Nano: Our great goal: reducing poverty and unemployment Pages 2-3 The IMF encourages further steps by the Albanian government: Pyramid schemes should be wiped off the face of the earth For effective and institutional governance, the SHIK is being set up, in this way entirely within the law and as an intelligence service that will be managed in an executive-repressive direction. The record of this service and of an intelligence service was and of an intelligence service is and of an intelligence service [?] In his speech, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Mr. Fatos Nano, also underlined the need to approve the country's new Constitution, stating that in order to have stable governance in Albania and to move forward on the path of consolidating institutions, it is essential to have a new Constitution. Prime Minister Nano, who spoke on behalf of the Council of Ministers and the government that emerged from the elections of 29 June, stressed that the report presented to the Assembly is the result of the work of specialists from the state administration in the ministries and in the apparatus of the Council of Ministers, as well as the expertise of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the Phare program of the European Community and other specialized international organizations. According to Nano, the government program, prepared after the experience of the 8 months of government so far and based on the new political and economic reality created after the elections of 29 June and after the serious institutional and economic crisis the country went through, is oriented toward a medium-term strategy for reforming the economy and implementing the 1-year macroeconomic stabilization program. According to Nano, over the last few weeks most economic and financial indicators show a real decline in unemployment and inflation, and an increase in production. Prime Minister Nano said that the government program aims to reduce poverty in general and especially for those strata most affected by the spring turmoil of this year, stressing that the program will be implemented while preserving increasing stability and by being oriented toward the private sector, creating conditions for higher investment, more jobs and higher incomes. The program will aim at macroeconomic consolidation with rapid economic growth, strengthening public finances and improving infrastructure in all areas of the country. Prime Minister Nano welcomed the IMF mission's approval of the steps taken by the Albanian government to stabilize the country and resume economic reforms. (continued on pages 2-3 )