Today, 17 September 1997, at 11:00, the Democratic Party is organizing a meeting at the Palace of Congresses with its representatives elected to local government: the Chairmen of the District Councils and the Mayors. The Presidency of the DP of Albania

Yugoslav soldiers threaten to kill ON PAGE 5

The Durrës Court convicts those responsible for the 4 June incident ON PAGE 5

. The smuggling regime approves the extreme impoverishment of Albanians. Astronomical tax increases. Prices are expected to soar. VAT, from 12 to 22 percent. From 1 October, Albanians will pay directly for the enrichment of their government officials. The Parliament of the Kalashnikovs showed yesterday that it is condemned by the name it bears, when it approved, with criminal nonchalance, a law that further tightens the screws on the majority of Albanians. Three amendments urgently approved by the majority’s MPs pave the way for a drastic increase in taxes in Albania, which will be immediately followed by an increase in all prices—already increasingly unaffordable for Albanian citizens at their current levels. One of the most significant taxes for traders and consumers, the Value Added Tax, is being drastically raised from 12 to 22 percent, while a number of excise duties and the income tax have also risen considerably. The author of this calamity, which heralds the extreme impoverishment of Albanians, Fatos Nano, stood yesterday together with his cabinet accomplices before the MPs, on the podium where representatives of the Political Bureau once sat, while Namik Dokle played the role of Haxhi Lleshi quite well. The Kalashnikov MPs raised their green cards and smiled at Nano, thereby making official the astronomical rise in prices and the cost of living that will accompany the heavy taxes coming into force at the beginning of October. The government in power is introducing this antisocial measure at a time when its highest officials are involved in large-scale trafficking in cigarettes, oil and other products, which usually travel the Greece–Maq... (?) route through Albanian territory. Instead of working to collect existing taxes—which would have helped fill the state budget’s black hole—the smuggling government humiliates and crushes its own citizens. Albanians will now pay a considerable portion of their income and savings to support the state of smugglers, who let goods be trafficked so that their profits are not touched at all. But if, as one is being told, [unclear] ... Fatos Nano is an accomplice in a luxury [unclear] ... the IMF, or after the overthrow [unclear] ... the national institution, for what he has done to Albanian traders. Everyone knows that the IMF does not set taxes for [unclear]; it is government officials who [unclear] ... smuggling, while seeking to [unclear] the money of this institution. Yesterday the majority tried, at the very least, to reject an antihuman [measure] and [unclear] in Parliament, after the establishment of pluralism in Albania, that society [unclear] ... Having ended up in the opposition, Namik Dokle was missing his own Kalashnikov yesterday, when [unclear] power and opposition? ... (?) In 1997, Albania becomes the only country—not only in Europe—that does not need cultural diplomacy. Nano’s government surpasses even Hoxha’s government. If this government is [unclear], while the citizens are outside it, the government has become its own [unclear] and with its policy ... (?) From 1 October, Albanians will pay for the enrichment of those in power. Government officials will fill their pockets; citizens will tighten their belts to buy bread at twice the price.

The Democrats see economic development as starting with the enrichment of the individual, while the Socialists see it as starting with the enrichment of the state through high taxes on the population No one escapes VAT ON PAGE 3

Today’s Albanian parliament, a club of arrogant communists ON PAGE 3 Today’s Albanian parliament, a club

The Parliament surrounded by VEFA creditors: VEFA’s lenders are irritated by the presence of Malaj and Angjeli: “Our money is there,” they say, pointing at the official cars The Parliament surrounded by VEFA creditors: “Nano, give us back the money you promised” VEFA’s lenders are irritated by the presence of Malaj and Angjeli: “Our money is there,” they say, pointing at the official cars ON PAGE 2

The police director checks the licenses of Alimuça’s police officers According to sources, the reason for this stance by the Tirana Police Director is the protests in recent days by the creditors of this company The police director checks the licenses of Alimuça’s police officers The protests bring Tusha down to VEFA According to sources, the reason for this stance by the Tirana Police Director is the protests in recent days by the creditors of this company ON PAGE 2

The Association of Jurists addresses an open letter to the President, Parliament and the Council of Europe ON PAGE 3

The Directorate of Culture at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is dissolved. The administration installed by Nano surpasses even Hoxha’s government 1997. Albania becomes the only country (not only in Europe) that has no need for cultural diplomacy The Directorate of Culture at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is dissolved. The administration installed by Nano surpasses even Hoxha’s government The Socialist government begins the destruction of diplomacy 1997. Albania becomes the only country (not only in Europe) that has no need for cultural diplomacy ON PAGE 4

The Mayor of Rrëshen responds to the newspaper of those in power ON PAGE 4

Political purges reach Kavajë A doctor, renowned intellectual and former political prisoner, Feim Kazazi, is replaced by the mediocre Merko, known as one of Gjinushi’s lackeys Political purges reach Kavajë Director of Public Health dismissed Feim Kazazi, a doctor, renowned intellectual and former political prisoner, is replaced by the mediocre Merko, known as one of Gjinushi’s lackeys ON PAGE 4

Today in Parliament: the Arbnori Amendment Postponed because of the urgent approval of the package for certifying Albanians, today the Socialist majority will discuss the Arbnori Amendment again. Irritated by the Socialist majority at the time when Arbnori was on hunger strike in protest against the violation of the opposition and its right to speak, the President also enshrined this violation in law and declared that party an opposition party which seeks party power. The international President, even going so far as to threaten to cut off aid, forced Meidani to return the law with the relevant suggestions, in line with what Arbnori was demanding. Pandeli Majko signed the amendments on behalf of the majority group, although in Parliament he took a primitive stance worthy only of meetings of the Labour Party’s grassroots organizations. Socialist deputies who are writers also spoke along these lines: they not only rejected Arbnori’s amendment, but insulted Mandela’s [unclear] in Albania. In a [unclear] that would be remembered for a long time for its tone against freedom of expression and the opposition’s views, the majority’s deputies, with their shameful speeches, showed that they are nothing but a group of provincial collectivists. The [unclear] and the pathology of expression displayed by everyone—not merely toward Arbnori—over their Marxist demands for freedom of expression is the complete opposite of what they will vote for today. Their votes today, overwhelmingly in favor of the Arbnori Amendment, after the speeches they made weeks ago, merely show what kind of species the majority’s deputies are: they vote and debate on command. Today they will vote against themselves, against their party, against their own beliefs, against their own wishes, because that is what they have been ordered to do. The [unclear] of the speakers shows that it would be better for them not to attend today’s plenary session on the debate over the Arbnori Amendment, since so few of them show even minimal respect for their own vote. SH. P.

Protesters outside Parliament. This is how the majority’s inhumane law was received

7TH YEAR OF PUBLICATION No. 213 (1738) WEDNESDAY 17 September 1997 Price: 20 lekë 1,000 Italian lire 200 drachmas