FOR THEFT AND ABUSE PAGE 10

ROAD ACTION AGAIN PAGE 8

The government approved yesterday the three-year budget for 2000–2003, determined to fill citizens’ wallets • The Meta Government is determined to lead the country, continue reforms and give Albanians higher wages and pensions, more jobs, and tax cuts Wages to rise every year Wages will rise by 10% every year. Pensions will rise by the same amount, while the reform to eliminate artificial disparities in pensions will continue Customs duties to be lowered In 2001, customs duties will be lowered from 18% to 15%. The government will continue to assess ways to ease the tax burden on manufacturing businesses and, in particular, on investments Revenue to increase Budget revenue in 2003 will be 55 billion lekë higher than in 2000. This increase in revenue will be achieved without raising duties and taxes; on the contrary, they will be lowered, while finances are managed better Investment to increase Investment in 2003 will be four times higher than in 1996. This will be public investment funded from the government’s domestic sources. In addition, the government expects to attract more foreign investment Plenty of money for jobs Substantial funding will be allocated to employment-promotion programs to increase employment in 2000–2003. Meanwhile, investment policy will create opportunities for additional jobs Exclusive interview with Finance Minister Anastas Angjeli - PAGES 2–3

ISSUE OF THE DAY Some recent events, in which the state has been openly challenged by the opposition, show that the latter, anticipating its defeat on the eve of the local elections, is preparing the ground for refusing to recognize their result. In Vlorë, the opposition rushed to “kill” a living person and, without any sense of decency, demanded that the “mistaken” killing be politicized. In Vlorë, an incident was sought with a candle, but the deceased’s family members were the ones who did not fall into the PD’s trap. In Laç, the opposition again attacked the state, even though a police commissioner had been taken hostage there! Some bandits accused the state of being a “fascist state” and of causing the situation, simply because the state stopped the bandits! Also in Laç, the opposition called the PS chairman’s visit to have a coffee a “provocation”! In Berat, the PS and the police are again being accused, simply because the latter intervened to return the property to its owner! Now the PD calls every police anti-crime operation “fascist,” while yesterday it accused Transport Minister Nako of being a thief, even though he had only just completed a week in the post! Such paradoxes not only sabotage the work of the state at every turn, but openly show that the opposition does not recognize the state as it exists today or the rules of democracy. It is so primitive that it cannot accept no longer being in power, despite having been removed by the result of democratic elections. Under these circumstances, the governing camp has no reason to remain silent. It has all the facts at its disposal, showing that the opposition is prejudging the local elections and wants to turn this moment into destabilization like that of 14 September. This game must be denounced before domestic and international public opinion, because it is an anti-state game and, as such, is directed against all Albanians, who cannot be destined to live in misery simply because they have an abnormal opposition.

COMMENT OF THE DAY Yesterday the opposition once again attacked the governing camp furiously. Its latest “sin” was, apparently, going to Lezhë to wish a Socialist MP a happy birthday! According to the PD, PS leaders should live like ascetics: they must forget human joys, or else they are “pigs and sows”! This is an old accusation, used in Albania for 50 years and now being sold to Albanians as something new! It is not hard to see who suffers from a pig’s mentality here, but what is striking is the PD’s primitive mindset. This is understandable if one recalls Berisha’s paranoid character, that “vice-free” patient who set Albania ablaze while sober! Look carefully at Berisha and you will see that he is a leader of the Bolshevik school. All he lacks is a republican cap! For someone like him, a photograph of Tony Blair holding his newborn son is scandalous, not to mention a few other things! Unprepared for modern times, Berisha cannot understand how Socialist leaders can share in the joy of a friend! To him, this is the height of immorality and a glaring lack of seriousness. Meanwhile, he calls Nano’s stop in Laç for a coffee “a violation of his liberated territory”! This is an illogical line of reasoning that takes away your things and then throws a fit! Buttoned up in a suit, surrounded by bodyguards and “the people” applauding him, Berisha seems to think he holds the keys to Otranto, and forgets that he has fallen from the throne once and for all. He keeps spending money on suits and allowances for “supporters,” thinking he will find Albanians ready to be fooled once again. God, save our minds and our heads! But, to Berisha’s misfortune, Albanians neither forget nor take his lies for the truth. Because now we know the “democrat” from before democracy very well!

A test for the local elections: Here is how programs, work and results are judged at the ballot box • The PS has won a definitive 63% in the elections for village elders. Comparing promises with reality produces a favorable figure in these elections SPECIAL, PAGES 4–5

VATICAN — The Pope in defense of emigrants VATICAN The Pope in defense of emigrants Get the forms to work legally in Italy READ THE ANNOUNCEMENT ON PAGE 16 Pope John Paul II at the special jubilee for emigrants. The Pope said that discrimination is unacceptable and incompatible with the teachings of the Catholic Church, and called for respect for human rights

• Discussions on filling the vacant seats on the KOZ and the election date PAGE 6

• Pollo and others: We also invited Berisha’s faction, but it did not come PAGE 6

I CARE FOR YOU FOR YOU • Bringing up children and young people to prevent drug use .... 13 • Trafficking in girls and children, an international scourge .... 14 • The great forgotten figures of Albanian literature ................. 15