Albanian bandits to be met with guns at customs posts and ports

Those wanted during the festivities; Interpol police have been tracking them; ambushes at customs posts, ports and airports TIRANA—Photographs of people highly wanted by the police, who are expected to return to the country to continue their criminal activity, are being distributed at all border crossing points. The blue uniforms, having weathered the turn of the millennium, are ready with a new strategy against the “octopuses” of clandestine migration, trafficking in white slavery, and drugs. Police arrest the most-wanted fugitives Police Director Colonel Myftari: Operations in Elbasan, Kukës, Gjirokastër, Shkodër, Tirana PAGE 2 Massive police roadblocks at all customs points; the net is closing around criminals

Behind bars: the man who blew up power poles

PAGE 2 Abaz Rabi, 19, was arrested by police on the last day of the year

The objective: An extraordinary party congress

The PD factionists get to work The objective: An extraordinary party congress Frequent meetings with the grassroots PAGE 7

Berisha will not receive EDU officials

PD deepens its isolation Berisha is not preparing for this visit by Westerners PAGE 7

Infrastructure, energy, local elections: priorities

The government sets its objectives . Meksi, Hajdaraga, Ruka, Shuli, Milo, Preçi, Fino — here are the priorities PAGE 4

IMF: endless tax increases, now on cigarettes

The IMF recommends the policies They benefit revenues and health PAGE 8

Traders, get the new invoice books, or face a fine and suspension of business

A new tax invoice from today PAGE 4

Customs tariffs, held hostage by bureaucracy

The merchants have had their fill; prices are falling

Minister Preçi on New World Telecom

TIRANA—Prime Minister Meta began the first day of the New Year by visiting the children at the pediatric hospital in Tirana. He met with young patients and doctors, and learned about the difficult conditions at the hospital. The Prime Minister learned that even a range of medicines essential for children was reaching the hospital as aid from humanitarian organizations, rather than as a regular supply from the state. (Photo: A.Babani)

weather

in Albania sun and clouds Temperature: 2–12° Celsius …country and state[?]

The cheapskates of seriousness

Police Director, Colonel Myftari [?] The cheapskates of seriousness ERION BRAÇE If you speak of a strong state, at its foundation is the enforcement of the law. From this, it becomes clear—indeed, convincing—whether a state is truly serious or stingy with seriousness. Seriousness is necessary in relations with every citizen. But in relations with business, seriousness is obligatory. For business, interest means profit, and the state’s revenues depend on that interest. Therefore, it is truly a scandal that, while the Government approved the new customs tariffs and Parliament voted for them to take effect on 1 January 2000, today nobody at customs knows what to do. The Constitution says in one instance that laws passed by Parliament take effect after the President’s signature. But the administration of Mr Meta’s Government is unclear about whether such a signature has been affixed. Meanwhile, the administration of the President of the Republic—the office where responsibility now rests—has made no public announcement that the President has signed the law on the new customs tariffs. This is the most official and ordinary legal obligation. Beyond this bureaucratic smokescreen, it remains to be made known who will be held responsible for failing to apply the new customs tariffs today—a policy commitment of the Government, voted on by Parliament. There you have it: even at the beginning of the year, there is stinginess with seriousness.

The objective: the Congress

PD faction members step up their work …extraordinary

ZËRI NEWS

3 Drivers, here are the roads where chains are required

INDEX Invoice

THE TAXPAYER MUST HAVE: * The certificate of registration with the tax authorities. * The VAT TIN certificate. VAT INVOICE PARTICULARS * The name of the district, the name of the supplied taxpayer, their identification number, Fiscal Code, address, quantities, supplied series, price and value. PAGE 4