The Prime Minister is frank at the government meeting. Ministers and the opposition are blamed for the crisis The PS chairman warns of a breakup of the coalition and heads rolling in the government The Prime Minister is frank at the government meeting. Ministers and the opposition are blamed for the crisis Nano: “We have failed” The PS chairman warns of a breakup of the coalition and heads rolling in the government Yesterday Nano admitted that the government has failed in all its indicators. He accused the ministers of all the failures, but at the same time blamed the opposition as the cause of the government’s and ministers’ failure. The Prime Minister warned of a purge storm in the ministries and pointed the finger at Taqo Apostoli, Eminda Meksi, Neritan Ceka, Lufter Xhuveli, etc. According to Nano, apart from Kastriot Islami and Bashkim Fino, the entire government cabinet could leave either voluntarily or by order. In this way he hinted that even the coalition could break up if any minister does not leave peacefully. Most of the ministers looked at their Prime Minister in bewilderment, because they had thought they had been successful so far, as they have routinely declared in the state media. Some of them, such as Gaqo Apostoli, showed not just surprise but the kind of astonishment one would feel the first time realizing they were at a cabinet meeting. The Prime Minister’s frankness about the 6-7 month period of his government and the threat to cabinet members that they would be removed from office in the near future is the first time this has appeared since his government came to power. Throughout this period Nano and his ministers, in television monologues and other ways, have manipulated public presentation into seeming successes and victories in all fields: public order, peace, disarmament, economy, finance, privatization, laws, etc. These parades have been so tiresome that the first admission of failure by the head of the government himself is unexpected even to the ministers. In all his accusations Nano did not mention the fact that the fundamental cause of the government’s failure is himself as Prime Minister, because if Apostoli has failed with the monks, Ceka with public order, Meksi with international aid, Brokaj in the army, Imami in his post and so on, above all the one who has failed is the one who is their boss. No one has burdened Nano for 10 years, much less for 6-7 months, and even less the opposition. None of the Albanians told Nano that he should spend most of his time, day and night, in clubs and not at work, asking for accountability from those in office. Nevertheless, yesterday the Prime Minister made a gesture that should be welcomed. He said that in fact he is not at fault with the opposition. Despite Nano’s statement, although largely untrue as far as he himself is concerned, that he is turning his government’s failure into a service, at least it is useful when he undertakes not to seek the causes of failure in the opposition anymore. The opposition has precisely stated this up to now: that the government has failed in all its objectives. In all the variations, whatever the opposition has stated has not been and is not an obstacle to a government cabinet failing. The Prime Minister acknowledged the opposition’s finding of a collapse, which has led to a finding that logically comes afterward, the government’s departure. The opposition has said this too. Not just once. It maintains that permanently replacing the government with a technical one is the only solution to the Albanian crisis. Nano and his ministers do not have much time at their disposal, especially a government that has failed in front of its own ministerial team and in front of its own boss. The first has failed, Nano. The others just as much as he has. SH. PEPONI Formerly persecuted, between life and death

Lloyd to Milošević: Respect the rights of Albanians in Kosovo ON PAGE 3

Ylli Vejsiu and Jemin Gjana meet with the director of the American Republican Institute Yesterday, members of the PD leadership and members of the Albanian Parliament, Ylli Vejsiu and Jemin Gjana, met with the director of the American Republican Institute, Eric Joeft, and its representative for Albania, Mr. Eric Hejshberry. The meeting, held at the request of the American Republican Institute, focused mainly on the cooperation of this institution with the Democratic Party under a two-year project. This project will consist of the help that this Institute will provide in parliamentary life, in the constitutional process, and even in an active contribution to the election campaign. Mr. Vejsiu and Mr. Gjana presented the PD’s views regarding entry into Parliament as well as their willingness to engage in an intensive dialogue for drafting the Constitution. Mr. Joeft and Mr. Hejshberry positively assessed the decision of the PD Presidency to recommend to the National Council the PD’s participation in Parliament and committed themselves to cooperating with the PD so that the latter plays an active role as a constructive opposition and to create a balance of powers in Parliament.

The PD secretary, Vili Minarolli, attacks Meidani’s request: with these commitments he undermines Albania’s sovereignty and integrity If Albanian politicians appeal to foreign institutions and countries to bring in foreign troops in Albania to protect their seats, then we can say that the Albanian state is on the verge of disintegration. If Albanian politicians appeal to foreign institutions and countries to bring in foreign troops in Albania to protect their seats, then we can say that the Albanian state is on the verge of disintegration ON PAGE 3

Public statement by the Albanian American Civic League ON PAGE 3

National Front: It is not possible to coexist with communists and pseudo-right-wingers The proper time for holding elections, Gjergo explains, will come soon, since the country is demanding a solution to the crisis, while Nano is not keeping the promise he made before the voters about returning the money or the one about creating 200,000 jobs.

VEFA: Deloitte & Touche has been assigned by “iArt” to handle the bankruptcy of the companies Deloitte & Touche, a bankrupt company, has not dealt with VEFA for 20 days, but is staying in Villa 31 in the former leadership block. Deloitte & Touche, a bankrupt company, has not dealt with VEFA for 20 days, but is staying in Villa 31 in the former leadership block ON PAGE 5

More than one meter of snow in Kukës, Pukë and Tropojë Around 250,000 Albanian families are on the brink of total hunger, lacking electricity and without telephone signal. Around 250,000 Albanian families are on the brink of total hunger, lacking electricity and without telephone signal ON PAGE 4

War in the middle of the city 8 killed in ten days Yesterday in Elbasan, one person was killed and another was wounded in a “Golf” car on the Man road, after a burst of automatic-fire shots from a “Benz” without license plates. The incident occurred around 11:30 in the intercity bus square, between the PT and the sports hall “T. Sina,” only a few meters from the city’s current market. According to sources from the police, the victim was the citizen Arjan Dm-da, 24 years old, and the driver of the car was wounded. At the scene, a woman passerby in her forties was also wounded by the armed attack. For several minutes the citizens fled the street in terror, while the police arrived at the scene, continues the criminal police report of Elbasan Police Station No. 1. Regarding yesterday’s killings, which were said to number eight within the span of 10 days, several political parties also spoke publicly and protested alongside the citizens of Elbasan. The PD accused Ceka of failing to establish order, allegedly on purpose to keep Elbasan submerged in blood. The PLL especially condemned what was carried out in recent days. The BK Party condemned the bandit crime and the political euphoria of the communists in power for fighting it. A. SELA

The Otranto Association in Prosecutor General Rakipi’s office ON PAGE 4

The trade deficit with negative growth is affecting devaluation ON PAGE 5

China has demanded seriousness from the Albanian government ON PAGE 4

The numbers speak clearly about the budget (From Prime Minister Nano’s speech in parliament) We can say quite plainly that the budget of my government compared to ‘97 has increased by 1.09% and 0.07, which rose in ‘96. By the end of the year this figure will go to 2.06 For the good things next year 9.04%... So, in conclusion, we can say that the percentage of the growth of the decrease and of the increase is greater than the decrease of the increase; it is greater than the decrease of the increase. So, more plainly, we can say that we have a growth of decrease in growth. We speak so clearly and the opposition does not understand us...

The Parliamentary Group “The Center Right” invites all parliamentary political parties, associations and trade unions, as well as representatives of the press organs, to a round table to discuss the hunger strike of former political prisoners. The meeting will take place at 10:00 on 5.02.1998 at the “Dajti” hotel Parliamentary Group “The Center Right”