NATIONAL MUSEUM Thieves take out the famous Epitaph of Gllavenica and four icons of priceless value. They also seize 50 war pistols, including Enver Hoxha’s A piece of history is stolen The country’s most important work disappears CARLO BOLLINO TIRANE — It was the greatest work of art that existed in Albania. The thieves took it calmly from the National Museum of Tirana. The alarm system was not working and the guard raised the alarm three hours later, “because the phone was not ringing” — it was broken. The “Hospital of Glavenica”, a hundred-weight embroidery on cloth, made in 1373 on the order of Prince Gjergj Araniti — the only clear testimony to the existence of Albania’s principalities, at the time of the Despotate of Epirus — was kept in a glass case, which the thieves dismantled with expert hands. A work of art of inestimable value, stolen on a cursed February night, when along with the precious cloth a part of Albania’s history also disappeared. Along with the “Epitaph”, four icons from the 16th and 17th centuries were also taken. “The Araniti cloth was certainly the country’s most valuable work of art,” says Dashnor Kokonozi, director of Culture at the Ministry of Culture, “while the icon by Onufri was worth at least one million dollars and the other three, by Selenica, 400 and 500 thousand dollars each. A final loss.” The works were kept on the second floor of the Museum near “Shëtit Skënderbej”, in the Medieval section. On the same floor is also the pavilion dedicated to the Second World War, where important works were also being stolen. The thieves had also reached this part of the Museum, carefully selecting the most important objects and those most easily hidden on the international market; thus at least fifty pistols used during the War were stolen, including those of dictator Enver Hoxha, Vasil Shanto and many other leaders of the Communist Party of that time. Police and investigators are trying to shed light on the events, which occurred before 4 a.m. on Wednesday. At that hour, the guard on duty outside the Museum found the outer door open. Inside there was a key, but it had no place and nothing else. Unfortunately, the alarm went off only at seven in the morning, when the director arrived: “the phone was not working,” the guard explained to justify the three-hour delay. A delay far too long, which may have been enough for the thieves to leave the capital, perhaps even the country. Police forces immediately informed the border authorities, who doubled checks on people leaving Albania. Interpol was also informed about the theft. The Epitaph and the icons are works known throughout the world and published in many catalogues; it is hoped that this may help prevent their sale on the foreign market. The Epitaph had left Albania for the last time in 1972, when it was shown in an exhibition in Paris. It is said that since then the dictator had been offered a huge sum to buy it. “A sum with which an entire city could be built,” said official propaganda. As for the four icons, they had been exhibited at the end of last September, in a major exhibition in the city of Nice, France. But how did the thieves manage to enter the Museum? Until 7 p.m. on Wednesday evening, a meeting of a religious group had been held in a hall. Investigators suspect that they had planned in advance to hide inside, so that later they could move around quietly during the night. During the checks, traces were found that suggest the presence of two people. The alarm system that was supposed to protect the works of art had broken down many months earlier, and this certainly made the thieves’ work much easier. This is the second theft at the National Museum. The last time, three months earlier, a collection of old coins was stolen from a hall on the first floor. Now the Police have questioned all the Museum employees; there are at least 40 who are on duty and thirty others who came on assistance in recent months. Finally, a call to the thieves: “The Epitaph of Glavenica” is of great value to the Albanian public, although it is worth little on the foreign market, so it cannot be sold easily either. At the very least do not damage it or throw it into some deep hole and sell it: be careful, because it is part of our history. Treasures There are five works stolen from the Museum. Let’s see which ones: THE EPITAPH OF GLLAVENICA Embroidery on cloth, from 1373, commissioned by Gjergj Araniti. THE ENTRY OF THE VIRGIN MARY INTO THE TEMPLE Icon, oil on wood. (53x34.5 cm). Author: Onufri. 16th century. THE ENTRY OF THE VIRGIN MARY INTO THE TEMPLE Icon, oil on wood (45.5x31.5). Author: David Selenica. 17th century. CHRIST ON THE OPEN TOMB (52x37 cm). Icon. Oil on wood. Author: David Selenica. 18th century. TRANSFIGURATION Icon, oil on wood (53x37 cm). Author: David Selenica. 16th century. The Epitaph of Glavenica stolen from the National Museum

