Different explanations for the large police presence in Tirana Musaraj: “It was a routine check” Different explanations for the large police presence in Tirana Police on alert for 24 hours Musaraj: “It was a routine check” TIRANA — On Friday the Albanian capital was in motion. Numerous police cars — from the very early hours of the morning — circulated through the main streets and squares of Tirana, with their full crews on board. Attention was unquestionably drawn by those parked in front of Parliament, ATSH, TV, the Main Boulevard and many other important institutions. At midday, on the steps of “Qemal Stafa” Stadium, where people had gathered for TV coverage of the Partizani-Laci match, many police officers were seen. Along with the so-called police forces, rumors were also circulating about an illegal rally by the Tirana branch of the PS. Although for January 21 the PS had insisted on holding a rally, this had not previously been approved by the public order authorities. “Thinking of an illegal rally, the Police took such measures,” Servet Pëllumbi, Vice-Chairman of the PS, tells Gazeta Shqiptare, “bringing in — as we learned — police officers from other districts as well. They had blocked all the roads and squares. But even though the Vice-Chairman of the PS rules out the hypothesis of an illegal rally for Friday by members of his party, he still states: ‘We gave instructions that no illegal rally should be held.’ Pëllumbi also explains that the Tirana PS Committee had given the relevant clarifications on this matter, committing itself to the fact that: ‘under no circumstances, without the relevant permission from the order authorities, would the PS hold an illegal rally.’ This, according to him, would greatly tense the situation. But while Pëllumbi thinks that the large police force circulating in Tirana was the result of preparations to prevent an illegal rally, the official version is different. “There were no unusual forces on Friday,” Agron Musaraj, Minister of Public Order, explains to Gazeta Shqiptare, “actually, for a day now they have been circulating in Tirana; only today were they marked as ‘Police.’ According to Minister Musaraj, these vehicles — 20 for the capital alone — had arrived a few days earlier as part of Italian aid for the Ministry of Public Order, but in the previous days had been circulating without police markings. “It seems that this also attracted the attention of passersby,” says Minister Musaraj. “This was a trial day,” continues Musaraj, “some maneuvers that the Police also carry out on ordinary days, checking for illegal possession of weapons, drunk drivers or drivers without proper documentation. As part of the modernization of the Albanian Police, we are moving toward making the Police as invisible as possible, that is, to have it circulate by car, as in all European countries,” concludes the Minister of Public Order, Agron Musaraj. Edmond Laci Police officers lined up during the last rally held by the Socialist Party in the summer of 1993 in Tirana.

TIRANA — The tender for the reconstruction of Rinas Airport ends up in the courts: representatives of the Italian companies excluded from the works (instead, the German company Systems was chosen) have instructed their lawyers to file a complaint with the Court of Cassation in Tirana. This is confirmed to Gazeta Shqiptare by engineer Francesco Cirrincione, representative of the company “Italcantieri”, which together with “Alenia” and “Garboli” had taken part in the tender organized by the Transport Authority and the Ministry of Transport. The Italian company has decided to turn to the Albanian Court of Cassation (and then — Cirrincione specifies — to international courts), because it believes the works should have been awarded to them and not to the company “Siemens”. “We asked for a price of 50.5 million marks,” Cirrincione explains, “whereas Siemens asked for 75 million marks. We want to know why our offer, although economically more advantageous, was not accepted.” Cirrincione says that the three companies have decided to send an information document about what happened also to the World Bank, the European Development Bank, EBRD, and the International Monetary Fund.

