18 December 1981: the Albanian Prime Minister dies in strange circumstances. Twelve years later, for the first time, his personal photographer speaks. And a new hypothesis emerges «A mysterious liquid was found on the floor» INTERVIEW 18 December 1981: the Albanian Prime Minister dies in strange circumstances. Twelve years later, for the first time, his personal photographer speaks. And a new hypothesis emerges. Was Mehmet Shehu also poisoned? «A mysterious liquid was found on the floor» CARLO BOLLINO TIRANA — It is the anniversary of a mystery. A mystery that began exactly twelve years ago, when, in the night leading into 18 December 1981, after the echo of a pistol shot, Mehmet Shehu died. What the propaganda of the communist regime has always considered a suicide may, in reality, conceal a state murder. And today, another account comes to light, containing a new hypothesis: Mehmet Shehu may perhaps have been poisoned. Speaking about this mysterious death for the first time is Jo[n]uz Luto: chauffeur and later official photographer to the former Prime Minister. “I was actually part of Mehmet Shehu’s personal escort; I was responsible for his physical security,” Jonuz Luto tells Gazeta Shqiptare. “That photographer title was just a designation.” Today Luto lives solely on his meagre pension, has no home, and agrees only with difficulty to recount those memories. He chooses his words very carefully and refuses to make unfounded accusations, but the facts he relates shed light on the Shehu mystery. In your view, did the former Prime Minister kill himself, or was he killed? “I am convinced he would never have killed himself. I had heard him say thousands of times that people who kill themselves…” [text missing/unclear in source] “...in the middle of the bed, far from his hand. And then, on the shirt and pyjamas, compared with the bullet hole, there were no burn marks caused by a shot fired at close range...” Yes, then what hypothesis can be put forward? “I know that that morning a strange liquid was found on the floor of his bathroom: there was no bottle nearby, just that liquid. An analysis was done, but nobody officially communicated the results. Some time later it was said that the liquid was poison, but that Shehu was supposed to use it to kill Hoxha. It is absurd: Shehu had no intention of killing Hoxha. Even I was drawn into the conspiracy [source text unclear], and that poison was used to kill Shehu or put him to sleep and stage the suicide. But how could they have forced the Prime Minister to drink that substance? “He had heart disease, suffered from ischaemia, and was used to taking many medicines. A glass was found beside his body: surely he had drunk something before he died.” But the villa was under surveillance; how did the killers get in without permission? “We need to clarify something: Shehu’s villa had two entrances, and only the main one was guarded by us. The second gate, which led...” [source text breaks off] “...I agree with Ali Çena when he says that someone may have entered through the cellar gate of the old building. We always kept that gate shut with a bolt. Unless someone from inside the house opened it...” Did you suspect that someone among Shehu’s staff might have betrayed him? “At that time it was forbidden to put forward a hypothesis. Anyone who suspected something ended up in prison.” But wasn’t the Prime Minister surrounded only by loyal people? “Of course, we were all trusted people: from the head of the escort to the waitress, everything, I believe, I have...” [source text unclear] In your opinion, will the truth ever be revealed? Does this involve Mehmet Shehu and Ramiz Alia? “I can tell you about one episode. A few days before he died, Shehu handed the Political Bureau the text of the self-criticism he was to read, which the Party had forced him to write. One evening Ramiz Alia came to the house; Shehu was ill. They stayed shut away for a long time, and as Alia was leaving I heard him say: ‘The Political Bureau does not agree with what you have written; you must make your self-criticism even more profound.’ He spoke in a firm, official tone.” How did Shehu react? “He stayed shut in his room, continuing to work. But in the following days he was shaken, extremely sad. He was afraid, spoke to no one, only to his wife. The Party’s accusations over his son’s engagement to a girl from a family of declassified status had changed his life. I remember that ever since the 8th Congress he had wanted to make a self-criticism, but the Party did not allow him. That day he was very, very ill. We were even afraid he might faint during his speech, so we recorded it beforehand. If anything happened, they would play his voice from the tape.” In your opinion, will the truth ever be revealed? [text continues beyond the edge of the photograph] “Only if someone decides to speak. There are at least three people still alive who know the whole...” which sheds light on Minister Shehu. In your opinion, killed? “I am convinced that say thousands of times that people who kill themselves are ‘dogs and traitors.’ He could not conceive of suicide.” “But his pistol was found beside the body…” “Yes, but the pistol was…” nearby, only intention whatsoever of killing Hoxha. Even I have been implicated in plots to kill Enver Hoxha: supposedly I was going to run him over with a car. It was all false. Then I ask: why was his body never autopsied? Could this mean that But the villa was under surveillance: how could someone enter unnoticed two entrances, and only the main one was monitored by us. The second gate, which led directly into the kitchen, was not monitored, because it was right opposite the Party House, where Enver Hoxha’s escort personnel provided security. I did not…” glass: surely he had drunk something before he died.” “Of course, they to the waitress. He trusted us. Just think, Shehu’s personal nurse was the wife of Ramiz Alia’s driver.” What kind of relationship did he have with— “At that time, putting forward hypotheses was forbidden. Anyone who had doubts only by loyal people? “Of course, they of relationship did he have with— had doubts only by loyal people? “Of course, they of relationship did he have with— Former Prime Minister Mehmet Shehu