Here are the Ministry’s recommendations SHKODER — The fear of poisoned flour returns. After the cases recorded last year, in the past week two other incidents were confirmed in a village near Tepelena and in Koplik, near Shkodër. “Yes, it is true,” Besim Nurzi, Deputy Minister of Health, tells Gazeta Shqiptare, “several people have been hospitalized for poisoning caused by flour, and we fear that similar incidents may occur again in other areas of the country. For this reason, we urge everyone to be very careful.” The flour is believed to have been poisoned by lead, and some mills use it to reinforce the wheels used to grind wheat. Last year there were poisonings in the Berat area and in Fier. After the latest alarm, the Ministry of Health sent two specialist teams to Tepelena and Shkodër to take samples of the poisoned flour and carry out laboratory analyses on the people considered poisoned. “In many cases we have found traces of lead,” continues the deputy minister, “but fortunately so far there have been no cases of serious poisoning. People who have eaten poisoned flour are hospitalized and treated with a medicine, EDTA, which cancels all the effects of lead.” The same source adds that it is important to detect poisoning in time: the first symptoms are abdominal pain; lead affects the liver and kidneys in particular and, if treatment is not begun in time, serious consequences may also occur. But how can we tell if we have been poisoned? “Unfortunately the only method is laboratory analysis,” explains Nurzi, “so with the slightest suspicion you should go to the Hygiene Doctor in Tirana, who carries out all the necessary checks.” What should be done if one has large quantities of poisoned flour? “The government has taken responsibility for this problem,” concludes the Deputy Minister, “so citizens can hand over the poisoned flour and they will receive back, free of charge, the same amount.”

TIRANE — A new primer for little Albanian children is born. The Ministry of Education has just completed the initial mother-tongue textbook — written by Koli Xhumari — which will be ready for the next school season. The new primer was also approved after a two-year trial in several urban and rural schools, under the guidance of the Institute of Pedagogical Studies. According to the authors, this new school book includes basic language knowledge, blending elements of language with reading. The experience of many advanced countries in terms of the transition in the teaching moment was also taken into account.

Tirana, a conference on the crisis is proposed TIRANE — Albania is in favour of a Regional Conference with the participation of all the countries affected by the crisis in the former Yugoslavia. That was President Berisha’s response to the proposal made by Lord Owen and Stoltenberg. During the meeting held the day before yesterday in Tirana, the Kosovo issue was also discussed. President Berisha stressed that a meeting in Belgrade with the legitimate representatives of Kosovo would be welcome. As for the issue of arms smuggling with Macedonia, Berisha pointed out that Albania has no involvement and possesses all the documents proving this. Meeting between President Berisha and the EC mediator, Lord Owen

Elbasan, two tragic stories Financial police officer fires at four civilians ELBASAN — The story of a couple in the city of Elbasan has ended in tragedy. Majlinda Murat, 29 years old, was killed by her husband, even in the presence of their three minor children. But the perpetrator of the crime — who had only completed treatment at the Psychiatric Hospital of Elbasan two weeks earlier — was not satisfied with that alone; after killing his wife, he mutilated her, cutting parts of her face and body at the throat. At midday on 4 February, the husband of the victim Murat was stopped by law-enforcement officers in the city of Lushnjë. According to the first statements by the perpetrator, the motive that drove him to kill his wife was that she — according to him — did not cook well. Meanwhile, another tragic incident occurred in the city of Elbasan as well. An employee of the Financial Police fired a weapon at four civilians inside a café, causing the death of one of them and the serious injury of the others. The perpetrator of the killing of citizen Petrit Pallumbi is now being pursued by law-enforcement bodies, after fleeing immediately in an unknown direction. “I did not know the one who shot at us,” one of the injured tells Gazeta Shqiptare, “but it is possible that the perpetrator had previously quarreled with one of my friends, who today are not in a condition to speak.” (Me. Ki.)

