Two Italian police officials were in Tirana and Shkodër EDMOND LAÇI CARLO BOLLINO TIRANA — The Albanian National Intelligence Service and the Italian Police have broken their silence about an attack on the Pope during his visit to Albania last week. Confirmation came to the “Albanian Gazette” in a statement by Bashkim Gazidede, Director General of SHIK, the National Intelligence Service. “It is true that we worked extensively on this matter,” he says, “and a few days before the Pope’s arrival in Tirana, we discovered something. Unexpectedly, we did not allow the Holy Father to use the means planned for his movements.” Giovanni Paolo II was supposed to travel to Shkodër aboard the helicopter made available by the Italian Army from the “Pellicano” base in Durrës, but at the last moment it was decided that he would travel by car. The theory of an attack, in fact, envisaged the possibility of a strike coming from the northern mountains, using mobile surface-to-air rocket launchers. This theory was denied by the Vatican spokesman, Monsignor Navarro: “That there was no real fear was also shown by the fact that the Pope returned from Shkodër in President Sali Berisha’s helicopter.” Navarro then added: “As regards matters concerning security problems, I follow the established practice of making no comment. In this specific case, I advise you to contact the Italian or Albanian authorities.” Today it was precisely the Albanian authorities who confirmed the alarm. Asked about the origin of the attack, Gazidede replied enigmatically: “I can absolutely rule out an Islamist-fundamentalist plot.” But is there then a Serbian plan? “I rule out an Islamist plan.” What about a Serbian one? “There may be two elements against the Serbs: one concrete, one political. The political one is that, at this moment, certain other forces might have had an interest in carrying out such an act.” “And the concrete one? I cannot answer that.” The Albanian Intelligence Service was not the only one investigating the alleged attack. Bashkim Gazidede himself confirms that there were “suggestions from other countries as well.” Signals from other countries about a possible attack in fact arrived a few days before the Pope’s arrival, through the arrival of a mission from the Trieste Royal Squad, which had begun investigations. With the agreement of the Italian Ministry of the Interior, the head of security and the units set off for Tirana. It was a mission that arrived in great secrecy, officially denied, but for which evidence exists here in Albania. The head of the Trieste squad, Dr. Carlo Lorito, together with Brullo Vignanelli, stayed at the “Dajti” hotel in the capital on the night of 21 April. Their names were entered at the hotel reception: Lorito in room 221 and Vignanelli in room 207. They stayed only one day. The two were to go to Shkodër, a city in the north near Montenegro, where Giovanni Paolo II spent five hours on the day of his visit (Sunday, 25 April). There is no record of Lorito and his colleague at the “Rozafa” hotel, the only one operating in the city, whose bookings had been closed for several days. The two were to be accommodated in a private home, but under false names. They remained in Shkodër until 27 April, the day they returned to Italy and the last day of the alert. They have said nothing about the results of their investigation. To assist with organizing the visit, Italy made available to its government not only the “Pellicano” operation’s structures, but also members of “Nocs,” a highly trained special police unit, who worked with great discretion before and during the Pope’s trip to Albania. Asked about the possibility of an attack, officials of the Vatican security service indicated that, shortly before departure, they had certainly had some suspicion, but nothing concrete. It is hoped that this mystery can be cleared up soon. It is important to know for certain whether the attack was actually organized or whether it was simply a false alarm. As for the assassination attempt in which Giovanni Paolo II was the victim ten years ago in Rome, Italian investigators have still not managed to shed light on it. …sea and comes… [?], …carried rocket launchers of mov-… very ground-to-air. This hypo-thesis was disproved by … Albanian was not the only one who investigated the … fact of the assassination attempt. Ba… himself, there is evidence. The head of the Trieste team, Dr. Car-lo Lorito, together with Bru… whose reservations had been blocked for several days. The … two would be accommodated in a … at an unprecedented scale hypothesis … rione, doctor … Italians have not managed to … shed light. … visitor, minus the others, Albania too. The aim is also to follow the Albanian syn-di-cates, with experience … on Wednesday, May 5. Goodbye.

