CUSTOMS 20 tons of undeclared cigarettes, disguised as aid, are seized. 12 suspected people are detained. PD parliamentarians: «Agree to lifting immunity» Lika in the whirlpool of smuggling CUSTOMS 20 tons of undeclared cigarettes, disguised as aid, are seized. 12 suspected people are detained. PD parliamentarians: «Agree to lifting immunity» The scandal involves the MP Lika in the whirlpool of smuggling EDMOND LAÇI TIRANA — Cigarette smuggling again. Only this time, a politician is also involved in the scandal, and the parliamentary immunity of that politician — at midday on Tuesday — was requested to be lifted by the Republic Prosecutor's Office. That same day, the Presidium of the People's Assembly accepted the lifting of the immunity of the PD MP Arben Lika, while the Mandates Committee was to discuss precisely his case the following day. Late on Tuesday evening — after a long meeting of the PD Parliamentary Group — its members confirmed to Gazeta Shqiptare that "the PD deputies had agreed with the request of the Republic Prosecutor's Office". In any case, this is a statement that does not directly incriminate the PD politician, since lifting immunity gives the Prosecutor's Office the authority to "extend the investigation to Lika as well". The 28-year-old who headed the Albanian Youth Federation. But the 20 tons of smuggled cigarettes — now blocked — have sent 12 other people to prison, among them military personnel from the Kakavijë Border Crossing Point, customs officers, and transporters of the goods. Seized smuggled cigarettes and, top right, a view of Gjirokastër The storm over the customs service and the PD Parliamentary Group would begin precisely after Saturday, when at 11:30 in the morning two loads of "cardboard boxes" had quietly passed through the Kakavijë customs post. However, the cigarettes hidden in the fake declared aid had changed transport through Gjirokastër and Tepelenë, to be discovered perhaps closer to the capital. As confirmed in Gjirokastër, at customs this shipment had not been presented as aid for the Albanian Youth Federation; in fact, at that moment the federation's chairman himself, Arben Lika, had been seen there, arriving in a black "Peugeot". Immediately after the discovery of 20 tons of cigarettes ("Assos") — smuggled in by a truck and a legal vehicle — 12 people were detained. They were later to be taken to the capital, and at midday on Tuesday, to Tirana Prison. Although the details about these people are highly confidential, since Sunday the issue of the MP's involvement in the scandal has not changed. Ten days after the passage of the 20 tons of smuggled goods, the PD parliamentarian had been seen in the official premises of Gjirokastër for the city's Liberation celebration. Two days later, investigators probably also needed the testimony of MP Lika, leading to the request for the lifting of his immunity, submitted on Tuesday at midday to the Presidium of the People's Assembly. Only a few minutes earlier, MP Lika himself had appeared at the offices of the Republic Prosecutor's Office, where he stayed no more than two minutes. The afternoon of that same day brought meetings of the Presidium of the People's Assembly and the PD Parliamentary Group. If the mystery of the smuggling seems clearer, the commander of the post and three other customs officers are missing, while both the Customs Chief and the Head of the Gjirokastër Financial Police have urgently headed to Tirana. That same evening, arriving later, the Director General of Customs, Shpëtar, together with officials from the Smuggling Office at that institution, also took several hours to arrive. TIRANA [?] — There are about 250 clinically confirmed cases of cholera. The figure was announced on Tuesday evening by Aleksandër Sallabanda, director of the Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Tirana, who stressed that according to the guidelines of the World Health Organization, and given those affected by the Albanian disease, this is the exact number reflecting the spread of the epidemic in Albania. On the other hand, Italian epidemiologist Donato Greco, the special envoy of the WHO, stressed that "it is completely clear, indeed almost obvious, that the cholera vibrio in Albania has spread through water-distribution pipes and not through food". Greco also explained that the source of the vibrio's arrival will perhaps never be known. "The curve of the epidemic in Albania is declining," Sallabanda continued, referring to hospitalization figures and saying that "day by day, many are leaving the hospitals." Meanwhile, the number of people presenting with cholera symptoms has also fallen. Thus on Tuesday in Kuçovë and Berat only 10 people were admitted. In Tirana too, those who showed suspected symptoms were few, while in Peshkopi, the hospitalized cases — according to Dr. Haxhi Muça, are clinically confirmed — have improved. However, the optimistic picture is still clouded by sporadic cases of patients in serious condition. On Tuesday evening, one patient from Librazhd was urgently brought to the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Tirana. Meanwhile, on Monday the number of deaths in hospitals reached 9 — 2 people on Sunday in Librazhd and 2 others in Berat — one of whom, according to doctors in Berat, died after also suffering from a heart condition. Ar. Me.

