—the last dictator. Page 5. photo P. ILO

The draft law on games of chance creates a monopoly This is how the first two versions of the draft law on Games of Chance can be summed up in a few words. The first version provides that a single person will have the right to operate games of chance, which means that the billions generated by this activity will make one person a billionaire solely because the State grants the licence to that person alone. The second version creates a group of people, also with the right to a monopoly in a particular type of games of chance. Only the third version of the draft introduces the liberalization of licences, which is also better for people who enjoy games of chance. page 19