The infection is reaching alarming proportions. A child brings the death toll to 3 Tests conducted in Tirana confirm the tragic result: the patients in Kuçovë have been infected with the deadly virus. Cikuli: “The situation is under control” ARMAND MERO, TIRANA — Fear of cholera hangs over Albania. The epidemic wave that has gripped the Kuçovë area for a week now appears to bear precisely the name of this terrible disease. Although until Monday the situation had remained confined to the realm of speculation, the first tests conducted in specialized Albanian laboratories appear to have produced a shocking result: cholera. Strong suspicions that this epidemic exists have alarmed the highest health authorities at home and abroad. Three French experts from the World Health Organization have arrived urgently in Tirana. Their findings—after tests are carried out in well-known laboratories in France—will put an end to the frightening hypothesis, either confirming or disproving it. Meanwhile, the situation in Kuçovë remains tense. Teams of specialists leave Tirana every day to assist local doctors in dealing with the situation. A three-year-old child has been added to the two people who died on Friday. Admitted to Kuçovë hospital at around 11 p.m. on Sunday, the child died without even receiving first medical aid. The number of people affected by the infection—over 130 by Monday—continues to rise at a frightening rate. The peak came on Sunday, when around 50 more people arrived at the hospital wards, followed on Monday by around 20 new patients. The number of cases admitted to other hospitals is also rising. At the military hospital, 27 servicemen are isolated in quarantine in Tirana, while another 17 have been admitted in Kuçovë. Despite the spread of the disease to the surrounding area, Health Minister Maksim Cikuli says the situation is under control and reiterates his call for the population to maintain maximum hygiene, while also expressing his hope that the French findings will come quickly and resolve the frightening suspicions. “Although we have many suspicions, especially concerning two cases,” Minister Cikuli explained to Gazeta Shqiptare late Monday evening, after an emergency meeting with specialist doctors, “we still cannot say what disease we are dealing with. We are awaiting the final findings from the French experts.” Kuçovë: over 130 affected KUÇOVË — Kuçovë remains gripped by the wave of infection. Every day, the number of people occupying beds at the town hospital—which has been specially expanded to cope with the influx of patients—continues to rise dramatically. Everyone has the same symptoms: watery diarrhea—more than 30 times a day—and green-colored vomiting. The hospital doors remain open around the clock. Patients of all ages are given the necessary medical care immediately and treated with intravenous fluids to replace the liquids their bodies lose through vomiting and diarrhea. They have no contact with other people and are kept in isolation in quarantine. Some have been transferred, due to lack of space, to the hospital in Berat, which is also surrounded by police forces. Meanwhile, the town is being supplied with water by tanker trucks, as the existing distribution network—suspected of being the source of the spread of the deadly infection—is being disinfected with chlorine. A strict medical check is also being carried out on the families of those admitted to hospital, and specialists are screening them. Ar. Me. Berat: police guard the hospital BERAT — News of the spread of the disease—which is still being called mysterious here—has caused concern among the town’s residents. The disease has claimed three lives in nearby population centers. Although none of Berat’s residents has reported symptoms of the disease, just 15 kilometers to the north, in Kuçovë and the villages between it and Berat, the disease has been spreading at a rapid pace. On Monday evening, an emergency meeting was held in Berat, attended by doctors from Tirana and the Minister of Public Order, A. Gropi Musar. Meanwhile, patients from Kuçovë, Ura Vajgurore and the surrounding villages continued to be admitted. By Monday morning their number was close to 50. To handle the emergency, it was decided to clear several wards on the ground floor of the hospital building to make room for the patients who continue to arrive. The hospital has meanwhile become a completely isolated building. Police forces keep watch day and night to prevent any kind of contact with the patients. Unable to understand what treatment is appropriate, the population has rushed to the town’s pharmacies to buy antibiotics in large quantities. These have thus become the most sought-after item. Specialist doctors and the medical supplies necessary in such cases have arrived from the capital. Here are the protective measures TIRANA — “Boil the water and maintain the highest standards of hygiene”—this is the appeal doctors are making to the entire population amid the grave situation that has arisen. “Whatever the infection may be, it can be avoided if everyone takes care of themselves,” the doctors explain. “Everyone must wash their hands thoroughly after any contact; the disease is spread only through the consumption of food. It is advisable to use bottled sparkling water instead of tap water—although tap water can also be drunk if it has been boiled thoroughly.” Boil it thoroughly and use bottled sparkling water instead of tap water.

