An official of the Albanian Embassy in Belgrade is in prison TIRANA / Many shadows surround the case of Sulejman Lani, accused of issuing two illegal visas EDMOND LAÇI TIRANA — Sulejman Lani, first secretary of the Albanian Embassy in Belgrade, is now in Tirana Prison. He arrived in the capital “on assignment” just three weeks ago. A real mystery, which nobody intends to unravel. On 10 May he was detained by the Albanian authorities, and after 48 hours he was deemed arrested. The usual procedure continues for an unusual figure: a diplomat in a country that is one of the hottest spots on the globe even today, and a simple isolated representative of the new Kosovo Republic and of his third [?]. In this dark story, around which shadows of international intrigue and secret services swirl, the only clear fact is the news of the arrest. Vasıl Plaku, Deputy Prosecutor of the Republic, confirms: “This person really is under arrest; his case is connected with others, who are now in the same prison.” Sulejman Lani, 42, from Shkodra, secretary at the Albanian Embassy in Belgrade, has so far had three lawyers: first Bashkim Gjollani, then the lawyer Valbona Cekni from Shkodra and, the day before yesterday, Spartak Ngjela. The choice of lawyer Ngjela, a well-known lawyer, also shows the importance of the case. Although the “Sulejman Lani case” remains a mystery. The people involved in the events, or even the officials investigating him—all of them—refuse to answer the Gazette’s questions. “Perhaps Sulejman’s arrest is connected with the Greek ship ‘Nikos K’, which was seized in Albania a few days ago,” someone replies. This hypothesis—not very clear—is so far the only one, and gains ground when it is learned that five Yugoslav citizens from the crew of this clandestine ship are now in the same prison as the Albanian diplomat. The Greek-flagged ship is still at a dock in an Albanian military base; this is another enigma involving a tanker that has been impounded and accused only of violating the embargo against former Yugoslavia. Its crew—according to official information, without valid passports—has been detained and is awaiting trial by Albanian justice for illegally crossing the border. The ship in question was spotted by one of the NATO ships continuing its “Nallar” mission. After being thanked by representatives of the Assistance Mission for Sanctions for capturing the ship carrying 860,000 litres of petrol, the Albanian authorities have other matters to examine. But even the information we know about the “Nikos K” story is not enough to shed light on the reasons for Sulejman Lani’s arrest. Everything so far has been carried out in secrecy. The Albanian Embassy in former Yugoslavia was also informed. Neither was Sulejman Lani’s wife, who—as was the case three weeks ago—knew and still believes that her husband was going “on assignment” to his homeland. “I met him in Tuz, Montenegro, by car [?],” says his brother, who has come to bring him food in prison. “He was coming by train from Titograd.” Hilmi Lani, who is shocked by his brother’s story, is a merchant and carries in his passport visas for almost every country in Europe. He is frightened and still unsure of Sulejman’s fate. Although he does know something: “He issued two visas,” he lets slip, and adds nothing else. Perhaps this is the family’s version. So far, the only one. Even representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tirana are unaware of this arrest. “I don’t even know what they are accusing me of,” Sulejman Lani told lawyer Cekni in the first days after his arrest. Seventeen days have passed since he was put in Tirana Prison. Something important must have happened at the Albanian Embassy in Belgrade. The headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

(c. bo.) — A senior official at the Albanian Embassy in Belgrade ends up in prison, and everyone remains silent. A silence that feeds the mystery, and around the mystery suspicions and fear grow: someone manages to speak, even about spinach. At this point, an official account of what happened could certainly help calm people’s minds and prevent fantasies from taking hold. Belgrade is not Rome or Washington: Belgrade is at the heart of a war that threatens millions of Albanians in Kosovo and, for this reason—directly and indirectly—concerns Albania too. News of the diplomat’s arrest reached its peak in the country over the course of days, but the fact that it has only been recounted in whispers has helped magnify it. It is true: there is a need for an investigation, and caution and prudence are essential. But people—as far as possible—need to know.