The defendants shift responsibility But in the courtroom, the witnesses remember nothing The defendants shift responsibility The Block members in court «Why only us?» But in the courtroom, the witnesses remember nothing EDMOND LAÇI TIRANA — “Xhelil Gjoni is just like us.” Llambi Gegprifti, who has been on trial for seven days — together with nine other former members of the Block — on the charge of “violating citizens’ equality in collaboration, by creating privileges,” reacts to the trial witnesses. On Friday, the first day of the second round of hearings [source text unclear], Xhelil Gjoni was among the six witnesses called to testify. For a long time he was first secretary of the PPSH in the Tirana district, then an employee of the Central Committee apparatus and, after 1990, also a member of the Political Bureau and secretary of the PPSH Central Committee. Former officials of the same regime thus face one another, but now in different roles: witness and defendant. “It is easy for quite a few former members of the Political Bureau, who have not been included in the charges, to remain outside this trial,” Llambi Gegprifti tells Gazeta Shqiptare. “We have been caught like hostages, only ten of us, and all the thunderbolts must fall on us and all the burdens be unloaded on us.” Gegprifti was also the only defendant who asked for explanations about witness Gjoni. But when he asked him for further clarification, Gjoni replied: “I don’t remember!” But Gegprifti was not the only defendant who sought to broaden the distribution of responsibility: “We have committed no greater wrongdoing,” Hajredin Çela tells Gazeta Shqiptare. “He didn’t say anything new. The day of ‘I don’t remember’ overwhelmed the six witnesses: Kico Kasapi, Drita Bisha, Muharrem Belegu, Dine Abazi, Xhelil Gjoni and Abdyll Backa. Prosecutor Gjokutaj’s question to Dine Abazi — former Director of Special Control from 1987 to 1992 — about the amount of gold taken from the State Treasury for the Block members’ teeth also went unanswered. But Gegprifti wanted to end with one final statement to Gazeta Shqiptare: “This trial...” [Text continues beyond the edge of the photograph] the defendant who asked for an explanation regarding Gjoni replied: “I don’t remember.” But Gergjifi was not the only defendant who asked for responsibility to be apportioned more broadly: “We have committed no further offence,” Hajredin Çeku told Gazeta Shqiptare, “but we are accused because we supposedly signed a document.” Meanwhile, Vangjel Çerra acknowledges that the important witnesses in this trial — former senior officials of— had doubts ended up in prison.” But the witnesses have not finished testifying yet. On Friday — the first day of witness testimony — prosecutor Gjukaj’s requests were also accepted for Adil Çarçani, Kino Buxheli and Vloron Prodani to testify in the trial. Çërraves’ request to summon witness Polikseni Kovaci was also accepted. It is still not known whether these witnesses — around 70 in all — will be of value, since on Friday nobody “who are now witnesses,” he tells Gazeta Shqiptare. — the first day of witness testimony — is still not known whether these witnesses — around 70 in all — will be of value, since on Friday nobody answered. Prosecutor Gjokutaj’s question to Dine Abaz[in] — former Director of the Special Clinic in 1987–1992 — for the teeth of the party elite also went unanswered. Gergjifi wanted to bring matters to a close with a final statement to Gazeta Shqiptare: “This trial has nothing to do with any political trial, because we cannot be convicted for free coffee and medicine. After the witnesses of the old system, now we too have to be convicted.” The trial of the ten communists

