REPORT The PD chairman Selami turns to the justice authorities against the deputy. Charge: “slander” Teta without immunity? The prosecutor’s office is preparing the request TIRANA — “We will submit a request to the Presidium of the People’s Assembly — through the Prosecutor of the Republic — for the lifting of deputy Perikli Teta’s immunity.” Ardën Çelës, the Tirana prosecutor, says this to Gazeta Shqiptare after his office received a complaint from Eduard Selami, chairman of the PD. The request for criminal prosecution of Teta — filed with the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office on Monday evening after Tuesday’s events — was made following public defamation allegedly committed by him in the newspaper “Koha Jonë” dated 14 January 1994. According to a statement from the PD Department of Press and Information, the complaint refers to the interview titled “The corruption of those in power, today founders of the elect, and the first row,” in which deputy Teta answered questions from the journalist of “Koha Jonë.” Now only the Prosecutor of the Republic’s decision is awaited; he will also examine the request from the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office — which had received the complaint — to present this necessary procedure to the Presidium of the People’s Assembly. “The Tirana Prosecutor’s Office cannot begin criminal proceedings against deputy Teta,” says Prosecutor Arbën Çelës, “his prosecution would begin only if the Assembly removed his parliamentary immunity.” Secretary of the Democratic Party Thus, for the first time in Albania, one deputy files a criminal complaint against another deputy. But in the current legislature — in which Selami and Teta are both members — MPs have already voted to lift the immunity of their colleagues. This had been done earlier for Azem Hajdari — PD — and Ilir Meta of the PS — at the beginning of this year — and also for the Deputy Prosecutor of the Republic, Vasili Plaku, who was later convicted in the adoption case. The last deputy whose parliamentary immunity was lifted was Fatos Nano — chairman of the PS, who is now in the Tirana prison, accused of “abuse of office” and falsification of official documents. Perikli Teta, former deputy of the Party for Environmental Protection and Stability, has now left that party and joined PADI. A day before Teta’s complaint, the PD had reacted strongly — again calling on the justice authorities — to the PAI version of testimony about the killing of 26-year-old Çeço by the deputy with immunity removed. Reaction “I cannot believe this” TIRANA — “I cannot believe that Eduart Selami would have filed a criminal complaint against Perikli Teta on Tuesday evening — when Radio and TV had already broadcast the report in two editions.” This is how he reacts in an interview with Gazeta Shqiptare, commenting himself after the complaint. “If the prosecutor’s complaint is true, he adds, I would first read my interview in Koha Jonë very carefully and would deny it.” Why was Selami not informed by the state institutions? “Perhaps because Mr. Selami was busy with party work,” the deputy replies. And regarding the complaint against him, will he appear before the justice authorities? “Yes, as soon as they call me, I will appear.” Edmond Laçi

Champion Altobelli will come to Tirana TIRANA — Next week, world football champion Alessandro Altobelli will come to Tirana. The former Inter star, beloved by thousands of fans in Italy and Albania, will take part, as guest of honor, in a show match, “Around Fate for 12 Nights,” which will be broadcast by TVSH on Saturday, 29 January. The surprises may not end there: the organizers (among them director Vera Grabocka) have invited Altobelli to come to Albania together with another great figure of Italian football. The names of Paolo Rossi or Antonio Cabrini are mentioned, but confirmation may only come in a few days, when Altobelli himself will want to meet his colleagues and then inform the Albanian organizers. Alessandro Altobelli, who holds the record of 25 goals scored for the Italian national team, became world champion in 1982 after the final with Italy-Germany. His third goal against the Germans stood out, precisely the goal that gave the Italian team the coveted golden cup. Alessandro Altobelli is only one of many famous footballers featured on television, where he has great success with the public.

