AID SCANDAL The Italian diplomat speaks from Tanzania. “My relations with Nano? If you want to accuse me, you need proof.” New prosecutor replaces Canale The Mystery of Ambassador Kardili “There is no criminal investigation against me” CARLO BOLLINO FRANCO GIULIANO TIRANE — The news fell like a bomb in Tanzania. Torgua Kardili, former ambassador to Tirana during the Nano government, is in one of the many service posts of the Italian diplomat in this African country. Reports circulating in recent days in Albania refer to the opening of criminal proceedings by the Rome Prosecutor’s Office against Cardili, who now denies everything. A mystery that does not end there: five days ago prosecutor Evelina Canale, who is now investigating representatives of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the framework of the aid scandal in Albania, asked to change office. The aid affair is an issue on which the Tirana prosecutor’s office has also been investigating for some time and for which, among others, former Prime Minister Fatos Nano is also in prison. Since the time he left Albania, followed by a wave of controversy, Cardili has always refused to give interviews. He had also remained silent with journalists in Tirana in the past, when he was questioned in Rome by the Albanian judge. But now, for the first time, he agrees to speak. His statements give rise to a mystery quite likely to imply his guilt. “No, it is not true that there is a criminal investigation against me,” Cardili says from Tanzania, by telephone to Gazeta Shqiptare. “It is all false. Absolute zero.” “What do you mean by absolute zero?” “That there is absolutely no truth in the news about a criminal investigation against me. I repeat: we had absolute zero in mathematics. It is zero zero.” “But according to some media outlets, you were summoned in Rome by the judge investigating the aid scandal...” “Listen, I am in Tanzania, I am working here and I have not gone to Italy, though I plan to go soon. I was last in Rome in November last year: on that occasion I met prosecutor Canale, who heard me on behalf of the Albanian judges. Since then I have not seen her again, and I have had no contact with her. I do not know where you got those explanations. I am the one saying I am tired: tired of continuing to be the target of attacks, for which I still find no authors or proof.” There is talk of privileged relations and correspondence between you and Fatos Nano... “What correspondence, what relations? Privileged? Proof is needed, facts are needed, concrete facts, not just words. I will tell you all this too, because I want to keep working. This whole affair has really worn me out and now I will assess what steps need to be taken, if I see that speeches and denials have not been enough. But it is written that there is a Convention signed in Vienna in 1961 by all Western states, which serves precisely to guarantee and protect ambassadors in the event of clashes and misunderstandings between two governments. The ambassador should not be answerable for this...” Cardili adds nothing else. But what do they say at the Rome Prosecutor’s Office? “Prosecutor Canale has not been handling the investigation into the aid in Albania since Monday, 21 February,” they reply in her office. Why? “Because at her request the file was transferred.” Apparently she is going to work at the Ministry of Justice. And when will all her files on the aid scandal be finished? “The dossier is in the registry of the Prosecutor General’s Office.” There they confirm: “Yes, the file is here.” Questions will be raised in three or four days. “Were there any incriminated persons in it? No one can answer.” The mystery continues. Former Italian ambassador to Albania, Torguato Kardili

