Restructuring of part of the city is nearing completion 21 kilometers of power lines have been laid and 65 high-voltage cabins have been installed FATOS BAXHAKU TIRANA — The first phase of restructuring the capital’s electricity network, financed by a free grant of 6.5 billion lire from the Italian government, is nearing completion. So far, Albanian specialists from KESH (Albanian Electroenergetic Corporation) and ENEL (its Italian counterpart) have completed the upgrading of two of the capital’s electrical substations, laid 21 km of new power lines, and completed 65 new transformer cabins. Perhaps the “anxiety over the lights” that beset the network, as in the two winters that followed, will come to an end. “This is only the first phase. More work will still be needed to solve the problem completely,” KESH specialists say. But at least some of Tirana’s neighborhoods will have a reliable electricity supply this coming winter. The eastern part of Tirana, where the initial work has been concentrated, looks set to have a more secure future; normalizing the network in this area will also ease the burden on other parts of the city, so this result will apparently be a victory for all the citizens of Tirana. KESH’s initial negotiations with ENEL began during the previous winter and, following preliminary contacts and studies, the Italian government approved a free emergency grant of 6.5 billion lire, which will be used to pay the Italian corporation to renovate the distribution network. Work began in January. KESH provided the workforce, including skilled workers, while ENEL supplied the work equipment (3 excavators, 2 crane-equipped transport vehicles, 2 transport trucks, 2 vans), all the necessary materials and related equipment, including the 65 electrical cabins. A permanent team of eight Italian specialists supervised the work closely. Two other cities, among the largest in the country—Durrës and Shkodra—have also received similar assistance, though on a smaller scale. An agreement has also been reached for Italy to finance two further phases to complete the restructuring of Tirana’s entire electricity distribution network, worth 8.6 and 11 billion lire respectively. These sums will be provided as loans at a very low interest rate: just 1.5 percent.

EDMOND LAÇI DURRËS — The three Italian smugglers, caught a week ago in Albanian waters together with their speedboat, are still being held at the Port of Durrës. But the Financial Police of the Durrës district has sought the seizure of the contraband cargo of 166 cases of “Kim” and “BH” cigarettes and is also considering seizing the speedboat. According to an employee of the Durrës Harbourmaster’s Office, the smugglers were also questioned by employees of the National Intelligence Service, although they have been released and are at liberty. The Italian speedboat “SP 2540 D”, carrying 83,000 packs of cigarettes and captained by Egësimo Montenegro, 35, from Brindisi, Antonio Maggi, 39, from Torino, and Luigi Gorgoni, 32, from Brindisi, was caught in Albanian waters a week ago. According to police specialists, this speedboat is a typical smuggling vessel, a fast one that consumes 240 liters of benzol per hour. “We have not yet decided whether to seize the speedboat,” Besim Tusha of the Durrës Financial Police told the Gazette. It has also not been disclosed whether the cargo was destined for Albania.

Durrës / Brindisi boat loaded with cigarettes seized

Minister Hoxha: “We are looking for the Albanian culprits” The Ministry of Foreign Trade has set up a special investigative commission Minister Artan Hoxha has agreed to inform the European Committee about the results of the investigation TIRANA - (Fa.Ba.) — “Yes, it is true. A few days ago I received a faxed request from a member of the European Parliament, asking me to cooperate in clarifying the ‘tobacco scandal’. I replied that I would be willing to cooperate on anything related to uncovering corruption of any kind. Specialists from our Ministry are now working on this scandal. As soon as I have the information on this matter in hand, I will send it to the European Community.” Artan Hoxha, Minister of Trade and Foreign Cooperation, answered the Gazette’s questions in this way following the publication of a major scandal that directly affects Albania. The case concerns the tobacco scandal, a typical case of corruption, in which some EC officials in Brussels are also being investigated. About 77,000 quintals of very poor-quality tobacco were sold to Albania by various Italian and Greek companies between 1988 and 1991, in most cases only to be buried. These companies received substantial contributions from the EC. According to information published abroad, the amount of the fraud so far totals as much as 10 million dollars, and investigations are continuing. The foreign press has written that you contributed greatly to uncovering this scandal. What did your assistance consist of? “I have only expressed my readiness to help without reservation in uncovering this case. I have issued the relevant orders and believe that I will soon have in hand the information concerning the Albanian side.” Are you confident that the Albanian documents relating to this case will actually be found? “I believe so. These transactions were carried out on the basis of contracts that Albanian enterprises signed with foreign partners, and these contracts must exist. Our specialists are now working to collect them and everything else related to this scandal. Finding them will certainly advance the investigations that have begun.” Who, in your opinion, might be the people implicated in this matter? “As for the foreign people implicated, it is for the EC experts to comment. Perhaps there were also people here in Albania who profited from this trade, but the necessary checks must be carried out; anything said before verification would be premature.”

