Four people in hospital Elbasan, still a risk from livestock Deadly infection from the meat of a sick cow ELBASAN — The serious disease of anthrax has struck Elbasan again, and this time more severely. After the alarm raised by veterinary specialists over the spread of this disease among animals, the risk of human infection — a case like this had been confirmed some time ago — has now unfortunately become a reality. Four people were hospitalized on Thursday, where doctors confirmed their direct infection from anthrax. All four had eaten meat from the same cow. The first to feel the consequences of the disease was the private veterinarian Lensi, a nurse from the “Hospital” — together with Mucan, now in a serious condition — after examining an old sick cow, he is in good condition. Without really checking properly in order to make the right diagnosis — and fearing he might need to operate again — he chose to slaughter the animal and eat its meat. An action that cost him very dearly. In addition, part of the meat ended up in the family, and two other people at least were also affected. Their only fault was that they bought the sick meat which the farmer had even put up for sale. That was enough for them to become involved with the farmer, but not enough to keep them from bringing the disease to light before it was too late. The Elbasan couple Such a situation, in the exchange of deadly civil cases and illnesses. So far it has not been possible to determine exactly how many people are involved, but four have been confirmed by doctors. What is worrying is the fact that this disease is spreading not only among animals but also among people. Everywhere, veterinarians and doctors remain the only weapon to contain it, and with them perhaps? The Elbasan district has recorded it since ... Agim Meli, chief inspector of the district veterinary service, has said ... to follow it outside the controls. (M. K.) Mesto Klia

Now it is the witnesses’ turn TIRANA — “To deny everything and by any means” — that is apparently the line the five accused in the “Omonia” case had decided to follow during the first phase of the trial against them. Suspicious wordplay, denials in the face of serious testimony, silence, and accusations that violence was used against them. This is what the second phase has consisted of for Sirmos, Qirjakos, Bani, Papakritos and Marko. Once again on Thursday the name of the Greek secret service was repeatedly mentioned. Contacts with Asfalia officers are among the most serious accusations raised by the prosecution’s defense. Now the accused are trying to minimize everything. “I met with the headquarters’ Asfalia seven or eight times, but only to ask for help for children to go to the minority police or for personal matters,” said Patraki Sirmo, who during the investigation had made a sensational statement: “Omonia is a communist organization that, for its own purposes, presents itself as patriotic in Albania and as super-patriotic in Greece.” A serious self-accusation that seemed to confirm the very purpose of the organization’s existence in a case in which — the heavy one — witness from Gjirokastra — described anti-state activity, although — as he himself said — he had never read its program. Now, “who knows why — he has changed his mind in the days spent in the prison cells.” “As they had told me — said Sirmo in court — now I think differently.” Another strong statement admitted by Sirmo during the investigation was also rejected by him in court — his Saturday agreement. Thus it was claimed that he had acted as an intermediary between the Asfalia and two Greek businessmen, allegedly to facilitate a suspicious transport of weapons that was at that time in Piraeus. “I said Aru — Sirmo declared, recalling the jeep-like vehicle — and not weapons.” The second accused to be questioned, Kosta Qirjako, made even more serious accusations against the Albanian investigative authorities: “Physical and psychological violence was used against me,” he said, even mentioning electric shock treatment. He immediately requested the prosecutor’s testimony. “It is only an abuse of the right to admit or deny what was said during the investigation.” Qirjako, who appears in the cell as an informer of the State Security, also mentions a letter from the authorities to his wife, a fact that was not taken seriously because of his signature on the investigation records. Vardhëni accuses the investigators of numerous problems and the denials that characterize the court session in the trial of the five in “Omonia”. Perhaps only the long series of testimonies that began yesterday will help shed full light on the incident. (v. b.)

