“Corruption requires evidence” Selami: Alessi’s accusations do not concern the DP ANDREA STEFANI TIRANA — “There are also DP representatives whose files have been forwarded to the Justice authorities and who are being investigated for corruption. They include senior representatives—not at ministerial level, but senior representatives of local government and the administration.” Eduard Selami, Chairman of the Democratic Party, responds to the newspaper about the accusations made by some political forces against the government of his party. This issue was among those that dominated journalists’ questions at Saturday’s press conference, after the conclusion of the proceedings of the DP National Council. Selami said that a motion was discussed at the Council stating that the same uncompromising position must be maintained toward corruption, regardless of party affiliation. He categorically denied that ministers in the Meksi Government who were involved in corruption had been discussed at the Council. “If there were anything of that kind, the National Council would not be the right place; other institutions would be”—Selami said, implying the Justice authorities—“we have reacted, even in specific cases, and it is absolutely untrue that we have failed to take a stand against corruption when it has appeared on our side. But in the fight against corruption,” he added, “we must stick to the facts. People should not be talked about here, there and everywhere without facts and evidence that clearly demonstrate corruption.” For Selami, nepotism is as harmful to democracy as corruption. “The Council asked the Party Presidium, the President and the Prime Minister to identify these cases once again and, if they exist, to take a stand.” And Alessi’s statements? “He is very forceful”—Selami said of the Democratic deputy’s response—“but these are issues relating to previous governments, and neither the Prime Minister nor our Government is implicated in them.” Another issue much discussed lately is expanding the governing coalition to include representatives of other parties. The Republican Party and the Social Democratic Party—both allies of the DP—have complained many times that cooperation is not being sufficiently reflected in the composition of the current government. “We support expanding the coalition,” Selami replied, “but this is not measured by how many ministers have or have not joined the Government. We support expanding the coalition at every level, especially in the parliamentary and party spheres and in other areas. We did not discuss expanding the coalition in the Council of Ministers.” No changes to the composition of the Council of Ministers, involving other DP candidates, were discussed at the National Council meeting. Selami stands by the view he expressed to the newspaper some time ago. “It remains a possibility that was not discussed, because the Council was considering a different subject,” he concluded. Democratic Party Secretary Eduard Selami

Sport The championship is following the same course as last year. Juventus are improving continuously Milan leads alone A low-scoring Sunday ended with Milan moving all by itself to the top of the standings, thanks to Torino’s defeat away to Parma. In the photo, Zola, the scorer of Parma’s three goals

THE SOUTHERN PRINTING HOUSE IN GJIROKASTËR IS BEING PRIVATIZED — The Gjirokastër Privatization Board decided to privatize the city’s printing house, the main one serving all the districts of southern Albania. Its future owners will be three of its former employees. FOREIGN SCHOOLS IN KORÇË — In addition to 81 elementary schools and 22 secondary schools, two foreign schools opened in Korçë for the first time: the Maltese high school and a two-year American school for training farmers. TALLY OF FOREST FIRES IN MAT — A total of 35 hectares of pine and beech forest were completely burned, while flames affected 589 hectares of all the forests in the Mat district. The tally was made public by the District Forestry Service; thirteen hectares [text unclear] of damage caused: 2.4 million lekë. FINANCIAL IRREGULARITIES AT THE HOLIDAY HOME IN DIVJAKË — An inspection at the Holiday Home in Divjakë found that a considerable sum of money had not been paid into the budget over the previous 18 months. The inspection also uncovered cases of mismanagement of property involving [unclear] and spoiled food. VILLAGE NEAR BURREL DAMAGED BY PROLONGED DROUGHT — Of the 58 hectares of maize planted by private farmers in the Mat district in spring, 50 were completely damaged by the prolonged drought. Areas planted with cabbage, tomatoes and potatoes in Kostur, Gurre and Bruç [sentence incomplete]. THE COMPETITION FOR STUDY SCHOLARSHIPS FROM THE EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF CUBA BEGAN IN TIRANA — The number of scholarships offered has exceeded the number ... 1996. George Mifs, Cuba’s ambassador to Albania ... students ...

