The first patients in the infectious diseases ward The emergency plan begins in Tirana. The army intervenes. Schools still closed TIRANË — “All those who have just returned from Greece should report for cholera testing,” comes the Saturday appeal issued on Friday evening by Health Minister Maksim Cikuli, immediately after the discovery of three sick people from Librazhd who were confirmed to have just arrived from Greek territory. The appeal will continue to rely on the hypothesis of a vibrio source. Meanwhile the number of patients in hospitals in Albania — Kuçovë, Berat, Librazhd — and more recently also in the center of Tirana — continues to be at least approaching 500, while the confirmed cases of illness are about 90. Also on Friday it was announced that the start of classes in schools would be postponed to 3 October. Cikuli: «We suspect that the epidemic has a Greek origin». Ministry appeal to the population Nearly 90 cases diagnosed in the hospitals of Tirana, Kuçovë, Berat and Librazhd. Around 500 affected ARMAND MERO TIRANË — Cholera attacks Tirana. Laboratory analyses from specialized laboratories showed on Friday morning that the terrible vibrio has taken hold in the capital as well. What until three days earlier was only a possible fear has now become a terrifying reality. Four people, from dubious sources, tested positive in special microbiological tests: they are sick with cholera. The increasingly intensive and widespread monitoring shows that in Tirana, Kuçovë, Librazhd and, it is said, Tirana itself is in a very dangerous environment — and since the source has not been identified — it may rise up and strike anywhere. The capital can now be recorded as another cholera outbreak. The four cases discovered have an irregular geographic distribution, which rules out the possibility of a single isolated area. However, only for two cases — S. P., 37 years old, from the village of Domje, and F. R., 42 years old, from neighborhood no. 9 — can the hypothesis of an epidemiological link with previously known outbreak areas be raised. Thus, it has been learned that S. P. had work contacts in Kuçovë, while the resident of neighborhood 9 had recently been hospitalized for several days in the Toxicology ward at the Military Hospital. According to initial data, cholera in this hospital raises suspicion of the infection of a doctor who returned from Greece. But hope of linking the confirmed cases in the capital with the declared outbreaks of Kuçovë or Librazhd appears to be completely lost from the initial data on people arriving from Korça. For P. H., 62 years old, a resident of neighborhood no. 9, no sign of any connection is found. The only fact mentioned by specialists, which after suspicions about the arrival of the vibrio from Greece would take on some real shape, is that a few days earlier she had been examined by a foreign citizen. In connection with this explanation, completely insignificant, there is another sick woman from Tirana, A. K., 54 years old, a resident of neighborhood 1 of the capital. On 8 September her son’s wife had been hospitalized in Uznovë, Berat, while the woman herself was admitted to hospital on 12 September. The 10-day period itself is considered too long to link these two cases with the infection arriving there five days earlier. Exceptional protective and preventive measures have been planned throughout the city even before news of the cholera cases had spread. An order issued by Health Minister Cikuli — addressed to all districts — calls for strict hygienic-sanitary inspection, with particular attention to commercial establishments. “If the hygienic-sanitary conditions are not met — in cafés, snack bars or restaurants — the activity must be suspended and no one may continue without ensuring running water and proper toilets. In cooperation with the Public Order Police, the market, the sale of meat in the street and the use of unsuitable means and conditions must be immediately suspended,” states the Minister’s order. Additional measures have also been planned by the Directorate of Hygiene in Tirana. In cooperation with the Army, disinfection of garbage with calcium hypochlorite will begin — director Kujtim Zazo tells Gazeta Shqiptare — while the sewage from the Military Hospital and Tirana Hospital Center will also be treated with large quantities of chlorine. In support of the health service and the Prefect of Tirana, who has called for a voluntary cleanup of the city. Meanwhile, Albanian health authorities have requested material assistance, with chlorine taking a special place, since the amounts available are very small to cope with the heavy situation. A patient hospitalized in the Librazhd hospital Map of Albania: the circles indicate the outbreak zones of the epidemic while the lamps mark the cities on alert Martanesh Tiranë Librazhd Cërmenikë Drenovicë Kuçovë Korçë Përmet Other news on page 2 A patient hospitalized in the Librazhd hospital Map of Albania: the circles indicate the outbreak zones of the epidemic while the lamps mark the cities on alert

