Brussels to Albania: USD 114 million, or USD 312,000 every day

Albania gets everything in Brussels / Presents 7 projects, all seven approved • The Brussels Conference commits 2.4 billion for Southeastern Europe • Albania receives maximum support • All seven of the seven projects submitted will begin implementation within 12 months • A value of 114 million dollars for one year • Now the battle to secure the funds begins Exclusively for “Zëri” from Brussels, Minister Ermelinda Meksi explains everything Pages 2-3

Government: 500 million lekë every month for pensions

If 50,000 pensions are improved TIRANA—April 1 is not

Berisha forgets his accusation: They will get nothing in Brussels

After the results in Brussels, Berisha's balloon bursts • Yesterday, a new version of the slander was made public: The Socialists got the money, but they will steal it

Berisha gave the pyramid-scheme money to the Italian Mafia

Pyramid schemes / Organized-crime investigation into the Berisha-Mafia-VEFA triangle • The former President's family preferred the help of an Italian mafioso from Lecce rather than that of the government

U.S. envoy: Albania should not be prejudged

U.S. Ambassador U.S. envoy: Albania should not be prejudged TIRANA — During a visit that began yesterday in the Shkodër region, the American ambassador in Tirana, Limprecht, delivered very clear messages both to Albanian politicians and to the entire population PAGE 3

There is no more body

Justice There is no more body

Millions of lekë every month for pensions

TIRANA—April 1 is not the only date in 2000 that will mark an increase in pensions. According to a decision by the Albanian government, pension levels will be increased again in July. PAGE 6

PD in Lushnje raises taxes on certificates

Berisha’s ticket scam PD in Lushnje raises taxes on certificates TIRANA—For all the people of Lushnje, the city municipality is never a solution to their problems; on the contrary, it piles them up to the point of abusing its power. PAGE 11

The government, ready to repair roads everywhere quickly

Damaged roads The government, ready to repair roads everywhere quickly TIRANA—Funding for roads is outside the funds planned for 2000. PAGE 9

Will get nothing in Brussels

• Yesterday, the new version of the accusation was made public: The Socialists took the money, but they will steal it After the Port of Durrës was designated as the gateway to Corridor 8, Berisha also forgot the accusation that the Socialists were erasing Durrës from the map. PAGE 4

Berisha left facing the Italian mafia’s usurers

The former President’s family preferred the help of an Italian mafioso from Lecce over that of the Italian government, even though its members had diplomatic passports. • mafioso from Lecce over that of the Italian government, even though its members had diplomatic passports • Vefa sponsored the May 26 elections • The notorious Agim Shehu and his shadowy associates travelled toward Vlora in Alimuça’s helicopter TIRANA—The events of March did not pass peacefully for the Berisha family. While the former head of state gathered his loyalists from Tropoja around him inside the Presidency building, he did not allow his wife and children, as well as some of his escorts, to experience the same thing. PAGE 5

AULONA, a cover-up with metal pieces attached over the old name

• The major deception involving Alimuça’s ship is uncovered • Judicial police officers identify the scratched-off area and the cover-up carried out over it • It is officially declared that this is the ship seized by the state, which had been operating under a false name TIRANA—The major deception involving the Aulona ship has been uncovered. Metal pieces had been placed over the area where the name had been scratched off, and the fake name Eurofast appeared in its place. Judicial police officers investigating the VEFA case yesterday presented the General Prosecutor’s Office with the final results of their intensive investigation. PAGE 5

No more judicial panels with assistant judges

Justice No more judicial panels with assistant judges TIRANA—Judicial panels will no longer include assistant judges. This was decided under the draft law “On certain amendments to the Codes of Civil and Criminal Procedure,” which was approved on Thursday. PAGE 9

Lezhë PD sides with criminals against the police

PD and the police Lezhë PD sides with criminals against the police LEZHË—The Lezhë PD is provoking the police. A letter addressed to the Lezhë Police Commissariat requested permission to hold a protest rally in the city center against the police, which had “beaten and mistreated” a member of the PD. PAGE 10

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF'S PAGE

New working rhythms, officials: whoever gets no results must leave So few Albanians in the City of London. Albania should have an office in Europe's financial heart PAGE 16