Today a major discussion. Foreign experts and politicians also invited All major parties are in principle in agreement Today a major discussion. Foreign experts and politicians also invited “Let the files be opened” — but when and how? All major parties are in principle in agreement The “files” on the table TIRANA — Vetting and secret files: this is the title of a major discussion that will begin today at the International Center of Culture. The round table has been organized by the Albanian Helsinki Committee and the “Soros” Foundation. “The aim of this discussion is to bring the issue of the files, so much discussed and at the same time so much — Kujtim Çashku, chairman of the Albanian Helsinki Committee, told Gazeta Shqiptare — to the attention of public opinion; the arrival of foreign experts will make it possible to compare their experience with ours, thus helping to draft a law as accurate as possible.” Today’s event is also important in another sense. Never before in Tirana have so many well-known figures of anti-communist dissidence from Eastern Europe gathered together. Among the discussants on the secret archives, alongside well-known scholars and activists of the Helsinki Federation from Eastern European countries, there are also prominent figures from “Solidarnost” and from the Romanian revolution of December 1989. International Center of Culture in Tirana TIRANA — The famous issue of the Sigurimi informers’ files is once again back at the center of Albanian public opinion. This time the initiative was taken by the Albanian Helsinki Committee, which may push all political and social groups to inaugurate a process that has long been causing confusion and friction. For the first time, representatives of different political forces are gathering around the same table to discuss whether we should confront one of the most delicate issues in today’s Albanian society. In principle, all political forces have expressed themselves in favor of opening them for politicians and high state officials, but a law on the procedure for handling them has still not been approved by the Albanian Parliament. Perhaps today’s discussion and the comparison with the experience of other Eastern states will help speed up its approval. Leaders of the ruling party, the Democratic Party, have said several times that they are in favor of giving this problem a legal solution and of debating it as a matter of necessity. On the other hand, when interviewed by Gazeta Shqiptare, most leading politicians from the country’s other major parties also do not hesitate to express support for opening the files. Namik Dokle of the Socialist Party — who will be one of today’s discussants — expresses his party’s view: “The first position of our party is that the files should be opened. In Parliament, as a parliamentary group, we have long submitted two draft laws on this problem.” Meanwhile, for Arben Imami of the Democratic Alliance, the issue is not simply whether they should be opened or not, but rather how to define a clear position regarding their future. “The files are in fact still functioning today. Personally I agree that they should be made public for senior politicians and officials, starting with the President of the Republic and including ambassadors and deputy ministers,” Imami added. A representative of another party, Gaqo Apostoli of the Social Democratic Party, also supported the idea of opening them up to a certain level of politicians and officials. “If we are thinking of contributing to national unity, the process of opening the files must have a certain limit,” Apostoli said, recalling that his party had been among the first to raise the need to solve this problem. Fatos Baxhaku

Suspicion over 63 former informants TIRANA — Alarm at the Independent Union of RTV Shqiptar. A campaign of mystery and suspicion has erupted immediately after the sudden resignation of S.V., chairman of the Executive Council of this union, who on Friday had appointed himself co-chairman. “State Security since 1976.” “This resignation is a heavy blow to the Union,” comments Panun Shkëlzi, now the main leader of this union, on the mysterious departure. Right after this — at an expanded meeting attended by about 500 employees of Albania’s radio-television station — members of the Executive Council of the Independent Union of RTV Shqiptar appealed to their colleagues, asking for the voluntary resignation of all persons who had collaborated with the former State Security. “There are still old and secret links of former Sigurimi men within our institution,” Paulin Shkyez tells Gazeta Shqiptare, “and it may be that another S.V. was forced by them to carry out this anti-public act.” Shkyez — who personally is in favor of opening all the files — refuses to comment on the fact confirmed by a colleague from the union, who in Monday’s public meeting had said that their institution had 63 former collaborators of the State Security. In any case, Shkyez is worried about the atmosphere that has been created, full of mystery and suspicion. No specific strategy has yet been prepared to face this situation, while the only quick step may be a meeting with the General Director of RTV, immediately after his return from a trip outside Albania. At RTV, the first file has just been “forgotten,” even for the union’s main leader, who is also a radio journalist in the Foreign Department section. It is a shocking episode, and not only for RTV. (e.l.)

