5,000 workers have not been paid for a long time ON PAGE 5

The Prosecution is afraid to bring the chief Legalist to justice ON PAGE 4

The 60-year-old maniac is released from handcuffs after paying millions of lekë ON PAGE 4

The Inter-Parliamentary Union’s Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians has taken up for consideration the charge brought by the Albanian Prosecution against opposition leader Sali Berisha and Democratic Party MPs ON PAGE 3 Within the week, the parliamentary group of the Democratic Party will announce a national and international initiative. Support in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the European Parliament and the OSCE, and in the national parliaments of Europe

Democratic Party of Albania

A bleak outlook for employment in Albania. Thousands of people heading toward absolute poverty The state lacks employment policies. The government has abused public works funds. Insecurity and crime are closing businesses and driving away investment ON PAGE 5

By Sami NEZA The Parliamentary Group of the Democratic Party has announced an important national and international initiative consisting of the release of political prisoners. This is one of the DP’s most civil initiatives, as it seeks a society meeting democratic standards. The point is not simply to release a few dozen such prisoners, who are serving their sentences only because ... in the Albanian state administration there are ideologically charged prosecutors who, as Kadare also said a few days ago, are seeking to destabilize the country. That is chiefly the consequence of such an action. Albania will be a country without political prisoners, and this means the country will have another democratic resource on its path toward building a free and democratic society. For many people who these days are struggling to get enough bread to eat, such a thing may seem like a great luxury, but in any case someone in this country must do things that others lack the means and commitment to do. Preserving the democratic values secured during five years of democratic government is a major mission not only for the DP, but for all Albanians, just as democratic standards in the country serve everyone: those who need bread as well as those for whom this is no longer a problem. Democracy in Albania is a way to ease people’s burdens, just as it is a path to securing a good future full of opportunities. But alongside the national initiative to release political prisoners, the DP parliamentary group must also announce initiatives to shed light on political killings, of which there have been many during the two years of left-wing coalition rule. It is neither revenge nor political competition if the DP manages to free the country from a stain such as the repeated killings of DP leaders and activists. The point is to find the perpetrators, including those within the ranks of the Socialist government or the left-wing coalition, and punish them as an example to others. The law on the Hajdari case is one of the right initiatives in this regard. For several months now, seeing a profound abnormality in governance, a major departure from national principles, and the confusion of the left-wing political class in managing the Albanian crisis, the DP has initiated many measures aimed at freeing the country from the anti-democratic trap that has been laid for it since March ’97. Just a few days ago, its leader, Berisha, announced the public order plan, which is also the fundamental basis for policies to be developed by an efficient police force and for the rational, Albanian approach to administering public order, as well as governance as a whole. It can already be said that the pact for public order has been successful. It has won the support of all political forces and, in various respects, has been widely discussed; several state bodies have also given it their approval, and it has had practical success as well. Since the day it was announced, a marked decrease in crime has been observed. This means that the initiative has found cooperation with Albanians in the fight against it, just as there is a fear within politics in the fight against the Albanian government, of the rational measures of the DP forces, manifested in opposition to its governance, and of the old government’s embryonic governance. Just four days ago, US Secretary of State Ollbrajt asked Prime Minister Majko in Washington for his government to fight hard to restore order in the country, combat corruption and, moreover, restructure the police, which is also one of the tools envisaged by the DP’s public order pact. It was Ollbrajt, too, who more than a year ago told Prime Minister Nano to end the former State Security’s climate within the state administration.

The final hours are approaching for Belgrade. An ultimatum to begin peace talks

The Socialists must take the US warnings seriously

Hill: The current proposals do not include independence for Kosovo, but the Serbs must accept the self-determination of the Albanians ON PAGE 6

The capitulation of the left-wing government in the fight against crime, corruption and smuggling is a problem that should seriously concern Albanians and Albanian political forces ON PAGE 3

The DP Secretary for Public Relations, Vili Minarolli, on the draft law to shed light on the Hajdari case ON PAGE 3

How was aid administered in Albania? ON PAGE 2

Today, 145 days since the murder of the December Movement 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 this crime that shook the entire Albanian world. The government of the former communists, which leaves at liberty and undisturbed the criminals who took the life of the December Movement Leader, shows Albanians that it has been and remains on the side of the killers, who have names, but are untouched by those in power. Democrats and all Albanians who loved and honored Azem Hajdari cannot possibly tolerate this fact. The government must either arrest the criminals and bring them to justice, or publicly declare that it itself carried out Azem Hajdari’s murder.

The DP deputy chairman urges all political and military actors in Kosovo to be represented at the highest level in Rambouillet Last night, DP Deputy Chairman Genc Pollo once again called on all political and military actors in Kosovo to unite and be represented at the Rambouillet conference at the highest level. The DP deputy chairman once again urged Adem Demaçi, the political representative of the KLA, not to hesitate to take part in the February 6 conference in Rambouillet, France. “It is essential for Albanians to go united level.” For Pollo, it is very important and encouraging that the LDK delegation is expected to be received by Ibrahim Rugova, that the Democratic Movement for Kosovo delegation is expected to be received by Professor Rexhep Qosja, and that a group representing the KLA has confirmed its participation in the conference. “It would be very good if a prominent figure in Albanian political life such as Demaçi also did not hesitate to take part in this conference, which is truly historic—a historic chance for the national destiny of the Albanians. This is the appeal we make to Demaçi and all the other political representatives: go united, with coordinated positions, so that you can make the most of this opportunity being offered to the Albanians. The Italian prime minister calls for a stronger European policy on refugees: They are not clandestine migrants D’Alema: Assistance for refugees in Albania ON PAGE 3

Today in parliament, answers also demanded about the tenders During this week, Tirana and the other districts of Albania have had electricity for only five hours ON PAGE 5

They own property and receive economic assistance Economic assistance has been subject to abuse. According to sources at the Ministry of Labour, numerous such documents forged in state offices have been discovered. The latest case, which is causing concern ... ON PAGE 5