Following a request by the women MPs from Vlora, the draft law on the state of emergency submitted by the Government was not considered in Parliament. The PD Parliamentary Group refused to discuss it and declared its support for the values of democracy and Albanian civic life. Last night, the PD Parliamentary Group refused to consider for discussion in Parliament the draft law proposed by the Council of Ministers on a order. After familiarizing themselves with the draft law, the Democratic Party MPs said that they would never side with violence. They expressed concern about the grave situation created in the city of Vlora and other Albanian cities by the collapse of the pyramid schemes. The PD MPs, clearly understanding the citizens’ pain over their losses and the exploitation by left-wing extremists of citizens’ anger over their tragedies, expressed their solidarity with the citizens and their determination to resolve the problems created through civilized means and sincere dialogue. “We have confidence,” the PD Parliamentary Group stressed, “in the civic and democratic values of the people of Vlora and of Albanians as a whole.” Yesterday, the Council of Ministers submitted to the People’s Assembly the serious disturbance of public order.” The draft law was prompted by the grave situation caused by unlawful acts with serious consequences for public order and safety in the district of Vlora, for the normal functioning of state institutions, and for the safeguarding of citizens’ individual freedoms and rights. Prime Minister Meksi asked the People’s Assembly to declare a state of emergency in the city of Vlora and its surrounding areas. Last night, the People’s Assembly discussed the Prime Minister’s request and asked him to submit the relevant draft law. According to the Government, the submitted draft law aimed to eliminate the legal vacuum concerning the procedures, measures, and legal safeguards in cases where a state of emergency is declared. As stated in its accompanying explanatory memorandum, the purpose of the draft law was to define in law the factors that lead to a serious disturbance of public order resulting in a state of emergency; to establish a legal basis for the extent and parameters of restrictions on citizens’ constitutional rights; and to put in place the necessary legal mechanisms for dealing with a state of emergency, mobilizing institutional bodies to neutralize and eliminate the unlawful factors that cause it. After discussions in the PD parliamentary group, the Speaker of Parliament, 2. Pjetër Arbnori, opened the session and invited the MPs to take their seats. Arbnori announced that, after hearing the requests of the MPs from the district of Vlora, the PD parliamentary group had decided not to consider the draft law on the state of emergency. The previous day’s parliamentary session thus came to a close. The Government’s draft law “On the state of emergency in cases of serious disturbance of public order” is rejected

Protests in Vlora again yesterday - The funeral ceremony for Artur Rustemi is held - Red terrorists set fire to the district headquarters of the Democratic Party Yesterday there were new gatherings, and several thousand residents of Vlora took part in the funeral ceremony for Artur Rustemi. In a statement distributed last night, the Ministry of the Interior announced that Rustem had been shot by people inside the crowd. At around 10:00, while the funeral ceremony for the deceased was taking place, unidentified people set fire to the building housing the district branch of the Democratic Party. The large crowd, which set out from Artur Rustemi’s home, accompanied the funeral ceremony in a demonstration where various slogans against the Government were chanted. The cortege carrying the victim’s body first headed to the square in the Skela neighborhood, then to Flag Square. From there, the cortege continued to the city cemetery, where the victim’s burial ceremony was also held. Meanwhile, local official institutions suspended work, as did all the other commercial establishments. After remaining for a few moments in Flag Square, the crowd dispersed at around 1 p.m. There were gatherings in the city of Vlora again yesterday afternoon. People assembled in Flag Square. Several thousand people demonstrated peacefully in the square. There were no clashes, and the police kept their distance. Around 300 citizens from Fier crossed the Mifol bridge and joined the Vlora demonstrators. … stayed at a distance. … Albania … the difficulty … through careful analyses … overcome the difficulties … [text cut off] “We would like,” he added, “to see what kind of assistance could possibly be provided to Albania to overcome this difficult economic, financial and political situation.”

Statement by Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini Italy is trying to raise awareness among the international community and international organizations in order to find the best way to help Albania emerge from the severe crisis of recent weeks. This is essentially the position expressed today in Montecitorio by Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini, speaking to journalists. According to the head of Italian diplomacy, a way must be found to overcome the difficulties by carefully analyzing what has happened, “which stems from the collapse of the pyramid financial companies, behind which lie genuine ‘frauds.’” “We will see,” he added, to overcome this difficult economic, financial and political situation.”

- P Some European countries, and especially our neighbors Italy and Greece, are trying to help Albania emerge from the situation that has arisen, while opposition leaders continue to call for arson, killings and destruction Page 3

The first food shortages have begun to be felt in the Vlora market. Thus, yesterday evening bread could not be found in several shops in the city. Meanwhile, prices have risen for many other products, such as rice, flour, oil, soap and fruit. The increase in prices is as much as 20–25 percent higher than a week ago. Prices are likely to rise further in the future, because people, frightened by the possibility that these products may run out, are trying to buy them in large quantities. The situation has also been worsened by the failure of various food products to arrive from Italy, with which Vlora has a large volume of trade. Since February 5, the port of Vlora has been closed, and no ship or ferry has entered it. Various sources report that if the Port of Vlora remains blocked in the coming days, the rate of product shortages in the Vlora market will be high, as will the rise in their prices.

A section of demonstrators in Vlora breaks away from the opposition leaders Yesterday afternoon in Vlora, left-wing opposition leaders Namik Dokle and Neritan Ceka split the protesters demonstrating in Flag Square into two groups. They entered the middle of the demonstrators, thinking they could do so, and shouted slogans that had nothing to do with what people were protesting about in Vlora. Later, groups of people broke away from the crowd, dividing the body of protesters into two parts. Eyewitness sources say that the group that broke away was an expression of dissatisfaction and disapproval of the political nature the gathering had taken on because of the presence of left-wing bards.

President Berisha received the Chief of the General Staff of Greece’s National Defense, General Athanasios Tzoganis Greece’s National Defense, General Athanasios Tzoganis Cooperation between the armies is beneficial Yesterday afternoon, President of the Republic Sali Berisha received the Chief of the General Staff of Greece’s National Defense, General Athanasios Tzoganis. President Berisha expressed satisfaction with the level of friendship and comprehensive, growing cooperation between our two peoples and countries, and stressed that cooperation in the military sphere constitutes an important element of this process. He considered cooperation between our two armies within the framework of the partnership beneficial, and described the maneuvers recently signed as an important step in giving concrete form to and consolidating this cooperation. President Berisha also expressed his appreciation for the particular interest shown by President Stefanopulos and Prime Minister Simitis in friendship and cooperation between our two countries. General Tzoganis, after noting the progress of our army’s reform, expressed his readiness to further develop friendship and cooperation in the military sphere. President Berisha received the Chief of the General Staff of

Declared the head of the Italian secret police, Alesandro Pansa The Italian Mafia’s hands in the financial scandal involving fraudulent foundations in Albania The Italian Mafia has a foothold in Albanian investment schemes Anti-Mafia chief Pier Luixhi Vinja confirmed that his office “has been informed about the presence of organized crime in the Albanian scandal” Declared the head of the Italian secret police, Alesandro Pansa Italian Mafia involved in the recent turmoil in the city of Vlora The Italian Mafia’s hands in the financial scandal involving fraudulent foundations in Albania The Italian Mafia has a foothold in Albanian investment schemes Anti-Mafia chief Pier Luixhi Vinja confirmed that his office “has been informed about the presence of organized crime in the Albanian scandal” Page 3

Today at 11:00 a.m. at the Palace of Congresses, the Albanian Democratic Party is holding a meeting of the National Council of the ADP.