France supports Albania’s return to normality A high-level delegation of the Democratic Party, led by its chairman, Sali Berisha, departed yesterday at noon for a five-day visit to the French capital. The delegation was seen off yesterday at Rinas Airport by the French ambassador in Tirana and the leaders of “Union for Democracy.” The Press and Information Department at the DP said that the delegation, which includes Deputy Speaker of Parliament Jozefina Topalli, DP Organizational Secretary Fatos Beja, Tirana Mayor Albert Brojka, and former Albanian Ambassador to France Besnik Mustafaj, will have a busy schedule during its visit to Paris. On Wednesday, following an invitation from the president of the Senate of the French Republic, Rene Monory. Monory, France’s second-highest-ranking figure, has arranged a special meeting with former President Berisha and the delegation accompanying him, as an expression of France’s support for the Albanian opposition in encouraging Albania’s return to normality, along the path of democracy and full integration into Euro-Atlantic structures. Berisha, whose stay in France will last until 19 June, will hold numerous meetings with senior officials of the French Republic, leading figures of France’s main political forces, and representatives of parliament, the media and the French press. The Media Department at the DP said that the main topics of Berisha’s talks in France will be the political situation in Albania, the Kosovo issue and possible ways of resolving it, as well as cooperation between the Democratic Party and political forces in France allied with the DP. The press statement says that the visit is of great importance as a show of support: it is a powerful expression of France’s friendship and support for Albanian democracy, and a continuation of dialogue and cooperation with Albania’s great friends.

Arben Malaj pocketed 10 million at “Cenaj” and bought the Vlora Refrigerator Factory. How did the sister of the Finance Minister get 402 million drachmas from “VEFA”? Skënder Gjinushi and Kristo Goxhi seized 220 million from “Cenaj”, while the sister of “Keno” took 120 million lireta from “Gjallica”. Where did Majko get the 220 thousand dollars, and what is hidden behind the “aunt”? When will Dokle and Hajdaraga speak up? What are Farudin Arapi’s ties to the “Cenaj”, “Xhaferri” and “Gjallica” firms? Where does Nano get the money to give gifts worth 3,000 dollars, such as Arben Malaj’s gold watch? ON PAGE 3 Albanians should know who took the money from the pyramid schemes. The list of tainted politicians will soon be released. The SP is silent about the government officials involved.

REUTERS Military aircraft in flight.

The pyramid-scheme expert, Minister Arben Malaj, speaks out on TV “I had a good relationship with Çeka until before he left the ministry, because at the Malësia e Madhe customs office and at the one in Peshkopi, the police officers who supported smugglers used to say, ‘We know no one except Nertan Ceka’; at the time, we would welcome him.” ON PAGE 5

Strong support for Haki Smoqi, the “Union for Democracy” candidate. Berisha brings grand rallies back to the stronghold of anti-communism and patriotism “The government does not publish the names of DP officials because many of them are now its collaborators in smuggling and in plundering the finances of the Albanian state. Genc Rruli, who has now been put in charge of a phantom institute, is responsible for stealing the money of Albanians.” The DP chairman welcomes NATO maneuvers Berisha: Hope for peace in the Balkans ON PAGE 3

REUTERS

The list of government officials and senior figures in the current administration fully accounts for the roughly 120 million dollars stolen from deposits in the pyramid schemes, given the accumulation of their wealth. This fact, published yesterday by the Democratic Party, is sufficient reason for the government to resign, along with the prime minister of the special funds. A year after Nano promised in Vlora that 100 percent of the money would be returned, we are faced with the fact that 100 percent of it was stolen precisely by the people who established and spread the pyramid-scheme disease in the country. The list of people who stole Albanians’ money by abusing their power includes the deputy prime minister, the speaker of parliament, his deputy, several ministers and other senior officials, as well as dozens of family members and relatives of the nomenklatura. This is one of the largest thefts recorded in any European country and exceeds several times the amount that could be stolen by breaking into a major bank in Europe. The group of Albanian officials who came to power over blood and victims constitutes the largest gang for stealing money and the treasury. They have managed to transfer a large part of the 120 million dollars abroad. They are also responsible for damaging Albania’s financial market and foreign-currency deposits in the Albanian banking system. The collapse of hotels and second-tier banks does not conceal such a blow, which will be fully remedied only after the DP’s victory in the next elections, which will take place very soon. The concealment of transparency through the Finance Minister, who has the lion’s share in the great theft committed against Albanian creditors, has meant that the theft of foreign currency has not prevented the next stage of the robbery: putting these assets on the market. Here too, the current government has laid plans in cooperation with what is called the companies’ administrator, exploiting the reality of the rising market so that the properties will also be taken over by the officials who stole the money. A few days ago, the SP secretary and one of the gang’s members, Pandeli Majko, declared that the people themselves could not rise up over the lost money, but could rise up to overthrow the government. Such a remark, in the face of the loss of thousands of people’s assets, shows how responsibly they regarded the promises made to Albanians to return their money. The publication of the sums taken by senior socialist leaders and others is one of many pieces of evidence that clearly reveals the governing coalition’s rule against the people. Besides plunging the country into a major crime, theft on such a scale further reinforces the need to remove the deceitful officials and the destructive government. The plundering of Albanians has reached unimaginable limits. The governing coalition is engulfed by a government of the mafia, narcotics and prostitution, common thieves of creditors’ money, entrenched smugglers, and even criminals and instigators of murder, such as Shkëndër Gjinushi. In recent days, a group from the gang has gone out campaigning for the partial local elections. Using harsh, criminal language, they have once again returned to the days of last March, when they turned their guns on Albanians. They did the same in Kosovo, where Nano’s political police forces arrested the brother of the Democratic candidate.

Hegemony of the German team - Germany - USA 2 - 0. The “veterans” remain fearsome - Pasarella, Argentina’s coach, after many years of hostility toward the “star,” admits: “No one can replace Maradona.” - Leonardo; the champions’ composure. The Brazilian midfielder speaks. - Haxhi costs as much as Ronaldo. 300 billion lire to snatch Morocco’s talent. - Croatia; the surprise of the World Cup? - England - Tunisia 2:0. Hoddle: “Africans deserve respect.” - Romania - Colombia 1:0. A deserved victory. SPECIAL FEATURE ON PAGES 10 - 11