Albania’s most important work disappears The thieves take out the famous Gllavenica Epitaph and four icons of priceless value. They also seize 50 pistols used in the war, including Enver Hoxha’s. NATIONAL MUSEUM The thieves take out the famous Gllavenica Epitaph and four icons of priceless value. They also seize 50 pistols used in the war, including Enver Hoxha’s CARLO BOLLINO TIRANE — It was the greatest work of art in existence in Albania. The eager thieves took it from Tirana’s National Museum. The alarm system was not working, and the guard raised the alarm three hours late, “because the telephone,” he explained, “was broken.” The Gllavenica Epitaph, an embroidery on cloth, made in 1373 on the commission of Prince Gjergj Araniti — the only clear evidence of 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 priceless value, stolen on a cursed February night, when, along with the precious fabric, a piece of Albania’s history also disappeared. Along with the “Epitaph,” four 16th- and 17th-century icons were also taken: “The Araniti cloth was undoubtedly the country’s most precious work of art,” emphasizes Dashnor Kokonozi, director of Culture at the Ministry of Culture, “while the icon by Onufri was worth at least one million dollars, and the three others from Selenicë were worth 400,000 to 500,000 dollars each. A terrible loss.” The works were kept on the second floor of the Museum, near the “Skënderbej” House, in the Medieval section. On the same floor is the pavilion devoted to the Second World War, where reconstruction work is currently underway. The thieves had ransacked this part of the Museum too, carefully selecting the most important objects and those easiest to sell on the international market: at least fifty pistols used during the War were stolen, including those of the dictator Enver Hoxha, Vasil Shanto, and many other leaders of the Communist Party of that time. The police and investigators are trying to reconstruct what happened, which had taken place before 4 a.m. on the Wednesday that just passed. At that hour, the guard on duty outside the Museum found the outer door open. There was a second guard inside, but he had noticed nothing. Unfortunately, the alarm was raised only at seven in the morning, when the director arrived: “the telephone wasn’t working,” the guard explained, to justify the three-hour delay. A major delay, which may have given the thieves enough time to leave the capital, perhaps even the country. The police immediately informed the border authorities, who stepped up checks on people leaving Albania. Interpol was also informed of the theft. The Epitaph and the icons are known throughout the world and have been published in many catalogues: it is hoped this may be enough to prevent their sale on the foreign market. The Epitaph had last left Albania in 1972, when it was presented at an exhibition in Paris. It is said that at the time a large sum had been offered to the dictator to buy it, “a figure with which an entire city could have been built,” official propaganda had said. The four icons, meanwhile, had been exhibited at the end of last September in a major exhibition in the French city of Nisè. But how did the thieves manage to get into the Museum? Until 7 p.m. on Wednesday evening, a meeting of a religious group had been held in one of the halls. Investigators suspect the criminals took advantage of the opportunity to hide inside, so that they could move around freely later during the night. During the inspection, traces were found that suggest the criminals had been accompanied by two people. The alarm system that was supposed to protect the works of art had been broken for many months, and this certainly made the thieves’ work much easier. This is the second theft to take place at the National Museum. The previous one was three months ago, when a collection of old coins was stolen from a hall on the first floor. The police have now questioned all the Museum employees: at least 40 are on staff, along with around thirty others who have been called in to assist in recent months. Finally, an appeal to the thieves: the “Gllavenica Epitaph” is a very delicate work, and its fabric must be handled with the utmost care, otherwise it risks being damaged forever. If it can never again be seen on the foreign market: returning it (or helping it to be found) would be an enormous historic gesture for all those who seek to trace Albania’s history and culture. The Gllavenica Epitaph stolen from the National Museum

Here is the Ministry’s advice SHKODER — The fear of poisoned flour has returned. Following the cases recorded last year, two more incidents have been confirmed over the past two weeks, in a village near Tepelenë and in Koplik, near Shkodër. “Yes, it is true,” Besim Nuri, Deputy Minister of Health, confirms to the Albanian Gazette. “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 extremely careful.” The flour may have been contaminated with lead, which some mills leave traces of, the Deputy Minister continues, but fortunately there have been no cases of serious poisoning so far. People who have eaten the contaminated flour are hospitalized and treated with a medicine, EDTA, which neutralizes all the effects of lead. The doctors add that it is important to detect the poisoning in time. The first symptoms are abdominal pain; lead particularly affects the liver and kidneys, and if action is not taken in time, serious consequences may also occur. But how can we tell whether flour is poisoned? “Generally, the only method is laboratory testing,” Nuri explains, “so at the slightest suspicion people should contact the Institute of Hygiene in Tirana, which carries out all the necessary checks.” What should be done if someone has large quantities of poisoned flour? “The government has taken responsibility for this problem,” the Deputy Minister concludes, “so citizens can hand in the contaminated flour and will receive the same quantity back, free of charge.”

