CIGARETTE SMUGGLING / The number of arrests rises to 5 Here is the story of this scandal CIGARETTE SMUGGLING / The number of arrests rises to 5 The accused MP is in prison Here is the story of this scandal EDMOND LACI TIRANA — The accused MP ended up in prison. A few hours after the People's Assembly stripped him of parliamentary immunity, Arben Lika, the 28-year-old PD deputy and chairman of the Albanian Youth Federation, was sent to Tirana Prison and immediately questioned by the criminal police. The initial charge corresponds exactly to what the Republic's Prosecutor had cited in the request to lift his immunity: "smuggling" and "forgery of documents." Along with Lika, four other people are already being held in the same prison, including the Secretary of the Albanian Youth Federation. Lika had only a few hours of freedom after the lifting of his parliamentary immunity. At midnight on Wednesday — when the calendar had just moved to 21 September — Deputy Lika was confronted with his arrest warrant. And the route he had started toward his residence — the "Studenti" district — changed course, extending into another destination, that of Tirana Prison. Around 00:30 on Thursday, the cell gates opened for two others in the same group, who have also been charged individually. And from that moment Lika has been forced to seek the innocence of a lawyer's office. Thus the scandal that began on Saturday — but was made public only on Wednesday — has been closed around the names of five people. Since the early hours of Thursday, investigators for the first time had at their disposal all the people they believed were implicated in this smuggling story. The story of the scandal has now also been largely pieced together. The first testimonies — although very cautious — nevertheless converge on 17 September. That day, several young men, relatives of the driver of a vehicle of the "Shenjës" type on special order to be loaded with "humanitarian aid" for the Albanian Youth Federation. Around 11 o'clock last Monday, the Director of the Kakavijë Customs and the Secretary of the Albanian Youth Federation had entered a hotel near the border. A few minutes later — together with them — the truck of Kakavijë Customs also passed a white refrigerated truck. On the seals that you brought, we put the Albanian ones, while the documents were marked "transit" for the Tirana Customs. And the "humanitarian aid" — of a hygienic nature — set off toward... the scandal. Very soon — in a village in Gjirokastër — the truck stopped somewhere in a warehouse and the goods were transferred to two other vehicles that would transport them to a firm in the capital. But everything continued until the exit from Fieri, where the suspicious cargo was blocked by the authorities. According to official confirmations, this involves more than 600 cartons of "Arbën" cigarettes, hidden under humanitarian aid and with a seal that by Thursday had still not been identified by experts. In any case, the last part concerns the transport vehicle of the smuggling operation — together with the quantity of goods — to State Reserves Unit 101K. Although everything is still a scandal, it remains within the realm of mystery. MP Lika himself — assisted in the investigation despite his immunity — has reiterated this insistence to the Republic's Prosecutor to "get to the truth to the very end." He even proposed to the investigating bodies that the same measure be taken against his fellow MPs who have been accused by the press. "I am innocent," he said in Parliament — that is his ultimate public defense. Even though investigators have not cleared him, until the court's decision Lika has the right to be considered innocent. Tirana Prison

After the request for acquittal The prosecution's lawyer has again sought 9 years in prison for the former President After the request for acquittal Appeal: today Alia awaits the verdict The prosecution's lawyer has again sought 9 years in prison for the former President TIRANA — Today will be the second time that the judges will rule on former President Alia. This time it will be the Court of Appeal, which must finally resolve perhaps the request for acquittal made by Alia's lawyer, Këlment Kohi, and the prosecution's lawyer, Nexho Gjoka, who considers him guilty of "abuse of office" and "violation of the equality of citizens," also requesting — as did the Tirana Court — 9 years in prison. This evening thus marks the final phase of the trial of former President Alia, arrested 13 months ago and sent to Tirana Prison. After today's decision — for Alia and the seven other former regime officials seeking acquittal — only the cassation process will remain tomorrow. If, according to Albanian legislation, it is the final judicial body that decides. Meanwhile with a "harsher" step [...]. The Appeal has ruled on Marsi, Çela and Mino, for whom prosecutor Gjoa requested sentences of 2 and 1 year in prison. In any case, only after the sentencing disposition will theirs become final, since this attribute — at least in the Court of Appeal — belongs to the president of the trial panel, Bami Cami. (e.) Ramiz Alia