During his visit to Tirana TIRANA — “The clandestine emigration of Albanians to Italy will be stopped, particularly because public opinion is asking for this to happen.” Foreign Minister Antonio Martino, on an official visit to Tirana, confirmed the government’s intention to put a stop to the unrelenting wave heading for the coasts of Puglia. He says he knows nothing about the possibility of the Navy being deployed for this purpose, but when asked what will be done, he confirmed the solution he had already offered in an interview with Gazeta Shqiptare: “We should reach an agreement on seasonal employment, because I believe this is a good way to regulate the flow of refugees.” During his brief stay in Tirana, the head of Italian diplomacy spoke at length about this problem with all the leaders of the Albanian state, including the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha. “The situation between Albania and Greece is regrettable,” he said, “and we will use every means to get the two countries to engage in dialogue and move beyond the current situation; we are concerned because this is happening in a very unstable region.” But, he added, no one has asked us to mediate...” Referring to the talks held in Germany with Greek Minister Papulias, Martino spoke at length with Foreign Minister Serreqi, expressing himself, “as I did with Papulias,” with “great restraint.” The talks also addressed the issue of European Community aid to Albania, blocked by the Greek veto. “Greece insists on blocking it, but if anyone asks us, we are ready to intervene to unblock it.” The fear that Greek-Albanian relations could deteriorate-[text continues beyond the visible portion] [Part cut off at the top] ... seasonal employment because we believe this is a good way to increase the market’s functioning for refugees.” During the few hours he was Prime Minister, Aleksander Meksi, and the Foreign Minister, Alfred Serreqi. But at the end of the meetings he called for a way to resolve the disputes to be found: “We must not dramatize things,” he explained, “even though the problem exists and must be addressed, especially because the problem of undocumented immigrants risks strengthening the position of those who believe Italy should close itself off from the outside world.” A comment that very quickly attracted attention because of its serious political implications, which Martino immediately clarified: “Immigration in Italy does not enjoy public support because it is too easily associated there with undocumented immigration and all the public-order implications that it brings with it. We intend to combat undocumented immigration precisely in order to restore legal immigration to a less conservative context.” The rest of the visit was devoted to discussions with the Albanian authorities on the two main topics on the agenda: the development of bilateral relations and the Greek-Albanian crisis. Regarding the latter, Martino categorically stated that he had received advice from his Albanian counterpart [text unclear: “këshillën një mandat ndërmjetësimi”]: “The crisis between... [continues, cut off] ... in this and in the matter... [part cut off] ... of Albania, blocked by the Greek veto. “Greece insists on keeping it blocked, but if someone The fear that Greek-Albanian relations could deteriorate into a Balkan tension is evident. As for relations between Albania and Italy, Martino was extremely optimistic. “They have been good in the past too,” he explained, “they are very good today and will certainly be much better in the future.” At meetings with the other ministers, the main areas in which cooperation would develop in the future were discussed: transport, telecommunications and culture. Martino announced the possibility of agreements to restructure the Albanian telephone network and water system, and promised cultural agreements and the inclusion of various sectors, acceptable scholarships for Albanian students, as well as cooperation in the press and information sectors. All of this was viewed in the context of a broader agreement with the Albanian government, aimed at “encouraging foreign investment in Albania.” Very good intentions, launched over an aperitif offered by the Albanian authorities to the Italian press present there. The favourite venue was “Bar Berlusconi,” naturally. (c.bo.) In the photograph, President Berisha during a meeting with Italian Foreign Minister Martino (Photo A. Babani)