Albanians who left are demanding the dollars stolen by the regime A draft law proposed to the Government TIRANA — Another petition for compensation for property stolen during the communist regime. But this time it concerns demands coming from a group of emigrants. And they are precisely many economic emigrants in the USA — or their heirs — who are convinced that even in the first days of the Albanian state during the 1945-1990 period ... They have also submitted a draft law on this issue to the Meksi Government. It seems that the largest part — alongside claims for compensation for immovable property — concerns the foreign-currency savings of emigrants from the USA, which they had declared for years to relatives in Albania, but which were appropriated by the communist state. And part of this sum, which is being burned to make up for ... — also includes differences between the exchange rate of the American dollar and the artificial one applied in Albania, as well as the relevant interest that should add value to these frozen deposits. For the latter, the draft proposes that the annual interest be calculated on the basis of the banking percentage for the state’s frozen deposits from which the currency came, that is, from the USA. Also on the basis of this unusual draft law — the first time such a document has been submitted not by a state institution — economic emigrants in the USA are defined as only “all those who went to that country before 7 April 1939”. In addition, the property lost for financing this compensation by the Albanian state: the state budget, the founding fund, the reserve fund, as well as the profits of the “Bank of the State”, if it took part in this looting; part of the Albanian gold blocked by England, as well as the value of humanitarian aid arriving from the USA and other countries. (Ansa)

4 years ago he had eluded justice DURRES — Escaped from prison four years earlier and wanted by Interpol, A. Behani, 36, from the Elbasan district, was arrested a few days ago as he was returning from Italy. The arrest took place just one day after he had disembarked from the ferry at the Port of Durrës, where for nine months he had managed to evade the attention of the Durrës police officers but not that of the police in Ribasani, where he had been convicted. Behani had already felt the cold bite of handcuffs before, when he was arrested for rape. At that time, in Elbasan in 1990, he received a heavy sentence. And in fact not much time passed. Behani, then 32 years old, was sentenced to 15 years in prison. A sentence that in reality was not even served for one year. While being temporarily held in isolation in a small prison near the “Skënderbeu” Dormitory in Durrës, he managed to escape. Together with him were three other people held in the same place. In a short time they drew up the escape plan, which they carried out easily. While there was a night watch in the camp, they managed to force open the room door and leave. From that moment on, Behani remained free for years and lived in Italy, although he was also wanted by Interpol. August 1994 marked the end of Behani’s freedom, which on Albanian soil lasted no more than two days. The first day he spent without incident in the Port of Durrës ended very quickly when law enforcement forces in Elbasan put the handcuffs on him. (Ge. To.)

FIER — An elderly woman is the latest victim of road accidents in Fier. The 84-year-old mother was killed in a crash involving two vehicles. Both vehicles were Mercedes. “All the assistance that was later offered to her, since she was no longer in a condition to withstand such blows, proved unsuccessful. The cause of this serious incident has perhaps not been fully determined, but the collision of the vehicle with one of the cars was very strong. According to witnesses to this collision, as reported by the Fier police, the body of the poor woman flew more than 10 meters. (E.M.)

100,000 destroyed BERAT — Two more people detained because of drug cultivation. This time in Lapardha in the Berat district. Vijsen Caci, 54, and Myslym Caci, 70, were detained by district police officers because they had cultivated Cannabis sativa for the production of marijuana. It was police forces that, during an inspection, discovered and destroyed 100 plants of the prohibited crop on Myslym Caci’s land. This is another fact showing that the cultivation of drug plants remains highly attractive to many Albanian villagers, apparently because of the profits it brings. And although many of these illegal growers have been discovered by the police, others still cannot resist the temptation coming from “the devil’s plant.” (p. r.)

The ship returns to port DURRES — The incident ended without any victims after a fire broke out in the engine room of the catamaran “La Vikinga” during its regular Thursday sailing from Durrës to Bari. The damaged ship was forced to return to the Port of Durrës вместе with the passengers, who were taken to the customs center. The fire broke out 40 miles off the Albanian coast. A helicopter from the Italian military fleet, “Alpino,” also intervened to extinguish it. The SOS signal had been sent immediately after its crew noticed the danger. Fortunately, the ship sank far from the scene of the incident. The technicians of “La Vikinga” are now working to repair the damage before it is completed within three or four days. (g. re.)

