Fake deposit cards Two accountants jailed, accused of embezzlement EDMOND LACI TIRANA — The Savings Bank office, Vesje Këperi in the capital's banking agency, was not robbed from outside — as had been reported up to yesterday — but by its own employees. Two accountants from Branch Banking Agency No. 5 in the capital have been arrested and have been in Tirana Prison for several days following a complaint filed by the Directorate of the Savings Bank itself, which has prompted the Prosecutor's Office to open an investigation and bring Vjollca Kocani and Arjan Hoxha to criminal responsibility. Both are now charged with “misappropriation of state property and complicity.” Although the investigation — quite discreet — is still in its initial stage, it remains confirmed that Kocani and Hoxha are suspected of having forged deposit cards of the agency where they worked, in collusion with each other. In the accusation file, until yesterday, the method they allegedly used in the unlawful misappropriation — according to the complainants — was to add another digit to the value of the depositors’ cards. Even though they have been arrested together, the game of numbers is at present attributed mainly to 28-year-old Kocani, while 32-year-old Hoxha remains under a cloud as to what he is accused of. The sum — at least officially — that is suspected to have been unlawfully misappropriated by Kocani and Hoxha amounts to 6,000 dollars. For some time in Albania it had not been known, and no accusations had been made, of “misappropriation of state property” by internal employees of banking agencies. The latest case — although the judges have not yet spoken — is perhaps the only instance involving their own employees. The theft of 200,000 dollars last year at the Savings Bank and more recently at the Bank Agency on Rruga e Elbasanit had been the subject of investigations by the competent authorities, which only a few days ago confirmed that they had identified the perpetrators of the crime. Meanwhile, the Savings Bank management — after verifying one theft — reported again, but this time its own employees. What the Savings Bank is TIRANA — The “Albanian Savings Bank” was created in mid-1951 through a split — as a result of the reform and creation of the banking system — with the establishment of the “Savings Bank and Insurance Institute,” which had operated during the existence of the centralized economy. It has been noted that one of the most successful banking institutions in collecting deposits from the population — both in lek and in foreign currency — the Savings Bank has carried out prior measures by increasing the readiness of services for its customers, also through different types of cheques (travellers cheques or eurocheques), payment transfers and Eurocard. It has established relations with more than 50 well-known foreign banks, including in Austria, Germany, Italy, Hungary, the USA, Greece, Slovenia and Bulgaria. As a credit institution, its activity has focused on financing the private sector — mainly medium-term loans — giving priority to the construction sector and the purchase of equipment and production lines.

TIRANA — PD has won. This is the result of the elections in the commune of Zall-Herr, repeated this Sunday for the reason that none of the candidates from the competing political forces had received more than 50 percent of the vote. The Association for Democratic Culture informed Gazeta Shqiptare of the voting results in the late hours of 5 June. And PD won. In a fairly calmer climate, compared with the electoral tensions of the previous Sunday, in 9 polling stations — out of 10 set up in the commune — 1,749 voters, or about 56 percent, voted for PD, while for its rival PS 1,349 people voted, or about 44 percent. Up to the moment when it reported to the newspaper, the Association for Democratic Culture had still not received — because of the distance — the results from the polling station in the village of Rradesh. According to the Association's observers, the elections were held calmly and without excesses. A decisive role in the election result appears to have been played by the vote cast at polling station number 2 in Zall-Herr, where the voter list numbered 1,096 people, among them 858 soldiers. Also according to the observers of the Association for Democratic Culture, in this station 715 votes were cast for PD and only 275 for PS. (an. ste.)

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SHKODER — A Croatian soldier has been detained by the border police forces of the Republic of Albania. Jure Ante Çikesh, aged 29 and living in Grubovic, Croatia, had crossed the Albanian state border at Reka in Velipojë. At exactly 7:00 in the morning he was spotted by the border police forces of that area and detained for unlawful, illegal crossing. The reason that forced the Croatian serviceman to undertake this breach of the border regime is still unknown. Meanwhile, the Shkodër Police Commissariat has forwarded the materials of this case — for further action — to the Prosecutor's Office of the same district.

“Soros” covers the expenses TIRANA — At last, Albanian judges will also have a uniform. Like their colleagues around the world, they will no longer conduct court proceedings in civilian clothes but in a special uniform for that purpose. Albanian judges may be able to use this uniform as early as next month. “For this we have been helped by the ‘Soros’ foundation,” says Velo Brozi, president of the Court of Cassation, speaking to Gazeta Shqiptare — outfits have been ordered for all judges. Later we hope to do the same for lawyers.” The uniforms that will be used by Albanian judges are the same as those used by the American justice system and will be long garments, cape-like in form and black in color. For female judges, the uniform will be a little different from that of men. “The use of the uniform by judges is a positive thing that also affects the proceedings,” Brozi explains — “it has an impact both psychologically and in increasing people's respect for justice.” The characteristic attire of judges was used in Albania from the time of King Zog's government, and was withdrawn from use by the power that came after the Second World War. (Ar. Me.)

