Council of Europe delegation in Albania PAGE 4

Meeting of the General Steering Committee of the Socialist Party “Be sure that if, one day, someone takes power from us, that someone will never be either Sali Berisha or the Democratic Party, but only the Albanian voter.” “Citizen Fatos Nano should have been one of the most radical members of our party, had he looked back, even for a moment, at his personal past and that of his family over the last four years. On the contrary. Since I do not allow myself revenge or intolerance for even a moment, with the courage given to me by the government and party positions you have entrusted to me, I cannot allow anyone else to do so. The Socialist Party will not become a party of revenge as long as Fatos Nano is its chairman.”

Government approves the 1998 Budget This budget was drawn up following intensive consultations with IMF missions and taking into account all aid and assistance programs and projects secured at the donor conferences in Rome and Brussels PAGE 7

SHKODËR: Democratic Party figures are heightening tensions. Government coalition parties react PAGE 5

TIRANË: Masked bandits wearing police uniforms

The General Steering Committee of the Socialist Party of Albania, adhering to the philosophy of cooperation and understanding with all political forces, publicly condemns the destructive and obstructionist activity of Berisha’s clique in the Democratic Party, which is keeping it outside the walls of Parliament and embroiled in a destabilizing policy far removed from the spirit of dialogue.