Here are the documents Italian judges are investigating New details from Rome about the sensational investigation now under way into the aid case for Albania CARLO BOLLINO TIRANA — Here are the documents in the scandal. A file of more than 500 pages, telling the mysterious story of aid in Albania. They are all there, on a table at the Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office. Documents that allowed Prosecutor Evelina Canale to bring a minister, two deputy secretaries, an entrepreneur and eight officials from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs before the court. Among the best-known names are former minister Gianni De Michelis, current Environment Minister Valdo Spini, former deputy secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Claudio Vitalone, and Giuseppe Perniola, manager of the Bari company “Levant. Co.” A fraud worth several tens of billions at the expense of the Albanian people, to whom this aid had been destined by the Italian people, who had offered their generosity. These are highly confidential documents, yet we managed to obtain some of them. For example, the document concerning the selection of the company that was to deliver 20 billion lire in food and medicines. Namely, “Levant. Co.” itself, also accused in Albania by the State Control Commission of profiteering, together with Albanian political figures, from the distribution of aid. It is now known for certain that the choice of “Levant. Co.” was made by the Albanian authorities of the time (this was 1991), while the Italian Foreign Minister disagreed. A note signed by the Directorate General for Cooperation states: “The technical mission proposed entrusting the purchase and distribution of food and medicines to a non-governmental organization, but the Albanian side named the Bari company ‘Levant. Co.’, which had also handled the first shipment of aid, worth ten billion lire.” The file also includes a document (number 225/XV/UTC) describing the talks held on 13 March 1991 between Deputy Prime Minister Claudio Martelli and Minister Fatos Nano, during which the organization of the aid was planned and it was decided to send an Italian technical commission to Albania. The commission came to Tirana between 29 May and 3 June 1991: “The aid package worth 10 billion lire,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs minutes state, “was divided at the request of the Albanian Government and local authorities into 8 billion lire for food and 2 billion lire for medicines. As for the amount allocated to food aid: frozen foods, frozen beef, butter, fresh cheese, beans, peas and powdered milk.” The Italian investigation is also seeking to find out what criteria were followed in selecting the food, although the real scandal concerns the prices paid: the amounts, investigators emphasize, are far higher than market prices. But, at least officially, the Albanians were not involved in setting the prices. Another document in the file, now in the hands of the Italian investigators and signed by the Technical Mission of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, states: “The prices of the requested food and medicines will be set within a very short time, immediately after the initiative is approved by the Italian Steering Committee.” Who was supposed to carry out checks in Italy? Who was supposed to verify the prices and quality of the goods arriving in Albania? This is precisely where the responsibility of the ministers, deputy secretaries and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs comes into play. According to Prosecutor Canale, in fact, no checks were carried out, and the prices were verified only on the basis of the invoices submitted by “Levant. Co.” It is the same paradoxical refrain voiced by those responsible for the Bari shipments: “Nobody checked up on us.” Levant.Co headquarters in Bari

Perniola: “Italy hasn’t paid me” (c.ba.) “The Italian government still hasn’t paid me in full. I still have to deliver another one billion and 800 million worth of medical aid to Albania, but until Rome makes its payments, I’m stopping everything. And now they tell me I’m also under criminal investigation. It’s absurd.” Giuseppe Perniola, manager of the Bari company “Levant. Co.” at the center of the aid scandal, speaks from his car on his mobile phone. “I’ve only just come back from abroad,” he explains. “I don’t know what has happened; I need to speak with my lawyer first.” Italian investigators have accused him of involvement in the case of aid intended for the Albanian people... “I haven’t swindled anyone. On the contrary, other people have swindled me too. Mr. Hajdin Sejdia, for example, cheated me out of 700 million, while now someone is claiming that I’m his accomplice.” Why were you specifically given responsibility for supplying aid to Albania? “I worked in Kosovo for fifteen years. It was my Kosovar friends who introduced me and brought me into Albania in 1990. I continued bringing aid until October 1992. Later, the Italian Government stopped paying me, and I stopped shipping the goods. I hope this story will be over as soon as possible.” Levant.Co headquarters in Bari