New Year / The Municipality will provide 8,000 dollars Three kilometres of lights The capital dressed for the holidays ARMAND MERO TIRANA — There will be three kilometres of strings of lights, and around 800,000 lekë will be spent to decorate Tirana for the Christmas and New Year holidays. “This time,” he tells Gazeta Shqiptare and Tirana [source text unclear], “we have decided to do something different from previous years.” During the holidays, Skënderbej Square will change its appearance completely. For the first time, a fair will be organized, with various games for children. A row of kiosks — selling mainly goods and fun items for children — will give the fair the shape of a U. On its sides, at the entrance, two tall towers bearing various greetings will be erected. A typical carnival atmosphere will be created by performances from the Estrada, the Circus and the Puppet Theatre. Children, in groups, will move around the square singing and joking, in carriages [source text unclear]. Then everyone will gather together for a large concert. For the first time, Albanian artists will also create an atmosphere like that of the Great Vienna Concert. Classical music and waltz dancing will welcome the New Year at the Opera and Ballet Theatre. But it will not be only the capital’s centre that will “change its skin.” “We will decorate some other squares too,” Kaceli continues. “We have ordered sixty [items unclear], and [asked] traders to decorate their shops.” At 24:00 on 31 December, fireworks will be the first to welcome the arrival of New Year 1994 in Albania.

But 15 quintals had already been consumed TIRANA — (Ar.Me.) Expired food products have once again been seized. This time it was a quantity of 2,660 kilograms of margarine that had been sold despite being past its expiration date. The margarine — a total shipment of 40 tonnes — had been imported on 8 March this year by the private company “Ardo”. Its expiration date was also in March, on the 30th. Nevertheless, the margarine continued to be sold after that date. A large part of it was used in the student canteens at the Higher Agricultural Institute of Kamza in Tirana. Only after an inspection by the Market Service and Control authorities was it possible, nine months after the expiration date, to seize the remaining quantity that had not yet been sold. This quantity was not buried, however. “We thought we should not let it go to waste,” Selamudin Haxhiymeri, an inspector at the Veterinary Office of the Tirana Municipality, told Gazeta Shqiptare, “and decided to hand it over to the Soap Workshop.” But this is not the only case. A few days ago, a quantity of jars of pea jam was seized in Berat for the same reason.

Politicians speak about the Tangentopoli trial Former PSI secretary Craxi levels serious accusations against all the parties ON PAGE 2 The anatomy of the «Superlek»: millions of dollars a year from emigrants In nine months the Bank has put another 14 billion lekë on the market ON PAGE 3

THE FUND ALLOCATED FOR REPAIRING SCHOOLS IN THE MAT DISTRICT IS AT RISK OF BEING LOST — The fund allocated for major repairs and renovation of schools in the Mat district risks becoming unusable. This fund — part of it was also intended for purchasing school equipment — may not be used because private companies refuse to work in the locations where these schools are situated. Another 1.5 million lekë is also available for the schools in the Mat district to secure their services. CULTURAL SITES IN GJIROKASTËR BECOME TARGETS FOR THIEVES — Numerous thefts have taken place at cultural sites and centres in the Gjirokastër area, and folk costumes have been stolen. More than 500 musical instruments and original folk costumes were [source text unclear] over a long period in Gjirokastër. All of these were presented by the Weapons Museum in the city’s castle. So far, 98 cultural centres and museums in the district have been recorded [source text unclear]. THE BIG TREES AND DECORATIONS FOR CHRISTMAS ARE INCREASING — The square on Rruga e Kuqit has been decorated for New Year — large trees adorned with lights have been put up. This is not the only thing being prepared for the Christmas holidays: a large tree has been set up in the town square. A fair with toys and gifts...