After the arrest, Zeqo and Beqiri return to Albania A severe denunciation by the two politicians The disappearance of two Albanian politicians in Montenegro has turned into an extraordinary judicial farce. Moikom Zeqo, Socialist MP, and Idajet Beqiri, chairman of the National Unity Party, were arrested and sentenced by the Montenegrin authorities on the accusation that they had crossed the border without an entry visa. “A false accusation,” Zeqo says for Gazeta Shqiptare after an overnight stay, on Wednesday evening. He adds: “They did not take us to prison under any circumstances. It was not the border guards, but officers of the Yugoslav secret service, and when they arrest, they always do it for serious reasons.” After the arrest, Zeqo and Beqiri return to Albania “Beaten in Montenegro” A severe denunciation by the two politicians TIRANE — The disappearance of two Albanian politicians in Montenegro has turned into an extraordinary judicial farce. Moikom Zeqo, Socialist MP, and Idajet Beqiri, chairman of the National Unity Party, were arrested and sentenced by the Montenegrin authorities on the accusation that they had crossed the border without being equipped with an entry visa. “A false accusation,” Zeqo says for Gazeta Shqiptare after an overnight stay, on Wednesday evening. He adds: “They did not take us to prison under any circumstances. It was not the border guards, but officers of the Yugoslav secret service, and when they arrest, they always do it for serious reasons.” “As it seems, Beqiri and I were considered dangerous here by the UDBA.” The incident, given its very serious nature, is explained by Zeqo in the account he gives us. “In the Ulcinj area, where we had gone for a visit to the Archaeological Museum and the city’s castle in the Montenegrin town. We had crossed the border post at Sukaubin; it is not true that we crossed Lake Shkodër illegally. At the border post we paid 10 marks to obtain the entry visa, but the Montenegrin policeman did not stamp our passport. The Albanian Parliament, perhaps because that border point had not yet been officially opened. The other one, at Hani i Hotit, is known to be blocked by dense traffic. There were many other people there with us. We arrived in Ulcinj peacefully, but there the police accused us of having crossed the border illegally. I had a diplomatic service passport and the Albanian Parliament card, but they beat us, called us in all sorts of ways and bloodied us. Do you understand what I mean? They beat us and made us bleed. We had contact with the Albanian Embassy in Belgrade and were supposed to have a defence lawyer, but they did not even allow us that. We stayed in a cell for 62 hours, in a harsh cell without light, water or food. Then they took us before a judge who sentenced us to twenty days in prison. There wasn’t even a translator to explain to us what was happening. I am certain that I may be the only parliamentarian in Europe who has been treated in this barbaric and illegal manner.” After ten days the Court of Appeal in Podgorica overturned the decision and released the two Albanian politicians. The arrival and the reason for what happened still remain a mystery. c. bo.

TIRANE — Another American multinational has decided to establish itself in Albania. It is now Philip Morris that has expressed its wish to produce here its cigarettes, known all over the world. It has thus been stated that Marlboro Albania[?] will perhaps have another “home” here for Durrës. After numerous requests from various well-known and lesser-known companies — for cigarette production to operate in Albania, Philip Morris was the latest to arrive at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. The American multinational now comes through an Israeli company to which it has granted an exclusive license to operate. “This license to carry out these activities — it is stated in the submitted request — is granted only to this company.” The Durrës Cigarette Factory will be the center where Philip Morris wants to produce its Marlboro. The Israeli company has proposed setting up a joint venture in this factory. It has also considered that during the period in which this factory will be restructured — at present its technology is quite outdated — it will also handle cigarette trading. Ar.M.

