The operation to stop Albanians is moving to Italy's capital ON PAGE 4

The Vlora file Z. Luka and A. Ibrahimi, the deputies The mosque was accused of murder ON PAGE 4

Hopes fade for those deceived by Nano's great fraud over the return of their money. The government approves a doubling of prices Several hundred creditors of the VEFA company protested yesterday outside Prime Minister Nano's office, while the government was approving a law that at least doubles taxes for all Albanians. It is the first time, since money lost in pyramid schemes came to be lamented in Albania, that the cries “we want our money” have echoed in front of the Albanian government building. Two days earlier, protesters had blocked the ring road near the Institute of Culture for about an hour, while yesterday's demonstration, with larger crowds, lasted more than four hours. Yesterday, protesters dispersed into the promenade for five [unclear]; they had disturbed for several hours the calm of the government meeting, where tax increases were being discussed at the invitation [unclear], and they also received a warning from Tirana police director Pashk Tusha that, if it happened again, he would intervene with riot police. Meanwhile, at a meeting with the prime minister's economic adviser, representatives of the demonstrators set several conditions for the Nano government, which, if not met by 20 September, will provoke an outburst of “we want our money” protests. The return of the days that preceded the communist rebellion that brought the country to ruin is the great hostage of the deceptive promise made by the current prime minister during the election campaign for the 29 June elections. Yesterday, the demonstrators surrounded the prime minister's office building to remind Nano once again of what he had promised all Albanians in Vlora: the creation of special funds to return compensation and money lost in the failed companies. The fact that they are increasingly taking to the streets in protest means that their faith is fading ever more that Nano will keep his highly publicized promise, which was a significant factor in his victory in the recent elections, including those of 29 June. In an irony of fate, Nano not only has no ability or desire to keep his word, given in Flag Square, to return the money, but he is also passing a law that could lead to a drastic increase in prices, and therefore in the cost of living for all Albanians. This means that those who voted for him, believing his deceptive pledge to return their money, will now truly be forced to pay it, and also to tighten their belts to cope with the new tax increases. Under these circumstances, the Nano government finds itself weak and surrounded, while it claims that the suspected [unclear] of the country are being removed very quickly, and that the protests are causing Albania many problems. It is surrounded by people deceived by Nano's criminal promises in Vlora, who have just as much right to become angry and protest as Nano had to rub his hands together when he came to power with their votes. The Nano government is surrounded by the democratic West, which so far is watching its failure with pragmatic detachment, as well as the trampling of the process of [unclear] by the former communists who returned to power after the armed rebellion. This process is a major obstacle to securing Albania's independence and assistance, as the country is being placed on their calendars for the severe costs it must bear, requiring it to tighten its belt even further. This great fraud about returning the money, which Nano elaborated in Flag Square, drawing in Vlora and all of Albania, has become a deception that, in words, [unclear] the Albanian people. The uproar in the post-communist period. “We want our money” is an irreplaceable truth, but it has also become a right for all Albanians. The current government is now [unclear] the finances of all Albanians by 10,000 lekë, through another government [measure] with taxes across a broad range of occupations. This is a severe part of the rise in prices, especially the noticeable increase that will reduce their purchases and drive the poor into deeper poverty; they already face the full force of rising prices and will truly be forced to pay, while still tightening their belts to cope with the new tax increases. [The article continues with partially illegible text.] Protesters head toward the entrance to the prime minister's office Photo: A. Fusha

Press conference by the DP leader: A constitution acceptable to everyone, not a constitution of Kalashnikovs Statement by the DP leader after returning from Calcutta. Mother Teresa, goddess of love and compassion ON PAGE 3