Accusation of fatal beating TIRANA — The episode of violence at the Public Order Branch in Laç, where a year earlier citizen David Leka had died after being beaten, returns — this time before the Tirana Court. They are Taf Sopot, Alfred Hima, Ardian Haili and Musa Hajdari, the four police officers accused “of having jointly committed an intentional murder due to the relationship with David Leka that he could not defend,” while Preng Laska — former first investigator at the Public Order Branch in Laç — must defend himself against the other charge of “carrying out actions contrary to the proper performance of duty, which caused serious consequences in the activity of state organs and the lawful interests of citizens.” The episode — which had shaken the town of Laç for several days — began at noon on 12 August 1993. After a quarrel in the farmers’ market, the victim David Leka — according to the indictment — had stabbed police officer Ilir Dosti, who immediately chased him with his pistol and found himself in a villa where the other Leka brothers were also present. After the victim was apprehended by the public order authorities, he was taken to the Public Order Branch, where he was questioned and the detention “disappeared” after the violence inflicted by the defendants Sopot, Hima, Haili and Hajdari — the indictment states — and he remained in internment and a “mejzo.” After David Leka’s death two days later — at Clinic Hospital No. 2 in Tirana — forensic experts found numerous injuries on his body, described in about 12-13 diagnoses. The prosecution had brought criminal charges personally against the responsible parties and — hands barred — on the basis of complaints from the Public Order Branch itself, Laç. (e.l.) “It is the number...” TIRANA — Another important development for the Albanian Police. For the first time in the history of this force, police officers are required to attach identification numbers to their uniforms. Starting in the capital, the new initiative thus fulfills one of the main goals planned by the senior leadership of the Ministry of Public Order. After this, every Albanian citizen will find it easier to identify the police officer — with whom they may come into contact — simply by the number.

DEFENCE MINISTER ZHULLI SPEAKS TO JOURNALISTS AFTER RETURNING FROM THE USA — A military agreement was discussed with the Albanian Defence Minister in the USA. “This visit — Zhuli declared at a press conference — ended with the drafting of a joint program that provides for assistance to the Albanian army, support in legislation, technical-scientific support, and support in military activity.” In addition to this agreement, the visit to the USA was also seen as another opportunity to expand mutual contacts between the two countries. MALESI E MADHE, FOREST POLICE UNDER THREAT FROM CRIMINAL ELEMENTS — A wave of threats against forest police officers in the Kelmend district. “Here in the area, especially in recent days, inspectors from Malesi e Madhe have been endangered by criminal elements who were caught red-handed while reporting large quantities of stolen timber in the forest-protection sector. The same happened in Koplik.” DURRËS, DESPERATE CONDITION OF THE ORPHANAGE HOUSES — Forty-five families from the town of Shijak continue to live in miserable conditions at the orphanage in Durrës. While the need to rebuild this home is urgent in view of the cold weather, there is still no final signature or decision. Meanwhile, people live in misery, with nothing to ease this situation. The director of this institution has stated that for the reconstruction of the orphanage building.

Elbasan, protest by 600 unemployed workers ELBASAN — More than 600 employees of the Nickel-Cobalt Combine in Elbasan are threatening a hunger strike. The reason for this firm decision is the closure — after the Agency for Enterprise Restructuring declared it finished — of a combine. “After sacrificing our youth in the flames of the furnaces and the dust of this enterprise, receiving poverty and occupational disease in return, with the latest decision we have all been mercilessly thrown into the streets with no source of livelihood,” says the petition the workers have sent to the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister and the parliamentary groups. The bankruptcy of the combine is considered by the workers to be illegal because, according to them, “our accounts show more than 420 thousand dollars,” and for the situation created they accuse the management staff of being incapable of making the enterprise’s facilities efficient and of having abused the enterprise’s assets. They even demand an inspection of the economic and financial activity over recent years. The situation created is truly critical. While they lost their jobs, and after 28 days at the latest — with the hunger strike about to begin — the fulfillment of their demands, among other things, includes the distribution of the enterprise’s assets among the workers or a solution to the problem of rehiring the workers. “For the past 6 months we have had to live without work, family and children, we are facing hunger,” remains the only hopeful path for stopping this painful decision by the workers. p. re The metallurgical combine in Elbasan