Statement by foreign WHO specialists TIRANA — There are almost 250 clinically confirmed cases of cholera. The figure was announced on Tuesday evening by Aleksandër Sallabanda, director of the Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Tirana, who stressed that according to the guidelines of the World Health Organization, and given those affected by the Albanian disease, this is the exact number reflecting the spread of the epidemic in Albania. On the other hand, Italian epidemiologist Donato Greco, the special envoy of the WHO, stressed that "it is completely clear, indeed almost obvious, that the cholera vibrio in Albania has spread through water-distribution pipes and not through food". Greco also explained that the source of the vibrio's arrival will perhaps never be known. "The curve of the epidemic in Albania is declining," Sallabanda continued, referring to hospitalization figures and saying that "day by day, many are leaving the hospitals." Meanwhile, the number of people presenting with cholera symptoms has also fallen. Thus on Tuesday in Kuçovë and Berat only 10 people were admitted. In Tirana too, those who showed suspected symptoms were few, while in Peshkopi, the hospitalized cases — according to Dr. Haxhi Muça, are clinically confirmed — have improved. However, the optimistic picture is still clouded by sporadic cases of patients in serious condition. On Tuesday evening, one patient from Librazhd was urgently brought to the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Tirana. Meanwhile, on Monday the number of deaths in hospitals reached 9 — 2 people on Sunday in Librazhd and 2 others in Berat — one of whom, according to doctors in Berat, died after also suffering from a heart condition. Ar. Me.

A farmer is detained VLORE — Another case of opium plant cultivation. A large quantity of cannabis — a substance used for making marijuana — has been seized from a farmer from Narta, Vlorë. Experts have also been reassured by the confirmation received from the Forensic Medicine Laboratory in Tirana. There is now no doubt; the farmer Kristaq Basha must now answer before justice. The seized plants were the remains left after the hidden plantation in Narta was harvested. The farmer explained that the rest had been stolen at night by unknown persons. The cannabis cultivated by the Albanian farmer is a highly sought-after commodity on the illegal Greek market. One kilogram of it there costs prices ranging from 350,000 to 400,000 drachmas. Once again, the plant's own biological characteristics led to the plantation being discovered. Other villagers had approached it and were drawn in by the fast profits of this plant, which had not previously been seen in their area. (S.M.a.)

At the Hani i Hotit border crossing SHKODER — The cholera epidemic has apparently made the movements of Albanian diplomats more risky as well. On Monday evening, the Albanian diplomatic representative in Belgrade, Vili Minarolli, was unable to cross the Albanian-Montenegrin border at Hani i Hotit. It may have been only a misunderstanding, but the obstacle raised by the Montenegrin border officials was: "We do not have the cholera vaccination certificate." All of Minarolli's diplomatic efforts were unsuccessful; he was unable to enter the territory of the former Yugoslavia through the border crossing he had designated many times. Even telephone calls to the Shkodër Epidemiological Health Center and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not help. The Albanian diplomat was forced to head back to the capital. Only on Tuesday at the Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology are certificates issued in Albanian and English confirming that the holder is unaffected by the epidemic. (Br.Sm.)

«The resolution is pro Nano» TIRANA — The "Nano issue" has once again returned to the center of the news. This time, the results approved by the Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Copenhagen have caused joy in the socialist camp. Luan Hajdaraga, deputy party leader and one of the lawyers at the Copenhagen meeting, expressed to Gazeta Shqiptare his party's satisfaction with the document recently reached: "The most important thing about this resolution is that, although it expresses its concern toward member parliaments, Nano is no longer left as merely a coalition issue but has now become an 'internationalized' issue." Although the full content of the document had not yet been made public by Tuesday evening — parts of it had been published the same day by the opposition press — according to the socialists the interparliamentary body had expressed to the Albanian authorities the possibility of release while also condemning a number of procedural violations during the trial, which Albania, as a signatory to the International Convention on Human Rights, should not have accepted. According to Hajdaraga, a group of Union experts will continuously monitor the implementation of the resolution, while final responsibility for the issues raised will be given to the Albanian authorities at the World Congress of this organization, to be held in Madrid in March 1995. (J.L.)

