The deficit during the 6 years of corrupt rule by the gangsters of the Democratic Party While Albanians throughout the country occupied the squares, demanding their stolen money and the removal of the thieves from power, 400 million lekë were taken from the state budget for General Gazidede and another 3 billion for the Ministry of the Interior

The financial crisis, which for 5 years had been muffled under the “paternal” care of the government and official propaganda, took a turn. In the draft budget presented to Parliament, Albanians see that they must pay more than 55 billion above the capacity and limits of the national economy—a truly shocking bill after the traumas already endured. The DP, which must answer for this financial catastrophe, shouted loudly as if the Socialist finance minister were robbing Albanians! This deficit supposedly wasn’t theirs, like a “bastard” left at the church door. Hold on, gentlemen! It is like a child: it cannot resemble the midwife... who attends the birth, but its parents; and the present crisis, too, is the offspring of the DP government. The Government of National Reconciliation found a budget ready since November ’96, but it was never examined in Parliament. The DP continued to bury its head in the sand like an ostrich to conceal the all-encompassing crisis. Indeed, its unwillingness to address the social effects of the crisis postponed the new agreement with the IMF. Given this government’s limited mandate, the proposed draft budget is based on the same structure of salaries and operating expenses, and the same quantities and fiscal policies drawn up by the DP. From this perspective, this draft budget could only be the “laying bare” of the complex crisis the country went through—a crisis that is, first and foremost, a crisis of DP governance. Albanians are “owed” this by the DP and its government, however much they maneuver and seek new culprits. The plundering of Albanians and their real impoverishment took place before the Government of National Reconciliation came into being. The Albanian macroeconomy… (Continued on page 6)

The PS–DP meeting proves it once again Fatos Nano, Chairman of the Socialist Party of Albania: “After the DP’s positions, we see efforts to postpone the holding of the elections” Fatos Nano, Chairman of the Socialist Party of Albania: “After the DP’s positions, we see efforts to postpone the holding of the elections”

Press conference by the delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

the only person opposed to compromise This was stated by the head of the Council of Europe delegation, Peter Shider Page 3

MAY 5, 1997 PSSH Chairman Fatos Nano pays tribute at the Cemetery of the Martyrs of the Nation PSSH Secretaries Rexhep Mejdani and Namik Dokle visit the families of martyrs in Vlorë TIRANA — On the occasion of May 5, Martyrs’ Day, Socialist Party leaders yesterday visited the homes of martyrs and laid bouquets of flowers at martyrs’ cemeteries in various districts of the country. PS Chairman Fatos Nano, Secretary for Public Relations Pandeli Majko, and Presidium member Elez Ruka yesterday paid tribute and laid a bouquet of flowers at the “Mother Albania” monument in the Cemetery of the Martyrs of the Nation. Page 3

BERISHA ON THE INTERNET Page 3

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