Arbnori: “A serious accusation must be verified” Entrance to the parliament in Tirana TIRANA — Parliament is now investigating the telephone tapping allegedly carried out by SHIK against Azem Hajdari. To verify the truth of the accusations made by Hajdari himself against Bashkim Gazidede, head of the National Intelligence Service, Parliament set up a verification committee, which includes DP deputy Llazar Lëngu and SP deputy Adem Zyberi, chosen by the members of the Parliamentary Committee on Defence, Public Order and SHIK, chaired by Hajdari himself. The news was confirmed to Gazeta Shqiptare by the Speaker of Parliament, Pjetër Arbnori. In recent days, Lëngu and Zyberi have spoken with Bashkim Gazidede, who, when asked whether it was true that he had kept Hajdari under surveillance, limited himself to replying that all his actions had always been carried out “in full compliance with the laws.” No other details could be gleaned from the questions. A response is also expected soon from the Prosecutor General, the only person who can check whether SHIK’s agencies are acting lawfully. Amid the uproar caused by Azem Hajdari’s accusation, Bashkim Gazidede declared that the deputy’s accusations were entirely false, implying that he had not carried out any surveillance. In fact, during a meeting of Parliament, Hajdari stated that “for at least six months, SHIK agencies have been monitoring my every move and that of my family.” Discussing the opening of an inquiry, Pjetër Arbnori told the newspaper: “I too have happened to hear clicks or other noises on my telephone, but that does not mean I should think I am being monitored; however, if the verification committee establishes that Hajdari’s accusation is true, it would be a very serious incident.”

Emigrants linked to the drug trade Enid Borici, victim of the war between Zurich criminal gangs EDMOND LAÇI TIRANA — Albanians in Switzerland are participants in, and victims of, the international drug trade. The latest victim is a man from Tirana: Enid Borici, killed in a clash between criminal gangs. His body arrived at Rinas airport on Monday. It is the second case in the past two months, following that of another citizen from Fier, who was repatriated to Albania dead after mysterious murders, the product of drug-smuggling intrigues pursued by our citizens in Zurich. All are Albanian citizens; some are currently wanted by the Swiss police in this canton, while others are serving long sentences in the prison of the Swiss capital after being caught with prohibited quantities. Following Enid Borici’s killing, Zurich police notified the police authorities in Tirana, who forwarded the information to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministry sent its information to our embassy in Bern, which subsequently received official confirmation of the murder: Enid Borici was a victim of drug trafficking. He may have been killed by his associates, or by another Albanian involved in the same trade. During a fight on the outskirts of Zurich, he was stabbed. Enid managed to reach the nearest bar while wounded and, after notifying local police officers, died a few minutes later from his serious wound. Friends who did not wish to be identified paid for his repatriation to Albania. “To verify this report,” says Gazmend Turdiu, the Albanian ambassador in Bern, “we contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Zurich Institute of Forensic Medicine, speaking with specialist Wilson. Our citizen Enid Borici had entered Switzerland using forged documents, under the false name Vladimir Hajdari.” Although the information came from the Embassy in Bern, all the confirmations indicate that the victim, Borici, was from Tirana; at Rinas airport, where his arrival had been announced, there were only cars with license plates from the city of Lushnjë. “We have a great many problems with Albanians where drug trafficking is concerned,” Fischler, spokesman for the Zurich Police, told the newspaper. “Many of them have already ended up in prison. As police officers, it is very difficult for us to identify them, since most of those involved in drug trafficking have no visas and use false names.” The only positive point in the police’s statements concerns the source of the drugs: “So far we have received no reports of drugs coming from Albania. Albanians bring them in through the traditional routes...” Among the Albanian citizens: Genti Çela from Tirana, 23, was sentenced to 8 years by the Swiss courts after being caught with 4 kilograms of heroin. The other man, Oltion Çesku — according to police records, using a false name — appears to have the first name Mark; his surname is still unknown. He was sentenced to 4 years in prison because he was caught with 1 kilogram of heroin and also attempted to get an Albanian friend of his, previously convicted, out of prison.” Diplomat Turdiu is concerned because the Albanian authorities are informed about the fate of their citizens in Switzerland only after something happens. “The problem is that Switzerland and Albania still have no agreement on exchanging information of this kind,” he says, “so the Swiss authorities are not obliged to provide explanations, even to the Albanian police, when such cases are under investigation.” “Albanians have been very active in drug trafficking lately,” Ambassador Turdiu continues. “Only recently we were informed of two imprisonment cases. In any case, it is now known that many Albanians have become involved in the famous Swiss metropolis — Zurich — in the most dangerous and most heavily punished trade, that of drugs. The price of the white poison has also been very high for Albanians: two killed in the past two months and many others imprisoned.” Zurich’s central square