A meaningful presentation of Albania, both commercially and culturally, at Bari’s major fair, Fiera del Levante, which closed on Sunday. At the “Land of the Eagles” stand in the Gallery of Nations, an exhibition of typical Albanian handicrafts was presented; now that the international fair has ended, they will be moved to Mola di Bari and then to Putignano. The artisans of Shkodër sent their precious silverwork and objects in copper and wood to the fair, attracting the curiosity and attention of visitors. Meanwhile, the embroiderers of Durrës presented old women’s costumes, embroidered waistcoats and lace decorations, as well as coverings, tablecloths and doilies, made using traditional Albanian women’s techniques. In Arçeri’s photograph, a view of the Albanian stand.

SHKODËR — (p. re.) — The activities of the former State Security Service have once again been denounced. This time, the accusation concerns the appropriation of cultural and artistic works of national importance. According to testimony by the expert Zef Luigi Mjeda, published in the local Shkodër press, the State Security Service seized from him collections of great historical value, including unpublished materials by Ndre Mjeda; stamp collections from the Zog Kingdom; and the manuscripts of Fishta’s Luhata e Malësisë, as well as works by At Marin Sirdari and Dora D’Istria. The fate of these works is now shrouded in complete mystery.

Charge: “Disturbing public order” A 1,000-lek fine for the naked Italian beachgoer TIRANA — 1,000 lek and a heated argument with one of the local police officers. This was the price paid a few days ago by a tourist from Rome, Franco Bellucci, for a new fashion he tried out on the beach at Himarë. Completely naked, the Italian tourist was sunbathing with his close female companion on Himarë’s main beach. To him it was perfectly normal, but not to the many local passersby walking along the nearby road, one of whom, taken aback by the rather unusual sight, openly expressed his indignation. After that, the incident calls to mind novels featuring scenes of provocation. A first voice, then along a central street, and then a… companion to watch, understandably, from behind. A phone call immediately alerted the local police station, and several officers responded quickly, heading for the shore. Facing the naked pair, one officer took it upon himself to enforce the law against the offender. The nudist was fined 1,000 lek for disturbing public order. “Article 19 of Law 7.49, dated 29 April 1991,” he explained to the Italian, who, after paying the fine, was required to put his swimsuit back on. That is where the story ends. The Italian gave up a desire—not exactly a sensible one—and the police officer left satisfied that he had done his duty. This recent incident serves as a lesson for all tourists, foreign or Albanian, who make this mistake: before settling down somewhere, take a look around. If that had happened in this case, the Italian—in whose own country nudism is permitted only in a few very restricted designated areas—would not have been caught, and the police officer would not have been forced into an awkward position. The Italian should have known that this country has only recently emerged from a long period of barbarism and that for precisely this reason it cannot allow him to take off his clothes wherever he pleases. There are other, much more important concerns, too. In particular, this incident has added one more nudist to Albania’s beaches.

Yesterday in Albania Albania at Fiera del Levante In Shkodër In Brindisi

MOTHER TERESA OF CALCUTTA LEAVES HOSPITAL — Mother Teresa, the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, left a Calcutta hospital on Sunday, where she had undergone surgery on Thursday to widen a coronary artery. Mother Teresa is 83 years old; “she is well ... and her condition will remain so for the next four weeks; in mid-October she may go to Rinë,” said her doctor, Patricia Aubanel, a cardiology specialist familiar with the operation. CONDEMNED TO SMOKE BY HER HUSBAND — For 40 years he had wished his wife a constant “punishment” because she would not allow him to smoke. To get revenge, Marin Geremenicu, a pensioner from Timişoara who died last week at the age of 76, wrote a somewhat amusing condition into his will for his wife: he stated in writing that his 63-year-old wife, Aneta, must smoke at least five cigarettes a day until the last day of her life. USA: MISS AMERICA 1994 IS A BLACK WOMAN FROM CAROLINA — Kimberly Clarice Aiken, an 18-year-old from South Carolina, was chosen as Miss America 1994. The young woman, enrolled in her first year at the University of South Carolina, was selected from among contestants representing the 50 United States. Her prizes include a car, a $35,000 scholarship, and enough fame and publicity to earn her several thousand dollars over the coming year.

The 1943 massacre in Sarandë Albanian exhibition in Mottola The mummy found in the ice