FATOS BAXHAKU TIRANA — A veil of mystery surrounds the Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the arrest of the first secretary of the Albanian Embassy in Belgrade, Sulejman Lani. Many officials shrugged and looked surprised when asked by the “Gazette” about the case. Yet the arrest of a diplomat of this rank, especially one working in a place like Belgrade, is not an everyday occurrence. Only one of them, who did not wish to be identified, admitted: “I heard the news by chance. I think they arrested him for dereliction of duty.” The press spokesman for this Ministry responds to the “Gazette”: “I have received no notification about this case from my superiors. This is entirely normal, because I am informed only about official statements that explain our Ministry’s position on specific events, not about personnel changes.” In any case, officially Lani, although in prison for two weeks, is still listed as secretary of the Albanian Embassy in Belgrade. The attitude of Lani’s colleagues in Serbia confirms this, at least. “We don’t know anything,” one of them replied to the “Gazette’s” phone call. “Sulejman is a man who left for Tirana on assignment about three weeks ago and has not returned since. His wife is still in Tirana,” he said, without saying what he meant [?]. For some time, the Embassy of the Republic of Albania in Belgrade has reduced its activities and staff. Like many other countries’ embassies, it currently has no ambassador, and until recently its activities were carried out almost entirely by first secretary Lani. Its current task is to gather information and present Albania’s official positions on events taking place in Kosovo and Bosnia. Sulejman Lani, 42, married with two children, was born in Shkodra, where his father Adem (former chairman of the cooperative of the village of Dajç for the town) and his brother, who is in trade, still live. He graduated in Russian language and literature from the University of Tirana and worked for a time as a teacher in the village of Bajzë. After that, two and a half years ago, he began working as a commercial attaché at the Albanian Embassy in Belgrade. For the past six months he had been serving as first secretary. Three weeks ago he was asked to travel urgently to Tirana on assignment and ended up directly in the cells of the capital’s prison.

Strong criticism from the US TIRANA — Many Albanians living in the United States have expressed solidarity with the hunger strike being held by former Albanian property owners for four days in Tirana and Shkodra. News of their protest, at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, has now also reached Tirana. The fax sent from the temple of democracy states: “The former owners’ demands are entirely just.” This is small support for all those who have barricaded themselves in that hall to protest over their property. After the news arrived from New York, the entrance to the hunger-strike area was opened again. Volunteers who came to Tirana from all districts brought the number of those who would rather sacrifice themselves than give up their old properties to 80. It is not known how long this strike will last. The same is true of the strike by the strikers, distributors and kullakë [?] that is continuing in Shkodra. Nor is it known how the Albanian government authorities will respond to the strike, in order to avert some unusual incident. So far, there is [no response]. But the political consensus reached in the Albanian Parliament when the laws on land and property were approved can no longer be upheld.

TIRANA — The Albanian Bahá’í Community is holding its second convention from today until the day after tomorrow in the city of Tirana, at the Writers’ Union. Its purpose is to elect the National Spiritual Assembly—its administrative body. The Bahá’í Community of Albania currently consists of 7,000 believers from many different religions, such as Muslims, Orthodox Christians and Catholics. The delegates to this convention are from all over Albania. They will use their votes to elect the body of the National Spiritual Assembly.

A group of Albanians outside the UN WASHINGTON — The American Committee for Refugees is taking issue with Italy’s “extremely restrictive” policy toward those leaving former Yugoslavia, Albania and other countries in crisis. In its annual report on refugees around the world, the U.S. Committee for Refugees (USCR) harshly criticized the Italian law, proposed at the time by former Justice Minister Claudio Martelli, under which foreigners who do not have a valid residence permit are refused entry to or deported from Italy. The Committee complains that these people, who need assistance, are not given a way to submit an application for political asylum. “The Martelli Law,” the report says, “was intended to reduce the number of people seeking political asylum… In 1992 the number of applications was 2,216, and only 86 of them were considered.” In April 1992, the USCR wrote a letter to the Italian government opposing the “Boniver decree” and making clear that barring refugees without documents from applying for political asylum is contrary to the international convention on refugees, which Italy has also signed. …in order the report says, “which was intended to curb were considered.” In April 1992, Uscri decree» and making clear that preventing to the international agreement on refugees, which Italy has also signed.