Deputies convene after the recesses ordered by Gjinushi The Democratic leader criticized the government delegation that traveled to Calcutta as inadequate, since it included no representatives of the opposition or clergy. Berisha called on parliament to review the antidemocratic law on the High Council of Justice, whose existence would penalize Albania. The leader of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, yesterday asked that a discussion session on the honors to be paid to the Albanian saint Mother Teresa be placed on parliament's agenda. He criticized the government delegation that traveled to Calcutta as inadequate, since it included no opposition representatives and, at the same time, no clergy or other intellectuals to attend the funeral ceremony of the Albanian saint, respected throughout the world. Berisha asked parliament to change the unacceptably antidemocratic law that prevents the saint of saints from carrying out her activity in Athens and elsewhere [source text unclear], and suggested that the honors for Mother Teresa bear the seal of parliament. “Tirana should become the capital of mourning for Mother Teresa's death, and not be content with a book of condolences where sympathies are expressed. This Holy Mother, revered throughout the world, should be honored in Albania in all the dimensions she deserves,” Berisha said, adding that the decisions parliament may take would immortalize Mother Teresa's monumental work. After a series of debates, the left-wing majority in parliament agreed to place a special session on the parliamentary agenda to determine the honors to be paid to the Albanian saint. Parliament resumed its work after the recesses recognized by Gjinushi. Gjinushi. The Socialist deputy speaker of parliament, Dokle, who yesterday [unclear] in order to see a parliamentary session get under way, said that the presidium and the chairpersons of parliamentary groups had agreed also to put the appointment of new members of the High Council of Justice on the agenda. The Democratic leader, Sali Berisha, once again appealed to the Socialist majority to review the new amended law on the composition of the High Council of Justice. He recalled that the proportions established by the Socialist majority for the composition of the High Council of Justice were unprecedented in the legislation of any democratic country. Berisha described the amendments to this law as antidemocratic and unconstitutional and said that they violated all the agreements Albania had made with international institutions concerning recognition of legislation. The Democratic leader asked the left-wing majority in parliament to take the Council of Europe recommendations into account and take appropriate corrective measures regarding this law. “I ask you to review this law, because, as the opposition, we do not want Albania to be punished by international institutions for approving antidemocratic laws,” Berisha told the Socialists, who [unclear] that if they did not amend this law, they would soon have to answer for these legislative changes. B. KASMI

The chairman of the Agrarian Party, Lufter Xhuveli, at Rinas The President of the Republic, Rexhep Meidani, who had gone abroad, has returned to the country after an absence of one day. At Rinas airport, the President was welcomed by the chairman of the Agrarian Party and Minister of Agriculture, Lufter Xhuveli, as well as other senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture. President Meidani informed the chairman of the Agrarian Party about his visit to India. Meanwhile, it is reported that Prime Minister Nano and most of the Albanian government officials were at the beach in Durrës, about 40 km from Tirana, when Meidani arrived. SH. P.

Dokle turns parliament into a basic unit of the Socialist Party Deputy Speaker of Parliament Namik Dokle acted yesterday as secretary of the Socialist Party's basic organization, in a session that set the agenda for this week's proceedings of the People's Assembly. Dokle said the tax-increase bill must pass through parliament today, despite the opposition's reasonable and lawful request for more time to examine an important legislative package. Pollo asked on behalf of the DP group that consideration of the bill, which raises taxes on Albanians by at least 60 percent, be postponed for several days, but his request met with the secretary Dokle's obstinacy. The urgency with which the new government officials are trying to bring before parliament the bill expected to significantly raise prices in Albania is part of the new officeholders' revanchism, which has now spread to every cell of the Albanian state.

The wife of the Minister of Defense is an official in SHIK ON PAGE 2

The Minister of Defense, like an ostrich: He avoids debate to cover up his criminal involvement The former Minister of Defense pointed to Sabit Brokaj as the perpetrator of the destruction of the Army and the devastation of the country. All former Albanian officials, without exception, have accused and continue to accuse the current Minister of Defense of being one of the principal organizers and leaders of the communist rebellion.

A grave tragedy at the Batrës mine Six miners have died and several others have been injured as a result of a gas explosion in one of the galleries of this mine. According to initial reports, the miners were at the working face when a powerful explosion was heard. When other people went to the site of the explosion, they initially found ... Six of them had lost ... and the signs of, as a result of the ignition of explosive fires.

YEAR VIII OF PUBLICATION No. 212 (1737) TUESDAY 16 September 1997 Price: 20 lekë 1,000 Italian lire 200 drachmas

On Wednesday, 17 September 1997, at 11:00, the Democratic Party is holding a meeting at the Palace of Congresses with its representatives elected to local government, the chairpersons of the District Councils and the mayors. The Presidency of the DP of Albania

Hundreds of demonstrators outside the prime minister's office. “We want our money” disturbs the calm of the installed government