KORÇË Traffickers violate the House-Museum of the famous painter and steal 20 of his finest works Works by Mio stolen The massacre of art continues TIRANA — A single epigraph at Gllamaskara would have been enough. The mysterious thieves, once again yesterday, taking advantage of negligence and the passivity of those responsible for the fate of works of art, have dealt another devastating blow to Albanian art in this terrible attack. This time one of the best-known figures of Albanian painting has fallen victim. We are talking about the popular painter Vangjush Mio. It was precisely yesterday morning that it became known that the thieves had managed to break into (it is still not known how) the House-Museum of the famous painter in the city of Korçë, making off with 20 of his valuable paintings. Along with most of the still lifes stolen from the museum inventory, there are also the paintings “Portrait of the Gypsy”, “The Harvest”, “The Water Mosque” and many other wonderful works. As in previous cases of this kind — which amount to a blow to national culture — the alerted law-enforcement bodies have launched a search for the wrongdoers. But that alone — accompanied by complaints and uproar from museum representatives — can no longer restore the balance of Albanian art, which has been shaken to its foundations by this enormous theft. Hidden and similar, at this moment Albanian painting is in much less secure hands. It will be able to regain balance only if the stolen works are returned. A self-portrait by Vangjush Mio A great loss Here are the paintings stolen from the collection KORÇË — The collection of works by Vangjush Mio — which had already suffered a new theft from a rich part of Albania. In 1977, among the works kept in his House-Museum and in the same building where the “Mio” Gallery is located. In the first row appear “Portrait of the Gypsy” and “The Harvest”, “The Water Mosque”, “The Poplar of the Korçë Plain”, “Landscape of Podgorie”, “Road in Drenovë”, “Boat in Pogradec”. In another set of paintings formerly listed under the name [?] “Friends”, “The Mill”, “The Flower Pot”, “Portrait of Gaqi”, “The Water Section”, “Portrait of a Woman”, “The Milker”, “Still Life with Apples”, “Flowers in a Vase”, “Self-Portrait”, “Street of Korçë”, “Autumn”. Vangjush Mio is the father of Albanian landscape painting. His paintings, which focus on Albanian nature — always eagerly sought for purchase by many galleries around the world — are distinguished by vivid color, light, and a translucent atmosphere. In the recently robbed House-Museum — created in memory of the painter — only part of the rare collection of 400 paintings and 50 drawings was kept, a collection to which Mio devoted his creative sweat for around 30 years. The scandalous theft of some 20 of Mio’s paintings follows the equally sensational theft of the Epitaff of Gllavenica, carried out some time ago at the National Museum in Tirana. Just as the responsible authorities were taking measures to provide sophisticated protection for the National Museum, art thieves — who in this case also demonstrate their professionalism — operating in the center of Korçë, in the painter’s birthplace, have now gone even further in stealing and dispersing Albanian art, without being troubled at all by the great loss. Andrea Stefani Sokol Malolli

The legitimacy of Archbishop Janullatos and the problem of autocephaly are in the foreground Tirana, the Easter epilogue TIRANA — A heated debate has begun among Albanian Orthodox believers immediately after the Easter celebrations ended. The debate is linked much more than to political spheres — after a series of public exchanges between the two countries, Greece and Albania, around the Easter line. The local agitators are the two groups of Orthodox believers who speak for or against the legitimacy of Archbishop Janullatos. It all began with a protest statement from the Greek Representative in Tirana, Tulupas. He went twice to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tirana to voice the protest of Palas[?]. According to the head of Athens diplomacy, “the Albanian government had prevented Orthodox believers from carrying out the Easter celebrations normally.” The spokesman of Tirana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately replied to these serious accusations. In his statement, the Greek complaint was described as “a provocative, premeditated and announced act.” Tirana reminds Athens that this was a clear and deliberate interference by the Greek Embassy in a matter internal to the Albanian Orthodox community and its believers. Albanian officials have strongly opposed the legitimacy of the imported archbishop Janullatos. The Ministry of Public Order has also hurried to provide clarifications. A statement by its deputy minister explains the dynamics of the events that took place on the eve of Easter. At the request of the Church, the performance of two traditional rituals — the procession of the Epitaph and the celebration of the Resurrection service in the open air — were banned by the Police because the national road was blocked. A day later the debate widened further. A harsh statement from the “Committee for the Protection of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania” called on the Albanian authorities to immediately replace the staff in question. The other camp, pro-Janullatos, responded immediately. In a statement signed by “Orthodox believers, participants in the Church of the Annunciation in the celebration of St. George,” the influence of this Committee is minimized: “What kind of committee is this, what does it represent, with which clerics does it have ties?” asked the believers who signed the statement. For this reason, the activity of this committee aims to separate the Albanian Autocephalous Orthodox Church from the “world Orthodox family.” Reactions also came from Albanian political forces. The Democratic Party and the Republican Party express their position against the diplomatic interference of the Greek government in the problems of the Albanian Autocephalous Church. Fatos Baxhaku

Sport According to Matarrese The championship ends; let’s think about the World Cup Top scorer Beppe Signori On page 3 the Albanian football championship On page 4 the history of the 1990 World Cup

— A serious car accident in Durrës. As a result, three people have lost their lives, while two others have been urgently taken to hospital. The tragedy occurred in the morning on the national road Durrës-Kavajë. Near the Kavajë crossroads, a “Lada” car with Tirana license plates collided violently with a bus. There were 5 people in the car. The accident was so severe that 3 of them — badly injured — died at the scene. Two others were also left in serious condition and are now in hospital.