For the first time, an absurdist work on the stage of the National Theatre. The ordeal of being an audience member in modern times. Success for Arrabal’s «Fando e Lis». TIRANA — (A.K.) At last, we saw in a theatrical work (as well as in a concept for theatre) something more for us, but not much more for the other things in Albania. For the first time on the stage of the National Theatre, and, indeed, in Albania, a dramatization of one of the most important and internationally renowned works of theatre was staged: Arrabal’s «Fando e Lis», by Akim Qirjaku, one of the best-known actors in absurdist theatre. It is certainly among works of high artistic quality, known on world theatre stages for 35 years. Fando and Lis, bound by love, set out for Tur (the Eldorado of our times), and on the way meet three men with umbrellas, who are also travelling to Tur. Every day they set off and once again arrive at their starting point. Arrabal links their movements, using metaphor to express the absurdity of human efforts to change something, to move somewhere within the material limits of life. Absurdist theatre is now considered classical theatre. Its developments and high points date back to the beginning, in the ’50s and ’60s, but in Albania it is virtually unknown. Albanian spectators have not had the opportunity to see on their stages writers such as Becket, Ionesco, Camus, Genet, Adamov, or, for that matter, to see them at all. Therefore, bringing these great works of contemporary theatre to Albanian culture is of considerable significance. From this point of view, one of the most interesting aspects of Arrabal’s play on the National Theatre stage was its contact with the audience. The small audience, not because of a lack of interest but because of the lack of an audience, was deeply moved and responded throughout the performance with a highly developed artistic sensibility, demonstrating that the idea of staging it had existed in the minds of some of our critics and artistic directors. Taking on the work showed that it had been perceived through a kind of filter. By engaging the capital’s audience, it may be less indifferent at a time when so much is divided and given away, and may help, even a little, in its own emancipation. We offer our most sincere congratulations to the heads of this artistic …

. Everyone dreams when they sleep. This is an entirely normal fact, except that sometimes dreams are so beautiful or so terrible that they leave you amazed and astonished when you wake up. But dreams can also be “prophetic,” that is, they may contain a foretelling, a warning of what may happen in the future. Every week, “Gazeta Shqiptare” offers its readers an explanation and the meaning of the objects and situations most often dreamed about. Marriage. Logic leads you to think that this dream is seen most often by those who are about to take this great step. It is interesting to observe every detail of the ceremony, the guests, and to reflect on our state of mind in the face of this event. Do I feel a sense of sadness when I see the guests’ faces? Perhaps the right moment has not yet come. The door… at the last moment you are not ready, you lack strength, you do not know where the ceremony is taking place, what to do, what to say? The decision was made too hastily. An obstacle to getting married, besides fear of marriage, also brings with it the idea of death. For married people, getting married in a dream is a bad sign; it predicts daily quarrels and a lack of happiness. Witnessing other people’s wedding may foretell infidelity or even death. Apples. It is interesting to note that the forbidden apple exists in every tradition. Starting with the first, the forbidden apple of Paradise, whose theft brought about the destruction of humanity, and ending with the last, the apple that people bite into, Bokrëbarha. In every age this fruit has been associated with desire, sin, love, and … Sometimes, in our dreams, the apple comes charged with sexual meaning, associated with rounded feminine forms. Joy and happiness for whoever sees this fruit in a dream, but if the apples are sour, quarrels and dissatisfaction are foretold. Beggar. In a dream, this act almost never represents a situation of poverty or fear of financial hardship, but rather a feeling of disappointment. It means that you feel neglected or want someone’s attention (your partner’s, friends’, colleagues’, teachers’). In this way, feelings are expressed through the beggar. If we see someone we know in this role, it means we do not have much regard for them. Many beggars represent everyday problems; a beggar in the house warns that…, but if alms are distributed, satisfaction will not be lacking.

DEFENCE MINISTER ZHULALI TO VISIT THE USA. — Zhulali will travel to the USA at the beginning of June. The mission aims to exchange views with his American counterpart Les Aspin on the current delicate situation in the Balkans and on bilateral cooperation in the field of defence. A number of visits to several American military bases and a meeting with the Chief of Staff of the US Armed Forces, Colin Powell, are planned. THE “KANTJERI DETAR DURRES-GDANSK” JOINT-STOCK COMPANY IS ESTABLISHED. — The Polish shipyard “Josef Pilsudski” has received approval from the Albanian authorities to invest in Albania and establish a joint-stock company at the Durrës shipyard for ship repairs, as well as for the construction of structures and their assembly and export. PRIVATIZATION OF ENTERPRISES CONTINUES. — Privatization documentation has been prepared for 50 enterprises and factories. Almost all belong to the light-industry sector. Nine factories and workshops will be leased. The privatization documentation for 300 enterprises must be completed within this year. The process is being handled by the Ministry of Industry, Mineral Resources and Energy. COOPERATION BETWEEN ALBANIAN AND ITALIAN SCOUTS. — Representatives of the scouts from the two countries met in Sarandë, where they discussed several issues concerning the training of Albanian scout leaders and joint camping trips. …JOINT-STOCK COMPANY “KANTJERI DETAR DURRES-GDANSK” ESTABLISHED — as for the construction of structures and related works, and their export. PRIVATIZATION OF ENTERPRISES CONTINUES — Privatization documents have leased. The privatization documentation for 300 enterprises is to BETWEEN ALBANIAN AND ITALIAN SCOUTS — Representatives of the scouts of camps.

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