NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING The Albanian police operation near the beach: three people are detained, one of them from Kavaja. Is there a link to the mobile refinery? Heroin in Durrës 500 grams of drugs seized EDMOND LAÇI DURRES — Until now there had only been investigations and suspicions. Now there is also evidence: heroin trafficking is passing through Albania as well. On Friday evening in the city of Durrës, the largest amount ever seized in the country of the white powder was confiscated. During a surprise search near the beach of Durrës, the law-enforcement authorities found around 500 grams of heroin in the car of three people. His immediate detention was followed a few hours later by the detention of two other people, while investigations continue intensively. According to the first — highly cautious — confirmations, the person who at the moment has been placed under arrest in connection with the large quantity of heroin is said to be a 40-year-old employee of Filton Tregtare of Durrës and a resident of Kavaja. Meanwhile, other sources from Kavaja confirm that that same evening a thorough search was carried out at this man’s home by the law-enforcement authorities. In any case, at least so far, no other quantity of drugs has been reported seized. Although, because of the extreme secrecy of the investigation, no further details have been announced about this operation by the law-enforcement authorities, it is understood that the latest discovery had been preceded by lengthy investigations, which were only concluded on Friday evening. The fact that two other people were also detained gives further reason to believe that this is a drug-trafficking network, the first links of which in Albania have only just been uncovered. Thus the hypotheses put forward — especially recently — are confirmed, namely that different people within Albanian territory have also been involved in international drug trafficking. On 9 March 1993 — in the context of the Italian “Pelikan” operation — also in Durrës — a quantity of 10 grams of heroin and 53 small bottles filled with cocaine had been seized. At the time, the Albanian Deputy Minister of Public Order, Mehja, confirmed to Gazeta Shqiptare “the capture of the first drug trafficker in Albania”. Today — just one year later — in Durrës a quantity 50 times larger has been discovered, of the most expensive and sought-after drug in the West: heroin. According to reports, it is worth 700 thousand dollars. It is still not known whether this quantity of drugs belonged to a shipment destined for the Italian coast or, on the contrary, for internal distribution. The safest hypothesis remains that it was intended for sale, because in that amount of half a kilogram it cannot be a question of an ordinary user or drug addict. Only a week earlier, the Italian authorities had announced the discovery of an international drug-trafficking network and the seizure of 40 kilograms of heroin, believed to have passed through Albania before ending up on the Italian sales market. In fact — according to Italian specialists — the existence of a mobile heroin refinery was also confirmed, sometimes located in Albania and sometimes in Macedonia. However — with investigations still incomplete — it cannot be said that the quantity recently seized in Durrës belongs to the same refinery or network. Durrës beach

It had blocked EC aid TIRANA — A response from the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the reservations raised by the representative of Greece at the latest meeting of the Council of Ministers of Economy and Finance of the European Union (ECO-FIN), reservations that led to the blocking of aid amounting to 38 million ECU — or over 40 million dollars — for the Albanian state’s balance of payments. In a statement, it is said that the claims officially presented by Greece concerning the conditioning of the rights of the Greek minority in Albania are neither certain nor serious. Over the past two years — the statement adds, among other things — dozens of international commissions from the CSCE, the Council of Europe and the European Union have come and have made no substantial remarks, apart from noting major improvements in the situation and rights of the Greek minority. In fact, none of the other members of the ECOFIN Council — apart from Greece — raised any objection at the meeting to Albania benefiting from this aid, which was approved without reservations by the European Parliament and was also recommended by the International Monetary Fund. By qualifying the act of the Greek representative as the result of the political passions of the Greek Government, the statement from the Albanian diplomatic ministry also expresses regret that the blocking of the 38 million ECU aid — so necessary for the progress of economic reform — penalizes, in addition to Albanian citizens, the Greek minority in Albania, which would also benefit from it. This is an action contrary to the outlook being built for improving relations between the two countries — the statement continues — as well as a prejudice ahead of the upcoming meeting of the foreign ministers of the two countries proposed by the Albanian side. Foreign Minister Serreqi

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They wanted the return of property TIRANA — Another right-wing party has not been approved by the Ministry of Justice. The founding group for the creation of the party “Drejtësia Shqiptare” received an official response from the Minister of Justice Kudret Çela, who also explains the reasons behind his decision. “This party has taken up the issue of the condition of old private properties. These statements continue to call on us to harmonize with the overall spirit of the main constitutional provisions; they imply the re-establishment of a feudal system in Albania, something not envisaged by the direction of contemporary constitutional legislation, which values the elimination of latifundia, as well as by the form of Parliamentary Republic of our state.” The request to create this party had been submitted to the Ministry as early as October 1993. After that, the initiative group of this party had turned to the Civil District Arbitration within the Ministry. Then, only a short time later, the initiators also addressed a letter to the President of the Republic Sali Berisha himself. Now, finally, a few days ago, the negative reply came from the Ministry of Justice. (p. re.)

