"My husband had documents" INTERVIEW / Relatives of Zeqo and Beqiri, "missing" in Montenegro, speak EDMOND LACI TIRANE — "During his trip to Montenegro, my husband Idajet Beqiri had with him quite a few party documents too." It is the wife of the Chairman of the National Unity Party — who, commenting to Gazeta Shqiptare on Beqiri's "disappearance", but also on the PS deputy Mokom Zeqo — perhaps reveals the mystery behind the second inexplicable adventure on Montenegrin territory. Having set out for Ulcinj on the 2nd of last month, Beqiri and Zeqo have not since then been able to be reached by their increasingly worried families. Official sources — referring to information from the chargé d'affaires of the FRY (Serbia-Montenegro) Embassy in Tirana to the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs — report the detention of the two politicians by the police authorities of Ulcinj, after "the two Albanian citizens crossed illegally by boat on Lake Shkodra". "We cannot say what happened to Mokom — the relatives from Durrës explain to Gazeta Shqiptare — we only know that he had left on 27 February for Montenegro, driven by curiosity to get to know the historic city of Ulcinj." According to the relatives of the deputy of the Socialist Party of Albania, Zeqo also had a diplomatic passport, thus enjoying special status in addition to that of a deputy in the Albanian Parliament. "Naturally we cannot believe that Mokom crossed by boat through Lake Shkodra — Zeqo's relative counters the Yugoslav Embassy's version in Tirana — because, as far as we know, he and Idajet had set off by car." And while the real reasons that continue to keep Mokom Zeqo determined to deny the Montenegrin account are still unknown, the mystery seems perhaps clearer in the case of Idajet Beqiri, not least because he had set out under completely different circumstances from his travel companion. "Idajet naturally had set off on party business — his wife explains — naturally Idajet had left on party business; of course he also had newspapers, party programmes and other documents with him." Lake Shkodra, across which runs part of the border line separating Albania from Montenegro As the Beqiri family states, the Chairman of the National Unity Party in Albania no longer had a diplomatic passport, which had been confiscated during an incident that took place on Greek territory. "A few days before leaving for Montenegro, Beqiri had also been Chairman of the Coordinating Council of all National Unity parties for the Diaspora and Albania," his family members add. "On 27 February around 23:00, in the village of Zelenovic, Ulcinj Municipality, during a routine police check on a car with Yugoslav plates — the Yugoslav Embassy in Tirana reported on that same day after the incident — the Albanian citizens Mokom Zeqo, PS deputy, and Idajet Beqiri, PUK chairman, were detained." According to this information, the reason for the detention of the two Albanian politicians was that there were no entry stamps in their passports. Immediately after this notice, according to official sources from Albania — the chargé d'affaires of Albania in Belgrade began to intensify his efforts, and a series of representatives from Albania, authorized to contact Beqiri and Zeqo, responded, but they still were not allowed to visit. Thus the mystery of the unpleasant trip to Montenegro for the two Albanian politicians remains to be fully clarified only after they return home — according to the family — even today.

— Even in hospital, attempts at "violent love" are made. This time the "victim" had been chosen not in the streets — as had happened a few days earlier at the Tirana Neuropsychiatric Hospital — but among hospital staff. In any case, a day after midnight between Sunday and Monday — when citizen L.Sh. entered a room of the Civil Hospital 2 in the capital, asking for one of the third-shift employees — law-enforcement officers managed to detain the perpetrator. Immediately after the detention order and transfer to the Tirana Prison, the detention of L.Sh., 28 years old and living in a peripheral neighborhood of Tirana, also opened the initial investigation into sexual violence. At that point, the "visitor" to the hospital is now under the initial charge of attempted rape, while five other citizens — also from the capital — face a much more serious accusation. After a successful operation by law-enforcement agencies, the detained persons were A.D., 19 years old, G.H., 24, H.K., 30, C.L., 33, and A.T., 23, all residents of the capital, accused of acting in collusion with one another, "having kidnapped and then raped a 15-year-old girl". Even with the investigation in disarray, inquiries continue intensively. e.l

