The mystery of the ship «Nikos K» surfaces again A strange phone call arrives at the Albanian Embassy in Belgrade EDMOND LAÇI TIRANA — The mystery surrounding the case of the diplomat arrested in Albania is growing ever more intense. While all sources so far confirm his indictment, which took place on 10 May for abuse of office, new shadows are appearing in this story: Serbian citizens, a Greek ship and a phone call. It is the latter that apparently reached the Albanian Embassy in Belgrade seven days earlier. An employee of the Albanian Embassy in Belgrade told us about this phone call: “Sulejmani spoke on the phone with one of this embassy’s employees a week ago. It was a normal conversation; it is impossible that he could have been arrested. His wife, Mimoza, is here with us and knows nothing.” And yet a week earlier Sulejmani was certainly in prison: Why, then, would he have called his colleagues? Why did he not speak with his wife? The Albanian employee in Belgrade knows that someone from Tirana summoned Sulejmani for official duties. And from that day on, his wife, Mimoza, has been in Gazeta. Over the phone, I told her the version given by the lawyer—that he was arrested for issuing visas—and she contradicted it in Belgrade: “We can provide a clear explanation, but also to the Serbs—transit—under international conventions.” But the phone call is not the only mystery. This story also involves two Serbian citizens (or perhaps the same ones) who entered Albania with a visa signed by Sulejman Lani. His latest lawyer, Spartak Ngjela, speaks about this possibility. He then adds: “Mr. Lani will appear in court next Thursday, not to have the grounds on which he was arrested examined, but to change the detention measure.” Ngjela is unable to explain who the two Serbs are, why they came to Albania, or what they came to do. Such hypotheses need to be confirmed. According to lawyer Xhoka, who previously defended Lani, he has nothing more to add: “All I know is that the diplomat is accused of violating the embargo against the former Yugoslavia.” According to many reports—including that of the authority Spartak Ngjela— the story of the ship may intersect with that of Sulejman Lani. With “Nikos K,” as with the diplomat, several Serbian citizens appear, allegedly legally detained in Albania. They too are in prison. “Nikos K,” flying the Greek flag, first appeared at an Albanian port on 25 March, when it entered the port of Durrës to unload oil. The commander, Dejan Xhorxheviç, a Montenegrin, says that he received from his owners in Libya the order to set sail and deliver fuel to Cooper, the port of Capo D’Istria. But before leaving this port—before departing, on 27 March—“Nikos K” made a surprising change to its crew: 9 Greeks went ashore and 4 citizens of Montenegro, 1 from Bosnia and 1 from Croatia boarded. But how did they come to be in the port of Durrës? Another mystery. The ship set sail but never reached its declared destination. The international ship was intercepted by NATO military units and directed to the port of Brindisi. It left Italy only on 15 April, when the authorities in Rome forced it to return to Greece. Today, in a mysterious turn of events, somewhere near “Nikos K,” it has been seized in Albania. And some time after its capture, the Albanian diplomat ended up in the same prison where the crew is being held. The question is: how much of this is just a coincidence? information provided she was a Serbian citizen” Does your client accept this fact? “He claims that you gave the visas to an Albanian female citizen— ... is conducting checks — in Belgrade, an arrest over the issuing of visas — in Belgrade, on responsibility: “We can issue an Albanian visa, but also transit visas to Serbs, under international conventions.” Even lawyer Xholi, who previously defended Lani, is unable to add anything else: “I only know that the diplomat is accused under ...” TIRANA — Citizens of a number of Arab countries have been granted the right to obtain an entry visa for Albania at border crossing an amendment to the existing law on the issuance the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar were granted this right. The socialist opposition voted against the amendment, requesting that any changes to visa issuance be made on the basis of reciprocity. The two boats of the Finance Guard assigned to monitor the anti-Serbian embargo, respectively

