Armed gangs kill in broad daylight in the Capital. Fear and panic among passersby It was around 14:40 on Tirana’s main boulevard, opposite the Pyramid, on “Bajram Curri” Street, a few meters from the traffic light where it intersects with the capital’s “Dëshmorët e Kombit” Boulevard... ON PAGE 4

The President and the Ministry of Defense have violated the law ON PAGE 4

Meidani, Apostoli, Shuli and other government officials implicated in the parliamentary speaker’s scandal, through which millions are being gained illegally ON PAGE 2 The law was approved on September 17 last year, just three days after the events of September 14, when the country and the government itself were in crisis. Many of the MPs, cowed at the time by the dramatic developments, now shrug their shoulders and do not remember having approved such a law.

Petro Koçi continues his revenge against Fier’s Democrats Violence against Renato Shyti, secretary of the PD branch in Fier. Yesterday morning, the head of the police criminal investigations department under Petro Koçi— a former Sigurimi agent and close friend of Petro the arsonist—brutally assaulted the secretary of the PD branch in Fier in his office . The secretary of the PD branch, Renato Shyti, went to the police station yesterday to clarify the reasons for the imprisonment of Lavdosh Gjata, a well-known activist of the PD in Fier. He asked to meet the station chief to clarify the reasons for the detention of the Democratic activist. But the head of criminal investigations in Fier, after summoning the local PD leader to his office, insulted him with the most vulgar language, the kind only Petro’s gangs could use, and then physically assaulted him. The head of criminal investigations, Ilia Thomai, a committed former Sigurimi agent, presented yesterday the violence he had inflicted on the Democratic secretary to his gangster bosses as carrying out his duty and as an opportunity for promotion. Together with other criminals working for Petro Koçi, after threatening the local PD leader in his office, they beat him and then took him out... ON PAGE 4

. Four months after the murder of the December Leader and hero of Albanian nationalism, Azem Hajdari, the government continues to hide his killers. Many things have changed in the country since that day. The Nano government has fallen and the Socialists have formed their third government in a year and a half, but this has not been enough for Albanian government officials to denounce the murder of the December Leader; nor has it been enough that, without finding his killers, democracy in Albania... his killers, democracy in Albania and Albanians themselves will find no peace and will not build trust in the institutions of the Albanian state. Today, Azem Hajdari’s murder is a test of how capable the current government is of withstanding Albania’s crisis and leading the country on a path toward avoiding or overcoming the crisis. Azem Hajdari’s murder is the yardstick by which people form their attitude toward the left in power and toward the institutions of justice. Moments after Hajdari’s murder, the PD announced the names of the killers, while today, four months later, the government has not only made no effort to capture them, but is cooperating with each of them, perpetuating the crisis and instability in Albania. Just a few weeks ago, opposition leader Sali Berisha met with Prime Minister Majko, and together they agreed to establish an independent investigative group into Azem’s murder. Since that day, there has been no indication from the government that such an agreement is being taken seriously. On the contrary, the danger is that the government is acting against the institution it governs and against the institution of justice. Today, four weeks four weeks four months after Azem’s murder, the Albanian state has made no effort to capture his killers; those people who, in one way or another, took part in drawing up the scenario for his murder remain in office. Today, Skënder Gjinushi is still Speaker of Parliament, and Fatos Klosi still heads SHIK. This shows that the Albanian state is still caught between criminals and the fight against crime, between the desire to destroy the country and the desire to save it, between the influence of gangs and that of honest people who want peace and prosperity. The Albanian government must understand that bringing Azem Hajdari’s killers to justice is a test for it. Without a public explanation of this murder, no Democrat will feel at ease, and no true Albanian can see the government as his protector and leader. Azem Hajdari was a symbol of democracy and remains one; he was a symbol of nationalism and remains one. But the government cannot be that while carrying on its shoulders the murder of the man who stood up for Albanian youth, the student leader, and Albanians determined to defend the national cause. It cannot evade responsibility and involvement in this murder for even a moment as long as it does not solve the case, arrest the killers, and remove from the Albanian government’s ranks the bandits holding high office. By now, it has become clear to all Democrats and all Albanians who killed Hajdari, who tried to kill Albania and its future. This government has the opportunity to [forgive?]—as long as it has the opportunity to save the criminals who fired the shots, criminals it knows very well.