The incident occurs in Selitë A few words TIRANA — Places of worship, once again, are the target of attackers. This time, however, they seem to have succeeded — after earlier starting with a mosque in the villages of Elbasan — in throwing explosive material. Only a few days after the beginning of '94, at the tekke in the village of Selitë e Vogël, in the capital, several unidentified persons threw an explosive device. According to initial information — from residents of that area — after the explosion, 27-year-old citizen Artur Sulejman was left injured and was immediately taken to Hospital No. 2 in Tirana. The clarification of this घटना — the most serious revelation having occurred a few days ago — still has not given us the possibility of an exact official confirmation as to whether the incident involved only the injured person or also the place of worship where he was found. Although, as declared by the Tekke of the Rrufaites, or the Haxhiu of Kry[?], the event took place — says Beshat, spiritual leader of the Albanian Bektashis, to Gazeta Shqiptare — because I still have not been able to find out anything.” Also in the first days of January, the holy place of the village of Mengël in Elbasan had been robbed by several unidentified persons. It was the imam of that mosque himself who reported it to the public order authorities, after the thieves had stolen all the sound-system equipment as well as a tape recorder, all of them donated by the Islamic Association of Kuwait (e).

The PD leader speaks to reporters TIRANA — “This year is a key moment for deepening privatization,” Eduard Selami emphasized at the press conference held on Friday. Economic problems, as well as political ones, were precisely at the center of the speech Selami delivered before reporters. The transition to the privatization of medium and large enterprises was considered one of the main points of the economic reform. At present in Albania, the number of medium-sized enterprises that have been privatized is still very small, and that of large enterprises remains zero. Meanwhile, in order to give a stronger boost to the economy, Selami pointed out that the issuance of securities is being prepared, which will lead to the revival of the financial system. Also in his speech, the Chairman of the PD spoke very harshly about extremism — both left-wing and right-wing — forms of extremism which, according to him, being remnants of dictatorship, continue the destructive and destabilizing policy in the country. Selami then addressed particularly stern remarks to the AD Party, which a few days earlier — after the murder of one of its members in Shkodër — had accused his party of organizing crime.

The Presidium of the Assembly excludes him for 7 days The deputy admits his mistake The Presidium of the Assembly excludes him for 7 days Imami: “The decision is right” The deputy admits his mistake TIRANA — “The Presidium’s decision is right, even though I insulted Mr. Musaraj.” Deputy Imami — who has just learned the news from television — thus approves for Gazeta Shqiptare the decision issued by the Presidium of the People’s Assembly and prevents him from taking part, for only one week, in the work of Parliament. “Deputy Arben Imami — the decision states — is forbidden to participate in the sessions of the People’s Assembly from 21 to 27 January 1994.” The reason for this decision was an argument that took place in the parliamentary chamber — during Thursday’s session — between Deputies Imami and Musaraj, which had forced Arboni, the Chairman of the Presidium, to suspend the proceedings. “Deputy Arben Imami provoked disorder,” the 21 January decision states, “and used insulting words toward his colleagues.” Everything had started while Parliament was discussing the Shkodër issue. Like many deputies, Musaraj, the Minister of Public Order, had also taken the floor to speak. It was precisely at this moment that Deputy Imami intervened, interrupting him, “because while we were asking as a group of deputies why the killers, whose names are known, had not been arrested — he explains — Musaraj replied: The Police protected the deputies. So he wanted to dodge the essential issue.” The Çekini issue had become a major problem ever since the discussion in the first session of the Albanian Parliament of the year. The killing a few days earlier of a member of the Democratic Alliance, at the end of a meeting of that party in Shkodër — which had caused a major reaction in public opinion and led to all kinds of controversy — had prompted deputies, later in the session, to approve the creation of a special Parliamentary Investigative Committee.

Investments TIRANA — The European Community will become a guarantor for Albania. A statement from its embassy in Tirana declares that the Council of the European Union has decided to grant the European Investment Bank its guarantee for financing the Bank’s projects to the extent that this Bank may carry out in Albania. The same practice that will be applied in Albania has also been applied in other Eastern European countries for the activities and financing of this Bank.