TIRANA, JOURNALIST ERNEST TUSHE RELEASED FROM DETENTION — The journalist from “Albania” was released after 48 hours by officers of police station number 1 in the capital. He had been detained on the evening of the previous day by law-enforcement forces on suspicion of assaulting a police officer. In yesterday’s departure from the station prison — evidence was given in his case. For the editorial office of this leading newspaper it is a clear matter. DURRES, YOUNG MAN FROM KORÇA DETAINED. HE WAS CARRYING A WEAPON WITHOUT A LICENSE — O. Thoma, 20, from Korça, has been detained by the Durrës police station’s law-enforcement forces, accused of carrying a weapon without a license. The defendant was carrying an 8-round pistol. He was unable even to justify the item found on him. TIRANA, 3 KIOSKS BROKEN INTO — Three kiosks located in the capital have been robbed by several unknown persons. Durrës–Tirana, in Tirana, “Marlboro” and “Mildesse” were found in their possession, while goods worth 30,000 lekë were stolen. KUKËS, AID FROM THE ASSOCIATION “MJERU PA KRYE” FOR THE CITY’S HEALTH CENTERS — Aid items in the form of care supplies, brought by the humanitarian association “Mjeru pa krye” and distributed in Kukës, are ready. These aids — refrigerator, vaccine thermos, bandages, electric brush and other medical materials — have been allocated to the city’s health centers.

CURRENT REALITY TIRANA — They have lost the most precious thing, and only now can they not find it. So much for being Albanians, lost for so long because of the absurd situation that has surrounded a part of the citizens of S.B. for a long time. And the odyssey began back in 1991 when this family — apparently — had applied for Albanian citizenship in order to obtain it more easily another way. But the issuance of the relevant decree, which did not grant them citizenship as the court decree did, was not followed by another decree removing it. There was time to understand and to extend the solution to the problem. Then in April 1993 — with this family — they were forced again by state order to obtain Albanian citizenship. But although almost a year and a half has passed, the result is still unclear. It seems that “the state” with its scraps is in order, while that stubborn one has not given up his rights. And meanwhile those who remained have stayed as they are. And they have been displaced and remain, with whatever belongings they have, between two states.

The first “walk” in town, to the dentist He reads all the newspapers and often meets with family members TEPELENE — He is only 35 kilometers from the place of the trial — Gjirokastra — the prison where the former chairman of the imprisoned Socialist Fatos Nano is being held. Sheltered in the old cell set aside for him, Nano seems not to have lost the composure he maintained during the trial, despite the isolation in Tirana Prison. Testimonies from before the prison indicate an initial contact with him and some long conversation. Now, after the court’s final decision, his condition seems to have changed. He meets with his family almost regularly once a week. The meeting place is a special concrete platform where, once set in place, the chairs and table have been firmly fixed so that they cannot be moved. Requests to meet their leader have been registered at the prison directorate by Socialist supporters from several districts of the south, including some local deputies from the Tepelenë district, where in the latest local elections representatives of the Socialist Party won. Nano continues to follow the Albanian press with interest, so as to remain fully informed about events in Albanian politics. Every day a package from the newsstand is delivered to his room in prison. Through various newspapers Nano has made his first “walk” in the town of Tepelenë. Accompanied by a police escort, Nano was taken to a dentist to have his teeth treated. Raimond Kola Former Prime Minister Fatos Nano

IN THE COUNTRY Relations between Belgrade and Zagreb worsen Dubrovnik, under Serbian bombardment ON PAGE 2 Albanian Cup: lineups cut in half The final minutes of the first Tour ON PAGE 3