After 13 months, the baby must be returned to the adoptive family Painful story of an adoptive couple TIRANA — "Having the child taken away would be a capital punishment for me." These are the words of Mjalinda Kaçi, a young mother who was given custody of one of the children from the Bejtroft of Tirana. But now she must give him back. According to the law, the act by which this mother was entrusted with the baby — Iliri is his name — is not valid. It was done during the period when adoptions were prohibited. "But if the laws change, why should we pay for it — the Kaçi couple tells Gazeta Shqiptare — the child to raise. We cannot leave him. We cannot allow him to be sent back to an orphanage — to become an orphan again." How long have you been attached to this child? "Since he was born, on 31 January 1993, so for more than 13 months. We spent a long time looking for a child. At that time we allowed the parents to choose the child and to follow his development. So we have followed Iliri since the day he was born, as a legally recognized child. During the 3 months he spent in the maternity ward — as a premature baby — we came every day from Kruja to see how he was growing. That is when we also began completing the documents." And after that? "Afterwards we continued to stay close. We did the same when Iliri was hospitalized. His mother stayed by his side day and night, perhaps also remembering somewhat the rules — to help him escape death. Not for a single moment did we leave him." Now you have kept him close while breaking some rules. "Yes. Because legally the child is not ours. But we had grown far too attached to him, and we could not remain indifferent when he was fighting for his life. And for that I admit that we also violated the rules by bringing him into the Tirana home where we now live — forever, being as happy as parents with their own child. The Adoption Commission rightly considers our actions repeated violations, which I would call driven by affection. But this came only as a result of the great desire to have our own child." How do you think you will solve this problem now? "We have completed the relevant documents in accordance with the new adoption law. We have also spoken with Hlime Meri, the Chairwoman of this Commission, who has her reservations about us. Nevertheless, we hope that alongside the law, humanity will also be taken into account." "I am ready to receive a penalty for violating the law, something I also feel, but a child cannot be separated from the mother who has lived only for him for 13 months."

— More than 45 thousand packs of cigarettes and a tanker truck with 2 thousand liters of kerosene were blocked and seized by the Elbasan Financial Police while in transit through this city. The Partner brand cigarettes — worth over 10 million lek — were seized because they were not accompanied by the relevant purchase documents and because their destination was not declared. As for the fuel — according to Kujtim Bumçi, Director of the Elbasan Financial Police — it was undoubtedly intended for Shkodër, from where smugglers take it to Montenegro. Me. Ki.

More than 50 thousand dollars financed TIRANA — Financing of over 50 thousand dollars will be provided in 1994 by the Regional Environment Center for Central and Eastern Europe for the protection and preservation of the environment in Albania. These fiscal financings by the organization will be allocated for the implementation of various environmental projects by non-governmental associations. Thus 30 thousand ECU have been planned for small local projects, of which 13,500 dollars have been approved for 9 projects that have already won the competition in the first phase during the month of February. Meanwhile, financing of 20 thousand dollars will go to a major project in the field of strategy for the protection of biodiversity in the Albanian natural environment. Priority will also be given to projects coming from the districts and especially from the "hot" areas where forest damage and industrial pollution are greater. For this purpose, 6 thousand ECU have already been planned.

TIRANA — "Stop drugs and crime." This was the joint message of a very representative meeting between the Albanian Ministry of Order and a delegation led by Deputy Minister Gitonas. The exchange of views and the expansion of cooperation between the two countries’ law-enforcement bodies to prevent various criminal acts were at the center of the talks held in Tirana between the two sides. M. Q.

