tobacco measures now, only on the basis of free initiative Government: Tobacco law supports 40,000 village families The tobacco industry in Albania will be supported solely on the basis of free initiative. Albania produces 22,000–25,000 tons of tobacco a year; it now produces and processes only 6,000–7,000 tons of tobacco a year. PAGE 9

the Prime Minister meets businesswomen Meta: Your business is very important to us “For the Albanian state, the development of business is very important. The government is fully committed to creating an environment as favorable as possible for business development.” PAGE 6

contract with “CEAMENT,” which will manage it, for implementation of the Master Plan No one is obstructing the Port of Durrës The Ministry of Public Economy and Privatization signed the contract after obtaining the opinions of the Ministry of Transport, the Supervisory Board of the Port of Durrës, and the joint monitoring group PAGE 8

According to a survey conducted among emigrants by one of Greece’s largest newspapers before the parliamentary elections, when asked whom they would vote for and to whom they would give their vote, the result was that 90 percent would vote for PASOK and only 10 percent for Neo- PAGE 14

DECENTRALIZATION OF POWER Government: We are doing everything for local autonomy FINO: It is a duty of our Constitution PAGE 11

584 days after the murder of Azem Hajdari, a “bombshell” testimony by the father of the Haklajs about the murder of the Democratic Party MP PAGE 2

The father of the Haklajs testifies about his meeting with MP Azem Hajdari 10 days before he was killed: I met Hajdari on 2 September ’98... • I spoke for more than an hour in his office at the DP. Also present was the former head of SHIK in Tropojë, Fredi Dusha PAGE 2

After the local elections in Italy, Arta Dade, International Secretary of the PS, and Kosta Barjaba, Director of the Migration Directorate, speak PAGE 4

After the local elections in Italy, Arta Dade, International Secretary of the PS, and Kosta Barjaba, Director of the Migration Directorate, speak PAGE 4

The Revised Anti-Corruption Plan will be monitored by a working group modeled by international experts at the February 2000 meeting in Sarajevo, within the framework of the Stability Pact PAGE 7

“The series of mysterious murders” or the killings of the young men from “Kavaja Street” PAGE 12

Three ministers at Qyteti Studenti: they hear the administration’s requests PAGE 11

QUESTION OF THE DAY By Erion BRAÇE At midday on Monday, the ridiculous leader of the Albanian opposition, Sali Berisha, tried to make us share his joy over the victory of the right-wing coalition in Italy. As rarely before, Berisha found someone close by, in the West, whom he could identify as a friend and use to personalize official relations between countries and their governments. Meanwhile, after strangely lumping Aznar together with Hajderi, and Hajderi together with Berlusconi, Berisha declared that the next victories would now belong to his party. That is what Berisha said. In foreign policy, serious, good, friendly relations between neighbors must ultimately serve the interests of citizens. Changes in government, particularly in neighboring countries, attract attention especially in light of the interests of citizens who emigrate to those countries. So, more than ridiculous jubilation, what is expected of Berisha is something specific that addresses the question: What will be the fate of Albanians in Italy and of those in Albania today who hope to emigrate? There are several reasons prompting us to ask this. First. During the campaign, the right-wing coalition that won the local elections and now seeks to govern nationally promoted, as enshrined in the documents of the “new alliance,” the “House of Freedom,” a policy toward emigrants that was harsh to the point of brutality. This was especially true of Albanians, against whom the army would go out to sea and fire without distinguishing between women, children, and criminals. The “new policy” toward emigrants includes new, insurmountable standards for legalization, while eliminating the possibility of legal emigration. Second. In 1994, when Berisha was in power in Albania and this coalition—with Berlusconi, Fini, and Bossi—was in Italy, the Italian government deployed the army in Puglia along a 130-kilometer stretch to “welcome” the Albanians. Third. During the campaign in Italy, Berisha openly expressed support for the policy of the coalition led by Berlusconi, to such an extent that it was clear he had given the OK and had been used as an Albanian to support Italy’s harsh policy toward emigrants. This was one of the most painful issues, particularly in Northern Italy (Nord). Therefore, for these reasons, Berisha must tell us what the fate of Albanians will be. Just as we are able to say that the government of Italy’s center-left coalition drafted a law favorable to emigrants, signed an agreement with the Albanian government on legal emigration based on quotas favorable to Albanians, eased the procedures for this emigration, liberalized visas, and opened a new Italian consulate in Vlorë. Likewise, we are able to say that the government of Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis signed an agreement with the Albanian government to legalize more than 300,000 Albanian emigrants in Greece, eased the procedures for their legalization, and extended several times the deadline for Albanians in Greece to obtain emigrant cards.

• Angjeli and Cani present the Savings Bank in Washington ............ 6 • World Bank: USD 27.5 million for laws, the judiciary, administration, water emergency...... 3 • IMF gives Albania’s fiscal policies an “OK”.... 6 • Domestic and foreign funding: 6 billion lekë for Tirana ....... 6