From Tirane, the investigations reach Paris For the first time, the Albanian authorities will question the French negotiator TIRANE — Another important turning point for the investigations into the Arsidi scandal. Three senior Albanian prosecutors are now in Paris, where for ten days they will investigate — together with their French colleagues — the largest financial scandal, the one that has also kept six Albanian deputies in prison for months. They are Fatos Derivishi, Deputy Prosecutor of the Republic; Arben Qeleshi, Prosecutor of Tirana, and Genc Gloiku[?], prosecutor of this Prosecutor's Office, who have now taken on the task of shedding light on the most mysterious part of the Arsidi scandal, investigating precisely in the place where the beneficiary of the 1.6 million dollars taken from the Albanian Commercial Bank lives. “Our investigations in France,” Arben Qeleshi tells Gazeta Shqiptare, “are being carried out within the framework of a rogatory commission. The Ministry of Justice in France has already expressed a positive opinion on the request from the Tirana Prosecutor's Office.” The slow help is praised, along with what these prosecutors had already done in Italy for a year regarding the scandal, in which at least one person was involved. A scandal that opened with the arrest in January '93 of the two main managers of the Albanian Commercial Bank, Sali and Tati[?], and ended with the transfer to the same prison of the Governor of the Bank of Albania, Ilir Hoxha. Now the investigations in France are also, at the same time, the first signal toward uncovering the foundations of the Arsidi scandal. Although the list of people to be questioned by the Albanian prosecutors remains reserved, the safest hypothesis is the one that does not exclude Arsidi himself from this obligation. Meanwhile, French justice — after opening a case precisely for this scandal — must be in possession of documents that may be very valuable for the Albanian prosecutors. Perhaps original ones, because for many of these documents the accused in Albania had cast a shadow of doubt, even calling them forged. Many mysteries “locked” in France for ten days will finally be in the hands of the Albanian prosecutors. Many more remain to be clarified, in order to definitively determine the guilt or innocence of all those who for two years have been arrested, accused, and suspected in this scandal. Paris: Arc de Triomphe (E.La.)

TIRANE — Another attempt by the Albanian Government to eliminate the risk of pesticides in the country. After reducing their price by 30 percent, it has now taken another favorable decision: pesticides may also be sold outside Albania. For this it has now tasked the Ministry of Agriculture, which will first sell them to the manufacturing companies and then hold an open auction for other entities. Albania must solve a problem that, within a very short time, risks turning into an ecological disaster for the environment. This latest government decision includes only pesticides that arrived in Albania in the last 2-3 years in the form of aid or loans from the European Community, the World Bank, and Italy. This is a quantity of about 480 tons, of which only 180 have been put to use. The rest, initially because of the high price and now because the expiration date for use has passed, risks remaining in stock or expiring, since most of them have gone past the end-of-year deadline. p.re

From Bern, a harsh decision is announced This is the third time in a row From Bern, a harsh decision is announced “Unsafe Albania” Left out of the UEFA Cup This is the third time in a row TIRANE — Albanian football teams are once again excluded from the UEFA Cup. A notice arriving from Bern on Friday said that “the Albanian Football Federation — together with nine others — will not be able to register its UEFA Cup teams for the next edition. Although the final decision on this matter will be expected this year as well, the European Football Federation has already given reasons for this news, still leaving Albania's team outside the UEFA Cup. According to them, this decision is linked to various deficiencies in the levels of “security, infrastructure and communication means”, but without specifying exactly who bears responsibility for these shortcomings. Immediately after this decision — although not final — there was no reaction from the Albanian football authorities. “Security, infrastructure and communication means are certainly just a pretext,” Edmond Laci tells Gazeta Shqiptare. Qemal Stafa Stadium in Tirana Edmond Laci TIRANE — UEFA has now almost decided. The Albanian team will also be absent from the next UEFA Cup edition. The last teams, and here too the reasons are “security, infrastructure and communication means”, the same “shortcomings” that had kept Albania's football completely or partially out of the European Cup in the years '92-'93. These were and are the difficulties of Albania and the new realities. Not if they could consider Albania “safe, with good communication infrastructure.” Better than anyone else, this may have been confirmed to the officials by the foreign players who had come to Albania for a UEFA match since '91 — the footballers whose teams played step by step on Albanian territory, unable even to speak to their colleagues outside. Albanian sports could not even shake hands with Russian and Bulgarian footballers, when Albania blocked the Cups if the first draw was against teams of the “borzellino-zirivoliste” type. These are things that even for Albanians themselves seem to belong to a previous century. But precisely today this “deeply changed” country risks paying a high price. Precisely by being left out of the UEFA Cup it offends in front of everyone its footballers and their veterans, FIFA members since December 1932. And then it offends all the sportsmen who have always managed to show their good manners. Meanwhile, during the revolutions of the years '90-'91 — truly frightening for foreigners — the University “played calmly against Partizani of Tirana” Yes, roads, hotels, stadiums, and streetlights are problems. But none of them had so far prevented an important football match from being played in Albania, including the qualifier for the last World Cup. In UEFA's troubled Albania, ideas should change. That too would mean European solidarity. In Macedonia, meanwhile, and in Yugoslavia — in relation to their participation in the European Cups — two places are reserved for the UEFA Cup. “This will greatly damage Albanian football,” comments Gëzdari on the latest decision, “not only because we have so far interrupted the three teams that best represent Albania in the European Cups, but also because this activity is very valuable financially. Advertising and the sale of television broadcasts are for now the only way to change the situation of our clubs.” (Ed.La.) The exclusion that offends sport