Initiative for democracy EC to fund new projects Thirteen aid plans for Albania approved TIRANA — (Fa. Ba.) - European support for Albania is growing. This time, non-governmental organizations and other structures of this kind are in the spotlight. The European Community will soon implement 13 projects to support Albania’s new democracy, as part of a special programme intended for the former communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe. An especially important project is the one coordinated by the German Helsinki Committee, intended to guide and raise awareness in cooperation with many other similar organizations. It envisages establishing cooperative links between Helsinki Committees in Western Europe and Albanian activists, in order to guide and inform them. Information exchange, seminars and the production of newspapers are just some of the forms of work planned under this project. ETUI, the European Trade Union Organization, has decided to assist a number of trade unions in Eastern European countries. Its project covers several countries, including Albania. The aim is to help Albanian trade unions, which still have little experience and few resources, through exchanges of information. A special project has been planned solely for the Union of Independent Trade Unions, which includes around 70 percent of Albanian workers. The aid plan, drawn up by a consortium of French, Italian and Spanish trade unions, aims to provide expertise and assistance at national and international levels. The other projects provide for assistance from European organizations with reform of the penal system, protection of the rights of women and minorities, and dissemination of contemporary ideas on collective security.

The ban on meat exports continues TIRANA — Albania does not benefit from the lifting of the embargo on meat exports, which the European Community granted to the other countries of Eastern Europe. After a strict quarantine imposed because of a livestock disease, the European Community, at its next meeting, allowed many Eastern European countries to begin exporting meat and other livestock products. But not Albania, which apparently does not meet these conditions. Slovenia, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Estonia and Bulgaria were the only Eastern countries to meet the European Community’s rigorous conditions. This came after nearly two years during which the alarm over a viral livestock disease in Eastern countries had brought everything to a halt. Nevertheless, most countries, including Albania, were unable to gain exporter status for meat or livestock products following this meeting. Albania, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Lithuania, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina will continue to be subject to the embargo. All are in more or less similar economic circumstances and face difficulties following the transition they are undergoing.

Unloaded in Durrës TIRANA — Thirty Albanian enterprises are securing their continued operation thanks to aid in the form of raw materials and spare parts received from the European Community. Over the past two weeks, 800 tons of steel have arrived at the Port of Durrës for the “Kat” factories, the “Uzinen Mekanike Tirana,” “Umb,” the “Fabrikën e Çimentos Elbasan,” “Albetrol,” and the railway. Then came 200 tons of refractory bricks (for the Cement Factory in Elbasan) and 235 tons of soda sulfate (for the detergent enterprises in Tirana and Kuçovë). This consignment of aid is not the first to arrive under the European Community program for importing spare parts and raw materials.

After a month under house arrest, he was acquitted for lack of evidence LEZHË — (S. I.) — After a month under house arrest, 25-year-old journalist Aleksandër Frangaj of the newspaper “Koha Jonë” was able to walk through the streets of his city, Lezhë, without being troubled by his peers in blue uniforms. The memory of the article titled “Dozens of tanks toward the northeastern border,” published in the newspaper “Koha e Jonë” on March 23, 93, followed the young student of the Academy of Arts—who is also editor-in-chief of the paper—for more than a month. On Friday, Frangaj’s trial was held at the Lezhë city prosecutor’s office, with charges brought by the Ministry of Defense: the prosecutor withdrew the charge, and the journalist was thus able to go free. For several hours in the courtroom, truth stood face to face with Aleksandër’s confidence and trust, with the eloquence of defense lawyer Spartak Ngjela, the tolerance and maturity of prosecutor Ded Pali, and the professional conduct of the young judge Arben Ristani. Despite the gaps inherited from the old penal code, justice knew how to overcome these difficulties and deliver a verdict. Those present in the courtroom admired the scene in which the prosecutor and defense attorney represented one another, after the prosecutor withdrew the charge for lack of evidence. “Let this trial be a fundamental response from the new state governed by law that we want to build,” lawyer Ngjela said at the end. As for the verdict, the defendant Aleksandër Frangaj himself says: “I had a lot of faith that this is what would happen.”