Because of cholera TIRANA — Cholera continues to punish Albania. After hundreds of hospitalizations and several deaths, another severe blow now arrives: the European Union has decided to block, until 31 October, the entry into its member states of fish and other seafood products coming from Albania. The announcement of this decision came from the Brussels office on Thursday at midday, following a proposal made a few days earlier by Italy. In fact, the Italian representatives had also asked for even stricter European Union measures on fish, seafood and all other food products coming from Albania. But there was no agreement for the European Commission leaders to officially decide on a temporary blockade only of fish and other seafood products. A diplomat [?], asked by Gazeta Shqiptare whether the new measure adopted by the European Union was against the economic interests of our country, stated that the representatives of the European Community in Tirana do not support this decision. And furthermore, when asked is Elio Germano, the EC ambassador in Tirana, who expressed some reservations about the Brussels measures, telling Gazeta Shqiptare that "they are not entirely appropriate. However — Germano explains — these are protective measures and in no way does it amount to a sanitary cordon around Albania". In opposition to the decision to block fish and other seafood products shipped from Albania are also the statements of epidemiological experts from the World Health Organization. Just two days earlier, on Tuesday evening, Donato Greco, an epidemiologist — a well-known representative of the WHO to the Italian Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Health — had stated that cholera in Albania had spread only through drinking-water pipes, categorically ruling out any risk of the epidemic spreading through food. He even sent a clarifying note on this matter to the Italian authorities, who had been the first, immediately after the news of the spread of cholera in Albania, to block the entry of food products into their country. Albanian waters yield around 70 tons of fish each month for export, not counting products such as mussels, sea urchins or those used for treatments in European markets. Italy is the leading country among them in the amount of these products it imports. Just during the past year, almost 1,570 tons of fish were exported from Albania, worth an estimated several million dollars. In the first three months of this year, the amount of fish that reached foreign markets was 224 tons, with a value approaching more than 21.5 million lek. Armand Mero

VLORE — The rivalry between two gangs involved in the smuggling of illegal migrants and prostitution has caused the death of one person after 13 blows with a hatchet. The immediate intervention of the officers of the Vlore Police Station made it possible to arrest 4 smugglers, while a search has been launched for the others. It seems that some old unpaid debts — a debt of 150 million Italian lire — created the atmosphere of war between the two rival gangs. At least that is what the claimants of the stolen money maintained when they took hostage a member of the criminal group. But the counterattack from the other side was not long in coming; its victim was the 30-year-old Perit Sota, apparently involved in this matter. It was 3 people who caught him by surprise and butchered him with a hatchet near the train station. The security forces are searching for the killers while they have arrested 4 members of this rivalry. St. M.

Mutual accusations between the two groups Long debate in Parliament 21 million $ Mutual accusations between the two groups PS motion not accepted Long debate in Parliament TIRANA — Tension was again felt during Thursday's parliamentary session during the discussion of the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Meksi submitted by the socialist group. The two groups on both parliamentary sides once again repeated the serious accusations against one another. The motion was rejected. For the Socialists, the authors of the motion, the current government has not been able to solve the country's many problems, and therefore its leader Prime Minister Aleksandër Meksi, according to them, should resign. The reply from the Democratic Party deputies was correspondingly harsh: for them, the Socialists' actions are nothing other than "part of the campaign to destabilize the political situation and create obstacles for democracy." The socialist motion had been placed before Parliament since the start of the session, almost immediately after the end of the second round of local elections in several municipalities of the country. At that time the Socialists had also distributed claims that, according to them, were expressions of the brutality of today's power. Alongside the mutual accusations of the two groups in the parliamentary media, the voice of the small group of the Social Democratic Party was also heard. The PSD took the opportunity to once again make public the many contradictions it has with its governing allies. The parliamentary majority opposed the speech of deputy Dritëro Agolli, who called on both sides to work together for the good of the country. The International Monetary Fund has just complicated approval of the loan for Albania in the amount of 21 million dollars. The purpose of this loan — to be disbursed in two installments — is to help the Tirana Government successfully implement its medium-term program in the economic field. Several indicators of economic reform progress, such as growth of more than 11 percent in production last year, a reduction in inflation rates, or the widening of the trade deficit, have increased the IMF's confidence in the strategy followed so far.