MP RDIVAN PESHËPITA IS EXPELLED FOR 12 DAYS FROM PARLIAMENT — The unfriendly deputy Ridvan Peshëpita will not be able to take part in the work of parliament for 12 consecutive days. This measure was imposed by a decision of the Presidency because of improper conduct during parliamentary proceedings. ELBASAN, WORKERS OF A JOINT ENTERPRISE ON STRIKE — The workers of the Italo-Durru joint enterprise in Elbasan have now gone on a general strike. The reason is the failure to sign labor contracts in accordance with Albanian legislation as well as the failure to respect one clause of the contract. The latter provided for the retention in the new company of all the existing workforce. Union leaders have announced that their strike will continue until their demands are resolved. IN CERRIK, 30 BUILDINGS WITH ROOFS AT RISK OF COLLAPSING — The roofs of 30 apartment buildings in Cërrik are now in full danger of collapsing. These apartment blocks were built 40 years ago and, according to specialists, their residents may legally be considered homeless. That status would give them advantages in obtaining interest-free loans for the construction of new homes.

Leading Committee TIRANE — The Socialist Steering Committee discussed the political situation in the country on Friday. At the center of the discussions was the relationship with the ruling majority and the other political parties. For some time now, the Socialist Party has put forward the idea of holding early elections. According to the socialists, this would be the only way to align the will of the electorate — which they say has changed a lot from that of the last elections — with real representation in power. Even so, they have reached the conclusion that for the socialists the objective is cooperation with all the other political forces that share the same goal.

Today is a holiday for Orthodox Easter and May 1 Four days of celebrations also dedicated to all workers Today is a holiday for Orthodox Easter and May 1 Archbishop's greeting: “Peace may prevail in our region” TIRANE — Orthodox Easter will be celebrated today in Albania as well. And just as not long ago with Eid al-Adha and some Christian Easters, this day, which is celebrated every year as the day of Christ's resurrection, will be remembered by all Albanians, however divided their faiths may be. These celebrations on this occasion began last Sunday. While today, following the postponement to last Saturday of the Orthodox morning services — because the Easter of the Order had been named as such — today’s celebration is being announced for reasons of organization, according to tradition, after the Mass in the Church — they had begun — likewise believers in the Catholic Church had completed the whole “east-to-west” journey. But the costume of Christ's resurrection differs from other days, as happens for all humanity. “May the peace of Easter reign in our souls,” writes the Archbishop of Tirana and All Albania in his message, “and let us work so that it prevails in our immediate environment, in our country, and in the region in which we live.” “To all Orthodox believers Gazeta Shqiptare sends its most sincere Easter greetings.” Four days of celebrations also dedicated to all workers TIRANE — Today is also a holiday to commemorate a historic day, International Workers' Day. This day includes four days off to celebrate it as well. Now it seems the day is prescribed and therefore sanctified by the broad masses. Today, when people were forced and impoverished in the bourgeoisie that is today from early morning. For several years now, the holiday has taken on its traditional meaning. People celebrate quietly according to the wishes of each of them. Those who go out, of course — by nature — remain the workers and the laboring class, enjoying the picturesque places of the cities, from the beach of Saranda to the Castle of Shkodra. Although now it costs many workers more than in previous years, working people and the meaning of the message still remain. It is still this social category that bears the main burden not only of the victory of its time, but also prepares for its own future. Nearly the overwhelming majority of our population consists of people who are temporary — many of them do not even feel themselves to be part of the world of labor. They like flowers. Today's celebrations will also have this meaning in hand, bringing together all those around a shared feeling for work and the people of work. fa.ba

