The former Minister of Economy responds to the accusations and explains why he resigned. New names in the Government “I signed only one document” TIRANA — Two new names have joined Aleksandër Meksi’s government. Following President Berisha’s decree establishing the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Mineral and Energy Resources, and following the resignation of Genc Ruli—the former Minister of Economy and Finance—Selim Belortaja and Pirro Dishnica have been appointed. The only minister to remain in his post after the three ministries were reorganized and established was Abdyl Xhaja, now Minister of Mineral and Energy Resources. In accepting Ruli’s resignation, Prime Minister Meksi acknowledged that he had “fulfilled the duties entrusted to him up to now with integrity and dedication.” CARLO BOLLINO TIRANA — “He could no longer put up with this climate of slander; he could no longer put up with political speculation. And this is why he resigned: I hold a position of great responsibility and feel it is my duty to leave this post in order to improve the image of the democratic government and my own personal image. I am absolutely innocent; I have told the prosecutor that too...”. Genc Ruli speaks to the Gazeta, explaining the reasons that led him to leave the government after two years working in the difficult post of Minister of Economy and Finance, and defending his position, besmirched by suspicions of corruption. A few days ago—while he was still in office—Ruli was questioned by the prosecutor over the Arsidi scandal. The prosecutor went to his office at the Ministry and heard him as a witness. Ruli confirms: “Yes, it is true, I explained the whole story of that famous document.” The document at the center of the controversy is the one bearing the signature of the Minister of Economy and Finance and concerning relations between the Commercial Bank and the French financial center Nicola Arsidi—the same document connected with a payment of 1.6 million dollars. Among others, the top officials of the Commercial Bank (Saliu and Tartari), the Prime Minister at the time (Ahmeti), and the former Governor of the Bank of Albania (Hoti) have ended up in prison over the same matter. Italian parliamentarian Alberto Alessi contributed to Genc Ruli’s implication in the scandal by publicly accusing him of signing a document in Paris confirming Arsidi’s mandate: according to Alessi, the signature was made in June 1992, even before Ruli became a minister. So, can you explain your signature on this document? The Minister of Finance, Pirro Dishnica, 36, takes up his new post after serving as Director General of the Institute of Statistics, under the Council of Ministers. Selim Belortaja—now Minister of Industry and Trade—had worked since 1992 as Chairman of the National Center for Foreign Investment, under the Prime Minister’s Office. ...tar in exchange for before Ruli became a minister. So, can you explain the signature on this document? “Yes, it is true, I signed a document concerning Arsidi. It was an agreement the French financier reached with Tartari and Saliu to improve the public relations of the Albanian Commercial Bank: I signed it at the end of July 1992 in my office in Tirana. As far as I was concerned, it was merely a formal act. I explained to the prosecutor too: that document has absolutely nothing to do with negotiations over the foreign debt. I have never dealt with that matter.” But then, does the document Alessi is talking about exist or not? “No one has yet explained to me what was written in it. I went to Paris for the first time in October...” [?] Do you have a clear conscience? There are many rumors about you... “It is true, there are many rumors. And that is why I resigned, because I will not tolerate political speculation, and I ask that my position be reassessed without obstructing the work of the Democratic Party, with which I will continue to cooperate, as I will with the other institutions of a democratic country. I...” “Calm down.” There is another scandal involving your Ministry: the customs scandal. Is there really a great deal of corruption? “It is not yet clear whether this is a matter of administrative errors, corruption, or professional incompetence. Four months ago I asked the former Director General, Thoma Bicol-li, to leave his post because he had not demonstrated sufficient professional capacity; a few days ago he was arrested. Customs are certainly an extremely sensitive sector: the relevant legislation must be examined very carefully. But we should not consider only the negative side: this year we have collected more than 3 billion lekë in customs duties, exactly twice as much as last year.” In your opinion, is there also a problem with oversight? The names of Financial Police personnel have even been mentioned in the customs scandal... “Yes, there is certainly an oversight problem. I have even heard the name of the former Director of the Financial Police mentioned. I can say that I have read all the relevant files prepared by the State Audit Commission, and as far as he is concerned, there does not appear to be evidence of corruption ...to the core.” Minister of Finance Genc Ruli

Prosecutor Qeleshi at the moment of his arrival in Italy From our newsroom ROME — The Albanian investigators looking into the aid scandal involving Socialist Party leader Fatos Nano arrived in Rome on Wednesday evening. The delegation of investigators, led by Fatos Dervishi and Arben Qeleshi, arrived in Bari aboard the “Sansovino” ferry and then continued their journey to the Italian capital in two armored cars. At the outskirts of Rome, the investigators were met by a squad of Carabinieri, who escorted them to the Albanian Embassy. Today, the first questioning sessions will begin at the offices of the Italian Prosecutor’s Office, in the presence of prosecutor Evelina Canale. There is great secrecy surrounding the list of the seven witnesses who will be heard. It is known for certain that former Italian ambassador Torquato Cardilli and the administrator of the Bari company “Levante Co.” will be questioned; the company supplied Albania with the first ten billion in aid, which has become the focus of the scandal. According to some unconfirmed reports, the Albanian investigators will ask to question “another high-ranking authority,” but it has not been explained who this is. There is great anticipation for ele... Finance and concerning relations between the Albanian Commercial Bank and the French financier Nicola Arsidi, the same person who was assigned to negotiate Albania’s foreign debt. assigned to negotiate Albania’s foreign debt. According to Arsidi—it was signed for the first time in explain the mystery of this document? “I have signed only documents that were ...” [?] “I went to Paris only in October of ...” [?] In your opinion, were there irregularities in the Arsidi case? “Yes, I believe so, although it is now up to the investigation to pursue the matter and discover who the real people responsible are. This is certainly a major scandal.” Everyone knows that ... [?] ... a daily conference will be held in ... [?] ... the document I signed is in Paris and cannot be considered a document confirming Arsidi’s position. Do you believe there were it is now up to the Investigative Office to pursue the matter and discover who the people truly responsible are. This is certainly a major scandal.” ... at presence of prosecutors Evelina Carna. There is great secrecy surrounding the list of certain that former Italian ambassador Torguato Cardilli will be questioned, as will the administrator of the Bari company “Levant. Co.”, which supplied Albania with the first ten billion in aid, now at the center investigators will seek to question “another state authority,” but it is not explained who this refers to. There is great anticipation about the evidence and documents the investigators will manage to gather, and about how the investigation—which has also been under way in Albania for some time—may develop.