Sulejman Lani’s lawyer speaks TIRANA - (Ed. La.) — “My client is in Tirana prison. I know little about the status of the proceedings. The only thing that is certain is that, after he was detained, he was notified of his arrest on the charge of abuse of office.” Sulejman Lani, the arrested Albanian diplomat, will be defended by Spartak Ngjela. The lawyer, although he has not yet seen his client Lani’s file, knows a few things—and is willing to talk about what he knows. “As far as I know, Sulejman Lani issued two entry visas for Albania. But one of those two people who used the visas issued by the first secretary of the Albanian Embassy in Belgrade was a Serbian citizen.” Has your client been asked about this? “He maintains that he gave the visas to Albanian citizens, not to Serbs.” Was the Serbian citizen caught by the Albanian authorities aboard the “Nikos K,” or...? “There may be some connection between Sulejman’s case and the seized Greek ship ‘Nikos K.’” Lawyer Ngjela then acknowledges that this is a very difficult case: “It appears to me,” Ngjela says, “that someone has asked the Minister of Justice to have my right to practise law taken away, because they accuse me of betraying them by engaging in political advocacy. The Ministry of Justice has forwarded the request to the Supervisory Council of the Bar.” Could this episode be connected with the diplomat’s defence? “I cannot answer with certainty. But objectively, it is strange that they accuse me on the very same day I decided to defend Sulejman Lani.” But the phone-call issue is not the only mystery. In the Albanian Naval Combat Fleet’s operations office—besides this, the crew did not maintain regular radio contact with the harbourmaster’s office.” But there is also another confirmation of this matter: “This boat was caught about 700 metres inside our waters,” says Çapajev File, head of the Durrës harbourmaster’s office. “From the information I was able to obtain a few days ago, each member of the trawler’s crew will either pay 50,000 drachmas or spend 20 days in prison.” It is not known which penalty the Greek authorities will prefer.

Loan interest rates will be lowered from June. Prices are falling Governor Ilir Hoti speaks THE ITALO-ALBANIAN BANK Headquarters of the Italo-Albanian Bank CARLO BOLLINO TIRANA — From 1 June, money in Albania will cost less. The interest payable on a bank loan will fall from 40 to 30 percent a year. This is an important economic signal, and it will highlight the first decline for traders and those seeking financing, but also for all Albanians. The lowering of the “discount rate” (as the interest paid to banks is called in economic language) in fact shows that the country’s financial situation is improving. Inflation, for example, was below zero for the first time in April. This means that prices are tending to fall rather than rise. Nevertheless, Ilir Hoti, governor of Albania’s central bank, urges caution: “Yes,” Gazeta comments, “there are positive signs, but we should not be too optimistic. The economy is large: many people among the unemployed manage to carry out some activity or small trade.” Ilir Hoti: “Social assistance shows that employment and unemployment will be lost and can...” What about the assistance people receive today? “No, it means that this assistance too will be paid directly by businesses and by the state. The Albanian economy today needs two essential things: an efficient banking system and a healthy industrial sector. Private deposits have risen by 40 percent, a sign that people are beginning to save, but industry also needs to produce, and therefore to deposit money: without deposits, banks cannot function. To heal the economy, those that do not produce need to fail, and priority must be given to privatization.” What are the priorities for helping to build the country’s economy? “The first phase was the privatization of agriculture: the credit granted to farmers has tripled in a few months. Now we are beginning to invest in infrastructure, which is essential to give tourism a boost, since it is one of our greatest resources. A restructuring of Rinas airport is planned (at a cost of 50 million dollars), as well as Durrës port (we have received financing of 8 million dollars from Kuwait), and the restructuring of the Durrës-Korçë and Vlorë-Kavajë roads. Finally, work has begun on the Banja hydroelectric plant.” How can the current banking system help foreign investment? “Yes, we are working hard in this direction. The next step by the Italo-Albanian Bank, for example (share capital of 10 million dollars, divided equally between the Company and the Bank of Rome), is a very important step forward. At least for foreign investors.” ... seven zeros. This means that prices tend to fall and stabilize. Nevertheless, Ilir Hott, governor of the Central Bank of Albania, urges caution: “Yes,” he commented to the newspaper, optimistic. Our economy still has a long way to go.” How long, in your opinion, will it take for the situation to be considered healed? “I believe it will take at least five years, although the first concrete signs of improvement are beginning to appear today.” You view the country’s economy from a privileged position. What do you predict for unemployment? “I am convinced that the worst is over. It is true that these days a freeze on social assistance has been decided, beginning in 1994, for all those enterprises that are not considered of major economic importance. This may pose a threat of unemployment, but in reality it represents a final push toward privatizing small and medium-sized enterprises. And leaving the figures aside, there is no doubt that today there is a greater level of well-being ...”

Fine or prison for the crew DURRËS — The Albanian trawler “Mitro Dhimërti-ka” has been detained in a Greek port since 18 May. After the Greek ship “Nikos K” was detained and seized in Albania, the Greek authorities have now detained an Albanian ship. Only the charge differs: breach of the embargo for the Greek ship, and fishing in foreign waters for the Albanian ship. In any case, until the crew returns, nothing can be considered certain. “Our ship, ‘Mitro Dhimërti-ka,’ was outside our territorial limits,” acknowledges an operations officer of the Albanian Naval Combat Fleet. “Besides this matter: “This ship which penalty the Greek authorities will prefer.

