Corruption among those in power, the main cause of Albanians’ impoverishment on page 2

Albania is ungoverned; the people should turn to the ballot box on page 2

Two police officers are wounded, but one robber, who was the bank’s guard, is killed Bujar Germizi was arrested by KFOR forces a few hours after the robbery, near the city of Prizren. The amount of money to be stolen was 750 million lekë on page 3

EDITORIAL By Astrit PATOZI Albanian Socialists are now completely incapable of resolving the deep crisis in their party, so there remains no hope that they can still be seen as a possible way to resolve the crisis that has gripped the country. Following the latest proposal by the re-elected chairman Fatos Nano to convene the second session of the Socialist Party Congress, which provoked a fierce reaction from the best-known Socialist figures, including more than three-quarters of the Majko Government, we now face a party split into two halves, with no chance of finding a method of reconciliation, even a temporary one. on page 3

Majko: The Congress will split the PS on page 3

Today, 402 days since the murder of the December Leader Every day that passes since the murder of Azem Hajdari, the symbol of democracy and pluralism, constitutes an implication of the government of Fatos Nano and of his successor, who plunged the country into turmoil, and an open violation of human rights. The murder of Azem Hajdari, as can be proved by all the documents, was a political murder. The murder of the December Leader, who represents this country’s aspirations, and [they] are on the side of the murderers, who have names and surnames but are untouched by a corrupt regime. All Albanians condemned and continue to condemn the honorable murder of Azem Hajdari; they cannot tolerate this government. The government must leave and answer for the murder, ... publicly declare who the people are who carried out the murder of Azem Hajdari.

The DP Secretary for Public Relations outlines the work strategy for bringing about early elections on page 4 France would have educated Azem Hajdari’s son

France would have educated Azem Hajdari’s son

Year IX of publication No. (2369) THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1999 Price: 20 lekë (250 drachmas) EDITORIAL OFFICE ADDRESS: 16 “Punëtorët e Rilindjes” St. - Tel. 323 - 55 / Tel. Fax: 303-29 / (Marketing) 323 - 57 E-mail gazetard@albaniaonline.net and rildem@icc.al.eu.org Editor-in-chief: Astrit PATOZI Deputy editors-in-chief: Sami NEZA, Shemsi PEPOSHI

Only new elections are the solution Citizens of Tirana! “Union for Democracy” invites you on Saturday, October 23, at 12:00, to “Skënderbej” Square for a protest rally calling for new elections. Only new elections are the hope for all the thousands of unemployed, whose numbers grow every day as the Albanian economy continues to decline. Only new elections will put an end to the daily impoverishment of 1 million pensioners, teachers, doctors, workers and citizens, who today are paid 60,000 less and consume half as much as they did two years ago. Only new elections will lift 1 million pensioners out of misery, people who cannot make ends meet, ... day after day and month after month on their pensions. Only new elections are for you, young people, students, artists and intellectuals; the sure way to change the miserable conditions of life, education, work and creative activity, and to put an end to the government’s contempt for you, young people and students, artists and intellectuals. Only new elections are the sole way to build the state and establish law, order and peace in Albania. Join our protest for new elections - If you want to put an end to the rule of political-mafia clans, gangs, crime, smuggling and corruption in Albania, and to the return of Ninos, who ordered the execution of Azem Hajdari and protects his killers, join us in calling for new elections. - If you want despair and shortages to no longer define our present and future, and for Albania not to remain a refuge of misery for generations, driving away young people and intellectuals every day, join us in calling for new elections. Entrepreneurs, businesspeople, traders! new elections. If you want to escape the bankruptcy threatening you every day because of the government’s monopolies and smuggling, their unfair competition, the decline and the highest taxes on the continent—which you pay to the most corrupt government in Europe—join us in calling for new elections. In the name of your hopes, your better future, security, reality and well-being. Join our protest for new elections