JUSTICE Prosecutors confirm. “The investigations are being closed.” Now it is up to the judges. Along with the former President, the defendants also include Çarçani, Myftiu, Isai, Marko and Stefani... “Alia in court within January” Lawyer: He will not be charged with genocide TIRANA — “The Ramiz Alia file will be closed within January and handed over to the Court.” This is the latest confirmation — from the Prosecutor’s Office — which also announced that together with the former President Alia, other senior former officials of the regime will appear in this trial, more specifically those held in Tirana Prison. “Alia cannot be charged with genocide — his lawyer, Kleanthi Koçi, tells Gazeta Shqiptare — because no one can be punished for an act that, at the time it was committed, was not a criminal offense.” In any case — while the investigation still needs a few more days — the charge against Alia remains that of a crime: “Misappropriation of state property on a large scale and in collaboration, as well as abuse of office.” According to lawyer Koçi, the provisions under which his client is charged provide for up to 25 years of imprisonment or even the death penalty. The charges against Alia began long ago, in fact while he was still President of Albania. The first criminal case against him was dropped by the Prosecutor’s Office on 6 August 1991 because — according to his lawyer — “the President could not be brought to trial for ordinary offenses.” But this dismissal remained in force until 12 September 1992, when Ramiz Alia was questioned for the first time as a defendant, and he was also placed under house arrest. A year later — on 19 August 1993, at 6:30 p.m. — Alia was escorted by a police unit to the cells of Tirana Prison, where he is still held today. That same day, other former officials of the regime were also arrested: Çemi, Çarçani, Beqir Balluku[?], Murra and Miska. All those arrested on 19 August have now appeared in court — except for former President Alia — and have been sentenced by the Tirana Court on charges of: “Violation of the equality of citizens through collusion, obstruction of the freedom of privileges.” Like Alia, the first ten former bloc figures who were tried were also arrested by the Prosecutor’s Office on the charge of “Misappropriation of state property on a large scale and in collaboration.” However, for Alia the indictment is still pending for a few more days, at the request of the former President and his lawyer. The Alia file is also linked to other senior former officials of the regime. The confirmation that the investigations will be concluded within these months does not, however, include their specific names. Currently in Tirana Prison, as former senior officials of the PPSH and the communist state, are Adil Çarçani, Manush Myftiu, Hekuran Isai, Rita Marko and Simon Stefani, all former members of the Political Bureau. Also in the cells of this prison are Azim Çela, former President of the Supreme Court in the 1960s-1970s; Ramiz Alia, former President of Albania in 1978-1990; and Zylyftar Ramizi, former Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs. And to go past the defense in a lawyer “qift[?],” Ramiz Alia replied to Gazeta Shqiptare, regarding the hypothesis that he would be accused of genocide. Besides the 68-year-old Alia, it also concerns the other former members of the Bureau. “In the case of Adil Çarçani, who was former Prime Minister of Albania, Manush Myftiu, 75 years old, former Deputy Prime Minister, Hekuran Isai, 61 years old, former Minister of Internal Affairs; Rita Marko, 74 years old, former Deputy Chair of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly; Simon Stefani, 65 years old, former Minister of Internal Affairs. In any case, within the month all the names of the defendants who will accompany Alia in the trial will become known. And the two main final charges will be the same. Former president Ramiz Alia Hekuran Isai Adil Çarçani Edmond Lici Former president Ramiz Alia; Hekuran Isai; Adil Çarçani

