ARSIDI SCANDAL / After Hoti’s arrest, Italian MP Alessi speaks: “Here are my documents” “Something strange happened in Paris...” CARLO BOLLINO TIRANA — The formidable MP Alessi is back on the attack. At last, he reveals which documents he has handed over and on which he bases his harsh accusation against the Albanian Government over the Arsidi scandal. But he does not stop there. Precisely as police in Albania — on Thursday morning — were arresting former Governor Ilir Hoti, whom Alberto Alessi had been calling responsible in this affair for several months, he — Italy’s Democratic MP and polemicist — resumed his attacks on Albania. It happened as Parliament was supposed to ratify the Agreement on Italian-Albanian Cooperation in Tourism and the Environment, signed in Ancona on 13 July 1991. “I was the rapporteur for the agreement and said in the chamber that I was against its approval,” he tells the Gazette, “but although I did not want to harm the Albanian people, I contented myself with withholding my vote. Only in this way was ratification carried out. But without my consent.” For many months you have been making serious accusations concerning the Arsidi affair. The Albanian Prosecutor’s Office has now resumed its investigation and arrested several people, including former Governor of the Bank of Albania Ilir Hoti. Are you now convinced that there was no desire to conceal the truth? “When people end up in prison, you can never be satisfied, and nevertheless I insist that there are other people responsible. And I am not speaking only of legal responsibility, but political and moral responsibility. I would add one thought: prisons full of people never guarantee democracy...” In fact, prisons in Italy are also full of people. But let us talk about the documents: you continue to maintain that you have a lot of evidence in your possession... “Yes, the evidence exists and it helps me show that I am not a liar.” Where does it come from? “I cannot answer you precisely: let us say it comes neither from Italy nor from Albania...” Can you at least say what it concerns? “I have an obligation to the Italian Parliament, to which I promised I would hand over all the documents. But I can say something beforehand. The story is quite simple: in June 1991, an initial agreement was reached in Paris, assigning Mr Arsidi the task of negotiating Albania’s foreign debt. I have a copy of this document; I cannot tell you more, but by reading it and comparing certain dates, quite interesting things come to light. Let us continue: on 1 November 1991, Governor Ilir Hoti signed the agreement with Arsidi, exempting him from all responsibility in the event of failure. On 30 November, a second agreement was signed by the Director of the National Commercial Bank, Ardian Hyni, entrusting Arsidi with an irrevocable letter of credit to receive 1.6 million dollars as compensation for his work. On 16 December, former Prime Minister Vilson Ahmeti confirmed the appointment, and on 20 March 1992 Hoti signed a cheque to Arsidi for 1.2 million dollars. The cheque was cashed on 15 July 1992 with the guarantee of Agron Saliu. I have documents for all of this...” Yes, but what are you doing here? “Italy is involved: on 19 September 1992 — although the matters initiated with Arsidi were entrusted to Beniamino Andretta, the current Italian Foreign Minister, the same task of negotiating Albania’s foreign debt was assigned. And much earlier, an identical arrangement had also been made with Giuliano Amato. That is the mockery. With all that money Italy gave to Albania, the Italian Government has been made a laughingstock.” But where, in your opinion, does the illegality lie? “There are many illegalities, and the Albanian Prosecutor’s Office is now uncovering them too. But there are other things that need to be revealed. Isn’t it strange, for example, that instead of 1.6 million dollars Arsidi received only 1.2? What happened to the other 400,000 dollars? You’ll see: when I speak in Parliament, many things will become clear...” (nineteen people in all, not 21 as was initially stated) were transported by a bus provided by the Italian Football League to the port of Brindisi, from where — aboard the ship «La Vikinga» — they were supposed to return home. But here was the surprise: only eight people boarded the ship for Durrës. There was no news of the other 11; they had practically vanished. Rightly concerned by this sensational disappearance, the Vice-President of the Florence Football League, lawyer Vittorio Mormando, filed a report with the Lecce Police Headquarters. And now the eleven Albanians, players, coaches and officials, have been accused of illegal stay. The agents of the Lecce Police Headquarters (who are now looking for these undocumented migrants) have been told that, during the match against Italy, the head of the delegation had asked for information about a person in Casarano, a person with a bad reputation. This is further evidence that it was an escape organized down to the last detail, apparently well in advance. But the other possibility cannot be ruled out either: many of those who stayed in Italy may have taken advantage of the opportunity for a short holiday near their immigrant relatives.

