Two court presidents in jail High-profile arrests by the Republic Prosecutor’s Office EDMOND LAÇI TIRANE — An earthquake in the Albanian world of justice. Within a few hours, two sensational arrest warrants have placed Llami B. Qiriana and Ledi Deliallisi, two of the highest-ranking members of the courts of Korçë and Kavajë, under accusation. On Wednesday evening, after being arrested at midday, the senior jurists Qirilla and Deliallisi were transferred to the cells of Tirana Prison, while the Republic Prosecutor’s Office immediately launched investigations. The first suspicions refer precisely to their activity at the head of the courts of Korçë and Kavajë, but also to the judicial cases they had handled. The first to arrive at Tirana Prison — on Tuesday evening — was the 55-year-old Qirilla, who is now perhaps accused of “abuse of office.” Although it may be somewhat reserved, one of the decisions that have now led to the accusation concerns the Korçë defendant Kapurani, to whom the Court of Korçë had changed the security measure after his arrest for “murder.” The situation is further complicated because, precisely after that decision, Kapurani left Albania and the investigations opened against him remained suspended. The President of the Court of Kavajë — who arrived in the capital at midday on Wednesday — was initially accused of “issuing an unfair ruling.” According to senior investigators, this accusation against the 25-year-old Deliallisi refers to several court decisions granting early conditional release to various individuals. There are more than ten such decisions, over which investigators now harbor suspicion regarding Deliallisi’s conduct. The investigations that have now placed justice under accusation are still highly confidential, and only their conclusion — which should come very soon — can shed light on the whole story of the two jurists Qirilla and Deliallisi. All the more so since, because of the immediate arrest, the hypotheses they will use in their defense against these charges are still unknown. In any case, on Wednesday the clock of Albanian justice was shaken. EDMOND LAÇI

From the EC Are half of the aid funds salaries? TIRANE — A large part of the aid from the European Community, once channeled in favor of the Albanian economy, has gone back into European pockets. This refers to the item “technical assistance,” which during 1994 accounted — according to the statement made to journalists by the EC ambassador to Albania, Edo Gernano — for about 50 percent of the aid disbursed by the EC. This is an item that to a considerable extent has “gone into fees or other payments,” meaning the expenses incurred to pay foreign specialists who came to Albania. Even at the initial moments of reform, Albania’s poor economy continues to “pay” at a very high price for the foreign “brainpower” it has brought in order to benefit from packages, and during this year alone the EC has disbursed in favor of Albania 64 million ECU, or about 73 million U.S. dollars. This aid has been distributed among various projects in fields such as agriculture, health, public administration, transport, education, infrastructure, and justice. But the implementation of many of these projects still seems to require the presence and expertise of many specialists coming from Community circles. And it is precisely their salaries — unquestionably among the highest compared with those of local specialists in the same field — that account for a considerable percentage of what is described as “technical assistance.” And according to the same EC disbursement indicator, the funds for these salaries are part of the aid disbursed. “This too is an investment: a kind of humanitarian one, bearing in mind, apparently, the cost of the journey that our foreign colleagues transfer to Albanian specialists. But while voices are being raised in the local administration for minimizing the item ‘technical assistance’ in future projects, it is not known where the foreign ‘brain’ will be able to leave the local ‘brain.’ Andrea Stefani

Brussels revokes part of the health measures Cholera: Europe finally reopens fish exports Vegetables remain suspended: the decision will be examined in the coming days TIRANE — Albanian fish can now once again go freely to European markets. At the beginning of this week, the European Union unblocked the decision — taken at the end of September — banning the sector from exporting fish and seafood to its member states until the end of the year because of the presence of the cholera epidemic in Albania. The revocation measure was adopted earlier this week in Brussels by the EU Veterinary Committee and will enter into force at the beginning of next January. The new decision, however, is accompanied by a series of restrictions. Albanian mollusks, as well as fish transported alive in tanks, will still not be allowed to cross the border: they continue to be seen as a possible risk for the spread of vibrios. Meanwhile, the “permission” for exports has been granted only for one year, on condition that if during this period a lack of hygiene and sanitary measures by fish-trading enterprises is observed, it can be blocked. The meeting of the Veterinary Committee in Brussels was preceded by a visit to Tirane by an EU delegation one day earlier this month. The experts in the delegation immediately declared after the visit that the risk of infection and the spread of the cholera epidemic through food was almost impossible. But while the fish issue had been resolved, the export of Albanian vegetables had still not been addressed, and these had been blocked since the end of September, when the epidemic outbreak was at its peak. Their case will however be discussed in the coming days in Brussels by another European Union committee. Ar. Me.