— A considerable slip has been detected in the dam of Tirana's Artificial Lake. According to specialists, the cause of this worrying phenomenon has been the abundant spring rainfall and the large volume of inflow. The Municipality of Tirana has completed the project and estimate — 7.5 million lek — for the government-funded repair of the dam. Specialists insist that this repair should be carried out before the arrival of autumn, whose rains greatly raise the water level. Such a slip in this dam occurred five years ago as well, which is why responsibilities remain around it. The fact that the lake is currently in a populated area makes the elimination of the defect even more urgent.

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From the left, French President Mitterrand, the Queen of England and US President Clinton PARIS — US President Bill Clinton is in Paris today for a 24-hour official visit. In the meetings he will hold with the French authorities, the main topics will be Europe, Bosnia and South Korea. Clinton left for Paris immediately after the celebration of the 50th anniversary of D-Day, the day of the Allied landing in Normandy. The speech Clinton will deliver today before the National Assembly, White House spokesperson Dee Dee Myers hoped, will be devoted in a special way to the future of European policy. Clinton was the second American president (80) after Woodrow Wilson and the third head of state (president after Wilson and King of Spain Juan Carlos) to address the French deputies directly.

YEMEN: THE BATTLE FOR ADEN — The latest development of the civil war in Yemen managed for the first time to again bring to the fore the rebel forces that bombed Aden airport, causing the death of six people and injuring 18 others, who, according to hospital sources. A southern spokesman said that Sana'a planes deliberately attacked the districts of the southern capital, especially, provoking a firestorm over other clashes. From Sana'a it was denied that their aircraft had bombed the facility. RWANDA: A TRAGEDY WITHOUT END — The deputy secretary for foreign relations, Franco Rocchetta, who was shortly before the bombing at Kigali airport, where according to the UN, the pilot in question had managed to board a body rescued from Kampala, the 90 families together with the payment of the French welfare by the organization that saves. Most tragic, even while being shaken by the cough, the family zone was struck by a vehicle with a skeletal child in its arms, covered in soot and worn down by hunger. From both sides the water has reached the hospital in the Famt area. BOSNIA: THE LAST CHANCE FOR TALKS — Probably the most important moment of the July ceasefire talks with the government of Bosnia. According to a representative of the independent state, it is necessary to remember to continue with the air aid while also with the coordination of all members and also from Zagreb.

The prisoner gets out through the window Peshkopi, police searching for the convicted man PESHKOPI — A spectacular escape took place at the Peshkopi Police Commissariat. In detention, Arjan Frani managed to cut the bars and the window grille and jump into the courtyard of the building. Two policemen who were on guard have been suspended. The prisoner had been sentenced by the Bulqizë Court to 5 years in prison for ordinary crimes. The alarm raised after the prisoner's escape and the police pursuit did not produce the desired results. The dog followed the traces of the escapee as far as the vicinity of the “Demir Gashi” secondary school — almost in the center of the city — and then stopped. It is now believed that Frani managed in time to find some vehicle and flee in an as yet unknown direction. Initial measures have meanwhile been taken against the guards at the commissariat. Two policemen, Gezim Ukala and Munir Baçi, have been detained. According to preliminary information from the Commissariat, officer Ukala had been asleep at the moment when Frani attempted and successfully carried out his escape. The hunt for the “courageous” prisoner continues, as do further investigations to determine the responsibility of the two detained policemen. (R. Gj.)

AT THE KRASTA SECONDARY SCHOOL THE CLASS REGISTRATION IS DESTROYED — The headmaster of the Krasta secondary school — in the district of Burrel — has been dismissed, while the file has been sent to the prosecutor's office for criminal proceedings. During an inspection carried out by the District Education Directorate, it was found that in this school, under the pretext of being protected, the class register for 11 [illegible] had been intentionally destroyed; this act — which is also the reason for the measures taken — was carried out contrary to the rules, leaving room for abuses and falsifications. EUROPEAN BAPTISTS AIM TO MODERNIZE THE HOSPITAL IN VLORA — The professional development of medical staff, the arrangement of the environment for the heating network, cooperation with foreign partners, and the function of the Nursing Faculty attached to the University of Vlora. These are the four objectives of the program of a group of specialists from the European Baptist Federation for the modernization of the Hospital in Vlora, in order to transform it into a regional healing institution. Some time ago they had brought a quantity of medicines, equipment and medical literature worth from the kingdom. IN LUSHNJE 86 MILLION LEK COLLECTED FROM PRIVATIZATION — The number of privatized objects in the district of Lushnje is 1,586. So far, payment for the value of the state-owned objects has been made regularly, enabling the collection of 86 million lek. Now the district privatization board is preparing to consider the privatization of 151 other objects, among them the Tobacco Plants Enterprise, the ceramics enterprise or the NPV.