LEKA I / This is how the King’s son left Albania His minister: “With a document like this I have entered Tirana before, several times” - Meeting at the airport with an MP - A contributor to our newspaper detained by police CARLO BOLLINO TIRANA — They looked like ordinary passengers when, by radio from aboard the private jet, they requested permission to land at “Rinas.” It was 4 p.m. on Friday, and at the capital’s airport everything was proceeding according to the daily routine. Two elegant gentlemen stepped off the aircraft, suitcases in one hand and passports in the other. But it was precisely there, in that red document bearing the inscription in French “Passeporte diplomatique” and in Albanian “Kingdom of Albania,” that the mystery lay. Then came the name Leka Ahmet Zogu and the profession: “King of Albania.” No one seemed to suspect anything, and the fearful pretender to a kingdom that no longer exists had calmly passed every checkpoint, ending a 54-year-long exile in room “21” of Hotel Dajti. The “sovereign,” Leka I, was not alone. With him was Abedin Mulosmani, also a “Minister” of a “court” that had existed only half a century earlier and was subsequently erased by the laws of Enver Hoxha’s Constitution. But Leka I’s stay in Albania (he had left his homeland with his father when he was only two days old) lasted only a few hours this time too: on Saturday afternoon, the police came to his hotel room and pointed out that his passport was irregular. At 16:40, Zogu and his companion boarded their aircraft and left their homeland. And so, from a careless border check, a “case” was born, occupying the police and journalists over a rainy weekend. There was also a consequence for a contributor to our newspaper, “Gazeta Shqiptare”: Agim Kajrani was detained by the police inside the airport while trying to photograph for the newspaper the “sovereign” and his companion as they were leaving Albania. A singular and certainly unpleasant episode. But let us look more closely at the chronology of this affair. Leka Zogu had come to Albania with Abedin Mulosmani to attend the 50th anniversary of the founding of the “Legality” Party. “The sovereign was to stay until November 28, Flag Day,” Abedin Mulosmani told the newspaper a few minutes before boarding the “Sabre liner” that would take him and his “king” “to one of the friendly countries of the Mediterranean.” It was Mulosmani himself who had obtained and signed his passport and Zogu’s, thanks to his designation (specifically, that of “Minister of the Royal Court”), which no Albanian law can recognize today. “This passport story is strange,” Mulosmani added. “I have come to Albania several times before with this same document. Look, here are the entry and exit visas: no one had challenged its validity. On June 26, the entire Royal Court even came here, and they all had this type of passport.” Another mystery. No Albanian law can recognize it today. “This passport story,” Mulosmani added, “I have come even recently with that type of type of passport.” Another mystery. After reaching his hotel room on Friday evening, Leka Zogu had met at least fifteen people, all supporters of the Monarchy. “We must have come from his security detail,” one of his five bodyguards said, “and when dinner arrived in the room, we preferred that he not eat it, consuming instead the food brought in suitcases.” Truly excessive precautions. Finally, during the night, the police arrived with a review of the passports and an invitation to complete the proper paperwork. And since Leka and Abedini did not have the required documents, the Ministry of Public Order issued an invitation for them to leave the homeland. At around 8:30 on Saturday, the “sovereign” and his “Minister” were escorted to “Rinas” airport: they were supposed to leave on a scheduled flight, but Zogu refused, asking to wait for his private jet, the one he had arrived in, which had been ordered to set off from Amman, the capital of Jordan, via the Royal Family’s personal satellite phone. Eight hours of waiting in an airport lounge followed, during which the would-be king had a long conversation with MP Abdi Baleta. “Yes, I met Leka Zogu,” the parliamentarian confirmed to the newspaper, avoiding further comment. Finally, at 15:55, the aircraft arrived; it refueled and then—in the air at 16:40—departed for an undisclosed destination: the exile continues. was only 2 in the hours before departure with Mediterranean.” It was Mulosmani himself who had issued and signed his passport and Zog’s, thanks to his designation (the translator [rendered] his as “Minister of the Royal Court”) which no one This passport story is strange — says Mulosmani — I have admired him, and on other occasions too, in Albania exit visas: nobody had challenged its validity which is in force in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, and among the main respondents press issues. Kurt Braun will speak about the law in Westphalia and—naturally—will also Foundation, will last a whole president of the Albanian Journalists’ Association, will speak about information issues in Albania. Among others, Carlo Bollino, the “Gazeta Shqiptare” representative in Albania, has also been invited to speak. Abedin Mulosmani shows the passport shortly before leaving Albania (photo A. Babani)