More than 70 percent of the goods belong to neighboring countries The geography of exports ON PAGE 3 They fire on the crowd, a new massacre in Sarajevo Nine dead and many wounded ON PAGE 2

DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL? DO YOU WANT TO BUY SOMETHING? This space is free for your economic notices. Send your message, no longer than 15 words, to one of our addresses: In Tirana: Rruga Bajram Curri 370. Or in Bari: Viale Scipione l'Africano, 264. Say in the message what you are looking for and offering, your name and address SELL a house, a room and a kitchen, on the first floor, on the main road (national road); in front of the house there are 50 square meters of space for a shop, which can be split in two, together with the house, shop, (100 square meters in total). Address: Altin Djepaxhia, Salo Halili neighborhood, "Vasilshanto" street, building 985, Shkodër. SELL OR RENT a premises of 200 square meters, near the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (on the ring road). Interested parties should contact: Rruga Luigj Gurakuqi, next to no. 6, Tel: 425.15, Tiranë. SELL an apartment with one room and one kitchen with annex and balcony. The apartment is on the second floor at the "Clirimi" farm, Fier. This unit is sold together with 1,000 square meters of land, according to the buyer’s agreement and wish. The land is planted with wheat. The price will be reasonable. Interested parties should contact the family of Astrit Shehu, No. Çlirimi, Fier. SELL a two-storey house, with two basements suitable for use. On each floor the house has 6 rooms and a bathroom. The house is unfinished and nobody lives there yet. In the basement there are two garages, 6 rooms and two bathrooms, and upstairs as well. The house has two separate entrances. Owner’s address: "Irfan Tomini" street, no. 1, building 32, apartment 49, tel. 228 050 874 via the Ministry of Defence switchboard. SELL a house in Lozhë with two rooms and one kitchen with annex and balcony. Interested parties may contact: Lagja e Re, "Gurat e Bëjt", building 121, 4th floor, apartment 121, Lezhë or in Tirana, "Ali Pash Gucia" street no. 2. RENT a basement, at the beginning of Dibrës Street, near the shop of the company "Philips". The basement area is 150 square meters. Interested parties may call 24710, Tiranë. FOR RENT a house with a garden, in the city center. Interested parties may call 220.39, Tirana.

SWISS AID FOR THE ORPHANAGE IN KORÇA — Swiss aid for the Children’s Home in Korça continues. This aid — provided by the organization “Land of People” — is being implemented through a project called “Rozafa”. It consists of caring for orphaned children and improving the conditions of the institutions where they live. At present, at the Children’s Home in Korça — where children aged 0 to 3 are accommodated — renovation of the building has begun, as well as the installation of hot water and the removal of its ambulance. IN HAS, ABOUT 1,000 HECTARES OF LAND ARE CONSIDERED UNPRODUCTIVE — Around 1,000 hectares of land in the district of Has have been unproductive for four years. This area — which had remained uncultivated — will be transferred together with its administration to the Directorate of Forests and Pastures. Previously this land belonged to the agricultural cooperatives of the area. THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 4 FEBRUARY MASSACRE COMMEMORATED IN TIRANA — The 50th anniversary of the 4 February 1944 massacre was commemorated in Tirana. At the event organized on this occasion by the district Veterans Committee, former political prisoners also took part. “For the fallen of the nation,” the killed and the 800 arrested in that massacre were remembered with respect. The participants once again emphasized that for the Albanian people this unforgettable event of the War for the liberation of Albania will never be forgotten. A NOVEL BY XHEVAT MUSTAFA PRESENTED IN KORÇA — “Në një mëngjes e Pashku i Ramadani” by the writer Xhevat Mustafa was presented in Korça. This novel — which has recently been released — is Mustafa’s latest work. Artists, the city’s writers’ club and critics, as well as intellectuals who took part in the event, praised the talent and quality of this novel. At the end, several excerpts from the work were also recited.

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