The United States insist: Constitution and elections as soon as possible Timothi Worth Assistant Secretary of State of the USA: "The government must guarantee the investments of the citizens" Demonstrators: "Guilty President Berisha and Prime Minister Meksi" Page 3

25.5 billion lek from the foundations deposited in state banks are frozen by the Government The usurers, this pretense clashes with the 1996 statement 25.5 billion lek from the foundations deposited in state banks are frozen by the Government The usurers, this pretense clashes with the 1996 statement Yesterday's government decision destroys economic confidence and weakens state institutions In recent hours, efforts have been made to present the government decision taken to freeze 25.5 billion lek from the lending and savings foundations. In this context, the government and some of its figures are trying to portray yesterday's decision publicly as a break with the government's previous policy toward lending schemes. On the contrary, this government decision is ridiculous and publicly presented as cooperation with these funds. Only with the statement presented so far, the government's press statement, which the government has not yet touched, is this clear. With yesterday's government decision, all citizens' funds held in state and private banks remain blocked for a period of 3 months, with the right to further extension by the government. At the same time, the government is trying to present yesterday's decision as a guarantee for the return of deposits. In reality, the decision means that citizens will not receive their money for 3 months, regardless of the fact that the owners have placed it in the bank. The decision does not oblige the funds to pay the money they have in the bank to the citizens. On the contrary, the funds will most likely benefit from the growing bank interest over time by keeping the money in these banks. The government press statement says that for 25.5 billion lek, the government takes under control and guarantees the return to citizens. In contrast, the truth is that with this decision the government places under control not the funds, but the citizens and their savings. The decision is not an unlawful confiscation of the profit that the funds have collected from citizens' savings, but a prohibition on citizens withdrawing their deposits from the bank. The government and its representatives are initially presenting the confiscation of part of the profit, when in fact they are blocking citizens' deposits. Read on page 2

On Sunday 19.01.1997 in Skanderbeg Square: Peaceful protest rally over the violation of citizens' economic rights For more details, read on page 2

Demonstrators: "Guilty President Berisha and Prime Minister Meksi" Demonstrators: "Guilty President Berisha and Prime Minister Meksi" Page 3

The new currents of the country and new forces are not lacking in logic, and they serve not politics but the protection of people's investment. And what has been set apart under the mask of "usury" is the intervention of this state's police to protect the predatory. In all civilized countries, the state acts to protect citizens, not to protect their deceivers. The situation created with the foundations in the country is so serious that the Albanian government has also put police and military forces into motion, in order to strike that part of society which protests against its theft. A phenomenon, scandalous and unforgivable, which constitutes a serious institutional violation, is also the use of firearms against people and citizens in defense of the fraudsters. Responsibility for this act falls above all on the structures of the PSSH [?] and the government, first and foremost on Prime Minister Meksi and Interior Minister Çelo. For this criminal act these persons must appear before the organs of justice. The angry citizens, not only because of the loss of their money but also because of the arrogant and cynical attitude of the government, cannot be pressured through weapons, terror and police violence. No one can stop with weapons and police the anger and indignation of a people who feel robbed. The return of the citizens' money will be achieved only through the punishment of the fraudulent funds and not through the administration of the police that protects the fraudsters. Yesterday's government decision is nothing other than a new step in this policy. It is clear proof of the government's intention to continue blocking the money and protecting the fraudsters. (Read on page 2)

The General Secretary of the Socialist Party of the PSSH, Rexhep Mejdani, together with the Secretary for Foreign Relations of the Socialist Party, Sabit Brokaj, held talks yesterday with the Undersecretary and Italian Deputy Foreign Minister, Pietro Fasino. The Italian ambassador to Tirana, Paolo Foresti, also took part in the meeting. Page 4

PSSH in defense of the people who have been robbed and abused, to guarantee the return of their money