TIRANA — The State Control Commission also has all the documentation concerning the “solidarity fund”. TIRANA — (Fa.Ba.). The State Control Commission also has all the documentation concerning the “solidarity fund”. This fund, worth more than 3 million dollars, was distributed by the PPSH to “Marxist friends” around the world during the period 1964–1991. State Control specialists want to examine possible irregularities in the distribution of these substantial funds. According to Decision No. 190 of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the PPSH (June 1964), the purpose of setting up the fund was “to serve the work of the international communist movement, the struggle against imperialism—

Appeal trial to be held in open court TIRANA – Dhimitër Beshiro will once again be Nexhmije Hoxha’s lawyer. Tomorrow he will defend her before the Court of Appeal, which will consider whether the 27 January 1993 sentence of nine years’ imprisonment was fair or not. A few days ago, Nexhmije Hoxha prepared to issue a statement to the press from her prison cell, protesting the removal of her lawyer. It was the lawyer himself, Beshiro, who calmed his client, since the law passed by Parliament that barred him and 48 others from practising law is now before the Constitutional Court for review. “We have notified the defendant,” says the President of the Court of Appeal, Pera Martini. “All the arrangements have been made to allow her to attend her trial.” The police forces that will secure the court premises were also notified on Saturday. “This time journalists are also free to attend,” President Martini continues. “The trial is open to the public.” The defendant’s attendance at the trial has not yet been confirmed. In Albania… (visible marginal note) paradoxical refrain voiced by those responsible for the departments: “Nobody checked.” … in Albania, for … ruqshme. the international communist movement, the struggle against imperialism and revisionism, propaganda in the outside world and the defence of Marxism-Leninism.” “No evidence has yet been uncovered to establish the true destination of the sums allocated to Marxist-Leninists on five continents. Solving this mystery appears difficult. Among the solidarity fund documents uncovered so far, not even the receipts proving the payments have been found. Only a few documents have pencil notes in the page margins. These notes are sometimes a few plus signs and sometimes figures and dates. Marks which, in any case, show that the sums left Albania.”

Police arrest three people. Accomplices are being sought SHKODËR — Within a few days, a boy aged 1 [?] has been kidnapped in Shkodër and Bulqizë. EDMOND LAÇI SHKODËR — Within a few days, a 1-year-old boy and a 24-year-old girl have been kidnapped in Shkodër and Bulqizë. Sokol Uruçi, 23, who attempted to kidnap little Fatmir Muça, is in Shkodër hospital but out of danger, after being stabbed by the child’s father. Meanwhile, in Bulqizë, Edmond Tollja, 22, and Lulzim Kostunja, 23, who [ledhn?] from the village of Striçkan, 20 kilometres from the town, were arrested today. Investigations into these cases have begun. In Shkodër, the kidnapping is still a mystery. It is only known that, in collaboration with other people, Sokol Uruçi attempted to kidnap not only Fatmir Muça but also his maternal aunt’s daughter. However, during the attempt, inside the little boy’s house, he was discovered and wounded. The episode in Bulqizë is clearer: Hatixhe Uka, 24, from the village of Sopot, was kidnapped. “The motives for the kidnapping are unclear,” confirms Police Chief Kastriot Çako, “although the investigation will continue.” The kidnapped girl was visiting relatives in the village of Striçkan when she was attacked on the road while accompanied by her aunt. The men, now under arrest, Tollja and Kostunja, threatened Hatixhe Uka with force and put her into their unlicensed car, which had no number plates. Only after four days did the Bulqizë Police manage to find her in the town of Peshkopi, inside a house. Throughout all those days she had been kept under strict guard, even with an automatic weapon. “The arrested men immediately admitted that they were preparing a passport for Hatixhe, to make it easier for her to cross into Macedonia. Their aim was to sell her by force,” the Police Chief continued. Another unlicensed pistol was also found on the kidnappers. The child from Shkodër and the girl from Bulqizë, both kidnapped recently, are now out of danger and back with their families. The motives and further details of their kidnappings are expected to be confirmed by the Shkodër and Bulqizë police in the coming days.