A catamaran linking Durrës with Bari Domenico Delle Foglie DURRËS — 7:45 a.m., Monday, April 26. After a tiring day, like the one on Sunday, following the Pope’s visit to Albania, we are trying to get back to Italy a day sooner. A day of work at the port, which, as usual, has to be finished quickly. With “Gazeta Shqiptare” aboard a catamaran that takes us directly to Bari in just three and a half hours. And here we are, an hour and a half… at the Durrës port quay. We thank the catamaran’s captain, a serious Norwegian gentleman, who allowed us to board at the last minute, without making an issue of the Albanian shipping agency clerk’s thousand hesitations. He was the one who took our tickets and passports and explained to the relevant officials that we were three journalists who urgently needed to return to Italy and that, for this reason, we would have to pay for our tickets aboard the ship, since we had not had time to book them the day before. After boarding the catamaran “La Vikina,” a Maltese vessel, recently accompanied by “Fantan” Afla di Osio”, which was also on time, under the Bari flag, departure at the helm… Albania (departure from Bari at 16:30 and arrival at 20:00). Several Albanian hostesses welcome us aboard and offer us coffee with a smile. Our vessel powers along at a speed of 35 knots. In short, a high-speed journey that gets us to Bari in three and a half hours. The day is beautiful, the weather conditions are good, and the sea is calm. We quickly leave the port of Durrës behind us. Later, images from a music video appear on the large screen in the ship’s lounge, while the hostesses serve coffee with milk and biscuits, which we asked for when setting off (onboard service is paid). Time flies, and we cannot resist the desire to go out on deck and admire the sea up close. The ship cuts swiftly through the water, creating white, foaming waves. The coastline draws ever closer to Puglia. There is still time to celebrate a Mass. An American Catholic priest invites everyone present to take part in a religious liturgy. Soon Bari appears on the horizon, beneath the pleasant spring sun. Thank you, “La Vikina.” See you on our next trip to Albania.

As a result of two holidays coinciding, in Italy and Albania, the Albanian Gazette will not be published tomorrow or Tuesday. The Albanian Gazette will meet its readers again on Wednesday, 5 May. See you then.

The ban on meat exports continues 12 undocumented migrants discovered in the countryside around Brindisi Ciampi’s government in Parliament on Thursday A whole page of economic news

by Stella Wilder Aries 20/III 20/IV This week you may receive unexpected news that will significantly change your life. You will have to make many concessions, which will later give you the opportunity to achieve good results. Taurus 21/IV 20/V Do not ask for help and do not plead; to win, you need to follow a particular strategy: others will not understand what you have in mind, but you are on the right track. Do not back down. Gemini 21/V 20/VI Difficulties with a friend this week. Planning work and obligations will be difficult. Health problems are connected to psychological factors. You need to react. Cancer 21/VI 22/VII You should consider the positive and negative sides. Be sure of what you are going to do and where you want to go. Social relationships will be closely tied to the financial side, and the results may be complicated. Leo 23/VII 22/VIII This week, look after those who depend on you. There are risks of every kind, but you are more alert. Everything depends on how you see the world around you. Do not be pessimistic. Virgo 23/VIII 22/IX You know how to achieve what you want, so you should not change your behavior; be clear and balanced. Someone has been watching you and will speak openly to you this week. Libra 23/IX 22/X You are right, but keep calm and use reason. If you feel invulnerable, there are dangers threatening you this week. Fortunately, you have someone protecting you. Scorpio 2/X 21/XI You may find yourself surrounded by new and unusual things, but do not be afraid. Be open and perceptive; caution is unnecessary. You will not submit to insignificant and unsolicited criticism. Sagittarius 22/XI 21/XII The beginning of the week is calm, but you will soon become caught up in work that speeds up your pace. Other people’s responsibilities are not yours. Remember this throughout the week. Capricorn 22/XII 19/I You will have great pleasures and enjoy yourself. You should not be too aggressive. Listen to how others judge you, and you will learn quite a few things. Aquarius 20/I 19/II You will need to entrust your secrets to personal friends in order to avoid major harm. Concentrate and do your work well. Do not leave anything unfinished. Pisces 20/II 19/III You should try to attain what you deserve. Other people cannot read your thoughts. You have the right to live as you please. Do so, and everything will go better.