The story of the theft of works of art returns Epitaph in Court The former civilian guard assigned to watch over the National Historical Museum on the night of 3 February ’94 is sentenced to two years in prison TIRANË — The famous Epitaph of Glavinicë, stolen from the National Historical Museum in the capital in the first days of ’94, returns to the stage once again. But this time not the “real” one; the return of the Epitaph of Glavinicë has now served the courts to reconstruct from the beginning that cursed February night, when one of Albania’s greatest works of art, and part of its history, was taken away. On Monday morning, the Tirana Court sentenced Ilir Malqi, the 23-year-old civilian guard employed by the company “Rogar,” to two years in prison; on the night of the major theft he had been assigned to guard the premises of the National Historical Museum. Thus ends the trial that issued a first ruling on the Epitaph of Glavinicë. In the story he himself built a few hours after the theft from the National Historical Museum and which led to the arrest of several people, all initially accused as responsible for failing to take measures — the defendants in their functions — to protect the valuable museum. The investigation into the “Epitaph” was brought before the Tirana Court, this time with consent as well. And the repeated charge of “abuse of office” remained only against Ilir Malqi, since not even two months into the trial it had been dismissed. In any case, this time the judges did not believe either the general accusation from the Prosecutor’s Office — “abuse of office” — or Malqi himself, who claimed he had fallen asleep. At the end of the trial, it was deemed convincing that Ilir Malqi had been found guilty by the Tirana Court of “negligent damage in the performance of duty” and sentenced to 2 years in prison. From this moment on, the Epitaph of Glavinicë — after one verdict or another — returns again to the investigators, only this time to those who continue to search for the real perpetrators of the theft. Although “returned” for the first time, the case of its theft, the Epitaph of Glavinicë, has not managed to fade from Albania’s present either. Since 3 February ’94 the National Historical Museum has “weighed” much less. The only clear testimony to the existence of the principalities of Albania, in the time of the Despotate of Epirus — preserved since 1373 — for a thousand years has been destined to rest only in its thieves. Meanwhile, it has remained alive on cloth, “almost forgotten,” behind glass, within the walls of the National Historical Museum in the center of the Albanian capital. Although the investigation has been under way for some time, it has even been internationalized. So much so that even Colonel Roberto Converti — author of the discovery of the most important works of art stolen from museums in half the world and adviser to the international police — had instructed his investigators to uncover the mystery of the Epitaph of Glavinicë. A mystery that still remains unilluminated and will last until this invaluable work of art is returned to Albania. (e. l) National Historical Museum

controversy erupts People's Assembly “The Constitution will be approved by referendum” ANDREA STEFANI TIRANË — By an overwhelming majority, in what was described as a positive response at yesterday’s session, President Berisha submitted the draft constitution to the people in a referendum. And in Parliament, the harshest reaction was announced for the first time — deputies from the PS and the Përuar k?ane left the session — a sign of the position of several parliamentary political forces regarding the practice followed by the President. In fact, the stoppage and delay were pressed through, despite the attempt to present the public with a political lightning bolt to deal with the speech and the support of the majority linked to the complicated accusation of approving the Constitution. First was Berisha, who a few hours after presenting the text in Parliament later explained to journalists at a press conference that the referendum was linked to the Constitution, among other things, as the reason he had taken such an initiative. Berisha recalled that the main reason was the lack of willingness on the part of the opposition and other forces to approve the Constitution. “In these circumstances, when there are serious disagreements,” Berisha stressed, “I think that no one better than the people can resolve who is right.” He described the so-called anti-referendum tendencies as undemocratic. Not five hours had passed when the parliamentary parties once again expressed their position regarding the presidential insistence. “Berisha’s proposal for a referendum,” said Namik Dokle, Chairman of the Parliamentary Group of the PS, “is another law against which he and the majority in the Assembly are taking a stand. As for the walkout, it is nothing more than a boycott by his representatives.” Dokle described it as a project concerning that session and not a crisis in the work of Parliament, and he immediately underlined that opening the door in this dragging manner with such a practice was unacceptable. Teodor Keko, Chairman of the PSD Parliamentary Group, for his part described it as wrong and inconsistent with the existing understandings linking the constitution with the role of the Assembly and the democratic process in the country. He also expressed the conviction that Parliament would be able to approve the Constitution, while noting that a referendum, if later organized, would be more appropriate for certain issues at the international level. The representative of the PAD, deputy Arben Imami, also described the approval of the Constitution by referendum as contrary to constitutional provisions. “In these provisions,” he said among other things to Gazeta Ilmari, “the matter is one of parliamentary legal regulation.” Some time later came the position of the PR. “We are studying the draft constitution,” Godo, the chairman of this party, told Gazeta Shqiptare, “and if it is acceptable we would be able to take part.” Meanwhile — according to them — there was no debate on the matter in Parliament, nor a vote, nor was there any pronouncement from the political forces in ??.