A simple bandage was sold as a war injury Villagers caught in the pseudo-trader's trap A simple bandage was sold as a war injury Frauds even with Sarajevo's wounds Villagers caught in the pseudo-trader's trap TIRANA — "She was only 15 years old and on her body — under a bandaged wound — she said she had wounds in Sarajevo. Along with her was the one who claimed to be her father, a 42-year-old from Gjakova, who had come to hide in Albania after killing two Serbs in Kosovo. And there was nothing left for them except to begin life anew. The only trading opportunity was chemical fertilizers, which were sold — although almost for free — to Albanian farmers." The story is well known, and to make the account — because it was painfully recounted to investigators — it came from various villagers from Pogradec, Kavajë, Lushnjë, Fier, Ballsh and Korçë. All deceived by "the girl from Sarajevo and her Kosovar father". Now the merchant. But the police officers in Criminal Police Station 3 in the capital, who finally locked up the protagonist of this fraud, did not believe the "martyrs". Div. Dibra, convicted several times for theft, fraud and attempted escape — since 1970 and a man — after the amnesty — only in the early 1990s. "One and with money, marks and drachmas. Several times over whole months with which I... from Dibra. In the 15-year-old girl was used — taken from a village in Elbasan — Dibra, presented as a leg pr... or Gashi, wandered from village to village to "sell" chemical fertilizer. The victims followed him as far as Tirana — where the "company" was also located — after handing over the money for the promised fertilizer with the "Kosovar tractor"; the doors onto which he climbed had two openings. Many of them waited for hours at the entrance of the "warehouse" until they were finally convinced of the fraud that had been committed against them. In the memory of the closed commission, and masked and emotional grain, there are testimonies about the "wounds" of Sarajevo, the "Kosovar mullahs" and the "trade" in chemical fertilizer. There are more than eight verified cases so far by investigators — practically accusing Dibra of "fraud". Meanwhile, inside the handcuffs there are still other charges, one of which concerns the theft of various homes in the neighboring state. In any case, though published later than others — the author of this story — will be clarified only at his trial. Investigations into him and the fraudulent activity that deceived people continue to expand. (Ed. La.)

Arbnori speaks about the Çam issue "Whenever I have spoken about Çamëria I have clearly and openly raised the Çam issue and the problem of Çam property. Greeks, as is known from the press statement of Assembly Chairman Pjetër Pilo? Arbnori — especially at the meeting with Deputy Minister Cuderus — I have opposed the Greek exchanges on this issue". Shkodër, trial of the murderess within the week The trial that has caused a stir in Shkodër and the villages around it will take place within this week, perhaps next Saturday. It concerns the trial of a woman who shot and killed her husband with a pistol. At the beginning of the investigation, the suicide theory was believed, but later the hypothesis that the wife was more likely suspected began to gain strength. "I will inform you about the process ["Blota"?] with Gjergj and the chief Albanian judge of the district court, who will lead the trial panel in this case." Vlorë, car accident It was such an unexpected event on a road to a village where a vehicle was passing, 5 kilometers from Vlorë. After traveling along the side of the road, the car suddenly turned and hit a person. As a result of this serious accident, a [illegible word][?] was injured.

He was selling corn KAVAJË — He had set out to deliver to his family the money earned from the roasted corn sold all day by the roadside, but he returned lifeless to his parents. A 16-year-old, Albert Xhaka from Rrogozhina, fell victim to a car accident that caused his immediate death near Kavajë. The boy was standing by the roadside when the Tirana-Fier bus struck him and threw him onto the asphalt. Transport to the Kavajë hospital was in vain. The 16-year-old died in the doctor's hands. The police have now detained the bus driver. Ed. from Fi. (Q.C.)

Bosnia, hundreds of thousands are forced to leave their homeland The Serbs' "ethnic cleansing" operations ON PAGE 2 Beijing, a madman shoots and kills 8 people But Chinese radio and television report nothing ON PAGE 2 The state budget deficit improves Now more revenue ON PAGE 3

SPARE PARTS FOR ALL CAR BRANDS SPARE PARTS FOR ALL CAR BRANDS You will find a wide range of models Center: TIRANA - Rruga "Myslym Shyri" (Opposite the Pionierëve Shopping Center) Branch: DURRES - Rruga "Bulevardi Kryesor" Logjia 1 (Near the Flower Shop)