To the Autocephaly Committee TIRANA — The debate between the Committee for the Defense of the Autocephaly of the Albanian Orthodox Church and the Church authorities, who support Archbishop Janullatos, has continued. In a statement of the 17th, “The Orthodox Church and the last cults of the Committee for the Defense of Autocephaly are expelled,” stressing that the demands of this committee are unacceptable for the Church. The state leaders Janullatos had requested that the candidate proposed by them be appointed by Janullatos as Bishop. Now, in the Spokesman’s statement it is said that “the candidate does not even meet the criteria to become a deacon, nor the schooling requirements,” and therefore his candidacy remains inactive. In a request letter from the “Committee for Autocephaly” — for the ordination of a young priest — was not sent by Janullatos. In the statement of the Spokesman of the Orthodox Church, it also emerges that the handover of a church in the Theological Seminary of Durrës, which has been under way for two years, cannot aspire to have the appointment of Janullatos. Autocephaly”. another church in the city of Durrës blocked. The spokesman also says that the expulsion of Janullatos for “Unity of Autocephaly” had strongly protested against Janullatos’ refusal replies. The Association of the Persecuted of Elbasan had also shown solidarity with him. p.re.

— Cooperation between the two countries is successful and has a secure future. This is the main message of the official meeting held in the city of Pogradec between the President of the Republic of Albania Sali Berisha and the President of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Kiro Gligorov. The two presidents expressed their readiness to expand cooperation between the two countries in the free movement of people, transport and the economy. At the same time, they described this cooperation as very important for stability in the region.

— The newly arrived Prefect of Korçë has been presented. At the ceremony organized for this occasion at the district council headquarters, two ministers, Bittbanka and Mahushi, introduced the new Prefect Pjerin Kiri to the district authorities. Prefect Kiri expressed his satisfaction at having the opportunity to work in a district with old cultural and patriotic traditions and said that “in cooperation with the local government bodies, he will work for the implementation of the law and the strengthening of democracy.”

A crowd of «innocents» in the trial of regime officials The former head of the infamous Internment-Expulsion Commission accepts no personal responsibility. Çarçani and Marko also deny all accusations against them TIRANA — The first explanations are also beginning to come from the ten former high-ranking officials of the communist regime, whose trial opened on Saturday morning. After the usual procedure of the trial and the reading of the charges, the presiding prosecutor Neshat Fana gave the floor regarding the accusations to Adil Çarçani, Rita Marko and Manush Myftiu, and later to former president Ramiz Alia; the Chairman of the Trial Panel decided that the trial would begin next Friday. “Whoever were in our place would act the same way?” replied Marko, who admitted political responsibility for political imprisonments and internments. Meanwhile Çarçani — also accused of “the unlawful violation of the freedoms and fundamental rights of citizens” — denied personal responsibility for the episodes of restrictions on movement and for the massacres after the incident at the Russian Legation. Faced with all the accusations, he insisted that they were being put forward by means of questions and that they were “acts based on the law”. The testimony of the 75-year-old Manush Myftiu was also heard. Former deputy chairman of the Council of Ministers, who for 12 consecutive years also chaired the infamous Internment-Expulsion Commission. Myftiu’s answers sparked discussion in the hall, perhaps also because Myftiu took on no responsibility for the Commission he had chaired; according to Myftiu, such a commission had existed in every district and in the ministries and did not come from above. Meanwhile, various documents included in the relevant investigation files are coming to light about orders and thousands of people expelled and interned without political persecution. Thus end the first two sessions of the historic trial against Alia and the former top officials of the regime, after the sentencing months earlier of the ten ringleaders of the orders and the victims who suffered under Hoxha. Next Friday — perhaps for the first time — there will be testimony, truly “post-Trotskyite” Ramiz Alia. (e.l.) Former president Alia

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TIRANA, PARRE? GULSI IN THE SALE OF MEDICINES — According to information from the State Control Council, the sale of medicines in Tirana — in the state sector — has not always been in line with the latest decisions of the Council of Ministers. The latest inspection carried out in a pharmacy in the capital showed that in some cases prescriptions were issued with proper names, register numbers and dates. “From the inspection,” say the inspectors — conduct could not be carried out for unjustified payments in medicines and patients.

MANY FORMER NAZI LEADERS LIVE IN ARGENTINA — Many of the former Nazi leaders — or those who lived until April of this year in Argentina, where former wartime chancellor Erich Priebke is under house arrest, took part in the execution of 335 Italians and Jews during World War II. This is reported by the Argentine daily «Clarin». SARAH FERGUSON THOUGHT SHE WOULD BE IN A FILM — Oscar Ferguson, called «Fergie», is a lively and nimble woman, no doubt, but I thought it might happen that she would act in a film, to play the rainbow queen Beatrice in a Ken Russell film, I could not imagine it that way. Well, that is exactly how it was. On the set, the wife of Prince Andrew of England said that Sarah had received the script, read it, liked it and is considering the proposal that was made to her.

INTERNATIONAL CONSULTING Economic and Social Consulting Agency INTERNATIONAL CONSULTING Economic and Social Consulting Agency CONSULTANCY FOR LAND AND BUILDING OWNERS This agency has been commissioned by a group of Italian entrepreneurs to find investment opportunities in land or buildings. Owners of land or buildings, equipped with ownership documents, interested in cooperating with Italian investors may contact this agency. Address: TIRANE - Rruga «Islam Alia», Building 72/1 Staircase 2, Apartment 36 (near the crossroads by the restaurant «Rugova») Tel: 042/23501.