Against the four defendants “The beer scandal”: the judges hand down 57 months in prison TIRANË — The trial over the “beer scandal” has ended with 57 months in prison, in which four former top managers of the beer factories in Tirana and Korçë had been accused. “Abuse of office,” the charge that found Dinhin te Mison, Niko Pevljanu, Gjergji Shkodrari and Gëzim Bektëshi guilty, was especially the only measure taken by the Tirana Court because the economic damage caused to the state — according to the Prosecutor’s Office, around 70 thousand dollars — will be decided by another judicial panel, this time in a civil trial. Meanwhile, the procedure — although it found him guilty — has removed the handcuffs from Shkodrari, who had been under criminal custody since 23 August last year. The heaviest sentence was applied to Bektëshi — 2 years of imprisonment — because Pevljanti and Misos were left with five and two more months respectively in the cells of the Tirana Prison. The trial for the “beer scandal” had begun one month earlier — 15 August 1994 — and almost after a full year of investigations. As in the brief filings, all four defendants denied before the court any material or moral responsibilities, which the Prosecutor’s Office had attributed to them. Among the mysteries clarified by the judicial investigation was the fact that, from time to time, the hypothesis circulated that the Albanian beer initiative had not been included, in order to give private importers an opportunity. This mystery was first rejected by the charge itself, since according to the material prepared by the Prosecutor’s Office, “all four defendants had produced in their factories a quantity of beer which, unable to be sold, spoiled, causing the state an economic loss of 70 thousand dollars.” Especially during the 10 hearings of the judicial investigation, the questioning of numerous witnesses and the presentation of material evidence, which continued up to the day of the verdict when they were defended for the last time — did not shake the four defendants from their claim of innocence. One day and the desire to have them finally acquitted by the judge, with their conviction for guilt also attached ... 57 months in prison which, together with those already served by Shkodrari, come to 70. What remains now is only the Appeal, which Bektëshi can first address, the only convicted person who will remain in the cell for another year in the cells of the Tirana Prison. Civil trial without time limit. (e. l.)

In Kuçovë 60 houses with KUÇOVË — In Kuçovë the number of sick people is 60. On Friday, 15 new patients arrived at the town hospital. The news was confirmed to Gazeta Shqiptare by Dr. Xhavarri Sulo, head of the town’s infectious diseases ward. According to Dr. Sulo, “At the head of the group of doctors fighting the disease right at its first outbreak — of the new hospitalized patients, ten are from the town of Kuçovë and five others from the surrounding villages.” “The condition of the first hospitalized patients is improving,” said Dr. Sulo, “for the others we must wait a few days.”

Librazhd hospital LIBRAZHD — In the eastern outbreak of the cholera epidemic, another increase has been recorded in the number of hospitalized patients complaining of the same symptoms: vomiting and frequent diarrhea. Their number has now reached over 50. The area of their spread is still the same: the city of Librazhd, Prrenjas, Cërmenika, Martanesh. “The condition of the initial hospitalized patients has improved,” Ilman Mulla, head of the infectious ward of the hospital, told Gazeta Shqiptare, “but among the new patients we have also had some who are in serious condition.” Meanwhile, the town hospital seems it will no longer be the healing environment of recent days when anyone could walk in and talk without any hindrance. According to Dr. Mulla, armed police now stand guard at its gates, with orders not to allow anyone in without doctors’ permission. Local authorities have now placed the hospital in Prrenjas on alert in order to be able to cope with the possible influx of patients. (f.b)

The disease affects residents BERAT — The epidemic has also reached the city of Berat. According to sources from the city hospital itself, on Friday patients from various neighborhoods were admitted to its wards. They are part of the sixth group of newly admitted patients on Friday. Four patients come from areas already known as the first cholera outbreak zones: three from the village of Drenovicë and one from the village of Tapi. All have complained of the same symptoms. The hospitalizations in recent days have brought the number of patients complaining of the “classic” symptoms of the disease to 207, and it is now also being attempted with “7”. Meanwhile, there is also the first positive news. 10 patients from the Berat hospital have left the hospital after showing clear signs of improvement. The suspicious case in Përmet also appears to belong to Berat. In fact, the person under suspicion is precisely from this city. It is still unknown whether his contacts with other people in Përmet may have transmitted the dangerous disease all the way to the country’s far southeastern edge. (b.b)

The law changes Albania introduces visas for Greeks TIRANË — From now on, all Greeks who want to enter Albania must obtain Albanian visas. This has been decided by the presidential decree issued on Friday evening by President Sali Berisha. In the official statements read by the state information agencies, it was said that the proposal had been made by the Council of Ministers. The President is the highest authority in the country, which, in the absence of Parliament, approves changes to the laws. Greek citizens are the only citizens of the two European kingdoms who will need a visa issued by the Albanian authorities to enter Albania.