41 UNLICENSED HUNTING GUNS SEIZED IN KAKAVIJË — The Gjirokastër Public Order Department seized 41 hunting guns that various Albanian citizens were preparing to bring into Albania without the required permit. The seizure took place at the border crossing with Greece, in Kakavijë. The Gjirokastër Public Order Department is working on preparing the law on firearms so that such cases will no longer occur. UNDP PROVIDES $1.6 MILLION IN AID TO ALBANIA THIS YEAR — The UNDP’s standing committee approved the extension of the third aid cycle for Albania, allocating it $1.6 million for 1993. Approval of the extension of the aid cycle was supported mainly by representatives of Italy, the USA, England and France. Albania did not take part in the first two cycles of cooperation with UNDP, and detailed projects for cooperation with the UN’s economic organization are still being drawn up. SEMINAR TO TRAIN ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS — A seminar to train a new generation of Albanian leaders began in Tirana. The seminar was organized by an American association, the Council for Aid to Albania, and Hudson University. The course in policy training for government officials will last three weeks and is intended for the Albanian administrative apparatus and the education sector. BOOK EXHIBITION OPENED IN TIRANA — An Albanian book exhibition opened in the hall of the National Library in Tirana. There are around 6,000 works covering disciplines including history, philosophy, sociology and biographies. The exhibition features 11 new publications issued by 10 Albanian publishing houses in 1992.

Albanian hopes in the “Games” are slim Conference on human rights in Vienna Somalia: “blue helmets” still on the offensive

DURRËS — The Italian Navy ship “Orsa” will leave the port of Durrës today to return to Italy. The missile frigate — of the “Lupo” class — (shown in the photograph) arrived at the Albanian port three days ago, after completing its Adriatic patrol mission. The “Orsa” took part in the international operation to verify the embargo imposed by the UN on the former Yugoslavia. The ship’s commander was received by the Chief of the General Staff of the Albanian Army. Last night a farewell cocktail reception was held on board, attended also by the Italian ambassador, Paolo Foresti.

Yesterday the final legal deadline expired for discussion TIRANA — Work on the draft Constitution of Albania has been completed. Prime Minister Meksi announced that copies of the draft had been sent to the members of the special committee so they could make their final comments. A copy was also sent to the Presidium of the People’s Assembly. The drafting of the new Constitution of the Republic of Albania has become a pressing political issue. Recently, the Social Democratic Party of Albania declared that it would withdraw from Parliament if the final draft of the Constitution was not discussed by the previously set deadline, yesterday, 15 June. Two months ago, the socialist opposition boycotted discussions of the “Law on Human Rights,” one of the most important constituent parts of the Constitution. Failure to submit the new draft by the deadline is expected to trigger a new storm in the Albanian Parliament. The new Constitution was drafted by a special committee chaired by Prime Minister Aleksandër Meksi himself. It was drawn up on the basis of models from the most advanced democratic states, and foreign experts and specialized institutions were also consulted in its formulation.

SHKODËR — (Ar.Ça.) In the village of Ças, near Velipojë, six people from the same family stole around 50 quintals of wheat from plots belonging to the former farm. According to Shkodër police, they secretly harvested the wheat and transported it to their homes. The law-enforcement forces detained them immediately, but, in the absence of a detention report—which was not drawn up by the duty officer—the perpetrators were released the following day. But now the Public Order Department in Shkodër has received an order instructing it to detain immediately the aforementioned people, who were once employees of this farm. The Police authorities have been mobilized to find the culprits.