The coach and the undocumented players Albania’s Under-21 football team, which played in Casarano on Monday From our newsroom UMBERTO VËRRI LECCE — It was not a sudden “escape” carried out only at the moment of boarding the ship. Most likely, the twelve members of the Albanian football team who landed in Bari last Sunday (they had come from Durrës) had planned it down to the smallest detail. After training in Salento, the following day — Monday, 1 November — they played a friendly match against the Italian Serie C/1 national team, held at the «Capozza» stadium in Casarano. After playing and losing 1–0, both the footballers and the other members of the Albanian national team’s delegation (19 people in all, not 21 as was initially reported) were taken the port of Brindisi, from where — aboard the ship «La Vikinga» — they were of the other 11: they had practically vanished. Understandably alarmed by the sensational disappearance, Thus, an escape planned by Myslym Alla (head of the delegation), Petrit Kasapi, the official of the Albanian Federation, the team coach Edmond Gedza-ri, the masseur Bujar Alla and the footballers: Amarildo Xheka, Apolonia defender; Brikeno Bizi, Vllaznia forward; Altin Gallo, Tirana midfielder; Edmond Kodra, Besa midfielder; Gentian Lici, Partizani midfielder; Edi Martini, Vllaznia midfielder; and Alban Tafaj, Partizani defender. The ones who returned were the press officer, Adriatik Dosti, and the players: Armir Grima, Vllaznia goalkeeper; Ilir Selimi, Dinamo defender; Alvaro Zalla, Teuta midfielder; Edmond Dalipi, Dinamo forward; Indrit Fortuzi, Tirana forward; Aurel Mollti, Vllaznia midfielder; and Edmond Sula, Tirana player. looking for these undocumented migrants) have reportedly the last detail. And apparently well in

Some visitors suspected as possible perpetrators TIRANA — (Ed. La.) — The National Historical Museum has been robbed through a thoroughly brazen entry. This time the “visitors” preferred the Museum’s ancient old coins, which until now had not suffered the fate of many other museums in Albania. On Thursday morning, Museum employees discovered that the coins on display on its third-floor second level had disappeared. Immediately — at 7:30 — Criminal Investigation Police officers from Tirana’s No. 3 Precinct arrived at the institution to inspect the situation. Although the investigation is continuing and the case has been referred to the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office, the robbers have not yet been identified. Investigators have already questioned many Museum staff members in order to shed light on the crime. The day before the theft was discovered, the galleries from which the coins are missing had been visited by only five people: all Albanians, but only one resident in Albania. According to Museum staff, the thieves achieved their aim by removing the screws from the glass panels in which the coins were displayed. It is a very rare collection of antiquities of great value. The latest robbery, this time of the National Historical Museum, comes almost simultaneously with the report published in the Gazette that an Albanian had attempted to sell 15 ancient coins to a museum institution in Germany. According to specialists at the National Archaeological Museum, these coins taken out of Albania may well be part of the collection of 70 coins stolen in 1990. But the Albanian archaeological collection is also missing nearly 600 other coins, discovered some time ago in Qinam, Kolonjë. Those have now been joined in the missing archaeological collection by the coins just stolen from the National Historical Museum.

SHKODER — (Bar. ça.) — Another crime in the Shkodër district. This time the victim of a monstrous murder is a 25-year-old pregnant woman. The Shkodër Criminal Police found the body of Flutura Braci in the middle of the village of Trush the day before yesterday, riddled with seven bullets; she had been covered with branches and straw by the killer 24 hours earlier. Exactly two months ago, Bedri Hoxha, 32, a shepherd by profession, was also murdered in this village. Police suspect — linking the two incidents — that the perpetrator of the crimes, which were motivated by jealousy, is Flutura’s husband, who has been missing and is believed to have fled to an unknown destination since the first crime.

CONCERT BY A GROUP OF ALBANIAN INSTRUMENTALISTS AT THE “PELIKAN” CENTRE — Yesterday, at the “Pelikan” Operation centre in Durrës, a group of Albanian instrumentalists gave a concert. The group consisted of Abegjua Vosh tina, Irma Shkënderi, Elida Pali, Suela Shehu and Tir Esiu. Their programme included the best-known pieces: Nabuko, Endër Daku ra, Sule, Ave Maria and Danub blu. “THE ‘DEMOKRACIA’ SQUARE PROJECT WILL BE CARRIED OUT BY STUDENTS” — Only students will take part in the project concerning the future of “Demokracia” Square. This decision was made this day by the Municipality of Tirana. The idea of giving the project for the city square to students originated—it was put forward by the Youth, Culture and Sports Section. First, the Municipality will organize a competition among students, in which the best project will be selected; it will be implemented later for this square. 150 YOUNG ALBANIANS SET OFF TO WORK IN MALAYSIA — 150 young Albanians will be employed in Malaysia. They will work in this country for 2 years, at a hotel about 300 km from the capital. The young Albanians—aged 16 to 30—will work as cooks, waiters and receptionists. Their pay—excluding food and accommodation—will be 200 dollars. The employment was made possible through a contract signed by the Albanian Ministry of Emigration and its Malaysian counterpart. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY AID WORK FOR ALBANIA CONTINUES — Ships carrying various food products continue to arrive at the Port of Durrës. These products—mainly flour and wheat—are part of the European Community’s aid to Albania. These days, the ships “Ranger,” carrying around 17 thousand tons of wheat, and “Apollonia Na jad,” carrying 5 thousand tons of flour, are being unloaded in Durrës. Another ship carrying approximately 13 thousand tons of wheat is expected.

Some visitors suspected as possible perpetrators

The Albanian Gazette’s initiative to give readers old panoramas of several Italian cities has been a great success. In fact, many people who were unable to find them on the market have asked us to repeat the initiative. Specifically to meet this request, today the Albanian Gazette will continue distributing an old panorama as a gift together with the newspaper. The panorama of Potenza is being offered.

The draw for the European Cup matches was held A difficult round for Milan and Parma ON PAGE 2 Tourism projects worth 40 million dollars Rogner also presents his hotel ON PAGE 3