The accountants have their say A division of responsibility is sought TIRANA — Economic investigations are now also beginning for Fatos Nano. A week ago, the socialist leader was informed by the investigative team — during a meeting at the Tirana prison — of the decision to begin the accounting audit. “Yes, it is true that the accountants have started working,” Tirana prosecutor Arbën Çelës tells Gazeta Shqiptare, “in fact the work is nearing completion.” Thus one of the main tasks assigned by the Tirana Court — to complete the investigation — continues to be carried out, ever since 26 October of last year, when the preparatory hearing was held to decide between trial and further investigation. “The accountants,” Prosecutor Çelës explains to Gazeta Shqiptare, “will determine the amount attributable to each defendant.” The final results of the experts will together produce, at the end of the calculations, a finding of guilt and an official accusation in the “aid scandal,” including Nano, and will also individualize the economic damage allegedly caused by each of them. In the first indictment, sent to the Court in October ’93, Nano, Plaka, Gjini and Allkja are accused of the criminal offense of “abuse of office,” but later, in relation to this case, it will also be necessary to explain the economic responsibility. The accountants, according to the records, are carrying out an exact balance sheet regarding the accusations against the defendants and are examining the acts among other things, especially the falsified documents. Fatos Nano was arrested on 30 July 1993 on charges of “abuse of office” and falsification of official documents. After the request to revoke the arrest measure was rejected, the Nano case and that of the aid scandal saw new developments. Immediately after the case was returned for further investigation, a group of Albanian prosecutors — among them Fatos Dervishi and Arbën Çelës — traveled to Italy, where they carried out investigations with a number of senior Italian officials. As for the Italian responsibilities in this scandal, Rome prosecutor Evelina Canale investigated in Tirana. Now, with the completion of the accounts by the accountants and the shedding of light on the truth, Nano and the aid scandal are closer to resolution. Former prime minister Fatos Nano E.A.

COOPERATION BETWEEN ALBANIA AND GREECE DEEPENS — “Our meeting is of special importance,” emphasized Selim Belortaja, Minister of Industry and Trade, during talks with Papantoni, Minister of State for the Economy. The meeting discussed the prospects for cooperation between the two countries, especially in the field of trade. Greek investment currently accounts for 15 percent of the total foreign investment in Albania. A HOLY MASS IN LEZHA IN MEMORY OF SKËNDERBEU — A holy mass was held in Lezha on the occasion of the 526th anniversary of the death of our National Hero. The mass — held at the Skënderbeu memorial — was celebrated by Monsignor Rrok Mirdita. Durresi was also present. During his speech — before the pilgrims to the figure of Gjergj Kastrioti — Mirdita also made an appeal for peace in the Balkans. ASSISTANCE FOR THE ELECTRICAL GRID ARRIVES IN SARANDA — Sixteen new transformers have arrived in Saranda for the restructuring of the electrical grid. The transformers — with a capacity from 50 to 400 kilowatts — were aid from Greece. Their installation will alleviate the electricity problem in several villages of this area. It will help enable mediation between the Energy Corporation of Albania and KESH in the Saranda district. “INVESTMENTS IN HEALTHCARE ARE DEEPENING” — A series of new projects will be implemented in Albanian healthcare. An agreement for 5,500,000 Australian shillings — signed by the Ministry of Health and Caritas of the Diocese of Land Volenberg — provides for the restructuring of the hospital, polyclinic and maternity ward of the Mat district. There are also another 700,000 dollars — allocated by the World Bank — that will be used for surgical equipment.

TIRANA — More than 2 million dollars are being provided by the European Community — within the framework of the PHARE program — to support projects for environmental protection in Albania. This funding was announced during the “Donors’ Meeting” held yesterday morning in Tirana. At this meeting, ecology projects were also presented, covering the environmental problems and needs of protecting the environment in our country. An important place in the program is occupied by erosion, the management of areas with great biodiversity, including lagoon ecosystems, and the problem of urban waste. “One priority project is also the issue of the Zarzështë massif in Elbasan,” Lirir Vesho, a specialist at the Committee for Care and Protection of the Environment, told Gazeta Shqiptare. “As a result of heavy pollution, these massifs have been stripped bare and are threatened by erosion.”