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FRANCE: SIX TURKS DIE IN A FIRE — Six Turks (two adults, three young people and a little girl) died, burned to death in a fire that broke out at dawn in their small home in Mulhouse (central France). Fire service sources reported this. According to accounts from some relatives, they were a man and his wife, both over forty, their two children, aged 15 and 20, and a little girl entrusted to them by some friends with whom they had spent the evening. AIR DISASTER IN MACEDONIA, 115 DEAD — The air disaster in Macedonia claimed 115 victims, police sources announced on Skopje radio. According to the sources, only one person survived, a young man about 20 years old. ADIDI CALLS FOR INQUIRY INTO “TERROR” BY UN TROOPS — Somali warlord Mohamed Farah Adidi has requested, in a letter sent to Arab League Secretary-General Esmat Abdel Meguid, the opening of an “impartial inquiry into the actions carried out by UN troops in Somalia.” A spokesperson for the pan-Arab organization confirmed this. COMMUNIST STRIKERS’ PICKET AGAINST CLOSURE OF LENIN MUSEUM — About 200 people held a picket in Moscow outside the Lenin Museum, near Red Square, to protest President Boris Jeltsin’s decision to transfer Lenin’s remains to a storage facility and turn the palace into the future headquarters of the “Duma” (Moscow City Council).

IN FIER, FUEL EXPORT MONITORING IS COMPUTERIZED — A computer has just been installed at the Financial Police Branch in the Fier district. Using an electronic parliamentary system and a satellite antenna, the computer will ensure the exchange of messages with the oil embargo group on the border with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and with the other border crossings. This will make it possible to check fuel destinations more quickly and coordinate work more effectively to strengthen the embargo. EIGHT PRIVATE COMPANIES IN KUKËS ON THE VERGE OF BANKRUPTCY — They have run up large debts to the state and other private entities. This is the main sign indicating the imminent bankruptcy of eight private companies in the Kukës district. The tax office reports that they are unable to pay their fiscal obligations regularly. Bankruptcy documentation is now being prepared. The Brick Factory also faces an uncertain future. The high selling price of the bricks it produces has driven buyers away and, as a result, a very large quantity of its production remains in stock. LECTURE SERIES ON SOCIOLOGY AT SHKODËR UNIVERSITY — A sociology course has just opened at the “Luigj Gurakuqi” University in the city of Shkodër. Lecturers, students, secondary-school teachers and citizens of Shkodër will take part. The course was made possible under the auspices of the city municipality and the Italian Embassy in Albania. Participants will attend a series of lectures by Italian professor Luigi Xa of the University of Lecce and his colleagues.

Water supply GJIROKASTËR — This is an implementation project that will bring sufficient quantities of water from the Gurres and Picar springs. It appears that, through this project—which has been reviewed by the District Council—the city of Gjirokastër will be able to overcome the drinking-water shortage crisis more quickly. At present, only one-third of the city’s needs are being met with water. The fast-track project will cost 10 million lekë. In its first phase, water flows will be stabilized in summer and winter. In the second phase, the aim will be to increase the quantity of water.

TIRANA — Freedom and the Press Law will be discussed today at the Palace of Congresses. The German state foundation “Friedrich Ebert” is organizing a seminar on the topic: “Freedom of the Press, Human Dignity.” It is a very important opportunity to discuss the new Law on the Albanian Press with experts. The law recently approved by Parliament was, in fact, derived from the laws in force in the German state of Nordrhein-Westfalen, and among the main speakers will be Kurt Braun, a lawyer and expert on German press issues. Kurt Braun will discuss the law in Westfalen and—naturally—also explain the Albanian law in detail. The seminar, requested and organized by the German Embassy together with the “Friedrich Ebert” Foundation, will last all day. It is scheduled to begin at 8:30. Ylli Rakipi, president of the Albanian Journalists’ Association, will speak about information-related issues in Albania. Among others, Carlo Bollino, the representative in Albania of “Gazeta Shqiptare,” has also been invited to speak.

Italian actor arrives in Durrës TIRANA — “I have an Albanian grandmother; I’m from Puglia: it’s natural that I love Albania.” These are the first words with which Michele Placido commented to Gazeta on his return to Albania to continue filming Gianluca Amelio’s movie. The actor—well known in Albania for his participation in the Miss Albania pageant—arrived at Rinas Airport at noon on Saturday. The actor is in Durrës, where Amelio’s crew has moved the filming team. Michele Placido plays the role of an Italian trader who has come to Albania to carry out a not very clear-cut trafficking operation. Actor Michele Placido

A draft decision defines relations with owners A valuable asset is disappearing ON PAGE 2 “If further incidents are repeated, I will withdraw the Foundation” Xhorxh Soros returns to Albania ON PAGE 2