Smuggling. Clash between ministries. Another scandal? 86 tons of cigarettes seized and released Smuggling. Clash between ministries. Another scandal? The mystery of the «Sotirios» ship 86 tons of cigarettes seized and released CARLO BOLLINO VLORE – The cargo aboard that ship was worth several million dollars: 86 tons of smuggled cigarettes intended for illegal trade in Italy. It was discovered in the waters of the Port of Vlore and seized by the Financial Police, but suddenly the military authorities ordered it to be released. A mystery that threatens to conceal one of the many scandals, and which could even erupt into an international affair. A murky incident marked by moments of great tension between the Commander of the Vlore Port Authority—who had been ordered to guard the seized ship—and the officers of Fleet District No. 3, who instead ordered the ship to be taken out of Albanian territorial waters as “undesirable.” It is a story that risks involving the Italian authorities too: it was the Italian Financial Guard that reported the arrival of this ship, which was to supply the speedboats of the Apulian smugglers, and requested its seizure. A further request refers to an agreement concluded between the two countries. “The 500-ton ship is called “Sotirios” and was flying the Greek flag. It had 86 tons of “Marlboro” cigarettes on board, loaded in Bur-gas, Bulgaria, and officially bound for Durrës. The recipient of the goods was to be the company “Pannonia Forwarders,” which appears to have no office in Durrës. According to the Italian investigators, it is a company that does not exist at all. It was the General Command of the Financial Guard in Rome that alerted the Financial Police in Tirana to the arrival of the suspect ship. On the morning of 12 October, “Sotirios” was located at anchor off the Port of Vlore, where it had asked to wait for instructions on where it should unload. The Albanian customs authorities inspected the vessel and discovered that its documentation was incomplete and the cargo was not sealed. The Minister of Finance was immediately informed of therefore immediately informed, and on 13 October he ordered the ship’s seizure pending further clarification. But a few hours later, the mystery began. The Commander of the Vlore Naval Fleet intervened in the “matter” and ordered the Port Authority to immediately release “Sotirios” from Albanian waters, because the ship was considered “undesirable,” return all its documents, and impose no fine. But the orders contradicted one another: the Ministry of Finance had clearly stated in writing that the Greek ship had to be held until the clarifications were completed, and that its documents should even be transferred to Tirana. Clashes thus began between the military and the Port Authority. The Port Authority refused to release “Sotirios” and demanded a written order. Fleet District No. 3 also intervened in the dispute: the Greek ship had to leave national waters immediately, escorted by an Albanian gunboat. The Port Authority replied that it would comply “only because it is an order” and noted that the decision “violates the laws and the orders of three ministries.” On the evening of 15 October, the ship and its valuable cargo left Vlore and sailed toward Greek territorial waters. There are many serious questions. Why did the military authorities overrule an order from the Ministry of Finance? Why was “Sotirios” allowed to leave before the clarifications were completed? Why was a seized ship declared “undesirable”? Why was not even a fine imposed on that ship, which had violated the country’s laws? Regarding the contradictory orders: sailed toward Greek territorial waters. A smugglers’ boat photographed in the Adriatic Sea

Another director TIRANA - (Ed.La.) — Another senior state official has resigned. After the resignation of Petrit Kalakula, former Minister of Agriculture and Food, this time it is Idajet Farka, Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, who has taken this step. Prime Minister Meksi has now also formally approved his resignation, on 30 September. But Farka’s sudden departure from office was accompanied by another resignation: Bardhyl Llagami, Director of the Clothing and Footwear Directorate at this Ministry, repeated his superior Farka’s action at the same time. The resignations of the two officials from the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy came after a team from the State Control Commission carried out an inspection at the institution. Although the findings of this inspection have not yet been made public, sources at the Ministry say the resignations are connected to the discovery that Farka and Llagami had misappropriated 1,500 dollars. This sum, according to these sources, was taken from the Ministry’s budget after the two officials’ trip to Greece, even though the Greek hosts had covered those expenses. “Deputy Minister Farka and Bardhyl Llagami,” objects Nuredin Skrapari, Head of Personnel at the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy, “requested their resignations purely for health reasons.”