The chairman of the Control Commission speaks on TV TIRANA — Harsh accusations from Blerim Çela, chairman of the Control Commission, against the prosecutor’s office and the justice authorities. In an interview on television, Çela stresses that these bodies have several times not carried out their duty efficiently as they should have. “They have dragged out the investigations,” says Çela. “There should be no intention of keeping them hostage because of the compromise against crime and corruption.” The accusation is serious: “often the investigations have been dragged out by the prosecution in connection with the offense, guilty persons have left Albania, and the courts have handed down minimal sentences for people convicted by us.” According to Çela, there have also been cases where some people were never brought before justice and were instead appointed to new, more important posts. This fight against crime in no way has anything to do — for the Chairman of the State Control — with dictatorship; but violence is becoming excessive, tolerance is exceeding what is allowed, he declares — a rise, a trampling, a violation. These people should be forgiven or punished? There is and should be no tolerance for thieves, criminals, for robbers.” Many state institutions such as the Ministry of Finance, Customs, municipalities, and other high bodies will again be part of the Commission’s control center this year — this is stated in the interview. Thus Çela once again speaks out against corruption and crime. Months earlier he had appeared in Parliament in a lengthy interpellation where he had denounced a series of phenomena and facts uncovered by the institution he leads. “The administrative measures and denunciations made by us, not only have been well founded,” Çela explains, “but above all they concern all levels of the state.” In addition to cases of corruption in economic business, for the first time all the figures on the state of the ministries’ own administration had been fully disclosed. The control body had even examined the balance sheets of Albanian political parties. Blerim Çela

Special advertisement in front of a café The plaster bust had been sold by a farmer from Tirana TIRANA — How much does an old bust of Lenin cost? 200 lekë. And although that was the proper price in the place, passers-by on the road in January thought about buying it one after another and had placed it at the edge of the road. The white plaster bust of Lenin was found by a café near the center. Couldn’t you remember it? The passers-by had made it into a kind of advertisement for the café. Really more? calm? in place gave? — so that someone puzzled might be tempted to buy it. In such circumstances, one of the café owners explains that the bust, which he did not know, began as nothing more than that, with no extra money. He was only pleased that his club was put at the center of attention for a whole day and night. Among the curious onlookers there was also a journalist who had his own idea, but they did not return the bust to the courtyard. Jekyll[?] for everything with sense? to remain with us [illeg.] and something. The next morning Lenin’s statue had been removed, it did not become, on the contrary, since it gave even more echo. But one of them, indeed the dictator’s great? jok? had been sold. Could it have been seized? by whom? It is said that it was later put up for sale again for 300 lekë, just to cover the expenses. Lenin bust

Clinton is left without the Minister of Defense The chosen candidate withdraws ON PAGE 2 In 1993 inflation is defeated, index at 30.9% Unemployment spreads[?] ON PAGE 3

DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SELL? DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO BUY? DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SELL? DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO BUY? This space is free for your economic notices. Send your message, no longer than 15 words, to one of our addresses: In Tirana: Rruga Bajram Curri, 370. Or in Bari: Viale Scipione l’Africano, 264. State in the message what you are looking for and what you offer, your name and your address. FOR RENT an apartment, one room and a kitchen with annex and balcony. It is located in the center of Tirana, (immediately behind the Turkish embassy. The apartment is on the fifth floor. Interested parties should call 259 72. FOR RENT OR SALE an apartment in Elbasan, with three rooms and a kitchen with annex, and three balconies, on the fourth floor. It is located in the center of the city, near “Qemal Stafa” boulevard. Address: Lulë Gurtakuq neighborhood[?], building 17, entrance A, apartment 7, Elbasan. In Tirana call 426 16. I SELL a painting (landscape) measuring 60 x 40 cm by the Italian painter Marko Min[?]. It is original and has been in my home for 60 years. Address: Shafqet Këlliqi, neighborhood 17, “Qazim Vathi” street, building 21/1, ap. no. 9, Tirana. I PUT[?] OR sell (paepaqio) with dimensions 50 x 40 cm by the Italian painter Mario Mari[?]. It is original and has been in my home for 60 years. Address: Shefqet Xhela, neighborhood 17, “Qazim Vathi” street, building 2/1, apartment no. 9, Tirana. I HAVE an apartment with three rooms and a kitchen and want to exchange it for a central one with a smaller room and kitchen. Address: “Kristaq Çipo” street, building 4, staircase B, ap. 9. FOR RENT two premises at the beginning of the “Dervi[?]” market, near the “Phillips” butcher shop. The premises cover 150 square meters. Interested parties can call 247 10. I SELL a “Tamat” automatic washing machine, very little used. Interested parties can contact: Rruga “Arkitekt Kasemi”, building 56, staircase A, apartment 9, Tirana FOR RENT an apartment, in the center, with kitchen and annex, on the third floor, “Ali Demi” street near the geological plant. Interested parties can call 298 30, Tirana. APFTI[?] TUN apartment, one room and one kitchen on the third floor, Ali Demi street, near the geological company. Interested parties can call 298 20, Tirana.