One day after dismissal from office Judges from Tirana, Peshkopia and Pogradeci under accusation One day after dismissal from office 6 jurists detained First investigations begin Judges from Tirana, Peshkopia and Pogradeci under accusation TIRANE — Six jurists dismissed from their posts after a decision by the High Council of Justice have ended up in the cells of Tirana Prison. On Thursday, after several hours of verification in the offices of the law-enforcement bodies, Arben Ristani, a judge at the Tirana Court, another jurist from Peshkopia, as well as two others from Pogradeci, were detained one after the other. Although the investigations are highly confidential, the first confirmations of the above detentions concern the charge of “abuse of office”. At least one criminal case is also said to have been opened against those detained, naturally linking them to their activity during the exercise of their profession as jurists. At Wednesday’s meeting, when the decision of the High Council of Justice had also been confirmed, the comments on the motives for Ristani’s dismissal stressed that the reason “lay in serious violations of the law,” but without clearly specifying them. Nevertheless — although today, as before, only the first steps are being taken — further details are still lacking regarding Ristani’s detention, just days earlier a protagonist in the judges’ panel in the case involving the newspapers Koha Jonë and two military officers, accused and convicted — for “appropriation of state secrets.” But Ristani was not the only jurist detained on Thursday — in the same operation Thoma Bices was also detained, after a check into “the condition of the Pogradec Court” or even Donika Aliçkolli, a judge at that same court. Meanwhile, other reports are also confirmed regarding three more justice officials from Peshkopia. They are: one of the senior officials of the court in that city, prosecutor Donika Barumi and secretary Zene p Babot, who are now — at least in the initial moments of the investigation — suspected of “abuse of office”. As had been confirmed two days earlier to Gazeta Shqiptare by one of the members of the High Council of Justice, Ristani’s detention was also decided for financial crimes. In the same case, the Tirana Court explained that there is suspicion of a decision by Ristani as president of the trial panel, for signatures to be obtained from his assistants without his being aware of that decision. The hypotheses are still uncertain, while the investigations continue intensively. Likewise, for the other detainees there is only the fact of the detention measure, but not the motives that led to it. In any case, “abuse of office” as an initial charge is naturally linked to their functions and duties in the justice bodies. Tirana Court

IN SHKODËR THE FOREIGN LANGUAGES INFORMATION CENTER IS CREATED — To spread information and bring teachers and languages closer to the application of new teaching methods. This is the mission of the Foreign Languages Information Center recently inaugurated in one of the halls of the "Marin Barleti" library in the city of Shkodër. The initiators are directors and teachers in cooperation with the economic center and the city’s teachers. Various foundations helped with its establishment and equipment. THE 13TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE STUDENT DEMONSTRATIONS IN PRISHTINA IS COMMEMORATED — At the International Center of Culture in Tirana, a commemorative meeting was held for the demonstrations that student masses organized in Prishtina in March 1981 against Serbian violence in Kosovo. Young men and women, representatives of patriotic associations, as well as writers and poets were present. After the interpretation of several poems by a group of students, the documentary "Kosova me të djerët" and its great moments were presented. FAMILY PLANNING CENTERS IN 12 DISTRICTS OF THE COUNTRY — In its last meeting the Advisory Committee on family planning at the Ministry of Health, alongside the analysis of achievements and the strategy for 1994. According to it, the aim is that by the end of the year, family planning centers will operate in 12 districts of the country. The goal will be pursued so that contraceptives are distributed in rural health centers near clinics.

The killer with a violent past is placed in the dock. — Only 3 days had passed — after a suspended sentence — when 20-year-old Edmond Tafili committed another act of violence. His victim this time was a young man from Berat, Mehmet Alikolli, 22. Tafili had been drunk and thus caused — after several days of struggle for life in hospital — the death of the young Alikolli. Only a few months earlier, the criminal Tafili had sent another citizen to his death, having slit his stomach open with the same knife. “This criminal and reckless boy should not have been left free after his first offense,” Jozef Shënqari, head of Berat’s Criminal Police, told Gazeta Shqiptare. Now the criminal case against Tafili — who has been arrested — has started again. Ha. Ta.

Another agreement is signed in Tirana for the cleaning of garbage and waste. TIRANE — Another agreement for the cleaning of garbage and waste is signed in Tirana. After the one signed a few days earlier with the Bologna firm "Nuova Ecologia", it was the turn of "Tecno[?]comer" from Slovenia to conclude its agreement. Both companies had been the winners of the tender that the Tirana Municipality had announced for cleaning Tirana. In the projects submitted by these companies, in addition to the operation of collecting and removing waste, the establishment of treatment and disposal plants was undertaken. This agreement signed with the Slovenian firm provides for the creation of a joint company. During the first 2 months, preparations and restructuring of the company will be carried out in order to make it efficient. It is also planned that initially some pilot areas will be created. In these areas, an experiment is envisaged through which the residents will be given plastic bags for collecting waste and disposing of it in designated places. Later, this experience will be extended to the whole capital.