Joint venture with Albpetrol TIRANA — Now even liquefied gas — produced at the Ballsh Deep Oil Processing Combine — will be filled into cylinders and small tanks to be used for cooking and heating by the population. This is one of the objectives of the Albanian-Italian joint company “Albpetrol-API”, the agreement for which has just been signed in Rome by representatives of the Albanian Oil Corporation “Albpetrol” and those of the Italian company API, one of the strongest Italian groups in the field of fuel distribution. The contract — for this investment of 2.2 billion lire — also provides for the distribution of liquefied gas throughout the country [?] system. For this purpose, the managers of this liquefied gas filling plant at the Ballsh Combine, “API” will provide 10,000 gas cylinders along with the necessary equipment. This joint company will also deal with fuel distribution. It will reconstruct and put into use 6 distributors of “Albpetrol”. The profits generated by the activity of “Albpetrol-API” will be reinvested in Albania to expand its activity.

Football-Art TIRANA — This afternoon at the “Qemal Stafa” stadium there will be played the most unusual football match ever held in Albania. Two very different all-star teams will face each other: on one side the artists and well-known singers of Italy, and on the other the most renowned Albanian artists and singers. More than a sporting meeting, this match will be a spectacle of a special kind. Part of the revenue from ticket sales will be used to buy sports equipment for several schools in the capital.

TIRANA — Bunkers transformed into a kind of shelter and into colorful ambushes. These images will be exhibited during this month in Ferrara at “Biennale Donna”, an event that will showcase artistic works created only by women. Thus, in Ferrara, works by the Italian artist Oriana Gentili will be exhibited. If last year many shells that crossed the roads of bora[?] were suddenly transformed into bunkers with circular openings into colorful paintings of high walls. The modern object with an aggressive appearance, once the symbol of an era with light, with what the castes are now completely “softened”. The initiative — a kind of “land art” in Albania — was born almost together with another project. Last summer a group of Italian volunteers worked together with Albanians from Qeparo on building the Borsh-Qeparo water pipeline. Then, in the walls of the caves, abandoned by the manifest [?] of the bunkers, the engaged[?] residents in another project “Le EdIndro [?] with bunkers in political symbols, femininity and love”. Thus the ruined appearance of a coastal [?] began to change. Gradually the first figures began to come to life: flowers, two breasts, then a watermelon, fruits and colorful flowers. Across the bunkers scattered everywhere in Albania, often turned into a problem for Albanian residents, now after the division of the land. The fact of the breakthrough comes from their characteristics — very burdensome and ca[?]able — there is also another “abusive” way to use them through art. One of the photographs presented in the competition (ba.bx.)

Diplomacy Foreign Minister, Alfred Serreqi TIRANA — The Japanese capital will be the place where Serreqi, Albania’s Foreign Minister, will stop for a five-day official visit. In Tokyo — from 9 to 15 May — Serreqi will hold a series of meetings aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and will also discuss important international issues. The Albanian minister will also meet with his Japanese counterpart Kakuve [?] and will discuss Kazawa [?], according to Japanese officials. It remains one of the various political initiatives of Albania’s reform. On his part, Serreqi will give a detailed overview of the current development of the objectives of this reform.

ALBANIA SIGNS A COOPERATION MEMORANDUM WITH SHEQERINËT FUSHËMË MBL[?] Albania signs a memorandum letter of cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Defense. The new partner with which Albania has signed the agreement is Montenegro. The Minister of Defense has been [un]specified. This memorandum is expected to turn into cooperation in the field of personnel exchange, information exchange and military training, as well as in military science and technology. THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE BAHÁ'Í FAITH IN ALBANIA COME TO AN END — The proceedings of the Third National Convention of the Bahá'í faith in Albania have concluded in Tirana. At this convention, which meets once a year, 100 Bahá'ís from 20 districts of the country as well as believers of this religion from other countries of the world took part. At the end of the proceedings, through a voting system, the national Bahá'í assembly was also elected, consisting of 9 members. THREE NIGHTS OF DANCE IN KUKËS — The show organized in Kukës by the music group “Lojna” (?) and “Muzikor” in cooperation with the music editorial office at the Radio lasted for four consecutive nights. In this performance — with actors from the Bashkimi club and the Youth Center — around [400?] young people took part. Part of the program was devoted to young singers with various performances. The special feature of the spectacle was that a venue was also set up, whose winners were announced on the final night.

Berlusconi prime minister The opposition objects Polls among Italians in his favor ON PAGE 2 Borrowers do not return money to the banks Help from the enforcement office is requested ON PAGE 3

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