Woman locked in a room GJIROKASTËR — She had been dead for two days, but her son, who had a mental disability, had not understood anything. It happened in recent days in Gjirokastër with the elderly woman A. P., whose neighbors, used to greeting her several times a day, had suspected her two-day absence, which had gone unnoticed. Finally one of them called her 40-year-old son from outside, but he was unable to give any meaningful answer. So the neighbors decided to break down the door and were confronted with a shocking scene: A.A. had died in that state long ago together with her son in a building in Gjirokastër. It was known in the city that she used to go out to sell bread with the generous help of relatives. The funeral ceremony and all the other rites were organized precisely by the neighbors, by those who had already grown used to seeing her every day, but who now, deeply moved, escorted her to her final resting place. (R. K.)

MIRDITË — A new road has been added to Albania's map. The deep mountainous area of Kashnjet in the district of Lezha is now connected by a new road to the district of Mirdita. The road links two villages from the two districts, Ungrej and Kaluer, and is 5.8 kilometers long. Funding for the construction of this road was made possible by a loan granted by the World Bank. The lack of an automobile link with the neighboring district had become a serious problem for the 6,000 inhabitants of the Kashnjet area in the district of Lezha.

Rapid aid measures TIRANA — The Albanian Red Cross has also been mobilized in the fight against the possible spread of cholera. In a notice distributed by the organization's headquarters in Tirana, the measures it is currently taking are announced. From the funds made available by the Red Cross, sums have been allocated to secure 100,000 doses of antibiotics. Meanwhile, all local committees in the districts have been mobilized, where 5,000 posters with preventive advice will also be distributed. The Red Cross is now also working to raise awareness among other non-governmental entities inside and outside the country in order to support the Albanian authorities in dealing with the epidemic.

Elbasan, accidental connection with electrical wire ELBASAN — The "gate of death" has caused a tragedy in the Cuhalla family from Katundi i Ri in the district of Elbasan. And this is not about one of the gates of the afterlife, but precisely about the courtyard gate of this family. The head of the household — 45-year-old Dervish Cuhalla — tried to open it as usual, but was suddenly struck by a powerful electric current, which, due to insulation damaged by long use, had powered the house and passed through the gate's door; the gate and then the latter became electrified. The terrible event also struck the victim's 19-year-old son, who was sitting nearby waiting. He suffered the same accident. And it was the help of the lady of the house that managed to pull her son away from the shock of death. But sadly — despite maximum efforts — she was unable to do the same for her husband. It appears that yesterday's electrical incident was too strong, causing Dervish Cuhalla's immediate death. Me. Ki. Elbasan

— An argument on a bus nearly led to the death of citizen Ç.M. The incident occurred in the village of Balldre in the Lezhë district. While travelling on the interurban bus, Ç.M. argued for no apparent reason with a person who stabbed him in the abdomen. Only an emergency hospital transfer and an operation that lasted about 20 hours saved him from certain death. Meanwhile, the perpetrator of this potentially fatal assault, still unidentified, fled بسرعة in an unknown direction. Ir. Ra.

ARBËNORI WAITS FOR REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE DIASPORA — The Speaker of the People's Assembly received on Thursday in a special meeting representatives from the diaspora who have long been in Albania to explore the possibilities of homeland initiatives and in the fields of education and science. The delegation includes Gjon Berisha, Chairman of the branch of the Albanian Christian Democratic Party for Hamburg, and the brothers Mikël and Simon Kuzzini, activists of this party in Croatia. In a notice distributed by the diaspora, they also met with the Minister of Education, Xhezair Teliti. ALBANIA IS PREPARING TO OPEN THE IOANNINA CONSULATE — A Consulate of Albania will soon be opened in Ioannina. This was announced by the official Albanian news agency, which cited official sources from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tirana. This consulate, the consular relations agreement signed between the two countries in January, will extend its activity to the six municipalities of Northern Greece. From Monday it is said that the Greek side has endorsed this step by Albania. DURRËS, LAND DESIGNATED FOR THE FLOODED PEOPLE OF VJOSA — In Durrës, 440 hectares of land have been designated for the villagers of Kuka, whose land was long ago flooded by the waters of the artificial lake of Vau i Dejës; among them are the villages of Rinia, Plepa and Spitalla. The police continue the criminal investigation in connection with numerous financial irregularities and hours [?].

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