IN GOLEM THE BODY OF A 73-YEAR-OLD MAN IS FOUND NEAR THE SEA — The body of 73-year-old Alajdin Ypl from Kavaja was found in Golem, on the seashore, by two reed gatherers. His body — the alarm over whose disappearance had been raised a few days earlier — was found with the veins of both wrists cut. This fact suggests suicide by the 73-year-old. This is also the most plausible version according to the coroner, who noted that the victim had previously suffered from depression. VISIT TO ALBANIA BY THE DELEGATION OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC ALLIANCE — Lio Bouward, President of the Assembly of the North Atlantic Alliance, this time paid an official visit to Albania at the head of a delegation to this Assembly. During his stay, he held meetings with top Albanian state figures, where numerous issues of politics and the further development of Albania were discussed. KOSOVAR CULTURE PRESENTED IN VIENNA — It is a special afternoon organized for Pieri, dedicated to Kosovar culture and literature. With this activity, the "Parade of Kosovar Culture" was launched and later continued with Qerimiti, the book artist of Ali Podrimje. Smiles in a Cage. Afterwards, a general historical overview of the Kosovo region was also presented.

Trafficking of women from Durrës to Italy 4 Albanian girls freed by the carabinieri ON PAGE 2 Banks prefer loans for private individuals 4 billion lek only for 1993 ON PAGE 3

DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL? DO YOU WANT TO BUY SOMETHING? DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL? DO YOU WANT TO BUY SOMETHING? This space is free for your classified economic notices. Send your message (no longer than 15 words) to one of our addresses: In Tirana: Bajram Curri Street, 370. Or in Bari: Viale Scipione l'Africano, 264. State in the message what you are looking for and offering, your name and your address. SELL a new two-story house, with three rooms and a kitchen, an annex, hallway, veranda, 18-square-meter balconies and a yard with an area of 540 square meters. Address: "Budi" Street. Kodra e Stufit, Tirana, no. 9, (near "Student City"). SELL dental equipment Unit, and private equipment (6kv). Available. Near restaurant Durrësi. Address: Near restaurant Durrësi. SELL a portable "Technics" compact disc player, with rechargeable batteries, transformer and headphones. Interested parties can call 2646, Tirana. LOOKING FOR a house for rent with two or three rooms and a kitchen. The house should be in the center of Tirana, equipped with a yard with space for a car. We are a young Italian couple. The house is needed for one year. Contact telephone number 32846, Tirana. TO LET a one-story villa, with four rooms and a kitchen, with an annex, two cellars and two bathrooms. The yard can be used as parking. Address: "Perri Xhako" Street, no. 98, Tirana. TO LET a two-story house in the center of Shkodër, with a shop below and 3 rooms and a kitchen upstairs, with a yard. Interested parties should call 042 23600. TO LET a private house with one or three rooms and a kitchen. The house should be in the center of Tirana, equipped with a yard with space for five rooms, kitchen, bathroom, yard with an area of 240 square meters, plus storage and garages with metal doors. The house also has a telephone. Interested parties can call 426 21, from 9:00 to 14:00. SELL A PLOT OF LAND with an area of 650 square meters. Address: Thanas Ziko Street, building 65, stairwell 1, apartment 21, Tirana. TO LET an apartment near restaurant Durrësi, second floor, with one room and a kitchen with an annex and balcony. Address: Block 49, "Fet xhako" Street, building 59, stairwell 1, apartment 4, Tirana.

ONLY IN THE SHOPS AUTHORIZED BY INTERNATIONAL TRADE "ARISTON" — ANOTHER CONTEST FOLLOWS THE PREVIOUS CONTEST IN WHICH THREE WINNERS EMERGED WHOEVER BUYS AN ARISTON PRODUCT FROM THE POINTS AUTHORIZED BY INTERNATIONAL TRADE TOGETHER WITH THE WARRANTY CERTIFICATE WILL ALSO RECEIVE A POSTCARD ON WHICH ALL THE RULES OF THE CONTEST ARE WRITTEN, AND WHICH WILL GIVE HIM THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS CONTEST. THE GRAND PRIZE ONE FIAT PUNTO "LATEST MODEL" MINOR PRIZES 1. ONE MOTORCYCLE AND ONE SET OF POTS 2. A LIVING ROOM SET 3. A SET OF SERVING CUTLERY, FORKS, KNIVES AND A SET OF DISHES. ALL POSTCARDS WILL TAKE PART IN THE GRAND PRIZE DRAW ON 30.7.1994. CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD LUCK TO THE NEW WINNERS "Ariston"