— Party, Idajet Beqiri, was summoned before the Tirana Court, where the charge against him of slander and insult directed at the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, was to be tried. Judge Arben Zeneli postponed the hearing to a later date because—as Beqiri said—the prosecutor was not prepared. As he had announced, Idajet Beqiri appeared in court without a defense lawyer. THE ALBANIAN ATHLETICS TEAM AT THE BALKAN JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS — Yesterday, a team from the Albanian National Athletics Team set off for Thessaloniki, Greece, where the Balkan Junior Championships will be held today and tomorrow. The travel expenses for our team—around 60 athletes and officials—were covered by Albanian sponsors Petrit Kale and Ahmet Kryeziu. Good results are expected from the athletes, especially from Ermelinda Shehu—currently in excellent condition—who was named Balkan runner-up in the junior women’s long jump last year. FRAUD IN KUKES INVOLVING RED CROSS AID — The municipality of Kukës has verified more than 60 cases in which various families improperly received aid from the Red Cross. The lists of these people also include businesspeople, traders and bus owners, who managed to benefit after obtaining false documents about their financial income. As a result, according to district officials, aid has often been seen on the open market. The Red Cross has provided substantial assistance to this district, and the number of people who have received aid so far has reached 2,000. THE FORMER BURREL PRISON WILL BECOME A MUSEUM — Burrel Prison, where hundreds of opponents of the communist regime were held, tortured and killed, will be transformed into a museum. The news, which has been circulating for some time, is now official. Visitors will be able to enter and report the horrors that took place there, helping to prompt former prisoners to give new testimonies. The walls of the prison, through which all the political prisoners passed, will be preserved in the museum.

The chess player defeats the former champion DURRES — (Ed.La.) He returned yesterday to his hometown of Durrës, but now as European Champion: 14-year-old Erald Dervishi. He triumphed over 40 competitors his age—gathered in Hungary from all over Europe—and even defeated the former chess champion, the Hungarian Peter. At such a young age, he has raised our national flag at a time when Albanian sport is going through difficult circumstances. Today, through the newspaper, his fellow citizens have the opportunity to learn that young Dervishi is also a European Champion. At the age of 6, he beat a computer at chess, and he trains under Fatos Muço, the first International Master in Albania. A “little” person who is so great, even a youth champion in Albania. Today, the talented Erald Dervishi, besides winning the title, also offers hope for Albanian sport.

The company was founded by former political prisoners TIRANE — The trading company “Rilindja,” established at the beginning of this year at the initiative of a group of former political prisoners, has signed a contract with the Italian company “Felix,” headquartered in Milan. Under the contract, the two companies will open a new supermarket, expected to be one of the largest in the country. The number of supermarkets is growing, but more important is the positive signal represented by the success of a group of people formerly persecuted by the dictatorship in today’s Albanian society. Plans have been made to develop small-scale trade throughout the country, while also employing members of the families of those persecuted and imprisoned. The trading company “Rilindja” began its operations at the beginning of this year. Its capital base came from the modest savings of many members and some other income sent by Albanian refugees working abroad. Its purpose was not simply to make a profit. “Our primary goal is to restore to our persecuted friends the former state of mind they lost during the long years in prison,” says Mehmet Hamza, president of the group. “Rilindja’s” first commercial activities were selling oranges and lemons, and then everything began to grow. “More than the profit—which would be welcome—if one day we could find our own [place]. That would be something very important,” some of the company’s members said. This is a hope reborn not only for them, but also for Albania’s fragile democracy, showing that things have now changed.

Kruja / The perpetrators are being sought KRUJE — A dynamite attack was carried out against the home of Xhemal Hima, an active-duty officer in Laç who lives in Fushë-Krujë. The incident took place in the early hours of the morning, while the officer and the other members of his family were asleep. The explosion caused part of the roof terrace of Hima’s home to collapse. The building had previously been used as a museum by a military unit. All the family members escaped without physical injuries. The explosion was also heard clearly in neighboring homes, at the Bektashi tekke and at the nearby military unit, causing many people to be alarmed. The perpetrators of this act have not yet been identified. Kruja police are investigating all possible hypotheses, and the investigation is still at an early stage. One hypothesis is that the dynamite thrown at the house was a sign of someone’s resentment over Hima’s ownership of the former unit museum building.

The Italian family with whom he lived writes BRIKENA CANI TIRANE — “This evening, a Mass was held in the church in memory of Elton. Friends and local people gathered to pray for him.” These are a few lines from a letter by Angelina and Silviero Silvestrini, from Basilechele, Italy, addressed to the Rrjta family in Tirana. The words connect members of two families, whose lives are separated by the sea but whose grief they share. Elton Rryta, a 20-year-old young man who had emigrated to Italy, lost his life tragically in a car accident near Treviso. He lived with an Italian family, which is now writing to his family in Tirana. Elton was their only connection. Now, it is impossible for them to see him because he is no longer here; nevertheless, their grief has meant that the two families did not know one another only through the descriptions and traces left by Elton, but also through his tragic loss. The family recalls that in its letter it describes Elton as intelligent, generous, always in search of beauty, and tries to console his parents: “We have not had [text unclear] and the lives of our families. We must respect their choices.” They are people with their own individuality. And they are free to choose. We must respect this freedom. The young man from Tirana lost his life after a motorcycle accident near Treviso. He was buried in Atalje [text unclear]. The tries to console his parents: “We have not ...” Thus, the unfamiliar world often finds anyone unprotected. The harsh world found the dark-haired young man from Tirana unprotected too; he had sought a life in Italy: “but it is this well-being that makes us live hour by hour, day by day, with life and the journey,” Angelina continues in her letter. The little, charming, curly-haired girl—Elton’s sister—has also been left grieving. She suddenly lost her beloved brother and today finds comfort in his months in Italy. “Many times I promised Elton that I would write to you, but I don’t know why I didn’t write sooner. Today I cannot fail to do so, to tell you that we share your grief over the sudden loss of our dear Elton,” the letter concludes.

CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL UNITY PARTY IN COURT — The day before yesterday, the chairman of the National Unity Party,

Karl Luis again

The chess player defeats the former champion

The company was founded by former political prisoners Albania has been set up by former political persecutées “Rilindja” and “Felix”

Kruja / The perpetrators are being sought

Once again, Karl Lewis is the fastest in the world Another two thousand marines land in Somalia A test of an AIDS vaccine on human guinea pigs

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