1997 - Albania from rebellion to dictatorship. The painful days of crime, smuggling, poverty, and isolation. Gangs from the street to power. A bitter return to bread on the list. Tomorrow we leave behind the year 1997, fortunately the most wretched year in Albanian history since the end of World War II. Our country, from being the focus of attention and sympathy it inspired throughout the world until the end of 1996, when Albania was considered the fastest-growing economy in Europe and had historic achievements in the Euro-Atlantic integration process, through the wild summer and blind rebellion inspired by the Socialist signal against Albania, came to be in the most difficult condition in its history, under the military force of Serbo-Yugoslavs, having announced the independence of Kosovo, it reached the most serious state in its history. The year that is ending is the heaviest failure against our nation and our country. Not only in the economic field, in free fall. Not only with 5,000 killed and 2,000 missing. Not only from the destruction by gangs of hundreds of enterprises with a value of over 1 billion dollars. Not only in the hemorrhage of hundreds of thousands of Albanians leaving, in their revolt against the ruinous transition. Not only by encouraging a new division in Albania and by closing schools and universities and imposing savage censorship on the media. It hurts even more. The Socialists turned the young police against life. The Socialists dressed them in uniforms and sent them into the streets. Within their ranks there are so many good and brave boys and girls who until a few months ago were the hope and inspiration of this country's future. Arrayed as enemies against one another, they led the country to the edge of the abyss as a state and as a nation. A year earlier, even when millions upon millions in savings were being swept away, not of citizens but of Albanians and emigrants, no one imagined it would take such a plunge. In just two months, the state became an uncontrollable wreck. With the rebellion proclaimed by the Socialist Party and its allies, with the direct incitement of Greece and the Serbo-Greek criminal and extremist organization Vorio Epir, the country descended into complete anarchy. Thousands of human lives became victims of ordinary and political crime. Public and private enterprises, factory machinery, means of transport, military depots, state facilities were destroyed and plundered. Cafes, schools and homes were emptied of people. Albania in 1997 entered the book of black records as far as the economy was concerned. State budget revenues for five months fell to zero. Taxes were replaced by fines. Assistance for pensioners and the disabled disappeared. Since mid-March, the bread system on a list returned. Those who could bought at market price, the majority of others by ration. Meanwhile, in the name of the "salvation" uprising in southern Albania, the ugliest form of the communist regime reigned. Terror reigned. People were killed every day, the roads were controlled, the state of emergency became a way of life. More than 300,000 students did not study for months. Out of hundreds of thousands of weapons that fell into the hands of crime, innocent Albanians are killed every day. The country today is in the hands of mafia clans and bandits politically protected by the neo-communist government. Instead of law, arbitrariness rules. Instead of merit, humiliation. Instead of freedom, deception. Instead of democracy, the dictatorship of crime. ON PAGE 5

The Chairman of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, assesses the year ’97 DPAA and "The United Right of the Center" DPAA and "The Center Right" Last night, in his first address to the Council and the leadership, the chairman said that the political class will have, as its challenge and its most precious responsibility, to become the true representative of Albanian citizens. ON PAGE 3

The scandal of the theft of Italian aid returns Instead of Nano’s ministers and advisers, this time several government officials are being tasked, who have become millionaires by stealing the much-mentioned aid for Albania Agreement They recognize the final accounts Initially the country will accredit a steering mission to manage the credit granted for the government’s economy. According to official sources, this mission should be composed of five members. Initially, one of them will be the prime minister’s personal adviser. At first, suspicions were raised that the prime minister of the Nano government had concentrated the scheme for managing this money under the authority of a close economic adviser. A week ago these allegations had not been withdrawn. Nano returns from England The postponement of problems with the government for the review of the reform at the central level has caused Nano to return from England. Four days ago the Minister of Trade and the chairman of the assembly for Albania finally returned to Albania from England with the promise that new reforms would begin. European corruption Pozoni The European Community has decided to help the government with 20 billion lire for emergency aid. Yesterday, the government signed an agreement to receive at least 14 million ECU from the European Community for supplying Albania with food items. The aid will be provided with money from the European Union budget and will be administered by private agencies. ON PAGE 2

Protest in front of the Ministry of Defence. Greek soldiers should leave Albania ON PAGE 2

In the foreground Ceka (two from the top)

Crime speaks in numbers, the Ministry with promises The most affected country ever a government without it would influence toward increasing involvement, period. There are 1 and 60 thousand sent and initiated. Inspiration with justice of the past. [text partially illegible] Crime speaks in numbers, The Ministry with promises The most affected country ever a government without it would influence toward increasing involvement, period. There are 1 and 60 thousand sent and initiated. Inspiration with justice of the past. [?] ON PAGE 6

The Association of Former Political Prisoners of Tirana wishes all Albanians on the occasion of the start of 1998, personal distant greetings, congratulations and best wishes for the New Year celebrations. Finding ourselves in a hopeless and desperate situation. On the economic level, in poverty and unemployment; on the social level, under the terror of weapons and crime; on the political level, under the diktat of neo-communism; on the national level, under the constant and fierce pressure of Belgrade. So as not to surrender to the weight of such a desperate reality and to give meaning to the holiday, we want to wish the Albanian nation prosperity and hope. May you see Albania, Kosovo, Çamëria, Presheva, Plava, Gucia, Ilirida, prosperous, emancipated, advanced, democratic, united and free. We wish the European and American institutions and personalities also the sense of justice to denounce and condemn the barbarity of neo-communism. We hope that the free and prosperous country of the Albanians will come. All the political prisoners of Tirana call on Albanian youth to engage in politics, social and democratic activity, and not in weapons and trafficking. Freedom, prosperity and democracy require sacrifices. Only through sacrifices are the ideals of freedom achieved. Bajram Hajdaraj and Perikli Teta ON PAGE 5

The company Cj. SANTOPQULOS S.A, on the occasion of the holidays, wishes all its collaborators and the Albanian people: Happy New Year 1998! Many years of peace, stability, love and harmony. company on the occasion of the holidays wishes all its collaborators and the Albanian people: Happy New Year 1998! For many years with peace, stability, love and harmony.

No smoking in Coca Cola (1 big world)