A law on officials’ assets The government is preparing new anti-corruption measures TIRANA — The capital, homes and assets of ministers and Albanian authorities are to be monitored. Senior state employees and administration officials will have to declare their assets every year. The government itself has decided to adopt these strict measures as one way of fighting corruption, even at the highest levels. The sensational announcement about the preparation of this law has come precisely at a time when a barrage of criticism over the growth of corruption in the state administration is being aimed from all sides. Applying such a measure will be one of the mechanisms that could curb and keep under control unlawful profit-making activities that high officials may carry out by exploiting their office. Through it, everyone will be obliged to make known the amount and the source of their income and assets. Perhaps making the assets transparent would help clarify many of the suspicions that have recently fallen on many current representatives of the top administration. The existence of corruption is now no longer merely a hypothesis but a present fact, acknowledged and criticized by everyone. In addition to the opposition and other parties, the worrying spread of this phenomenon, especially in government, has now been recognized. It was the chairman of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, who said only a few days ago that corruption has spread to all levels. A statement that was criticized for remaining within the bounds of a general observation, without moving on to specific cases. Even though future government intentions are linked to this phenomenon as well, he explained that “a minister, although untainted, may be removed because he has not known how to curb corruption in the area he directs.” It seems that the new law being prepared will not remain alone. The government plans to accompany it with several other laws and decisions that are intended to form a powerful barricade against high-level corruption. The obligation for people to declare their assets already exists in Albania. But the current law in this case includes only traders and businessmen. For the first time, and only now, it will also reach the top and exercise its power at the summit of the Albanian state pyramid.

Dokle: “Nano’s release to the President” Prime Minister Meksi TIRANA — The green light has been turned on for many Albanian prisoners. On Thursday, Parliament approved by fast-track procedure the draft submitted by the parliamentary group of the Democratic Party. The vote in principle was 100 for and 2 against. The Socialists also voted in favor in principle. All talk about the slogan “amnesty for the big prisoners” has been dispelled: Nano, the five minority members of Omonia, Alia and the other former bloc figures will only benefit from it, but will not be released. None of the approved articles of the draft amnesties them or provides for their release. In Thursday’s session, various parliamentary groups expressed their reservations, including regarding the amnesty. The chairman of the Social Democratic Party, Skënder Gjinushi, said it should also have political content, which he—according to his speech in Parliament—could understand first and foremost as the release of the five minority members convicted of espionage in favor of Greece, but the new prime minister did not make a move in the vote. In addition to Gjinushi, the deputy chairs of the PS group, Makbule Çeço and AD, also insisted on their demand for a national form of the state and not an ar e iur person. “Nano is a political prisoner,” said Namik Dokle, head of the PS group — “I request his release to the President,” said AD’s Përkuli Te1 with a laugh. The PD, through Abd1 Baleta, called for greater care in dealing with ordinary crime. “Do not have doubts only about the criminals,” said Baleta, “but also about the people and the victims of crime.”

Bank, dollars and mystery Investigators send the file to court Here are all the accusations against Saliu, Tartari, Hoti, Xhyheri and Ahmeti TIRANA — The history of the most famous financial scandal in Albania, which for a long time has occupied the front pages of the press, is summed up in 19 pages. The name of the French citizen Nicola Arsidi. After two years of investigations, sensational court proceedings, arrests of bankers and former politicians, parliamentary sessions, and also serious accusations against some of the highest personalities in Albania, the investigators have decided. The Arsidi file — after having passed previously through the hands of Saliu, Tartari, Xhyheri, Hoti and Ahmeti — has now reached the Tirana court. The spectacular story of 1.6 million dollars — intended for the account of the man who would negotiate Albania’s external debt of 450 million dollars — now seems to be on the threshold of the truth. Argon Saliu and Agim Tartari — former officials of the Albanian Commercial Bank — will be the two main protagonists of the trial that is expected to begin soon. The accusations against them — always in collaboration with one another, but also with Hoti, Xhyheri and Ahmeti — refer to “appropriation of state property through misappropriation of loans,” specifically 2.8 million dollars, while 1.2 million of them remain in the attempted stage. There are four account numbers opened by Arsidi at “General Bank Luxemburg” for Saliu, Tartari, Hoti and Xhyheri, which are the most sensational fact discovered by investigators in this financial scandal. Even though — according to the facts — the only ones who withdrew 20,000 dollars were Saliu and Tartari. Meanwhile, another 16,000 dollars — in the name of Adrian Xhyheri — are found in “General Bank Luxemburg,” and in the Albanian Commercial Bank they are still there. But while Saliu, Tartari and Xhyheri were “denouncing” the personal account numbers — opened for them by Arsidi — for Ilir Hoti, the accusations are very serious, although it will be the judges who decide on their truthfulness. Nicola Arsidi has stated in France to Albanian investigators that on two occasions — in Luxembourg and Trieste — he gave 16 dollars and 60,000 dollars to the former Governor of the Bank of Albania, Ilir Hoti, two payments of 600,000 dollars each. In any case, it is an accusation that remains unproven and without any documentary evidence, while Hoti’s account number in “General Bank Luxemburg” — opened for him by Arsidi — existed only for a few days and was closed on Hoti’s own initiative without any sum being used. For more than 1,585,500 dollars — taken from the Albanian Commercial Bank — despite the civil lawsuit by the Albanian authorities, they still have not been returned, and the story of their departure from Albania now seems to be becoming clear. Ultimately, the investigators have also discovered the role of Amato, the former high-ranking Italian official who — a few months before the mandate was given to Arsidi — signed with former Deputy Prime Minister Pasho, taking on the task of negotiating Albania’s foreign debt without any compensation. It is precisely in a signature and an account of the newly appointed Prime Minister of the Government of Stability, Vilson Ahmeti, that the Milanese investigators accuse him in turn. According to the investigators, Ahmeti gave full power of attorney to Hoti for Arsidi — signed on 1 November 1991 — and was aware of the previous mandate of Amato. Meanwhile, the day after that signature, Ahmeti signed another mandate for Arsidi, which refers in particular to the fees in favor of the French negotiator, whatever the result of the transaction may have been. In any case, only the accusations of the two judges will have to be resolved, and it remains to be proven whether the file and whatever Arsidi himself might provide have now illuminated only a part of the 19 pages. Edmond Laçi

