“RD” journalist Edi Paloka in court for the second time ON PAGE 4

Instead of dialogue, the state uses violence and terrorizes trade unionists ON PAGE 5

Seasonal employment agreement in Italy for 1998 fails ON PAGE 5

Why all this fuss over Cea’s suspicious silence Evidence and documents implicating 80 government officials are kept locked away in the Presidency and the Prime Minister’s Office ON PAGE 3

Meidani and Nano put a lock on the file on government smuggling in Albania, demonstrating their direct involvement in the illegal trafficking that has been bringing the state to its knees for a year. A file of around 400 pages containing shocking facts and the names of implicated government officials has been sitting for some time in the drawers of important Albanian state institutions. The file was compiled by the Customs Assistance Mission in Albania, as well as from other sources that supplied Brussels with highly compromising information about senior Albanian government officials. After being compiled in detail, it was made available to the highest authorities of the Albanian state, in the hope that they would strike at the strongest points of the smuggling government officials and put an end to this monster that has held the country hostage for some time. At least 80 government officials’ names are mentioned in the secret file that has remained in the drawers of the Presidency and the Prime Minister’s Office. The names of specific figures in power, as well as the links of third parties to them, together with profits from the illegal trafficking of cigarettes, fuel, coffee and alcoholic beverages, have long been waiting to be brought to light by the justice system of the Albanian state today. ON PAGE 3

Elio Germano Nantalia Cea

Customs, the Albanian government officials’ den of thieves. Malaj drew up plans that made theft and smuggling possible The theft of state revenue through the evasion of customs duties and the encouragement of smuggling by Albanian government officials is beyond all expectations. The Finance Minister himself, Arben Malaj, legalized smuggling and theft by drawing up the customs revenue collection plan. Malaj deliberately disregarded the pattern of customs receipts. A pattern generally regarded as standard in documents is that around 40 percent of taxes are collected in the first half of the year and around 60 percent in the second half. Malaj, however, projected that in 1997 around 51 percent of the target would be achieved in the first half and 49 percent in the second half, a departure from the normal pattern of customs collection over a number of years. Meanwhile, he reduced the customs tax collection target for 1997 from 24 billion lekë, as originally planned, to 18 billion lekë, while using the same coefficient as before, even though in ’97 the value of the lek had fallen by 50 percent and VAT had been raised to 20 percent. In 1996, customs tax collection amounted to 165 billion lekë, while in 1997 it amounted to 140 million dollars. Taking into account the 40 percent increase in excise tax, customs receipts would have totaled 240 million dollars if they had been at the 1996 level. In this case, the VAT increase not only failed to bring greater revenues into the state budget, but was also used to cover the theft of around 100 million dollars, amid propaganda relying solely on comparative figures. The government’s massive theft is clear from just one scandalous fact. Throughout 1997, nearly 8 tons of cigarettes disappeared, while in the first three months of 1998 alone around 11 tons disappeared, demonstrating massive theft and smuggling across all products subject to significant variations. Thus, over the past year, more than 40 million dollars’ worth disappeared, while this year’s smuggling exceeds 100 million dollars. ON PAGE 3

Clinton and Prodi concerned about developments in Kosovo Italy and the United States once again reiterated their determination to consult on the most effective means of preventing new conflicts Clinton and Prodi concerned about developments in Kosovo “We will continue the pressure on Belgrade” Italy and the United States once again reiterated their determination to consult on the most effective means of preventing new conflicts Italy and the United States condemned the fact that the situation in Kosovo “is increasingly worrying,” and they are determined to strengthen cooperation mechanisms to guarantee the security of the region, according to the declaration “A New Partnership for a New Century,” which they were due to publish yesterday, following Prodi’s meeting with Clinton at the White House. “We believe,” Italy and the United States affirm, “that the situation in Kosovo is increasingly worrying. The decisions taken by the Contact Group in Rome must be implemented. Without dialogue, the conflict can only become more intense and spread further, threatening the security of the region. We will continue to emphasize pressure on Belgrade on the occasion of the forthcoming NATO meeting on political affairs. We will also continue our efforts to strengthen stability in Southeastern Europe through the Southeastern Europe Cooperation Initiative and other means.” Italy and the United States once again reiterated their determination to consult on the most effective means of preventing new conflicts and responding to security threats that may arise, as we have done in Bosnia and Albania and as we are doing in Kosovo.”

Gjakovë and Deçan ON PAGE 6 NATO against intervention in Albania. BEP warns Serbia De Puig: BEP may choose the armed path ON PAGE 3

The Democratic Party spokesperson responds to “Koha jonë”’s comments The spokesperson of the Democratic Party says that yesterday’s article in the newspaper “Koha jonë,” which dealt with activities in the Tirana branch of the Democratic Party, was full of low-level slander and distortions. According to the spokesperson, this is nothing other than the article writer’s and newspaper’s concern and fear over the consolidation and renewal of the Tirana branch of the Democratic Party, which is at the forefront of the Democratic Party’s improvement and political successes throughout the country. Such explanations and disinformation about the opposition only reinforce the newspaper’s unprofessional and unethical image, as well as that of those who, to put an end to their own agony in power, commission articles of this kind, the Democratic Party spokesperson concluded. ON PAGE 2

Delegation of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe meets with Democratic Party Chairman Berisha Yesterday afternoon, the Chairman of the Democratic Party, Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha, received a delegation from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe, led by the President of the Congress, Mr. Klod Hagi. In response to Mr. Hagi’s questions, Mr. Berisha gave a comprehensive overview of the deeply aggravated political situation. ON PAGE 2

The dismissal and replacement of the current executives with people who are just as, or even more, politically zealous seems to be the last step in saving whatever remains of the so-called independent television Minarolli: “We are not in favor of a boycott. Let us examine the concerns raised by the members of the Steering Council and then discuss the candidates.” ON PAGE 7

The state is preparing Zani’s arrest Xhaferaj, the new director of the General Directorate of Prisons ON PAGE 4

Democratic Party MPs oppose government control over union assets Parliamentary commission for investigations It is not lawful for the State Audit to inspect the administration of union assets Press conference by Gëzim Kala, president of SPMSH Mine privatization will fail without trade unionists ON PAGE 5

The city of education faces ignorance and legal violations by the Socialists ON PAGE 2