Italian Embassy opens registrations TIRANË — Italian universities are open to Albanian students. June 7 has been set as the deadline for submitting applications for scholarships and university degrees at universities in Italy. Among the requirements is an explanation of and proficiency in the language; the exam will be held in Italy on September 6. The Italian Embassy in Tirana has announced which documents must be submitted: an application for enrolment at the university of one’s choice, to be submitted on the relevant form; the name of the degree programme in which one wishes to enrol (original or certified copy), together with a statement concerning the notarised translation; photographs, one of which must be authenticated; and financial guarantees of at least 837,000 lire per month through December 31, 1998 (at least a credit card valid in Italy, or a similar document). …[certificate] issued by the Albanian government or by Italian or Albanian institutions, and with coverage that guarantees medical expenses. Applicants are required to have been admitted to the university faculties in Tirana, namely those listed by the Italian Embassy in the lists made available to the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. After passing the Italian-language test, Albanian candidates wishing to enrol at a university or in degree courses in dentistry, veterinary medicine, medicine or surgery must sit additional competitive entrance examinations (also required of Italian students). For further information, and to submit an application for admission, the Italian Embassy in Tirana is available to Albanian students every Monday, Wednesday and Friday (until June 7), from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

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— by Stella Wilder Aries 20/III–20/IV: It would be wise to be prepared to face unexpected situations, even if they may not necessarily occur. Be quick in your thoughts and reactions. Follow the path you have chosen and do not let difficulties and opposition get in your way. Taurus 21/IV–20/V: Be cautious and do not concentrate on strong circles. Take possession whenever you feel it necessary, and care for your mind with the same attention you give your body. You may be satisfied during the week. Gemini 21/V–20/VI: You will be searching for very precise things, and why are you yourself unable to achieve the object of your desire? For a long time you have been missing out on an important aspect of your life. Now you have the opportunity to make up for lost ground. Cancer 21/VI–22/VII: You will receive all kinds of assurances and promises: only your intuition can tell you which are true and which are false. Do not let yourself be swept along by your usual routine; you need something new more than ever. Leo 23/VII–22/VIII: Your efforts in the creative sphere will be crowned with extraordinary and unexpected success, but you must be sure that you are prepared: often, shortly afterwards, you will be confronted with a massive dose of reality. You will be very credible when you discover the paranormal fate that others have made for you. Virgo 23/VIII–22/IX: This week you will be asked to make a personal sacrifice, and you may even manage to be happy about how [stumbled?] you have endured. You will be calm; you do not need much help. It is better to pursue an important goal that may take a long time to achieve, or to be content with an immediate reward. Libra 23/IX–22/X: Those who are watching you will be particularly combative and well informed; you must be ready to defend yourself. You will feel a strong desire to leave the house and spend money. Scorpio 2/X–21/XI: They will be very willing to [grow?] alongside you, but for you, there will be few occasions when you need help from them. Everything will go well this week. Don’t say “no” ... Sagittarius 22/XI–21/XII: It is possible that you will make mistakes this week, too, but you will be able to correct them immediately, I believe that ... Capricorn 22/XII–19/I: You will receive others, one of which you will like [?]; choose carefully which one you will accept. Your feelings may change suddenly and this will prompt you to make decisions that are not so unexpected. Aquarius 20/I–19/II: You will manage to reach a leading position of great prestige, but only if you use the methods ... Towards the end of the week you will be forced to attempt something unusual and risky, related to your work or home environment. Pisces 20/II–19/III: All week you will be bombarded with a series of pleasant alternatives, but you often [unclear] ...