A villager PEQIN — While returning by bicycle from a visit to a friend in a nearby village, he was hit and killed by a car. It happened on Wednesday in the village of Pajovë to Rifat Vrapi, 50. The lifeless body of the villager was found by fellow villagers returning home that evening. Vrapi was known among the population of the surrounding villages for his long contribution as an old telegraph operator. All the later attempts to bring him back to life were unsuccessful. His heart had long stopped.

Fier, security tightened FIER — Fake Albanian banknotes have appeared again. This time in the city of Fier. And once again it was the bank’s problem, the “sieve,” which could not let the fake money slip through. During cash handling operations, 14 fake 1,000-lek notes and 7 fake 5,000-lek notes were seized. Although the amount is not large, they once again caused concern among bank employees, who have strengthened control measures. Experience shows that counterfeit banknotes have appeared at bank counters by being exchanged for regular banknotes during transactions involving the deposit of large sums. En.My.

Panic among the nuns. 100,000 lek stolen An armed gang attacks at night LEZHE — Even the house of God has fallen victim to theft. Masked individuals entered at night in a gang of four in order to rob. The victim was the Italian priest of the Blinisht diocese in Lezhë, from whom 100,000 lek were taken by force. While sleeping in his cell — on the night from Wednesday to Thursday — Sharra heard the cries of one of the nuns who was carrying out her duties with him. Startled immediately from bed, he found himself in the corridor in front of four bandits — two of them masked — who had sneaked in after tying up the guard. They put a revolver to his head and asked him to hand over the money he had. “There isn’t any” — he said, almost 100,000 lek — Sharra assured the police — but they continued searching through the drawers and then left.” The police were informed immediately and the first work of the church’s assailants remains unknown. Ir. Ra. Ceremony at the Holy See Cardinal Koliqi is consecrated today in the Vatican SHKODER — Mikel Koliqi, parish priest of Shkodër, together with 29 other prelates, will be consecrated today as cardinal in the Vatican. He arrived in Rome from Tirana on Thursday. Koliqi, a victim for about 30 years of the persecutions and prisons of the communist regime, as soon as he stepped off the plane met Mother Teresa, long resident in Rome, whom he had not seen for 50 years. To welcome the new cardinal, who was also seated in a wheelchair, the Albanian ambassador to the Holy See, Ekrem Vllaho, and consul Jozef Zampati had come out. “My appointment,” Koliqi said, “is an honor for the Albanian Church, so oppressed. I want to express my gratitude to the Holy See, which has always stood by us during these long years. Now at last we are walking together in the name of God.”

A traveling troupe in Tirana’s kindergartens Art on the market: the world of children feeds a new “business” TIRANA — The characters of the private puppet theater have begun to move on stage, full of splashes and color. And together with them, popular desires to see the adventures of their heroes have also begun to revive, heroes woven between the hardships and cries of transition, accompanied by those who freely wander through neighborhoods, passionately devoted to it, but Gazeta Shqiptare the directors their candle. In the theater was born the idea of a youthful shadow, with a center in front of the children, which ceased on a children’s stage; it is a month and for the people too, since even before they were not working, not for the one who manages to educate and awaken and sit down. Called the “Mani & Manxhi” Puppet Company, it has begun to give performances 21 times in the kindergartens; the first ones were those in the capital’s kindergartens. Only 1,010 lek and the little girl has managed to have an effect of admiration — without leaving the kindergarten — without asking people for the characters and the small equipment items at the big “Olga” for 1,000. It is a mobile troupe, with 2-3 actors, with a portable stage and which currently has contracts to give performances in almost all of Tirana’s kindergartens. Their studio for now is only a small room in an apartment, but with puppets and concepts quite different from what we are used to seeing. “How quickly we have a project and prepare also on paper puppets for young people, especially for the llimancuar,” says director Plumbi. (k.o.).

ELBASAN — Due to a technical mistake, on Wednesday we published on the front page an archive photograph from Berat, from 1993, which had been intended for the article about Elbasan to which it referred. The dramatic situation shown in that photograph belongs to the text and has nothing in common with the structures of Elbasan. We apologize to the readers and to the staff of the psychiatric hospital of Elbasan.

Italy, the second investigation into Berlusconi begins Fininvest advertising is under investigation ON PAGE 2 Week XII, the calendar “brings” the equals together “Tirana” also with a loss, first ON PAGE 3

Berisha receives the French Two French senators, Jarot and Bernard, were received yesterday by the President of the Republic Sali Berisha. According to the official news agency BSVTA, the talks concerned relations between the two states and economic reforms in Albania. Bosnia satisfied with Albania Bosnia is satisfied with the policy followed by Albania regarding the conflict in the former Yugoslavia. This was stated by Bosnian Prime Minister Haris Silajxhiç during a conversation in Tirana. Muharrem Minxhozi, the Albanian ambassador in Sarajevo, took part in the meeting. Silajxhiç praised Albania as the country with which Bosnia has historically been linked more than with all the other countries in the region. He also thanked President Berisha for this. He also stated that after the war the two countries will have much better relations.

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