Actors from all over Albania take to the square today to protest ON PAGE 8

Kondi begins a campaign of political purges in the justice system ON PAGE 4

Petition by the Independent Trade Union of RTSH addressed to Parliament ON PAGE 8

Skënder Gjinushi seeks to free Coles’ gang leader to crush the creditors’ revolts Vlorë, petition against Zani ON PAGE 3 Government coalition alarmed by protests over pyramid schemes. The leaders of March ’97 call for the gangs to return.

New political elections, hope for Albanians ALBANIAN CITIZENS! “Union for Democracy” invites you to the peaceful protest rally “New Elections – Hope for Albanians,” on Monday, 22 March, at 17:00 in Skënderbej Square. After two years of government by the Alliance for the State (the Pocket), you who felt deceived by its election promises to create 250,000 new jobs, double pensions and low wages, return 100% of the money, and ensure public order and peace within 100 days. JOIN OUR PROTEST - Against a government that in two years has created half a million unemployed people and doubled prices and taxes, misery and poverty. - Against the government of state-mafia clans (as they themselves have admitted), who through smuggling and control have appropriated more than 680 million dollars in two years—3.5 times more than all the wages paid over those two years combined. - Against the government of the speedboat republic, during which more Albanians have been killed in Albania than in Kosovo, and 90% of foreign entrepreneurs have left. - Against the government that stole 120 million dollars belonging to depositors and all the assets of the pyramid companies. - Against the government that executed the Hero of Albanian Pluralism, Azem Hajdari, and protects his killers; that, through its prosecutors, releases murderers and criminals; that beats and imprisons political opponents. Let us protest together to give the country new elections, the only way to restore hope, order and security to Albanians and lift them out of poverty.

Socialist government officials carried out a modest crackdown on smuggling in Albania two days ago, while former Prime Minister Fatos Nano has begun a tour of party gatherings in several of the country’s main cities. By Sami NEZA The socialist government officials carried out a modest crackdown on smuggling in Albania two days ago, while former Prime Minister Fatos Nano has begun a tour of party gatherings in several of the country’s main cities. Neither the former nor the latter has made building an anti-smuggling or anti-corruption policy within the Socialist Party or the left-wing government the purpose of their activities or measures; they are simply staking out positions ahead of the Socialist Party congress, expected to be held at the end of June this year. Yesterday the Democratic Party denounced, with figures, the large-scale theft of around 100 million dollars from the Albanian state through the customs infrastructure and ministers during two years of left-wing government. This is not about the entire pyramid of businesses linked to state structures, but only parts of the product ranges with the highest consumption in the country. The figure of 100 million dollars does not include theft through tenders, such as those for Apostoli’s roads, or through humanitarian aid and social programs, such as those appropriated by NGOs. Today, although we have figures for the theft of state money on a staggering scale—amounting, for just five products, to as much as 30 percent of the state budget—the fact remains unconfirmed as to what these people can actually do with this money. So far, these people have not been identified by name, but their addresses are known, and they are people and relatives of the Socialist Party or of various government ministers. People with such sums can build their image within the party, maintain armed units throughout the country, persecute their political opponents as well as rivals within their own ranks, secure favors within the Socialist Party and government structures, and even change laws in Parliament, as was discussed yesterday in relation to the tax law. Albanians can attest that before even a single person was killed in the unrest, several major banks in the cities affected by the unrest had already been broken into. It was precisely after the bags had been filled with money that the killings began, along with the identification of the country’s main gangs and gang leaders, and, just as easily, the important politicians standing behind them. The Socialists—the people who have stolen through corruption and smuggling—have shown that they invest the stolen money very effectively in their political future. We all see that Nano is a left-winger indulged by the media, and especially that on several occasions the ranks of the most fanatical left-wing militants were raised. Nor have his expensive private trips abroad been lacking, while among the honoraria paid by a large number of donors, police commissioners and even passport chiefs have indeed become relatives and nephews of left-wing MPs, made wealthy, or some thugs who led the gangs in March ’97. Two days ago Majko ordered a nationwide anti-gang operation, putting behind bars one of the four well-known coffee companies in Albania, while Fatos Nano accused Majko’s government of corruption and smuggling at a meeting with Socialist left-wingers in Durrës. Both are prime ministers, and both are Socialists of the Socialist Party. It seems that the actions of the Socialist Party in recent days conceal a retreat, which has become apparent after the large sums amassed by smugglers and corrupt officials in the socialist government. Their congress will also decide the fate of what the Democratic Party made public yesterday, although only for four or five products. At the end of August, after the Socialist Party congress concludes, there will be either the coffee boss, the oil boss, the tobacco boss, the customs boss, or the tender boss.

Bode and Karamitro at a press conference yesterday: Why are Albanians poor? Karamitro: “The money missing from the state budget is more than half the annual wage fund, 40 times public spending on roads, water supply and electricity; three times more than the pension payment fund, etc.” How many cigarettes, tobacco and alcoholic drinks have been stolen over the past two years (In tons) Year 1996 Year 1997 Year 1998 Funds lost in lek compared with 1996 Cigarettes 984 117 575 7,560 million lek Tobacco 480 198 209 1,400 million lek Beer 12071 4754 10860 252 million lek Wine 2026 229 237 150 million lek Alcohol and raki 5565 1467 2598 2,386 million lek Coffee ('92-'96) 3200 95 172 1,500 million lek In total, approximately 13250 billion lek Table of disappearances in 1996, 1997 and 1998 for some of the main commodities. Note the large differences between the disappearances in the past two years and those in 1996. ON PAGE 5

International mediators concerned by Belgrade’s preparations for war Expected in Paris today

Today, 188 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 that of his successor in the crime that shook the entire Albanian world. The government of the former Communists, which leaves free and undisturbed the criminals who took the life of the December Leader, shows Albanians that it has been and remains on the side of the murderers, who have names and identities but are untouched by those in power. The Democrats and all Albanians who loved and honored Azem Hajdari cannot tolerate this under any circumstances. The government must either arrest the criminals and bring them to justice, or publicly declare that it itself carried out the murder of Azem Hajdari.

International mediators concerned by Belgrade’s preparations for war According to diplomatic sources, the Albanians may officially sign the document today, after which a firm line will be taken with the Serbian side. Serbian military deployments in Kosovo are seen as a challenge by Belgrade to the international community. By MERO BAZE Paris, 17 March ON PAGE 2

A reminder for Prime Minister Majko By Hasan HALILI A few days ago, the government filed a complaint with the Prosecutor’s Office to investigate the paving of several roads in Tirana, on which millions of dollars were spent. Immediately, those who had “a fly under their cap” became frightened and defended themselves in every kind of media, making insinuations about politically motivated reactions, going so far as to accuse the government they themselves govern of trying to sow division within the party. To assist the State Audit structures, we would like to remind them that the Prime Minister’s complaint concerns only a very small part of the amount lost on paving Tirana’s roads... ON PAGE 5

Properties of the former pyramid companies back at auction After two years of pursuing transparency, the only fact stated truthfully to the creditors is that from the costly process, which cost 6 million dollars, barely 1 million was collected—or, in other words, 10 percent of the value of the lost credits .... ON PAGE 5

They complain to Majko, but the door is shut in their faces ON PAGE 5

The PD parliamentary group will meet on Friday at 11:00 at the PD central headquarters