TIRANE — Today Gazeta shqiptare, in an explanation together with RAI UNO, in a curious search for a family, yes, we are looking for a large suffering family — symbolically — all Albanian families. A family which is able to take part in Pippo Baudo's programme “All at Home”, a programme that will have to compare the problems of an Italian family with those of an Albanian family. But beyond the result of our sectioning (on the last pages you will find every day, starting today, the rules and the participation form) we consider it right to explain the meaning of this initiative. And first of all for Albania there is precisely Pippo Baudo, who rightly states that Italy has a categorical duty towards Albania. The famous scholar Erasmus, the American McLuhan, theorized nine lifetimes ago that the world, thanks to television satellites, becomes a global “village”, that is, a large and single village in which different languages are spoken, but which ultimately finds a community through the mass communication system. Albania is a perfect demonstration of McLuhan's theory: even if, God forbid, there is the harshest regime, during television broadcasts they manage to bypass police and security control — and arriving directly from the West they enter everyone's homes, bringing images and realities from Italy and Europe. What the dictator in fact managed to prevent was the opposite: namely, the images and reality of Albania did not manage to reach Italy and Europe. McLuhan's theory was therefore untrue because — in liberal America — censorship had not prevailed. So here is the “debt” that Italy (but not only Italy) has toward Albania: to help it and let the world hear its voice. In that case television will be available to a normal family. The “debt” that Italy has in this respect is therefore to help Albanians become part — in every sense — of this great “village” that is the world. (c.b.)

Berlusconi prime minister The opposition objects ON PAGE 2 Borrowers do not return money to the banks ON PAGE 3

FOR RENT — a two-storey villa near the “Ali Demi” Sports Field. Each floor has two rooms and a kitchen, bathroom, corridor and large balcony. Interested parties should contact Shtir Silvan at the number near the “Ali Demi” Sports Field in Tirana. SEEKING — partnership in activity for the “Kruja” restaurant on Purrës beach. The area is 3,200 square meters. Interested parties can call 28516 in Tirana. FOR RENT — a building with 40 rooms for hotel or office use, four floors, with a total area of 500 square meters. The building has a premises used as a restaurant with a coffee room on the second floor with a shared area of 145 square meters. Inside the building there is a disco and bar. On the outskirts there are 125 square meters for a discotheque or tavern. Address: in the center of Tirana, opposite the Albanian Parliament. Interested parties should contact 0096/42/33132. FOR RENT — a three-room apartment and a kitchen (water at all hours of the day, two balconies, elevator and bathroom). The house is on the fourth floor in a building opposite the facilities in Tirana (near the children's playground). Interested parties should contact 24020. SEEKING — to exchange the house located on the third floor, with one room and a kitchen, living room, drying room, and connection, with an area of 80 square meters. The apartment is near the “Kuqm” school. Exchange for a two-room apartment and kitchen on the road located inside the “Ring Road”. Contact 31382.

Zattere 1411 - Tel. 0039/41/781611 - Fax 781805 - Tlx 410045 Passenger, car, and truck ferries DURRES - BARI - ANKONA TRIESTE - DURRES From DURRES to BARI: every Tuesday departs at 22.00 every Thursday departs at 12.00 From DURRES to ANKONA: every Sunday departs at 12.00 From DURRES to TRIESTE: every Wednesday departs at 19.00 every Saturday departs at 20.00 Agencies in ALBANIA: DURRES: DETARE SHETTERORE Tel. 052/22233 - Fax 22911 - Tlx 4148 Agencies in ITALY: BARI: AGESTEA Srl - via Liside, 4 Tel. 0039/80/331555 - Fax 330628 - Tlx 810043 ANKONA: 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