He worked at Tirana’s «stock exchange» EDMOND LAÇI TIRANA — Currency dealers are increasingly becoming victims of violent robberies. The body of a person who had worked in this profession was found murdered, with his pockets emptied, in the hills of Tirana’s Grand Park. Rresh Xhemal Xhafa, a resident of Tirana, was identified by the Criminal Investigation Police of the capital’s 2nd Police Station only two days after his horrific death. The prosecution immediately opened a criminal case. Although the investigation is continuing intensively, the perpetrators have not been identified. The victim Xhafa’s body was found by chance on the morning of 13 September by two employees of the capital’s Grand Park. Police arrived at the scene immediately—just a few meters from the construction site of the Kuwaiti hotel—and established that the victim had been shot in the back of the head at close range. According to police experts, the murder was very likely committed the previous night and not at the place where the perpetrators had dumped the victim. Although the investigation is not yet complete, the initial hypotheses about this crime point to a murder motivated by financial gain. The victim’s family members told investigators that there had been no quarrel or personal vendetta between Rreshp Xhafa and anyone else up to that point. The amount of money the murdered currency dealer had with him on the day of the robbery also remains a mystery. Currency dealers’ anxiety and insecurity have increased considerably in recent days, especially following the story of their colleague. “We are now very exposed to the actions of ordinary and professional robbers,” one of them told the newspaper. “Someone must protect us.” A month ago, another private currency dealer fell victim to a violent robbery. Several armed and masked people struck him on the head with a hard object and snatched 3 million lekë from him, equivalent to 3 thousand dollars. The perpetrators of that crime, committed near the former “Shqipëria Sot” Exhibition, have still not been identified.

LAÇ — A total of 9,000 liters of kerosene have been stopped and seized by the Financial Police Branch in the district of Laç. This quantity of fuel was being transported in three vehicles belonging to the district of Shkodër and the Malësia e Madhe area. The financial police officers impounded the goods because the drivers did not have the required documentation that must accompany every cargo. In addition, the destination of these vehicles gave rise to the suspicion that they might have been headed to Ma-llë Zi. The whole affair was interpreted as an attempt to breach the embargo imposed by the International Community against Serbia; the impounded goods were therefore seized.

Perhaps relocation to Gjadër can be avoided TIRANA — (ed. la.) — Rinas will not close and will not be relocated to Gjadër. This is what “Sopot Taci,” Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Transport, told the newspaper. But a final decision has not yet been made: the proposals from two competing consortia—Italian and German—are currently being evaluated, and the most suitable option for the reconstruction of Rinas Airport will be selected from among them. “There are various options,” says engineer L[l]ula Lukani, of the Investment Department at the Ministry of Transport, “for carrying out the first phase of the reconstruction of Rinas runway. One alternative is to do the work at night, without disrupting airport operations at all.” Another option is to complete the first phase within five weeks, but close Rinas during that time. It may also be decided to divide the runway into different sections: with two sections, the airport will continue operating during the reconstruction work, whereas if the runway is divided into three sections, the airport will necessarily have to be relocated to Gjadër. In any case, it is very likely that Rinas will not close. After the first phase of reconstruction work, the second phase will begin after the year 2,000.

TIRANA — Surprise and all kinds of speculation surround the still-unclear reasons for Ilir Hoti’s departure from his post; until very recently, he was Governor of the Bank of Albania. The sudden resignation of the former governor eclipsed the appointment, made at almost the same time by a special presidential decree, of Dylber Vrioni as the new Governor. But no precise explanations can yet be given for this change at the top of the banking system. The Bank of Albania implements monetary policy, and many link this resignation to possible changes in that area.