A rain of bullets falls on Bosnia Milosevic less isolated ON PAGE 2 Consumer prices rise, life even more expensive A government project offers hope ON PAGE 3

DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SELL? DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO BUY? This space is free for you for economic notices. Send your message, no longer than 15 words, to no.[?] from 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 address. I AM LOOKING FOR a new wallet strov[?] on the first floor where I lost it last week near e' sempre acqua. Address: rrugës “Bajram Curri”; someone press[?] at the Police Station near the Dental Clinic, Police, Volano. on the right with documents e Gli interessati possono telefonare ndr[?] and a digit of a pa[?]. It would be a big help from someone who found it, if they want to notify us by calling Gazeta Shqiptare at the number 3246. The interested person will also reward himself in all documents. I SELL a house, one room and kitchen, with corridor, annex, w.c. and balcony, measuring 66 m[?] in the Banesë neighborhood. It is on the first floor and has running water. Address: near the Public Order Department in Vlorë. Those interested should call 27318, Tirana. VENDOJ Casun, una stanza e kuçina con korid[o]r, ret- trouçenë, 66, o ballkone, di qendi dimension[?]. L'abitazione I RENT an apartment, one room and a kitchen, with annex, with balcony. It is located in the center of Tirana, opposite the Turkish embassy building. The apartment is on the fifth floor. Those interested should call 25972. I RENT OR SELL an apartment in Elbasan, with three rooms and a kitchen, with annex and three balconies, on the fourth floor. It is located in the city center, near the “Qemal Stafa” boulevard. Address: “Ludj Gurkuqi” neighborhood, Building 71, Entrance A, Apartment 7, Elbasan. In Ti- ranë call 426 950. VENDOJ un qadro (svego- lo) with dimensions 60 x 40 cm by the Italian painter Marino Ma- ri. Address: Rr[?] “Qazim Vathi”, building 2/1, apartment no. 9, Tirana. I RENT an apartment, one room and a kitchen, with annex, bathroom, balcony, corridor, 60 square meters, behind the Orthodox Church. Telephone number 042/2520 APJITTO an apartment with bedroom, living room, bathroom, balcony, corridor, 60 square meters, behind the Orthodox church. Call 42/ 2520. I RENT a shop on “Bajram Curri” street, opposite Pharmacy no. 10, with an area of 60 square meters. Those interested should come to this address from 9:00 to 12:00. I AM LOOKING FOR a masseuse, and interested persons can call 24124, Tirana.

THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF ISMAIL QEMALI IS COMMEMORATED. — In one of the halls of the National Historical Museum, the 150th anniversary of the birth of Ismail Qemali was commemorated through a jubilee session. The organizers of this event were the Institute of History and the cultural association Ismail Qemali. Those present remembered with honor and humility that wise man, who, as was said, crowned the sword of the struggle for freedom with the act of independence. IN MAT, OVER 700 STUDENTS DID NOT SHOW UP AT SCHOOL — According to the data from the education office in the Mat district, the problem of student absenteeism in compulsory education has become current in all four districts, with over 700 cases. Although in such cases administrative measures are also taken against the parents of the students who do not attend, these have not ultimately been applied in any case. This situation was more serious in these districts and at the beginning of this year. THE AGREEMENT OF THE CONFEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS WITH THE GOVERNMENT — Representatives of the Confederation met here with members of the Government. At the center of the talks were the reforms and changes being undertaken by the Government, in the current conditions and, consequently, also the reforms in wages. The expectations of the national confederation regarding wages are expected to be justified and to form part of a better report concerning inflation growth and price increases in Albania.

Zattere 1411 - Tel. 0039/41/781611 - Fax 781805 - Tlx 410045 Passenger, car, and truck ferries DURRES - BARI - ANCONA TRIESTE - DURRES From DURRES to BARI: every Tuesday departs at 22.00 every Thursday departs at 12.00 From DURRES to ANCONA: every Sunday departs at 12.00 From DURRES to TRIESTE: every Wednesday departs at 19.00 every Saturday departs at 20.00 Agency in ALBANIA DURRES: DETARE SHTETERORE Tel. 052/22233 - Fax 22911 - Tlx 4148 Agency in ITALY BARI: AGESTEA Srl - via Liside, 4 Tel. 0039/80/331555 - Fax 330628 - Tlx 810043 ANCONA: MARITIME AGENCY Srl - Via XXIX Settembre, 20 Tel. 0039/71/204915 - Fax 202296 - Tlx 560022 TRIESTE: AGEMAR Srl - Piazza Duca degli Abruzzi, 2/a Tel. 0039/40/363222 - Fax 77723 - Tlx 460059