A madman the murderer of the villager ELBASAN — It turned out to be only one disturbed individual, the author of the macabre murder of a villager from Qinar in Elbasan. While the police had initially suspected the victim’s fellow villagers, with whom he had argued before the murder over land disputes, suspicion has increasingly focused on another lead, that of a person who had recently been released from the Psychiatric Hospital of Elbasan. Tan A. Q., as the arrested murder suspect is called, is isolated in the rooms of the Elbasan police station. (M.K.)

GAZETA TV SHQIPTARE YESTERDAY IN ALBANIA MORE FERRIES AT THE PORT OF DURRËS — 11 new ferry lines will operate in transport between Durrës and Bari in Italy. Hundreds more ferries have been added, and another one, the Albanian-Italian joint venture “Te-am Albania.” Built in 1990, it has a capacity of 300 places and covers the distance from Durrës in three and a half hours. Since the beginning, this largest port in Albania has received around 1040 ferries. State and local authorities also took part in the ceremony organized on the occasion of the inauguration of the new line. ELECTRIC SHOCK TRAGEDY IN LEZHË — Another life was claimed by an electric current shock in the district of Lezhë. It happened in Bilisht several days ago with four children. A young woman from this village, 22-year-old Flora Matia, died from electrocution. The victim had just gone to agricultural work when an electrical cable broke, falling to the ground from an electrical structure. The unfortunate woman left behind two twin babies as orphans. A few days earlier, a Lezhë electrician had lost his life while trying to repair an electrical line. Damage had been caused to the city’s network of electrical cables during the powerful storm two weeks earlier. Buy and sell OFFER FOR BUILDING LAND — I own two plots in the Military Combine for mass housing construction, or industrial buildings. Large surface area. Water and electricity available. For any clarification you may contact telephone number 22811. Address: Rruga Ali Vishi, building 13, stairway 5, apartment 47, Tiranë. EXCHANGE OF APARTMENT — a two-room apartment and a kitchen with annex, first floor, building in the center near “Shkolla e Kuqe”, Rruga “Qemal Stafa”. Whoever wants to exchange it can find it at the owner’s house and take the apartment in some housing development. The exchange conditions are: a kitchen, within the “Ring Road” and 10 floors, first floor. Contact number 4216. FOR SALE — thematic software for managing shops, warehouses and others. Contact telephone number 34562 for further information. FOR RENT — the second floor of a villa in the city of Durrës, with a view of the sea, Haiti, CIA has failed the coup On page 2 Industrial starvation in Albania On page 3

ARE YOU SINGING AND YAWNING? ARE YOU NOT SINGING FOR THE DEAL? This space is free for you for classified economic notices. You will find it more helpful than placing an ad in one line of the newspaper! Among the notices are: In Tiranë from Bulevardi “Amanit” 70,500 to Rruga Vaso Pasha/Olimpia 264, Make use of this economic corner with quantity and frequency! [?] ADRIATIKA NAVIGAZIONE S.p.A. - VENEZIA Zattere 1411 - Tel. 0039/41/781611 - Fax 781805 - Tlx 410045 Ferries for Passengers, Cars, Trucks DURRËS - BARI - ANCONA TRIESTE - DURRËS From DURRËS to BARI: every Tuesday departs at 12.00 every Thursday departs at 12.00 every Sunday departs at 12.00 From DURRËS to ANCONA: every Tuesday departs at 19.00 every Friday departs at 22.00 From DURRËS to TRIESTE: every Wednesday departs at 19.00 every Saturday departs at 19.00 Agency in ALBANIA DURRËS: DETARE SHTETERORE Tel. 052/22233 - Fax 22911 - Tlx 4148 Agency in ITALY BARI: AGESTEA Srl - via Liside, 4 Tel. 0039/80/331555 - Fax 330628 - Tlx 810043 ANCONA: MARITIME AGENCY Srl - Via XXIX Settembre, 20 Tel. 0039/71/204915 - Fax 202296 - Tlx 860022 TRIESTE: AGEMAR Srl - Piazza Duca degli Abruzzi, 2/a Tel. 0039/40/363222 - Fax 77723 - Tlx 460058