Today in Parliament: The blitz operation begins to approve the draft budget for the year Today Parliament is forced to begin consideration of the draft budget for 1996. It seems that, at this end of the year, an attempt is being made to catch everyone by surprise, or more precisely to carry out a "blitz operation," as a deputy present last week, also as a police officer, put it yesterday before the economic commission. This is happening while risking the shortened procedures of last week. Thus, while Parliament ended its work through a cheerful cocktail learned from television, according to which on Tuesday and Wednesday, Thursday in the parliamentary commissions one should open the draft budget for examination, on Friday present the commissions' remarks, in the afternoon debate in the parliamentary groups and present the government's remarks. All these are written in the work program for this parliamentary session. But since yesterday at noon nothing will be respected. This is because the parliamentary leadership was informed that today at 10:00 a.m. the plenary session will open "for the examination and approval of the draft budget for '96." But it seems that even this announcement will not be respected. The economic commission, which worked yesterday until around 8:00 p.m., has not finished its discussion and review of the remarks that will be submitted to the government for consideration, leaving everything open for tomorrow. Meanwhile, the parliamentary groups have still not begun discussions and moreover have not been informed of the remarks of the specialized commissions. Thus, the chaos in the approval of the most important financial law is evident. Some parliamentary commissions have submitted to the economic commission requests for an increase in budget funds for the ministries they cover. The order, defense and SHIK commission was one of them yesterday, which made this request. This is despite the fact that it was rejected by the government a few days ago when it was asked to do such a thing. The request becomes even more puzzling when the revenues from the public arms markets are not shown under any item in the state budget. And while this is happening, the budget is a failure, a failure to the deceptive promise made by the head of state, Mr. Berisha. The Albanian government, the Democratic Party. But that is not all. The draft budget warns of the release of a severe financial crisis with major consequences in the coming year, just as it is being approved and to the categories of exoneration in this end of year, the consequences of which will be inherited in the new year. Thus. Gift from the government for 1996: - 10,000 jobs will be cut - Housing funds will be reduced by 50% - The homeless will remain homeless. - Former owners will not get back their properties. - The promised loans will not be granted to young couples - Increase in the budget deficit and tripling of prices Meanwhile, from 1995 we note: - 40% of the goods entering Albania turn out to be contraband - Only 60% of customs taxes have been collected - Of 17 billion lek in foreign investments, 8 billion have not been used (To be continued on page 7)

The court decides: Page 5

Only in Shkodër and Malësi e Madhe: 400 damaged houses, 20 villages and 2,000 families cut off President Berisha: "The situation is not alarming now... you will build the houses, the government will help you" Irony or mockery?!... In any case, the inhabitants of the flooded areas are awaiting the new year left to the mercy of fate. President Berisha went, saw and left. Accompanied by Zhulali and Spahia, who stood out in the television chronicle with white coats amid the tragedy of the flood. He promised nothing. Because he and his power are unable to build. Page 7

On the eve of New Year Interview with director Osman Mula, report with comedians and singers and TV workers from Disco "Meteor", as well as "What do artists ask for and what do they give?" Pages 8 - 9

The fatal price of the anti-Nano political campaign in the face of the Council of Europe review Page 5