Two separate operations in Gjirokastër. One arrest Drugs on a bus: police discover it among tourists’ luggage in the trunk GJIROKASTER — Drugs on a bus. The police of Gjirokastër has once again proved successful with its “bluff,” whose officers for four days have been carrying out a wide-ranging operation — in the area between Gjirokastër and Kakavijë — against drug traffickers who enter illegally between Albania and Greece. This time, in the luggage compartment of a bus coming from Erseka, a tourist bag stuffed with a considerable quantity of drug plants was discovered. After the incident — which occurred at midday on Wednesday — police officers blocked the bus, as well as the suspicious passengers, in order to identify the owner of the drug bag. The latest operation had begun immediately after, at the Greek customs office — on the morning of last Saturday — two Albanian citizens were stopped, in whose bags a considerable amount of drugs was found. That same evening — along the Gjirokastër-Kakavijë road — the Albanian police discovered suspicious material in the front tire of a car from Tirane with foreign plates, while the driver managed to flee immediately. The person who had traveled until that moment in that car — the 31-year-old Rustem Seiti — has been isolated since Saturday in the Gjirokastër Police Commissariat. (Ra.Ko.)

TIRANE — Schubert’s and Dvorak’s melodies to show solidarity with seriously ill cancer patients. This was the purpose of the concert given yesterday afternoon in the hall of the Academy of Fine Arts by the chamber orchestra of this institution. A concert organized by the association “Ryder Albania,” which provides irreversible assistance to many terminally ill families. In the invitation prepared by this association for the performance, people were called on to support the initiative and their activity: “Your financial help (even the smallest) or medical aid will be very valuable, so that this team of doctors and nurses can continue their valuable efforts.” The association “Ryder Albania” operates free of charge and is a comprehensive association. Its aim is to provide qualified free medical assistance at home to oncology patients in the terminal stage, offering full treatment that includes pain control as well as material support. “Ryder Albania” is a branch of the Sue Ryder/Leonard Cheshire foundation in England, which also has many branches in Europe.

Police counterattack: speedboats under control During the terror, a woman was also wounded Police counterattack: speedboats under control Vlorë, a gang on the attack: the cashier of «Gjallica» is killed During the terror, a woman was also wounded VLORE — Blood over money. This time it is the company "Gjallica" that has fallen victim to the terror of an organized gang, which on Monday night unleashed yet another bloody robbery. With six bullets in his body, the company’s chief cashier, Prençi, was killed, while two other women were wounded by the bandits’ firearms. The horror spread for many minutes also to another apartment building where one of the well-known Vlora company "Gjallica" resides. Immediately after this tragic incident, the law-enforcement forces were put on alert, even blocking all exits from Vlorë and especially the road. Once again, life has become very difficult to enter, and the few detectives and police officers have managed to get past the crime scene after Prençi. The company leaders — who have the owner in Vlorë, but also circulate among the well-known and other criminal citizens — were in a state of alert (paradoxically, in the place available for identifying and denouncing the perpetrators, a large amount of cash and at night, thousands of Vlorë residents moved around in order to find peace, not wanting their city to be in the clutches of criminal gangs. (J.Te.)

Military appeal Investigations into Grameci resume TIRANE — Once again the case file of Sulo Gradeci seems to return to the investigators. This was decided on Wednesday by the Military Court of Appeals, which considered only four years of prison in the previous decision to be complete and regular for the charge of “kidnapping in the line of duty.” As for the accusation of “theft” — according to the Military Court of Appeals — Gradeci’s file should be returned for further investigation. In any case, this decision regarding Gradeci — although not his sentence — has only “financial” value. Since the accusation against him does not concern the thousands of dollars, which some time ago the Military Court of Tirana had placed on him. (Ra.La.)

Harsh Cassation penalties Father and son sentenced Harsh Cassation penalties Laç: they take revenge after 45 years Father and son sentenced TIRANE — He took revenge for his father and did so only now, after 45 years, by killing Z. Gjoni, the son of the blood avenger. This was the reason why Ndue Gega, 60, and his 29-year-old son Luan, from the Laç area, were punished by the Court of Cassation with a total of 46 years in prison. The story of Ndue Gega began precisely in 1950, when his father was killed in an ambush by the State Security. And precisely because of this, the father of Zef Gjoni had been involved. For years, numerous attempts to clarify everything, even to swear according to custom, had been in vain. Last year, Gega and his son had not backed down from the armed attack and shot at Gjoni, thus setting off a blood-feud, the phenomenon that for decades has eaten away at Albanians among themselves.