Democrats in Vlora celebrate in grand style the eighth anniversary of the founding of the Democratic Party branch Polla: At this moment, looking back at the past eight years, the DP has reason to be proud. If we look at our political opponents, we see that they do not have

Albanian Center for Economic Research: The country is still held hostage by the crisis The trade deficit has increased by 680 million dollars ON PAGE 5

Today, 127 days since the murder of the December Leader Every day that passes since the murder of Azem Hajdari, the symbol of democracy and pluralism, proves the involvement of Fatos Nano’s government and his successor in the crime that shook the entire Albanian world. The government of the former communists, which continues day after day to leave undisturbed the criminals who took the life of the December Leader, shows Albanians that they have been and are on the side of the killers, who have names and identities but are untouched by those in power. Democrats and all Albanians who loved and honored Azem Hajdari cannot tolerate this fact under any circumstances. The government must either apprehend the criminals and bring them to justice, or publicly declare that it itself committed the murder of Azem Hajdari.

End of 1998 — 70% of food items increased in price Compared with November, retail prices in the last month of 1998 showed fluctuations for around 35% of items, while food prices increased for 65% of them. Sources at the Ministry of Agriculture report that grain prices fell, including wheat by 1%, corn by 7%, etc. During this month, vegetable prices fell by as much as 25%, mainly for seasonal vegetables, while other items such as tomatoes, peppers, etc., recorded price increases of up to 40%... ON PAGE 5

Albania is the most corrupt country in Europe Washington will investigate borrowing governments implicated in corruption involving World Bank donations. ON PAGE 5

Is SHIK following us because many of us have come together in the “December ’90” Grouping, with the same idealism and the same determination to uphold our two December ’90 tenets: “Freedom – Democracy” and “Albania like all of Europe”? ON PAGE 2

The Court of First Instance exposes the bluffs of the political prosecutors The political prosecutor’s office is continuing zealously to arrest members and supporters of the Democratic Party. A few days ago, Bujar Himçi, the prosecutor of the political unit appointed by the Clique to investigate the events of September 14, signed an arrest warrant for Rasim Lumeshin. According to prosecutor Himçi, citizen Lumeshin on September 14.

Pollo: At this moment, looking back at the past eight years, the DP has reason to be proud. If we look at our political opponents, we see that they have no birthday, because they can refer neither to 1941 nor to 1991, both inglorious dates. Pollo: at our political opponents, we see that they have no birthday, because they can refer neither to 1941 nor to 1991, both inglorious dates. ON PAGE 3

Selfo: We are seeking to make the dialogue concrete through a new political solution ON PAGE 3

PD strongly condemns the criminal murder of the head of QIK The Democratic Party of Albania strongly condemns the criminal murder of QIK chief and journalist Enver Maloku, and describes it as a political murder. The Democratic Party of Albania considers this murder to be a killing of free speech, an attempt to silence the voice of the Albanians of Kosovo, whose suffering is unjustly made the subject of this end-of-century tragedy. The Democratic Party of Albania emphasizes that attempts to murder leaders of the Government of Kosovo under circumstances that are made to remain mysterious, as in the case of the murder of Kosovo’s Minister of Defense in Tirana a few months ago, serve only to further worsen the situation and delay the opportunities that could lead to a resolution of the conflict. The Democratic Party of Albania expresses its condolences to President Rugova, the Democratic League of Kosovo, and the family of Enver Maloku on the loss of their journalist, political analyst, dear friend, and beloved family member.

Yesterday, in “Skënderbej” Square Photo: Albes FUSHA ON PAGE 3