Cases are increasing in Peqin. Water to blame Cholera outbreaks: again in the capital More than 20 hospitalizations from Tirana, Rrogozhina, Kavaja and Laç TIRANË — Cholera is back strongly once again. After the outbreak in Peqin last weekend, a fairly significant number of cases with signs similar to the infectious disease have appeared in Tirana. In just four days — from Friday to Monday at noon — more than 20 people have gone to these hospitals with symptoms similar to cholera: diarrhea and vomiting. “However, it still cannot be said that they all have cholera, because the analyses have not been completed,” explains to Gazeta Shqiptare Kristof Pano, director of the Infectious Diseases Hospital and data protection, “but the clinical signs of the patients at least suggest this possibility.” Those hospitalized in Tirana’s hospital mostly come from the surrounding districts and in general had no contact with people previously affected by the vibrio. These sick people on Monday come from Rrogozhina and Laç. Those from Kavaja are mostly from the village of Hajdaraj. This list has recently been joined by another person from Laç. The general condition of those admitted from the various areas is above average in severity. Indeed, some — by Monday evening — were in intensive care. Attention has also not stopped in Peqin. The first 28 patients hospitalized in the Elbasan hospital were joined by 12 more during Sunday and Monday morning. Most of them are villagers from Grykshët. This village is in fact divided by two branches, in which the colors around the spread of the two water-supply networks are marked, one of which seems to be undoubtedly the source of the vibrio. Inspections by specialists from the Hygiene Directorate have found clear damage with “water chlorination at the points where it is distributed,” says Agim Kapan, a specialist at this directorate, to Gazeta Shqiptare. — and a thorough disinfection of direct contact with the environment.” The cholera source also appears to have spread in the city where damage to the network has been observed. Apparently water remains the simplest carrier of the vibrio, and this fact makes the situation even more serious; in careful markets, people should not neglect boiling water before drinking it. Ar. Me. K.

Deaths in maternity ward still a mystery FIER — The causes that led to the almost one-day-old deaths of the babies in Fier maternity ward remain unclear. By Monday noon, only the bacteriological analyses of the powdered milk used as a substitute for the mother’s milk had been completed, and these came back completely normal. Meanwhile, toxicological results for the water are still in process and are expected to be completed soon. The findings and the way the infants were taken in will determine the type of illness. So, the tragedy remains under a veil of many doubts that so far are summed up only in the words: intestinal infection. As for the milk components, nothing negative has emerged, although this does not completely rule it out as one of the lethal causes. According to specialists, there is a possibility that the infection spread during preparation. Thus, as a result of hygienic negligence — food inspections by specialists from Tirana have noted no small number of shortcomings — the milk may have been contaminated by a virus or infected by other external factors. (m. m.)

Preventive measures in ports Albania is protected from the fear of plague TIRANË — Albania too is mobilizing against plague. A special commission made up of specialists from the Ministry of Health, the Institute of Hygiene and the Hospital Center has begun inspections at border points, especially in the ports and at Rinas airport, to verify the readiness of the hygienic-protective measures there. “We consider plague a risk,” explains Aklle Kero, specialist at the Institute of Hygiene in Tirana, to Gazeta Shqiptare, “despite the fact that it does not actually exist.” “The extraordinary measures taken by many European countries immediately after concerns over deadly epidemics in India have not been assessed in Albania either. The inspection has focused mainly on the Port of Durrës, where the traffic is greatest. But every ship must undergo a clearly medical inspection — regularly every six months vessels are required to carry out deratization (poisoning against rats) and disinfestation against fleas, which are one of the transmitters of plague — and standards have also been set for sanitary equipment on long-haul vehicles.” There are procedures in the ports and at the border points, at the ports and at Rinas airport. These measures have begun to justify themselves as controls in the country increase. In the photo: the port of Durrës. Durrës Durrës as the largest exchange center for deratization Meanwhile, last week in Tirana a broad consultation was organized with doctors from all over the country, leading epidemiologists and prevention officials. Also, specialists on preventive measures against plague were distributed throughout all levels of the Albanian health system. Armand Mero

YESTERDAY IN ALBANIA It seems that trains are now clearly competing with cars. During the January-September period of this year alone, the number of passengers who preferred rail transport was almost 3.2 million. The busiest months were the summer ones, when on ordinary trains alone an average of 14,000 people boarded each day. According to railway specialists, the 6-4 percent increase compared with the same period last year came as a result of the extension of the favorable fare service for passengers. Train tickets cost between 40 and 50 percent less than motor transport tickets.

6 million lekë have been allocated by the Ministry of Construction, Housing and Territorial Adjustment for drilling water wells in Lezhë. This fund is being released immediately after the major floods that occurred in this area during the previous week. And it was precisely the surge of high waters, striking the city entrance, that caused much damage to roads and houses.

CURSIVE REALITY TIRANË — The clocks of the Albanian capital have begun to howl with the voices of several days; they are arrested, not once. In the municipality of Tirana, the clocks near Radio Tirana have their own place. Oh, which is called the oratory of Tirana, is no longer like that. The 117 stone-ringed clocks placed in the square in the center of Tirana [?], as well as the two clocks at the entrance of the built stadium, have started to raise their “dirty” voices in the city, making the local noise more noticeable, and the complete blindness and smearing of some of them. On their part there is also damage to the cables, which some have had under observation and many linked with separately. “Enough freedom that the clocks lowered, instead of lifting the house scale in place, each for its own account was seen. You do not know how the clock changes, will he say. To fuck, I mean, like brrr or to you? Arf? Aha. Maybe a ‘City Clock.’ It took as a place the intervention of the Municipality — which also has the copper for 20 kilometers of cable — as well as the functioning of the screws in the decor. Even so, the Tirana clocks are working again. It would be better if they really started to tell the time, I took my hand from the bag. (d. j.)

A new tax for city cleaning GJIROKASTËR — The municipality of the “city of stone” has decided to apply a new tax to its population. With the exception of families that still continue to receive social assistance, everyone else will pay 200 lekë per year for cleaning the city environment. For businesses and private companies, the amount is much higher; they will “owe” the city 1,000 lekë. The new measure was adopted by the Municipal Council after a meeting in which it specifically considered this important aspect of civic life. (k.)

Saddam changes his mind after America’s threats The White House sends 28,000 soldiers ON PAGE 2 Paris devotes an entire week to fashion at the Louvre Guest of honor Sofia Loren ON PAGE 3

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