Former owners demand compensation or the return of their land TIRANA — The Artificial Lake has also become entangled in the maze of debates over privatization. The owners of plots beneath and around Tirana’s Artificial Lake have submitted a protest to the highest state authorities, demanding compensation or the return of the land taken from them for the promenades by the communist regime. It is a two-page protest, signed by 81 people, all claiming ownership of various plots, each several dynym in area, in the Lake district. “In general, in specific cases the state may expropriate land to build structures of special importance on it,” the protest says, among other things, “but we do not understand why our land is not being returned when no such issue arises in its case.” In addition, the former owners object to permits being granted to foreign investors to build structures on their land. “We would have no objection to our land being covered by the expansion of the Lake or by railway construction,” the former owners continue in their protest, “but we would not allow it to be used by the state for other construction that, under the urban plans, could be carried out by the owners themselves.” They demand the return of the land plots—which had been their ancestors’ sole means of livelihood and were expropriated by the communist regime almost half a century ago—as well as compensation for the areas covered by the waters of the large reservoir.

SARANDË — “Athens’s iron broom against Albanian emigrants has directly put a Greek-Albanian family at risk. Vasili, a Greek citizen from the villages of Janina, married the Albanian emigrant Anita C. a year ago. And it is precisely this family that the broom may sweep up, including Anita.” REALITY CURSIVE The “broom” expels another Greek SARANDË — “Athens’s iron broom against Albanian emigrants has directly put a Greek-Albanian family at risk. Vasili, a Greek citizen from the villages of Janina, married the Albanian emigrant Anita C. a year ago. And it is precisely this family that the broom may sweep up, including Anita. It seemed that the great emigration story of the marriage—expelled from Greece, he and his wife held at police premises—had made it impossible for Vasili, as he knocked and kept insisting at the doors of the Janina embassy. But no one listened to his pleas and protests, and the police—apparently merciless—sent Anita C. to Albania. In these circumstances, unable to do anything, Vasili too was forced to set out for Albania. The roles were reversed. Vasili was now the emigrant, and his wife was in her homeland. In any case, the boy in April ... [illegible passage] ... For several days—while his wife was being held at police premises—Vasili did everything he could, knocking and insisting at the doors of the asylum service in Janina. any case, the boy ... [continues cut off] (Ba. Ko.) Kakavijë crossing

Message from Demirel to Berisha TIRANA — “Turkey, as a country fundamentally interested in peace and stability, sympathizes with and fully supports the efforts of Albania and other countries to preserve and consolidate peace and stability in the region” TIRANA — “Turkey, as a country fundamentally interested in peace and stability, sympathizes with and fully supports the efforts of Albania and other countries to preserve and consolidate peace and stability in the region,” reads, among other things, a message sent to Albanian President Berisha by his Turkish counterpart, Demirel. On this occasion, the President of Turkey expressed his full understanding and support for Albania’s moderate and fraternal position in overcoming difficulties in Albanian-Greek relations through dialogue. President of Turkey, Demirel

In the photograph, President Berisha during a meeting with Italian Foreign Minister Martino (Photo A. Babani)

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE BILL APPROVED — At a meeting of the Council of Ministers, the bill on the Code of Criminal Procedure was approved. Drafted with foreign and local experts through consultations, on the model of the Italian and German Criminal Codes, it constitutes an important step in legislative reform in the field of justice. The bill will soon also be submitted to Parliament for approval and aims to strengthen the democratization of the work of the justice authorities, ensuring fair, equal and regular legal proceedings in order to protect personal freedoms, rights and interests within the legal order, as well as the implementation of the Constitution and the laws of the state. BERAT ALSO GETS A TELEPHONE AREA CODE — Berat now also has a telephone area code; to call it, simply dial 0623 followed by the number you need. Following the cities of Tirana, Durrës, Kavajë, Korçë, Gjirokastër, Shkodër and Elbasan, and, just a few days ago, Vlorë, Berat now also offers the possibility of communicating directly not only with these cities but also internationally.

A plane crashes in front of the White House Panic in downtown Washington ON PAGE 2 The heinous crime in Pjcar, Tirana Son kills his father, 3 arrests ON PAGE 2