Berisha with Owen and [cut off]

Elbasan, two tragic stories Financial police officer shoots four civilians ELBASAN — The story of a couple in the city of Elbasan has ended in tragedy. Majlinda Murati, 29, was killed by her husband, even in the presence of their three minor children. But the perpetrator — who had completed treatment at Elbasan Psychiatric Hospital just two weeks earlier — was not satisfied with that alone: after killing his wife, he mutilated her, cutting various parts of her face and body with scissors. On the morning of February 4, the victim’s husband, Murati, was detained by law-enforcement authorities in the city of Lushnjë. According to the perpetrator’s initial testimony, the reason that drove him to kill his wife was that she, in his words, did not cook well. Meanwhile, another tragic incident took place in the city of Elbasan. An employee of the Financial Police fired a gun at four civilians — in a bar — killing one of them and seriously injuring the others. The perpetrator of the killing of citizen Petrit Pellumbi is now being pursued by law-enforcement authorities, after immediately fleeing in an unknown direction. “I didn’t know the person who shot at us,” one of the injured tells the Albanian Gazette, “but it is possible that the perpetrator had previously argued with one of my friends, who are now unable to speak.” (Me. Ki.)

Education Another primer for children TIRANA — A new primer for young Albanian children is born. The introductory book for the mother tongue, authored by Kolë Xhumari, has just been approved by the Ministry of Education and will be ready for the coming school year. The new primer was also approved following a two-year trial in several urban and rural schools, under the supervision of the Institute of Pedagogical Studies. According to its compilers, this new schoolbook includes basic linguistic knowledge, combining elements of language with those of reading[?]. The experience of the millennia[?] in Western countries was also taken into consideration with regard to this stage of teaching.

Tirana, a conference on the crisis is proposed TIRANA — Albania is in favor of a Regional Conference attended by all the countries affected by the crisis in the former Yugoslavia. This was President Berisha’s response to the proposal by Lord Owen and Stoltenberg. During the meeting held the day before yesterday in Tirana, the problem of Kosovo was also discussed. President Berisha stressed that a meeting in Belgrade with the legitimate representatives of Kosovo would be welcome. Regarding the issue of arms smuggled into Macedonia, Berisha pointed out that Albania has no connection with it and possesses all the documents proving this. Meeting between President Berisha and the EC mediator, Lord Owen

SWISS AID FOR THE KORÇË ORPHANAGE — Swiss aid to the Children’s Home in Korçë continues. This assistance—provided by the “Land of the People” organization—is being delivered through a project called “Rozafa.” It consists of caring for orphaned children and improving conditions in the institutions where they live. Renovation of the building, installation of hot water, and painting of its premises have now begun at the Children’s Home in Korçë, which houses children aged 0–8. IN HAS, AROUND 1,000 HECTARES OF LAND ARE CONSIDERED UNPRODUCTIVE — Nearly 1,000 hectares of land in the Has district have proved unproductive. This area, which had remained unused, will now be placed under the administration of the Directorate of Forests and Pastures. Previously, these lands belonged to the area’s former agricultural cooperatives. 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FEBRUARY 4 MASSACRE COMMEMORATED IN TIRANA — The 60th anniversary of the February 4, 1944 massacre was commemorated in Tirana. The Veterans’ Committee and the patriotic association “For the Fallen of the Nation” took part in the event organized for the occasion; the eight people killed and the 300 people arrested in the massacre were remembered with respect. Participants once again stressed that the Albanian people will never forget this painful event of the War for the Liberation of Albania. A NOVEL BY XHEVAT MUSTAFA PRESENTED IN KORÇË — The novel “The Voice of the Forest” by the writer Xhevat Mustafa was presented in Korçë, in one of the halls of the Palace of Culture. This novel, which has recently been released, is Mustafa’s first work. Artists from the “Writers’ Club” of the three villages and intellectuals who took part in the event praised the novel’s standard and quality. At the end, several excerpts from the work were also recited.

Five works were stolen from the Museum. Let’s see which ones: GLLAVENICA EPITAPH Embroidery on fabric, from 1373, commissioned by Gjergj Araniti. THE ENTRY OF THE HOLY MARY INTO THE TEMPLE Icon, oil on wood (54x34 cm). Artist: Onufri, 17th century. oil on wood (45.5x41.5). Artist: David Selenica. 18th century. THE LAMENTATION OVER CHRIST’S TOMB Icon, oil on wood (68x37 cm). Artist: David Selenica. 18th century. TRANSFIGURATION Icon, oil on wood (56x37 cm). Artist: David Selenica. 17th century. The Gllavenica Epitaph stolen from the National Museum

Education

IN THE INTERIOR More than 70 percent of goods belong to neighboring countries The geography of exports ON PAGE 3 They fire into the crowd: new massacre in Sarajevo Nine dead and many wounded ON PAGE 2