“AIR BP LIMITED” SIGNS RENEWAL AGREEMENT — An agreement “for supplying aviation fuel to aircraft at Rinas Airport” was signed in Tirana—at the Ministry of Mineral and Energy Resources—with the British company “Air BP Limited, London” and Petrolimpeks of Tirana. The London company—one of the largest in the world—owns around 1,000 tonnes, where 11 million tonnes of fuel are distributed, all through a staff of 9,000 people. The company’s executives promised that more than 10 percent of the staff would be local. ATATÜRK COMMEMORATED IN TIRANA — The 55th anniversary of the death of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of modern Turkey and a great friend of the Albanian people, was commemorated in a special session. The session, organized by the Institute of History, was attended by Albanian Minister of Defense Safet Zhulali, the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey in Tirana, Ornekoll, as well as members of parliament and other prominent figures. REHABILITATION OF BERAT’S “HELL” BEGINS — After being closed some time ago because of its extremely poor conditions, rehabilitation has now begun at the Institute for Children with Intellectual Disabilities in Berat. The humanitarian association “Feed the children,” the International Federation of the Red Cross, and the Albanian Red Cross have undertaken to restructure the center. The project—which provides for reopening in March next year—will also reduce the building’s capacity: to provide more suitable conditions for the children, it will be reduced from 100 to just 60.

Macedonia accuses Tirana of arming paramilitaries TIRANA — (p.re) — The accusations by the Macedonian authorities are rejected in Albania. “The Albanian government has not been involved in any illegal arms trafficking to Macedonia.” Safet Xhulali, the Albanian Minister of Defense, responded this way to accusations made a day earlier by official sources in Skopje, alleging “an organized arms trade from Albania, destined for paramilitary units currently made up of 20,000 Albanians in this former Yugoslav republic.” The report was accompanied by news of the arrest of seven Albanians in Macedonia, including two deputy ministers: Hisen Haskaj—in the Macedonian Ministry of Defense—and Imer Imeri, in the Ministry of Health. “These accusations aim to destabilize relations between Skopje and Tirana,” Minister Zhulali said, “and are an integral part of an anti-Albanian strategy aimed at isolating Albania once again.” On Wednesday evening, sources in Macedonia corrected reports that 300 automatic rifles had been found in Gostivar, saying that only 32 weapons had been found and that their arrival from Albania was merely a hypothesis. That same day in Geneva, the postponement of a meeting on Macedonia was announced because “interlocutors from the Albanian community were absent.” Minister of Defense Safet Zhulali

TIRANA — Papulias, the new Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, arrives in Tirana today. His Balkan tour, which began with Serbia, Montenegro, Slovenia, and Bulgaria, will also conclude in the Albanian capital. His mission—as it has been described—to settle the Balkan question is expected to be discussed in Tirana with the highest representatives of the Albanian state. Papulias’s visit is being awaited with interest in Tirana, even though Greece will take over the rotating presidency of the European Community in 50 days. But that is not all: recent border incidents between the two countries have sparked new controversies, which the Greeks used to send back more than 5,000 Albanian refugees within a few days.

A curious episode causes superstition TIRANA — A bat enters Parliament. Yes, just like in a horror movie: a strange creature, a flying mouse, a mysterious omen, both by nature and in meaning. Half mammal, half bird, flying in a legendary fashion, such a phantom—the bat flies through the parliamentary chamber, over the deputies’ heads. An image for a debate on reforming the laws, at times distracted by thousands of needles. No one knows what made it come in or why, while the superstitious wonder what it means. How did it fly in from...? [?] It is not a mere trifle, although the animal went and drove-[?] knows how to express precisely the insti-[?] ... nim with the cardinal of the country. The fift...[?], touching amulets, recall that the bat is a symbol of darkness and is not supposed to bring good luck. (Prayers with soul in Parliament—so to speak, in quotation marks—are the latest thing, considering that in the past socialist realism categorically forbade them.) The optimists, meanwhile, keep calm and recall that symbols of evil, when isolated—and that bat was just such a case—cannot harm anyone. In the end, isolating evil is a fine reflection on politics and morality.

In the absence of old copies, reproduction is proposed TIRANA — (Ar.Me.) — Busts of Enver Hoxha are being sought again. This time it is neither museum curators nor some nostalgic association, but an official request submitted to the Ministry of Culture in recent days. In this letter, the Ministry is asked to authorize the reproduction of busts of the former leader of the PPSH. But there is no need to worry. This is not about the Commander’s old friends. The letter was signed by a foreigner. Enver Hoxha is wanted for a film, but only as a plaster extra. The request comes from the Italian Claudio Vecchio, Production Director of “Amerika,” a film by the well-known Italian director Gianni Amelio, which is being shot here in Albania these days. Apparently, after trying in Albania to find some ready-made busts for his film, he thought that only an official request could solve the problem he had run into. Only this way will Vecchio be able to film scenes depicting Albania as it was three years ago. A historic photograph: the toppling of Enver Hoxha’s monument in Tirana

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