TIRANA — Citizens of a number of Arab countries have gained the right to obtain entry visas to Albania at border-crossing points. This was decided by the Albanian parliament, which approved an addition to the existing law on the issuing of passports and visas. Citizens of Egypt, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar have gained this right. The Socialist opposition voted against approving this amendment, calling for any change to visa issuance to be made on the basis of reciprocity.

TIRANA, THE JOURNALISTS’ ASSOCIATION’S SOLIDARITY WITH THE HUNGER STRIKE OF ALBANIAN JOURNALISTS IN PRISHTINA — The Association of Albanian Journalists expressed solidarity with the 250 Albanian journalists in Prishtina who have been on hunger strike since Wednesday to protest against the violence exercised by Serbian authorities against Albanian-language media in Kosovo. The initiator of the strike, Adem Demaci, called on the Albanian journalists to end their hunger strike at a press conference. He asked all Kosovars not to interrupt their normal activities. “This is the best way to show support,” he stressed. EXPIRED FOODSTUFFS BURIED IN KORÇË — The financial police in Korçë seized and buried 11 tons of rice that was being sold by private individuals. An inspection found that the rice contained a high level of insects. A quantity of substandard chocolate found at the city’s commercial enterprises 2 and 3 was also buried. PROJECT TO CREATE AN ITALIAN-ALBANIAN COMPANY IN LAÇ — The Italian company ICA will invest in Laç to restructure the paper and cellulose production factory. The joint venture to be established will initially produce high-quality paper, cardboard and various types of hygiene paper. In a second phase, a detergent factory will be built, with its products also intended for foreign markets.

An illustrated booklet about sex education is on sale TIRANA — (Fa. Ba.) — Just 25 lekë to prevent a birth. That is all you need to spend to learn abou- to learn about family planning. “Kreu i Unë ...” is the title of a booklet about sex education, ... TIRANA — (Fa. Ba.) — Just 25 lekë to prevent a birth. That is all you need to spend to learn about family planning. “Kreu i Unë ...” is the title of a booklet about sex education; its title also concerns sex education. From this main issue ... It is not known ... whether ... as a matter of taste or ... sex education, children and sex education, ... [partly illegible] Produced by the Directorate of ... Health, the booklet ... [partly illegible] ... This text ... in ... health ... The book ... cardboard, ... pages and ... illustrations ... showing intimate positions, but ones necessary for understanding the particular subject. After conferences ... propaganda ... on television and ... other means, it seems that the booklet, made with ... tools, ... has had greater success. At last, the approach has become a way of reaching ... the Albanian public, accustomed ... to ... more ... In ... responsibilities ... Also ... ... [Much of the text printed in the narrow columns is illegible in the image.]

Prepared by Ed-mond Hadëri Another important UN conference on the law of the sea was held in December 1982 in Montego Bay. The agreement reached clarified and defined matters that had previously been unclear. With regard to “Territorial Waters and the Contiguous Zone,” it was decided that territorial waters would extend up to 12 miles from the coastline, and the method for calculating the boundary line was defined, taking the configuration of the coast into account. It was also decided that the contiguous zone would extend for 12 miles, starting from the boundary of the territorial waters (according to the 1929 international hydrographic conference, one international nautical mile corresponds to a distance of 1,852 m). The “Exclusive Economic Zone” was defined as the entire area of the seabed and subsoil extending up to 200 miles from the coastline and beyond the boundary of the territorial waters. In this zone, the coastal state has exclusive rights to explore and exploit natural resources. With regard to fishing, it was decided that anadromous migratory fish (fish that swim up into fresh water to reproduce, e.g. salmon) and catadromous fish (such as eels and fish of the Mugilidae family) may be fished by the coastal state within the exclusive economic zone. In both cases, states in whose waters these fish complete their life cycle, in order not to deplete the population stocks, concluded agreements on fishing volumes and the periods during which fishing may take place. As for the “Continental Shelf,” it was decided that its boundary could extend beyond 200 miles, taking its natural extent into account. However, this boundary may not exceed 350 miles and is not the same in different areas. It was determined that the maximum limit of the continental shelf must not exceed 350 nautical miles from the coast. Recently, it has been observed that foreign fishing vessels are carrying out fishing in the area ... [partly illegible] ... within the exclusive economic zone ... and even in our territorial waters, in violation of international regulations. This happens because the more extensive and little-exploited continental shelf of our Adriatic waters offers greater fishing opportunities than that of Puglia, where fishing is an important economic activity in the coastal towns. Statistics show that along the coast from Vieste to Otranto there are about 700 vessels fishing with trawl nets, and this number should also include the smaller vessels. As a result, intensive fishing and the use of technologically advanced equipment have led to the increasingly severe depletion of fish stocks in these waters, prompting Italian fishermen to fish in richer areas outside territorial waters.

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Life and Environment