From Belgrade, the strange visas for the crew of the “Nikos K.” The trial of Sulejman Lani resumes TIRANE — The trial against Sulejmani Lani, former First Secretary of the Albanian Embassy in Belgrade, resumes and has been pending since last year. This is the case in which Lani must defend himself against the accusations brought against him — according to the prosecution — for conduct contrary to the proper performance of his duties, for falsifying official documents and for unlawful possession of weapons. The competent authorities once again bring to the forefront the mystery of the “Nikos K.”, the Greek ship seized by the Albanian authorities and which now appears to have been wrecked at sea. The prosecution’s accusation — that Lani issued visas to four Yugoslav citizens — will once again reopen the mystery of the ship “Nikos K.”, with five now-citizens? and a ship condemned by Albanian justice. “The event was not straightforward: the Yugoslavs entered the territory of the Republic of Albania without having an entry visa. After disembarking from the Greek ship ‘Nikos K.’, which was anchored in the Port of Durrës and loaded with benzoyl — brought there by a Greek crew — they headed toward Montenegro,” it was announced at the first hearing of the trial against Lani. But the mystery is not the unlawful entry of the Yugoslav citizens into Albanian territory; it is their entry all the way to Durrës, their boarding of a ship brought there by the Greeks, and their departure again for the place from which they had come illegally, the territory of Montenegro. Tirana court Lani is accused of having completed visas for the four Yugoslav citizens within one day, who because of a problem had remained blocked in the Port of Durrës. Thus — according to the indictment — the Yugoslav citizens had unlawfully crossed Albanian territory, even reaching Durrës, and were now linked to the need to obtain visas. In any case, the trial that has just resumed refers only to the Lani case. The former Albanian diplomat is also charged with the misuse of 126 dollars, a loss that — according to the indictment — the state suffered after the regular closure of taxes following the fictitious visa currency? which had fallen in Albania. The Albanian diplomat in Belgrade issued 1,130 visas, but investigators checked only 49 of them; in 18 cases he was confronted with changes to the visa deadlines. Among the other charges against Lani — made public by the defense attorney at the opening of the first hearing — is also that of conducting illegal commercial activity, after goods were found in considerable quantities inside the premises of our Embassy in Belgrade: over 4,000 lipsticks and 13 kerosene stoves. The charge of unlawful possession of weapons — ammunition — refers to the finding, also in that building, of 53 shotgun cartridges. During the first hearing of the trial, his lawyer, Spartak Ngjela, did not agree with the charges prepared by the prosecution. (b.l.)

The Arsidi case DURRES — Burhan Hoti — father of the former Governor of the Bank of Albania — is transferred from the cells in Berat to his home in Durrës. He was arrested by the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office on 7 February of this year. His release from the cells in Berat is due only to the execution of the security measure, which is now “obligation to report.” Hoti was released from the security measures and on the basis of a signature, which was linked to the file of documents on the Arsidi scandal, which he had kept “to show the innocence of his son, Ilir Hoti,” only three days after the arrest. The court had rejected Burhan Hoti’s request to revoke the arrest measure, while the present decision is unclear and it is not known whether it also concerns the transfer of the materials he possessed. (e.l.)

A NEW LAW IS ADDED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT The creation of the commission in the district for the provisional election of the district council corresponding to the commune or municipality, and the establishment of the corresponding commission in the prefecture for elections to the district council, are the new changes — approved by the People’s Assembly on Wednesday — to the previous law: “On the election of local government bodies.” “ATLAS 1001” A NEW NEWSPAPER IN SERBIAN LANGUAGE — On Monday? Seisë? Albanian journalist? or something? has begun publishing in Gjirokastër the newspaper “Atlas 1001”. According to its editorial — published in the first issue — the reasons for the newspaper promise “the solution of this organ, in an information tribune”; the editor-in-chief of “Atlas 1001” is one of the lecturers at the “Eqrem Çabej” University in Gjirokastër. DELVINË-SAN GIOVANI DI MARGIANO, A NEW TWINNING — In a simple Italo-Albanian relationship, with ... from San Giovani to Delvinë these? linked? four. much? and and artistic books in Italian, the twinning between the two cities has now been completed. A few days ago in Delvinë there was a delegation from the municipality of San Giovani di Margiano — headed by its mayor Giancarlo Pencili — together with the mayor of the municipality of Delvinë, Dushan Hodo, who also signed the twinning document. Now also two? prok. SARTIRI ARRIVES IN KORÇË — The ambassador of Kosovo in ??? “Dirty hands” — arrived in Korçë? with one? itiner? and the director “Andon Zako Çajupi”, the masterpiece of the artist Sartre, was staged? through a very modern conception by director Ilirian Orgocka. In the leading roles perform F. Xh., ka, M. Deli and P. Gjez.