Io Sport This afternoon the red and blacks head for Kaiserslautern TIRANE — The footballer who had scored the only goal against the Germans in the match of 16 November arrived in the Albanian capital. Hysen Zmijani — who had not been called a few weeks earlier into Sadiku’s starting eleven to come to Tirane, because he had to play those 16 matches — arrived in Tirane last night for the national team’s match with the red-and-black squad against Germany. The only one who will not play among those called up is Lekbello. The defensive footballer has been called up little, after the conclusions — he who had scored. Meanwhile, tomorrow evening they will take to the green field against the German national team. The match will be played in the "Bohum" stadium with the coaches and footballers of the Albanian national team. Meanwhile Vata, who on Tuesday evening was suffering from a slight ankle injury, but still with his own circumstances — will be present in Kaiserslautern, perhaps hoping for the intensive therapy of Dr. Haxhim. Also ready is Sokoli Kusta, who had not played against Georgia after arriving late from Cyprus. Among the 16 Albanian players who today will travel aboard an "Alitalia" flight are Strakosha, Dema, Kaçi, Xhomba, Vata, Shkallu, Mako, Portuzi, Boli, Kola B, Rraklli, Demollari, Albani and Zall. Meanwhile, Luan’s failure has encouraged them to hope that in Germany the Albanian footballers may also be joined by Eduart Abazi. Bushi and Lame, meanwhile, are blocked by their own national team with the Frankfurt report. Also taking part in the Albanian delegation will be the President and the Vice President of Football, Sapo and Llobova. (r) National team without... anthems TIRANE — A curious incident before the Albania-Georgia match caused panic for several hours in the highest Albanian football circles. In the previous match, the music that was supposed to be played had been moved over from the success that the national anthems were showing. Three times in a row the technical staff failed to make the stadium loudspeaker work; the notes of the melody also failed unsuccessfully to “join” together. So much so that the Hungarian referee of the match feared yet another malfunction — he was about to send the players off the field, even without letting the Albanian national anthem be played. “I will not go into football for this UEFA; for me it was simply a malfunction that did not appear to solve the problem,” declared the UEFA observer, who came from Greece, immediately after the match. (z)

Uran Butka to RTSH: “There will be changes” Uran Butka to RTSH: “There will be changes” TIRANE — “The commission meeting will also examine the specific shortcomings at RTSH and the changes that need to be made,” said Uran Butka yesterday. It was Uran Butka himself, Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Culture and Mass Media, who told Gazeta Shqiptare before yesterday’s meeting, held on Wednesday. The much-discussed issue of the Television seems to have reached the decision-making stage. The day before, three television officials — the General Director of Albanian Radio and Television Bujar Bakoja, the Television Director Qemal Sakaj, and the Radio Director Bardhyl Pojllo — had asked before deputies and journalists of the committee’s leadership about RTSH’s activity during 1994. The following day the meeting continued for several hours. It is still not clear what the commission will decide. “We were asked to discuss what we had said orally on Tuesday and to hand over and document every concern,” said the RTV Director Sakaj — after which they discussed the matter with the members of the commission. For the moment we had no decision; there is a possibility to continue the meeting further.” Now, apparently, Wednesday will be the decisive day for the commission. “I believe that on Wednesday we will manage to draw conclusions,” Butka said. (d. b.)

Reuters inaugurated in Tirane Reuters inaugurated in Tirane TIRANE — The oldest international news agency, Reuters, has just inaugurated its editorial office in Tirane. These are the first premises equipped with computerized technology that makes it possible to receive and transmit news directly over long distances. The Reuters news agency — created in London in 1848 by Paul Julius Reuter — now has its institution in Albania, almost parallel to the start of the democratization processes. Following the inauguration of the newsroom, a seminar with Albanian journalists was also held to present Reuters.

MACEDONIA Tetovo, the police demolish the Albanian University Another violation of rights in Macedonia ON PAGE 2 ATSH, the telegram agency that started in that far-off year 1929 It began with only 3 machines and 6 employees ON PAGE 3

“Let Meksi explain the changes” “The Prime Minister himself should explain the changes he has made in his cabinet.” This was the request made by the deputies when the two presidential decrees for the dismissal and appointment of several ministers were submitted for review. Beatings with a billiard cue The owner of a bar in Tirana called Flori ended up in hospital after being beaten with a billiard cue. The owner became the victim of a quarrel that had broken out among customers inside the premises; an intervention to separate them led to more blows and a fall, and the owner himself was beaten with the billiard cue. The private client, while the owner ended up in serious condition in Tirana hospital. Optical glasses from England 100 pairs of optical glasses have arrived and have been distributed by the Fund over the last two days. This aid is dedicated to City University of London. Distribution has begun mainly to children in connection with several different problems earlier. Meanwhile, the doctor, Dr. Mimoza Haxhia, who coordinated this activity, said that such assistance had helped very well.