On October 30, foreign ministers in Tirana

MEETING OF EU FOREIGN MINISTERS SHUSEL: WE WELCOME THE ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT NATIONAL LIBRARY TIRANA PAGE 3

Diplomats from Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Holland and Austria are also leaving Belgrade

DECISION ON AN ATTACK AGAINST SERBIA NEAR PAGE 9

GDP grows by 10%. Inflation below 10%

economy INDEX economy INDEX GDP grows by 10%. Inflation below 10% Alongside real growth in Gross Domestic Product of 10%, annual inflation is expected to fall to below 10% in December.

The deficit within normal limits: 28.9 billion lekë

At the end of the 8-month period, re-

THE ECONOMY, THE NEW GOVERNMENT’S STRONG POINT

PROGRAM/

Memia and Demi risk losing their immunity

LAST MARCH’S CASE IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION

The investigation: New shocking facts about Gjalliça

DOCUMENTS BEARING BLERIM ÇELE’S SIGNATURE DISAPPEAR PAGE 2

THE GOVERNMENT: JOBS AND MONEY FOR ALBANIANS

For ’98, pensions increase by 10–15%, 15 thousand jobs are created, 400 enterprises are privatized, and 820 km of roads are built 2000.4 LIMIT IN STOCK (96000)

The deficit within normal limits

end of the first eight months, the budget deficit stood at 25.6 billion lekë. At the end of ’98, the deficit will be equal to the annual target of 28.9 billion lekë.

Customs revenues at 88 percent of the target

Customs revenues over the first eight months are around twice as high as those recorded in the same period of 1996. By the end of the year, revenues are expected to reach 88 percent of the target.

Tax revenues at 103 percent

Compared with the eight-month forecast, this result is 103.2%. Revenues collected through the tax system are expected to exceed the initial forecast for the year.

Spending increases for investment

Budget expenditure for the first eight months accounts for 52.7% of the annual plan. However, given that major investments will be carried out in the final quarter of the year, it is expected that the annual level will reach 96 percent of the budget plan.

1998–1999, employment

35–50 thousand people engaged in public works. 25 thousand temporarily employed. 15 thousand permanently employed

FINANCE MINISTER ANGJELI AT THE IMF AND WORLD BANK

He will carry the reforms through to the end PAGE 6

MASSIVE DROPOUTS FROM SCHOOL

441 thousand left with only a secondary education in two years PAGE 11

THE NEW LAND MARKET

20 thousand lek per square meter

THE IRRIGATION REHABILITATION PROJECT

USD 40 million to irrigate 70 thousand hectares PAGE 13

PHONE-TAPPING SCANDAL AT THE MINISTRY OF PUBLIC ORDER CONFIRMED BY DISTRICTS

Korçë: “Yes,” the phones were tapped PAGE 14