More than 80 percent of citrus fruits expected to be affected Elbasan, alarm from the green world ELBASAN — A real massacre against the trees in Elbasan. Hundreds of olive and citrus roots, entire vineyards, have been cut down and destroyed. According to what has already been said, they have now been stripped and left to the mercy of fate. No one is acting, while everyone remains a passive witness to a catastrophe of vast proportions. The scale of the destruction is incalculable. More than half of the fruit trees in this district — around 20,000 roots — have been completely wiped out. The orchard blocks in Shirgjan, the fig trees in Zavalina and Cërrik, have almost disappeared or lost their existence. The same picture applies to the vineyards: 250 hectares in Dumre and Elbasan have been damaged. Heavy axes have also struck oranges, lemons and mandarins. About 2,600 roots — accounting for 80 percent of the total number of citrus trees in the district — have now fallen to the ground to be replaced by nothing. “It is truly a massacre,” says Fisnik Hoxhalliu, chief specialist at the District Agriculture Directorate, speaking to Gazeta Shqiptare. “Before this, the agricultural production of citrus mattered; now we get nothing at all.” The attacks have continued mercilessly against the olive trees as well. The centuries-old olive grove of Elbasan — with around 90,000 trees — has been left without an owner. A 100-year-old tree is now being cut down to end up as firewood and in piles. The most beautiful hectare in this area. It has seven trees? and the first-born? profits of Elbasan. This vineyard, which used to gather around 60 percent of the grape production of the whole country, has now been taken over by houses. “According to agricultural specialists, this catastrophe is the result of the privatization process. No one wants to take responsibility? to solve? it among the trees. Thus they have remained, as if between owners; that is how the olive grove has remained today as well. The agricultural leaders in the district believe that, until the problems are resolved, it should be handed over to the administration of the City Municipality in order to save it from extermination. Mentor Kikia

Domestic production is protected TIRANE — The state budget revenues obtained from excise taxes on Albanian products will be reduced, and those on imported products will increase. However, the approval of several amendments to the “Excise Tax Law of the Republic of Albania” by the People’s Assembly indicates that state budget revenues for 1994 will reach 7.6 billion lek, up from 4.8, while revenues from Albanian products in relation to imports will rise, as will budget revenues, because of the changes approved earlier. The changes concern goods, which have already been affected by tobacco — about 30 percent exempted from excise? — and gasoline. Here, use for production will not be included. For domestic production and for the production of alcoholic beverages and soft drinks, the use of electricity and liquid gas for the people is also taken into account. The changes do not concern the procedure itself. (e.l.) Here are the percentage changes — according to the newly approved law — in excise taxes for all the goods that will be taxed: a) Tobacco products - cigarettes 70 50 - cigars 70 70 - tobacco for consumption 70 70 - cigarette paper for sale 60 50 b) Alcoholic beverages - beer 50 40 - wine 60 40 - raki 50 70 - cognac, uzo, fernet, pong, whisky, rum and all other alcoholic beverages 70 80 - liqueurs 50 60 c) Soft and sparkling drinks 35 30 d) Mineral water (gline) and sparkling water 20 20 e) Electricity 50 50 f) Imported alcohol for sale 50 50 g) Domestic alcohol for sale 30 30 h) Coffee 30 30 i) Oil-related by-products - gasoline 45-89 octane and above 60 50 - gasoline 90 octane and above 50 50 - gasoil 40 40 - kerosene 40 40 - lubricating oils of all kinds and grease 80 80 - others (solar, mazut, coke, bituminous oil, liquefied gas, toluene, sulfur, xylene, solvent) 25 25

TIRANE — Albania takes a firm step toward NATO. The day before yesterday, President of the Republic Sali Berisha signed in Brussels — at the North Atlantic Council — the Agreement for “Partnership for Peace.” Among other things, this agreement provides for military integration without taking into account NATO’s military interruption in the respective countries in the event of aggression. Albania was the first country to have submitted the request to join NATO. For the country the January 10 summit has accepted nothing — and the whole decision has still communicated the request, which was only recalled with the “Partnership for Peace”. Nevertheless, this signing represents a very great achievement in relations with NATO. (j.v.)

On 5 March Fatos Nano in court

An American super-spy was operating for Moscow Arrested with his wife ON PAGE 2 Survey among students about alcoholic drinks How much they drink, where and for what reason ON PAGE 3