Italian entrepreneurs against Siemens “Rinas Airport? Our works cost 25 million marks less” TIRANA — “We will continue to the end. Last week we met, if necessary, with the Tirana court and the International Court as well. But those representatives among ...” The representatives of the Italian companies excluded from the works for the reconstruction of Rinas Airport, defeated by the German company Siemens, came to Tirana for a meeting with the representatives of Al-Trans[?], Beta, i Aleanas[?], Andrea Mosca, of Garboli, and Francesco Cirrincione, of Italcantieri. There was a stronger agreement in recent days. The replies of all the companies discussed with the Transport ... Institutions of the country today and Saturday will refer with the hope that neither the courts nor the companies will win. “We, with the Albanians, would have had a difference of 25 million marks — as it happens the Albanian Italians and they do not understand why they were excluded.” For the Albanian authorities this is not unjustified. The jurists have not prepared the documentation that secures the loan, whereas the Germans have... “We submitted a much more economical estimate than the Germans’. Yes, perhaps the form of the paper was different, but the content was identical.” Why do you speak of a saving of 20 million marks? “Because our offer was lower: we are able to do the same works at a lower price than the Germans, who cannot cut the price by 50 percent. In fact, if the two estimates are compared, we can do the same works but with a price reduction of up to 35 million marks.” REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA COUNCIL OF MINISTERS DECISION No. 591 dated 30.12.1993 ON THE MODERNIZATION AND RESTRUCTURING PROJECT OF RINAS AIRPORT On the proposal of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, The Council of Ministers DECIDED: 1. Approval of the decision announced by the Ministry of Transport and Communications to award the German firm “SIEMENS-AG” the winning bid for the modernization and reconstruction project of Rinas Airport, with an implementation period of up to 30 months, USD according to the deadlines, through a loan over a period of 10-12 years. 2. Any entrusted minister is authorized on an upcoming date; the states are for the delivery and the necessary receipts in the development of the airport.[?] 3. Revenues are to be used only for repaying the investment in the airport over a period of 10-12 years. 4. The Ministry of Transport and Communications, the Bank of Albania and the Ministry of Finance are tasked with the actions for implementing this decision. This decision enters into force immediately. CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS ALEKSANDËR MEKSI The letter with which the Council of Ministers has blessed the works of the Siemens company. Italian media state that the realization of these works will also require 50.5 million marks, whereas the Germans ask for 75 million. What is strange is that the decision of the Council of Ministers of Albania mentions only a maximum price of 30 million dollars, which also corresponds to the company’s bid value. “Perhaps the Germans will work at their own price... Then it is no longer a competition, but turns into a private negotiation. And yet the Germans cannot cut the price by 50 percent: the only thing they can do is reduce the amount of work. But if the works are reduced, then we also lower our price: to 35 million marks.” c. bo.

- PRIME MINISTER MEKSI CONGRATULATES PAPANDREU “I am convinced that this mission of Greece will help in discovering and advancing the friendly relations between our two countries,” says the telegram that Prime Minister Meksi sends to Papandreou, the Greek Prime Minister. Meksi sent this telegram on the occasion of Greece assuming the Presidency of the European Community. - IN KORÇË THE CEREMONY OF THROWING THE CROSS INTO THE WATER — The organizers in Korçë — from the Orthodox Church — the ceremony of throwing the cross into the water. This ceremony, which symbolizes the baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist, took place in Sheshi i Luftëtarit Kombëtar and was followed by many believers. - IN TIRANA LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS DETAIN A CITIZEN WHO HAD IGNORED THE POLICE ROADBLOCKS — In Tirana, the citizen G. Musaraj was stopped because he had not obeyed the Police order at the checkpoints. After blocking the intersection near the Teknologjike school in Tirana, Musaraj did not respond to the law enforcement officer’s call to stop but got into the car. Nevertheless, the law enforcement officers managed to block him — after he had also evaded a police order — by stopping the steering and the brakes. - THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BUJAN CONFERENCE COMMEMORATED IN TIRANA — The 50th anniversary of the Bujan Conference was commemorated in Tirana. The importance of the decisions of this conference and their relevance in today’s situation in Kosovo were at the center of a conference organized on this occasion. Historians and guests from both sides of the border took part in the conference and delivered a number of presentations.

— A true horror for the 12-year-old girl from Fier. On the last night of the year, the 12-year-old from Sheqi i Madh suffered the serious act of rape by a boy from the same area. The girl, who also filed a complaint with the law enforcement authorities, said that A. M., 24, had had sexual relations with her. Immediately after this complaint, officers from the local law enforcement unit detained the 24-year-old young man, because in cooperation with others he had had sexual relations with a minor.