A success dedicated to the «Bears» ON PAGE 3

More news about the Nardi case? ON PAGE 2

TIRANA — Mero Baze, chairman of the Journalists’ Association of Albania, resigns. He communicated this decision to the Association’s Executive Committee the day before yesterday, at the beginning of its meeting. Immediately after this decision, Ylli Rakipi, current editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Republika”, was elected to replace Baze. At the Executive Committee meeting, the work carried out by the Association so far was also criticized. Attention was drawn to the slow progress in registering its members, its relations with foreign organizations, and its documentation. The Executive Committee, which also criticized Baze himself, accepted his resignation.

LAW ON THE FIGHT AGAINST INFECTIOUS DISEASES APPROVED — The relevant state institutions, private institutions, and individuals, including foreign residents, are required to implement all measures relating to the fight against infectious diseases and the prevention of epidemics. This is the main requirement set out in the Draft Law on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases, proposed by the People’s Assembly. Special importance is given to hygiene and to the duties of the health service, including the diagnosis of infectious diseases and vaccination of the population. The draft law also contains measures for the prevention of and fight against AIDS. It provides for the prevention of and fight against this disease, and for the population’s obligation to submit to [it]. IN ELBASAN, THREE WOMEN ACCUSED OF STEALING PLATINUM ARRESTED — The case concerns a considerable quantity of gold and precious metal, cut into pieces and valued at 80,000 US dollars. The metal was seized at a jewelry shop and sent to the Metallurgical Command. The arrested robbers had been reported in connection with another case, and some of them were apprehended; subsequently, [they] were arrested. PUBLICATION OF A NEW NEWSPAPER BEGINS IN VIJËR — Another newspaper is being added to the press in Albania, with the aim of publishing news and articles.

Everyone dreams when they sleep. This is an entirely normal fact, except that sometimes dreams are so beautiful or so awful that they leave you astonished and bewildered when you wake up. Dreams can also be “omens,” that is, they may contain a preview, a warning of what may happen in the future. Every week “Gazeta Shqiptare” offers its readers explanations and the meanings of the objects and situations most often dreamed about. HOTEL Psychological interpretation: The image of a house, like that of one’s own home, although it may indicate a temporary state. Like a house, a hotel reflects our personality, and the people we meet there represent particular aspects of our character. A very luxurious hotel? Are we ambitious and satisfied? A disorderly place? What does it mean? Something within us that is not in order, perhaps a problem we cannot deal with? A small, quiet, clean hotel? Are we calm, perhaps very [unclear], and somewhat inclined to withdraw? An empty hotel? A person who offers something to someone? The nature of this image has a sexual aspect: a hotel frequented by someone else represents a very serious woman. Prediction — Being in a hotel: a journey into unfaithfulness toward one’s romantic partner. An empty hotel: misfortune. TREE Psychological interpretation: It is an element of nature that is developed and strong; it symbolizes an inner force (the tree in the earthly paradise is the tree of life). For a person, it is a symbol of the stability of the individual, of life and the future, along with [unclear] and the desire to become a parent. A large, healthy, powerful plant shows that the dreamer has a positive image of themselves; conversely, a weak, short tree that is about to fall indicates a negative self-image. A branch stretching outward? The future lies in the encounter involved. A tree with the feminine side of our character; picking a branch from a tree in a dream means being burdened by the more feminine side of oneself, separating from one’s mother. But, according to Freud’s interpretation, picking one of the branches reveals a desire for incest. Prediction: A dried-up tree: health problems, the death of a friend. A flowering tree: health and joy. A tree with its roots exposed: misguided activities that need to be reconsidered, a desire for revenge, danger. Shade beneath a tree: honor, good luck. Sitting in the shade of a tree: good news is coming; sitting among the greenery beneath a tree: peace. Shaking a tree: future conflicts. SHEET Psychological interpretation: Sheets are a symbol of intimacy: if we dream of freshly washed sheets, there is no doubt that our private life is going through a very favorable, peaceful period and that we are satisfied with our sexual relationships. But if a sheet has stains or is torn, something is not right. The image of a sheet may also suggest fear of illness. The object of covering things with sheets: [unclear] our desire to keep things secret. Prediction: a trap and deceit.