The PD's economic alternative: saving Albania Smuggling and corruption are fatally wounding the finances and the outlook of the Albanian economy. Government money goes to fictitious ministries, officials' per diems, and Rogner Hotel flights The opposition denounces the anti-popular measures of the Nano government 3. Here is how the country can be saved from the socialist crisis A distorted republic with the Bashkimi, Keko and their wiretaps The news is not 'informational darkness' The world's most advanced democratic countries have enshrined in law the space for the opposition's voice; the absence of or censorship against alternative media seriously undermines a country's integrity! ON PAGE 2 PP: Do not show deviation The independence of the democrats is at risk. Nano, Keko and Bashkimi are playing with it. The party leadership is closely watching developments and calls on them to reject the serious deviations produced by comparing the Party with others in the group, etc. Albanians pay for the government's lunches, dinners and whiskey 9.5 billion, the Rogner bill For private apartments and petrol! 70 packs consumed at 11 thousand francs per day? - government transport ON PAGE 4 Carriero: the police chief of the economy, a cautious government The peaks crack, nullifying the cuckoo ON PAGE 2 The Albanian president cannot meet his Swiss counterpart The media continue with success his visit in Switzerland. Meets with an adviser ON PAGE 4

Local council mocks the decision of the big-leftist parliament Local council mocks the decision of the leftist parliament The local councillors of the Shkodra district decided yesterday on the parliament's decision to reinstate 29 November as a festive day. The Shkodra Commune Council yesterday, with 29 votes, declared 28 November as the only day of liberation of their city from Nazism. In a statement distributed by the council spokesperson, yesterday's decision was conveyed to the Minister of Local Government, Arben Demeti. The chairman of the Shkodra Commune Council, Nard Ndoka, stated that the council remains faithful to the trust given by their constituencies. He added in law that the councillors' stance does not constitute an anti-constitutional act. "We have been elected by the citizens and we will respect their will," Ndoka said, "after this date, every liberation celebration of 29 November will be erased and an attempt will be made to celebrate it, Mazho has in his own hands to do whatever he wants with the dates, we are implementing the Council's decision."

The economic alternative of Smuggling and corruption have fatally wounded the finances and the outlook of the Albanian economy. Socialist rule exposes every day evidence of the fire engulfing the Albanian economy and the irreversible ruin of the country's finances. In the first three months of socialist government, and especially after four months of its complete consolidation, the reform sector, the basic condition of a market economy and macroeconomic stabilization, has remained stagnant. Thus, in the first three months of socialist government, the number of enterprises privatized through auction fell fivefold. From only 8 enterprises privatized per month during the January-August 1996 period, to 1.4 during the months of socialist government, and thereafter this more conditioned reform has reached zero enterprises privatized by auction. Thus the number of enterprises on sale in October 1996 was 15, compared with January-September 1997. On the other hand, socialist rule has not only failed to move forward with the privatization of strategic sectors, but seems to be carrying out the final act of their destruction. First, the Nano government announced that it was putting Albkrom up for privatization by tender. This, if achieved on the basis of fair competition, could have been a positive step. But after several weeks the government quietly withdrew Albkrom from privatization. Thus one of the most strategic Albanian companies, with real and important potential for the domestic currency, lost a chance to be privatized in a fair and open way. At the same time, through suspicious and hidden arrangements for the quiet sale of the Elbasan Plant, in segments of its assets, the government aims to place political and clan interests in place of the process of selling an industrial giant. Likewise, efforts to find a serious buyer for the Ballsh refinery and the Fier petrochemical complex, although not at the scale required by the country, have been interrupted and turned into non-concrete talks. The situation is just as serious in the privatization of banks. In the three months of socialist rule, no step has been taken in this direction. On the contrary, the government has blocked the first steps in starting this process. On the other hand, the government is resuming the mistaken practice of granting unrepaid loans to its clientele. This policy is bringing the Albanian economy the following severe consequences: loss of control over inflation, decline in confidence in savings and monetary policy, rapid bankruptcy of banks. Second, socialist rule has led the Albanian economy onto the road of mass corruption and organized smuggling with the participation of the state apparatus and its clientele. Two criminal acts are enough, the so-called fiscal amnesty and the decision to lift the ban on importing old cars, to understand that corruption and smuggling are the most important institutions of the Nano government. The fiscal amnesty, despite its name, conceals deep inequality and serious injustice. It blocks the return of all collectible budget revenues, creating the conditions for an endless hole in the state's finances. The decision on old cars, among other things, strongly favors and supports a non-legitimate business for the ruling parties and their sponsors. The scale of corruption unfolding in trade relations with neighboring countries, and not only with them, is becoming a serious factor of national upheaval, falling production and rising unemployment. Third, socialist rule is pursuing an irresponsible policy in support of business as a whole, but especially large business. Its endless wanderings and deviations in setting taxes, their value, as well as the exchange of policy with violent and arbitrary treatment of private enterprise, are pushing investments toward ruin. In addition, the government has given no message in defense of private property, no political or administrative signal in favor of foreign investors, but has arrogantly displayed its intention to subordinate successful enterprises to political impositions. This stance has destroyed the investment climate and is driving away serious entrepreneurs and domestic capital. The lack of legal certainty, the lack of order and calm, and the absence or censorship of alternative media seriously undermine a country's integrity.

Albanians pay for the government's lunches, dinners and whiskey A distorted republic with the Bashkimi, Kakon and their wiretaps The news is not “informational darkness” The world's most developed democratic countries have legally enshrined space for the opposition's voice; the absence of or censorship against alternative media seriously undermines a country's integrity! ON PAGE 2

Albanians pay for the government's lunches, dinners and whiskey 9.5 billion and a half, the Rogner bill For private apartments and petrol! 70 packs consumed at 11 thousand francs a day? - government transport For the government, the crises are killing it! 10.6 thousand lek per day? Another 7.5 thousand lek are spent on government transport, etc. ON PAGE 4

The 40th day of the PD's peaceful protests The protests against the violence of the political police, neo-dictatorship, hostility, and chaos will continue until violent collapse and breakage ON PAGE 3

The Party "Bashkimi per Demokraci" organizes a meeting of the National Council and district branches, as well as the district secretaries and members of the branch leaderships in Tirana on Monday, 3 November 1997 at 10:00 in the Palace of Congresses

Nano is doing the impossible to preserve his influence in the South ON PAGE 4

Enemies can only gather on the basis of the law ON PAGE 4

Corridor 1.8-10, Nano threatens the economic future ON PAGE 5