We want to send a signal to the International Community that not only do we need financial aid, but that we will also respect the obligations arising from it. TIRANE — “We want to send a signal to the International Community that not only do we need financial aid, but that we will also respect the obligations arising from it,” declared, during a parliamentary interpellation, Dyber Vrioni, Governor of the Bank of Albania. Currently, from 90 million dollars estimated in February 1992, Albania’s foreign debt has fallen to 84 million. Negotiations over part of it — which makes up the public debt — are moving toward a solution, while meanwhile the problem of private debt appears — the result of unsettled transactions in goods, for which contact is now also being made with private banks.

ENGLAND / A special guide has now been published A new tourist guide to Albania, recently published in Britain. TIRANE — A new tourist guide to Albania. Its author is the Englishman James Pettifer, writer and journalist specialized in the southern Balkans. To prepare this guide, Pettifer used data from the last two years, collected through travel and with the help and cooperation of many local contributors. The publisher is the "Bradt Limited" publishing house. Its purpose seems to be to make orientation in Albania easier for tourists, businessmen or English-speaking travelers. Brought together in a convenient format to carry with you, the book — entitled ALBANIA — is useful and valued by renowned travel organizations and British publications such as "The Guardian" and "Leisure" or "The Times". The latter called it “the most informative travel book”; the material in this guide of more than 200 pages is organized into several chapters. One of them is devoted to practical information: visas, passports, official formalities, food and drink prices. Another chapter gives initial information on the most commonly used words in Albanian, postal and telephone services, the press and publications, the country’s fauna and flora, business and means of travel, the economic situation, healthcare, and access to archaeological sites. Information about Kosovo as well as the areas inhabited by Albanians in Macedonia and Montenegro has not been neglected. The difficult language and rich topographical material. In addition to photographs, it is also rich in maps of northern and southern Albania on two separate pages for Tirana, Shkodër, Vlorë, Korçë, Durrës. Berat. It also includes a detailed description of the road network.

TOURISM / During '93, 45,152 people arrived The number of businessmen is higher TOURISM / During '93, 45,152 people arrived More foreign visitors The number of businessmen is higher TIRANE — The number of foreigners visiting Albania has increased. According to statistical data processed by the Ministry of Tourism during the past year compared with 1992, the number of tourists arriving from abroad has almost doubled. From 23 thousand, their number reached 45,152 during 1993. In the structure of foreign tourists who arrived during '93, the largest share were those coming for business. In numbers they are 34,346, or 76.07 percent of the total. Meanwhile, only 6,976 tourists, or 15.46 percent, came to rest in Albania. The remaining 3,831, or 8.48 percent, came to Albania for other reasons. Despite the increase in the number of foreigners in 1993, it is observed that they continue to represent a “minority” compared with domestic tourists. Out of the total tourist figure of 188,378 people, foreigners account for only 23.97 percent, while domestic tourists account for 76.03 percent, or 143,226 people in absolute terms. This ratio is somewhat milder if one examines the number of visitors to tourist hotels, which in statistics is recorded as “overnights”. Out of 320,843 tourist nights, 131,763, or 41.07 percent, belong to foreigners, while 189,080, or 58.93 percent, belong to the overall use by domestic tourists. The number of tourist hotels in coastal areas such as Vlorë, Velipoja or Saranda is very small. At the Ministry of Tourism they are also optimistic about the current year. Specialists in this ministry predict that the number of foreign tourists during the year will reach around 60,000 people. One of the priorities will be attracting groups of tourists from Eastern countries, for whom the existing service conditions and infrastructure in Albania are more suitable. In any case, Albania still remains far from the large maximum figures of mass tourism. One of the biggest obstacles is the lack of infrastructure not only in mountainous areas but also on the coast. The number of tourist hotels in coastal areas such as Vlorë, Velipoja or Saranda is very small.

Skopje does not let Kosovo refugees pass Discussion on Macedonia ON PAGE 2 Flamurtari’s test Ballgjini hopes for victory Durrës, the curious championship challenge ON PAGE 3

TOURISTS IN TOTAL Number Percentage Total tourists 188,387 100% Foreign tourists 45,152 23.97% Domestic tourists 143,226 76.03% PURPOSE OF TRAVEL Number Percentage for holidays 35,329 18.75% for business 118,801 63.07% other 34,248 18.18% AMONG FOREIGN TOURISTS Number Percentage for holidays 6,974 15.54% for business 34,346 76.07% other 3,831 8.48%