— Twenty-five-year-old Ndue Mark Pjetri, an employee of the Pukë Police Commissariat, has died from injuries caused by a firearm. The killer — now arrested — is Ndue Preng Lasha from the village of Blinisht. The serious episode was confirmed during the night in the village of Kushnen. After that, police began the pursuit of the assailant to catch Pjetri’s killer. Only after several hours of searching was Ndue Preng Lasha detained by his pursuers near a forest close to Kushnen. No details on the reasons for this act have yet been made public, but police sources say it occurred for “trivial motives.”

NEWS WITH A CURSOR TIRANA — The aid that should have come very quickly, and the association, have also arrived for our artistic instrument. But it is hard to say that it happened in a large hall — from its home it has remained unrepaired, and the same has happened to an old instrument that does not play at the Opera and Ballet Theatre. Here, a harp that arrived long ago from Austria continues to stand, leaving now no musicians of ours under consideration. It is known that musical instruments are among the most expensive goods, but with this harp in poor condition, it cost the Austrians not 10, but 15,000 dollars. With its donation they intended to help the Albanian orchestra fill a gap with several special instruments that are not commonly used. Now the harp is in the studios where it should be moved for work, and this makes it an uninspiring thing, although there are possibilities to practice with it. Only when the musicians’ hands replace it, which has not happened, with all the instruments such that it will theoretically be a success of the Opera and Ballet Theatre. (p. re.)

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DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL? DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO BUY? This space is free for your economic notices. Send your message of no more than 15 words to one of our addresses: In Tirana: Bajram Curri Street, 370, or in Bari: Viale Scipione l’Africano, 264. State in your message what you are looking for and offering, your name and address FOR SALE — five trailers to be mounted on “Fiat” trucks of different sizes. Spare parts for “Fiat Iveco” industrial vehicles are also available. Prices reasonable. For information call 32646 in Tirana during morning hours. “J. P. M [?]” Street. FOR RENT — a 2-room apartment and 1 kitchen in the area, located on “Vladimir I [?]” Street no. 07 near the “SH.P.K” factory. Contact Mr. Vullnet Berisha. “Ju [?]” Street, villa no. 14 in Tirana. FOR SALE or FOR RENT — Hotel Restaurant “H”. “Karl Gega” Street no. 200, second floor, 10 rooms with all sleeping facilities; basement and 250 square meters with parking. The property is for sale or for rent and preferably located at the train station. “L. [?]” Street no. 6. Telephone 42515. FOR RENT — a house with 2 rooms, living room, kitchen and bathroom, laundry room, balcony, closed garage, terrace, yard. Total 390 square meters. The house is located on the outskirts of Tirana at the Waterworks. Address: “Luigj Gurakuqi” Street, No. 6, tel. 42515. FOR RENT — a 64-square-meter premises, renovated, empty or equipped, with warehouse, ante-room, bathroom. The shop is located on Kavaja Street. Address: “Luigj Gurakuqi” Street, No. 6, telephone 42515. I RENT — a 1-room, 1-kitchen apartment, furnished or empty. Call the phone number 25712 between 13:00 and 20:00 or write to the address: “Mine Peza”, Building 232, staircase 1, Apartment 14 in Tirana. I RENT — a two-storey house with a yard, with space for a car as well. The ground floor consists of 1 kitchen and 2 bathrooms. Phone 23310 from 19:30 to 10:00 FOR SALE — a house with 2 rooms and 1 kitchen with annex, yard, veranda. Address: “Ibrahim Dalliu” Street No. 9 in Tirana. I RENT — a plot of land of 0.232 square meters on the Tirana-Durrës road and opposite the Marikaj bus stop, starting from the north with the national road. For this land I have the necessary documentation, with title deed, survey plan, etc. You can contact the owner directly. I AM LOOKING FOR — to buy a 1-room, 1-kitchen apartment or a studio apartment. Interested parties should contact 2640