A student from Tirana invents a destructive program TIRANA — (c. bo.) — Its inventors say it is a young student of Computer Science at the University of Tirana. This time he has not created an admirable patent; given the evidence of his crime, however, he deserves to be called what he is. He is the father of the first Albanian computer virus. A virus is a microscopic program that attaches itself to a computer’s memory and drives it crazy: it is a technological curse, common and innumerable, but sometimes, when the virus is “good,” it brings only a little amusement. The Albanian one, now known throughout the world, is, in fact, a destructive virus: when it strikes, it erases all the memory and sends the computer into a state of paralysis, locking it up. It appears as a message repeated on the screen: “Ciao, I am an Albanian virus.” After the screen becomes visible, it jokingly says that, as one might gather, it is a communist virus. It then says that it isn’t, and frightens them at the end. There are currently around 2,000 viruses of this type in the world, but until now none had been produced in Albania. They have been christened with the strangest names: “Holland girl,” “Cannabis,” “Guat a te.” They produce very strange effects: computer experts tell of a virus that shuts down every program at 5 p.m. each day and plays rock ’n’ roll music. Another deletes all the letters in words just typed. Others, like the Albanian-type one, destroy everything. The computer, which from birth we call, with excessive optimism, “electronic brain,” is in reality a very stupid machine: it carries out the commands that the person using it tells it to carry out. In other words, it has no instinct of its own and therefore is not capable of waking up! All the entries we have commanded it to make—and you want its place, then the screen becomes visible. It appears with a noise from, as one might gather, none had been produced in Albania.

Planes grounded in Ka- [?] Inside Few Today the “Orsan” ship leaves Durrës Yesterday the final legal deadline expired The Constitution is ready A family of six in Shkodër

Do you have a relative, a friend or a loved one far away, across the sea? Would you like to reach them with a greeting, a message or simply a wish? This space is yours: use it, and they will read it. If you are in Italy, you can write to this address: GAZETA SHQIPTARE, viale Scipione l’Africano 264, 70100 Bari. If you live in Albania, you can write to this address: GAZETA SHQIPTARE, Rruga Bajram Curri 370, Tirana. We wish our friend and colleague from Tirana, Brikena, a most joyful stay in Italy. Since this is her first trip, we hope her family will accompany her to the event she is taking part in. On the occasion of her departure for Bari, her whole family also sends her its best wishes. They all hope that this trip will be followed by another, just as successful. In any case, we hope to meet again very soon. Sotiri, Moll, Tomi, Linzi, Vesa, Mimi, Xhimi, Havaja and Blimi – Tirana On the occasion of his birthday, we send greetings to my only son, Samuel, who is working in Florence. I wish him a hundred years of life and hope he has with him all the good things this world has to offer. On this occasion I also send my best wishes to his wife Aleksandra and his little nephew Alban. I hope to see all three of them very soon. I miss them very much. Vera Xh. Andrea — Berat I need to communicate by telephone with the city of Vlora. After many attempts, on different days and at different times, through the international services with operator «15» of the Italian Society for the Exercise of Telecommunications (SIP), which on page 25 of the 1993 subscriber directory, Province of Bari, lists the applicable rate for such calls, I unfortunately found it impossible to communicate with the city of Vlora. By contrast, it was possible to call Tirana directly, using the area code, without the intervention of the post office or telecommunications operators. I am expressing this profound dissatisfaction to those who may be able to do something to eliminate this absurdity. It is even more absurd when one considers that it is possible to call Italy from the city of Vlora, albeit with difficulty. I do not know where the obstacles lie, in Italy or in Albania. I have also tried to call the Pediatric Hospital in Vlora; the result was again negative. Is such obvious discrimination acceptable for a city as important as Vlora, so close to Italy? Let something be done! I thank those who will be able to do something. Anna Gabriella Antonino 70050 Santo Spirito (Bari) Dear Ilir, it is almost a month now since you left Albania to come to Italy to notify me. I have waited every day for some news from you; I am anxious. The only thing left for me is to write you a letter through “Gazeta.” I am eagerly awaiting news from you. Zana F. — Shkodër