Tirana must pay $32 million But the Americans oppose the aid Tirana must pay 32 million $ Foreign debt, and 7 more years of grace But the Americans oppose the aid TIRANA — Albania was granted a 7-year postponement for the repayment of a debt of 32 million dollars, accumulated up to 30 September 1993, to several European countries. The decision was taken during the meeting of the “Club di Parigi”, in which all OECD countries (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) participate. The extension was allowed despite the vote against by the United States, whose representative had tried to object to financial support. French diplomatic sources, contacted in Paris by Gazeta Shqiptare to confirm the news, still do not know how to explain why this decision was taken. The 32 million dollars are overdue state debts, for years deferred with a shorter deadline that expired on 30 September of the previous year. The “Club di Parigi” decided to allow Albania seven years’ postponement for their repayment, two of them “forgiven”. This means that for these two years nothing will be paid. The debts are owed to France (44.7%), Austria (25.2%), Germany (15.5%), Italy (14%) and the Netherlands (3.3%), etc.

A drug addict steals pethidine from the hospital A curious episode at the Tirana Neuropsychiatric Hospital TIRANA — He first played the thief and then the guard. The interesting episode took place in the pharmacy of the Tirana Neuropsychiatric Hospital in the first days of 1994. A drug addict — hospitalized as a patient in this hospital — could not resist temptation and went to the office next to the old "mjerët mece"[?] with a kau served by the pharmacy door, finding there many ampoules of pethidine, and the paradise of overdose did not remove the addict’s reason. He — seeing the pharmacy room door — preferred to guard it against other pethidine lovers, who are numerous in that hospital. But his duty lasted only a short time. Just as the Police changed guard. Then everything was clarified and the addict was taken back to another nearby hospital, but one where only prisoners are treated.(el) Psychiatric hospital

INSIDE Ghosts of the Red Army are dancing in the East NATO is the only defense guarantee ON PAGE 2 “For Albanians, a unique opportunity” Albania too in GATT ON PAGE 3

GAZETA SHQIPTARE Today, for the second time, the 1994 calendar will be distributed together with Gazeta Shqiptare. The initiative has had great success, and so we decided to print a new issue, free once again for each of our dear readers. Attention: the calendar is FREE and to get it you do not have to pay any fee. The price of Gazeta Shqiptare remains, in fact, 10 Lekë.

DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL? DO YOU WANT TO BUY SOMETHING? DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL? DO YOU WANT TO BUY SOMETHING? This space is free for your economic notices. Send your notice, no longer than 15 lines, to one of our addresses: In Tirana: Rruga Bajram Curri, 370. Or in Bari: Viale Scipione l'Africano, 264. In the message, indicate what you are looking for and what you offer, your name and address. FOR RENT OR FOR SALE a 3-room apartment with a kitchen, an annex, 3 balconies, on the fourth floor, in a very good location in the center of the city, near Qemal Stafa boulevard. Address: Lagja Liri Gërrauk[?], building 7, entrance A, apartment 7 Elbasan. In Tirana call 042 42616. FOR SALE 10 paintings (landscapes) measuring 50 x 40 cm by the Italian painter Jan Marino Marini. They are original and have been in my home for more than 60 years. Address: Shefqet Xhelaj, neighborhood 17, "Qazim Vathi" street, building 2/1, apartment 7. I AM LOOKING TO EXCHANGE the two apartments I own for two new apartments of the same size. The current apartments are: 1 room and 1 kitchen, and 2 rooms, 1 kitchen and 1 entrance room. These two apartments are on the same floor and can be combined into one. As for the apartments I am looking to exchange them for, they should not be on the outskirts; interested parties should contact: Skënder Tahirllari, Lagjia 1, "Dhimitër Kamarda" Street, Building 6, Staircase 1, Apartment 19, Tiranë. FOR SALE OR FOR RENT — a house renovated by an Italian in a central area of Tirana. Those interested should contact for further information and the telephone number 22039. FOR SALE OR FOR RENT — renovated house by Italian in the very center of Tirana. For information telephone 22039.