The PD chairman again has serious health problems Pictured: Opposition leader Sali Berisha Berisha seriously ill; they carry him off “hopa” and move him • Doctors open his medical file: He has oligophrenia “Sudden changes in emotions, going to extremes, aggression toward the people he works with and especially toward his family members, signs of a serious illness. Excessive use of medication has caused serious side effects, lack of fluids” PAGE 16

• PD campaign funded with welfare-assistance money Scheme uncovered: 3 billion stolen this year alone • Mayors and commune heads implicated HERE IS THE ACCOUNT OF THE THEFT Number of families receiving economic assistance - 151 thousand. Actual number of families in need - only 50 thousand. State assistance for 2000 - 6 billion lekë for 151 thousand families. Of the 151 thousand families, 81,500 are in rural areas; they have therefore declared themselves to be people with no ownership of land or of any other property. 81,500 families make up 25% of rural families As a result of land reform: Only 2% of rural families have not received land Theft of nearly 3 billion lekë a year. Amount spent from 1993 to 1999: 23 billion lekë This year, the lists include 50 thousand extra families Close cooperation between municipal officials who buy votes in exchange for welfare-assistance money and the race to reach 100 thousand families has made possible fraud worth billions of lekë in the economic-assistance schemes. PAGE 4

Pensions: whenever they are granted, the increases will be paid retroactively from 1 July FINANCE / PENSIONS Inflation in the years ’92-’97, ’98-2000 and pension increases during those years The gap between us and Berisha BERISHA: In 1992 inflation was 236.6%; in September of that year pensions were increased by only 25%; in 1993 inflation was 31.9%, while pensions were increased by 25% that year; in 1994 inflation was 16.8%, while pensions were increased by 15%; in 1995 inflation was 6%, while pensions were increased by 10%; in 1996 inflation was 17.4%, while pensions were increased by 20%; in 1997 inflation was 42.1%, while no increase in wages or pensions was applied. SOCIALISTS: In February 1998, when officially declared inflation was 8.7%, a pension increase of 20-21% was applied; in 1999, when inflation was 1%, a pension increase of 10% was applied; whereas this year, when inflation—declared a few days ago by IMF offices overseeing economic reforms in Albania—is zero percent and is expected to be 2% by year’s end, the Government applied a pension increase of 15%. Bode repeats Berisha; Angjeli assures: Real pension increases, compensation payments untouched PAGE 3

CRIME LAZARAT, NEXT BANDIT IN HANDCUFFS The list of thieves in the South is getting shorter; three arrested within 10 days

WANTED LAÇ BANDITS: 5 ARRESTED Charge: Holding the head of the Kurbin police station hostage

The little swindler and the occupation of Albania PAGE 9

Politics with dead babies PAGES 7-8