Press conference by Democratic Party Chairman Tritan Shehu and its Secretary General Besnik Gjongecaj The DP’s reputation cannot be damaged by the pyramid schemes because it had nothing to do with them. The reputation of the DP cannot be damaged by the pyramid schemes because it had nothing to do with them. The reputation of the DP could not be damaged by the destruction, since it was not involved in it. I am convinced that those who took part in this destruction, if they have not yet understood, will understand very soon, because they are victims of a political manipulation by the extreme left. I am convinced that the image of Albania, too, cannot be destroyed by some terrorist groups. -Albania will never be hostage to extremist terrorist ideas. What will be destroyed is precisely the terrorist mentality and audacity. Page 3

Peaceful demonstration by the citizens of Tirana against violence and destruction Every Albanian who thinks about their future and their country has not foreseen, and cannot foresee, Albania’s development through the creation of pyramid schemes, which will no longer exist in Albania. On the other hand, there will be a range of freedoms and free enterprise, and legislation that will increasingly encourage this initiative. Thousands of Tirana citizens demonstrated peacefully yesterday around 12 o’clock in Skënderbej Square, protesting against the violence and destruction carried out by extremist left-wing forces and their militants during the past week. Gathering at midday on Tuesday, the citizens of Tirana, supporters of the Democratic Party, held banners reading “We are and belong to Europe,” “We condemn,” “Stop red terrorism.” “Let us not set fire to the future”—they showed civic-mindedness. A group of Democratic Party supporters planted several fir trees and symbolically placed several plaques bearing names near the Palace of Culture in Tirana; these had been damaged during the pseudo-demonstration organized on Sunday. At the entrance to Tirana Municipality, where on Sunday an attempt was made to launch an offensive and damage the capital’s main executive government building, President of the Republic Sali Berisha symbolically placed several stone slabs at its entrance. [A] developed and built [country]. I have complete confidence that legislation will increasingly encourage this initiative. We promised the citizens of Ferit, and I assure them, that the government is working seriously to return every penny [?] stone slabs. Surrounded by thousands of citizens participating in this peaceful demonstration, President Berisha said: “On this occasion I invite all Albanians to keep their composure [?] and have complete confidence that the problems that have arisen will be resolved honestly and seriously. Let us all remember that Albania has a great need for construction, because this is what we lack most in order to be Albania will develop and be built quickly. Albania. On the other hand, there will be great freedom of We promised Albanians that we would remain the country with the lowest taxes in Europe, and we will keep that promise. With their verdict, Albanian citizens are determined to build Albania. On this occasion, I express my full solidarity with the citizens of Berat, the capital of Vlora, and government is working seriously to return, penny for penny, all the money frozen both in the banks of the Albanian state, and to repair as quickly as possible the damage caused by people, individuals, and organized groups acting according to a morality that has nothing in common with our morality and our stance.” “What happened was an abuse of freedom, not free freedom,” Berisha said. “We have come here,” said citizen S. L., “to offer our help. We are ready to work to set right all this destruction that has been done.” Citizen D. Sh., who worked as a refugee in Germany for a year and had lost all the wealth she had accumulated during that time to Sudja, said indignantly “that despite the heavy loss, she could never join in violence.” Democratic Party Chairman Tritan Shehu, addressing thousands of citizens and supporters of his party, said, “We have gathered here to demonstrate peacefully and to set an example that we are against violence.” At the end of the rally, Tirana Mayor Albert Brojka addressed the citizens of Tirana, saying that the rally had achieved its purpose. It had been a peaceful rally. Please leave peacefully.

EUROPE WE BELONG TO CIVILISED EUROPE WE ARE AND BELONG TO EUROPE LET US NOT SET FIRE TO THE FUTURE

Albania’s first Cardinal, Monsignor Mikel Koliqi, died in Shkodër Immediately after his appointment as cardinal, Mikel Koliqi stated that the title of Cardinal had been bestowed upon his country, Albania. Cardinal Koliqi was one of the most honored figures in the fields of national culture and religious faith in Albania.

The IMF offers Albania assistance to solve the problem of pyramid schemes TIRANA - The IMF has offered assistance to the Albanian government to overcome the financial crisis caused by the collapse of the popular pyramid investment schemes. TIRANA - The IMF has offered assistance to the Albanian government to overcome the financial crisis caused by the collapse of the popular pyramid investment schemes, an official said today. Meanwhile, the World Bank’s resident representative in Tirana, Karlos Elbirt, told Reuters that it was in Albania’s long-term interest to recover the savings from the pyramid schemes, which had prevented money from being invested in projects much more essential for development. Elbirt said, “The sooner these schemes fall, the better it will be.”

TIRANA - popular pyramid investment schemes, the IMF office announced tonight. “The IMF will do everything possible to help the government resolve the crisis. We have offered to give the government whatever assistance they think we can provide,” the IMF representative in Albania, Xhon King, told Reuters, adding that the IMF would now provide technical assistance to the right-wing Democratic Party in power. [unclear] sooner these schemes fall, the better it will be.”

London, 28 January. The British daily “The Times” reports that Britain has offered Albania the assistance of British financial experts to deal with the consequences of the collapse of the pyramid schemes, as well as to prepare a package of measures to help the thousands of Albanian citizens who have lost their savings.

Leni Fisher, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, on events in Albania Leni Fisher, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, in a statement to Radio Deutsche Welle commenting on recent developments in Albania, called on all parties to renounce the use of violence and expressed her deep regret about what is happening in Albania at this time. Ms. Fisher stressed that it is not at all certain whether the international financial institutions had previously warned the Albanian government about the risks posed by pyramid investment schemes. Ms. Fisher went on to say that the case of pyramid investments is also known in other countries, for example Romania, and added that, by Western standards, such schemes promising returns of up to 30 percent per month are unbelievable. On the other hand, expressing understanding for the reasons that had driven ordinary people to take risks, Ms. Fisher said that she understands that the poorer a country is, the more people try by every means to secure better living conditions. “I express my deep regret that Albania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tritan Shehu, found himself in a hail of stones when he tried to get in among the demonstrators. You cannot solve problems with stones.”

Left-wing extremists will be held criminally and financially liable Police have held fourteen people at the police station, including the chairman of the PS in Vlora Page 2

Experts assess the documentation of the fraudulent pyramid schemes At the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office, another special group has begun investigations into identifying and detaining the people implicated in the destruction that took place on January 26 at the instigation of the leaders of the left-wing opposition Page 2