POLITICS / The parties in the coalition are reviewing their position in the Government PR, harsh accusations at the congress TIRANE — It was the Republican Party chairman himself who launched a series of criticisms and accusations against the coalition after the 1992 elections, and at an assembly he made the charge of corruption explicit. “The attitude that has been taken toward us is twofold... it is up to the congress to decide where the electorate will be with respect to the coalition... We have not given the same support we gave in Shkodër.” With these words Sabri Godo got 60 deputies and the congress of the Republican Party to their feet. His report, which lasted almost two hours, was packed with numerous criticisms — far more than expected — of the Government and the coalition with Berisha. “Parallel to ... In the new Tirana of the Republicans they were told, ... but at the request of the registered socialists. Godo thus left the not-easy burden of decision to the delegates of the congress. The Republican chairman once again clearly called for: the institutionalization of a fortnightly round table where the main problems can be discussed, with numerous consultations with ministers. “We think of administrations that have not carried out their duty and of cutting off state funds for companies that are party propaganda tools. “But we are not setting conditions,” he then said. “It must be said that the final aim of the PR toward the three-year coalition is conditioned first of all by disagreements — we said after the congress of [...] and I opened with PD — but also by the mismatch between its program and that of the third component of the coalition, which seems to be coming to an end. The Social Democratic Party, as a centrist party... “We do not want an authoritarian democracy,” shouted Culture from the Hall of Youth, when the Republican chairman then criticized the current government harshly: the Government’s program leans more to the left, silence over major corruption is politically ‘dizzying,’ and the price paid in the eyes of public opinion is high. Godo also dwelled on the acute problem of corruption. “Corruption is accompanying reform,” the PR chairman made clear; the doors of privatization are closed to ministers or to the party’s clients. “This is how politically secure owners are beginning to emerge,” he stressed.

The document denies the former minister’s links with the USA “He prevented the landing in Albania” TIRANE — The account of a CIA agent absolves Mehmet Shehu, portraying him as a terrible minister, but not a spy. The American secret services in turn made plans to kill him, because the agents considered him the main obstacle to the strengthening of Enver Hoxha’s regime. The latest historical news has just reached the United States, where an official request from an American researcher has brought to light a secret 1987 report on an Irishman from the Canary Islands: his document was only uncovered in recent days and brings sensational news. At the end of the Second World War, the Russians were assigned to follow political developments in the Balkans on behalf of the “Office of Policy Coordination,” a spy center that was absorbed by the CIA in 1951. In particular, it had to maintain ties with the National Committee for a Free Albania, an organization of Albanian exiles based in Rome. It was precisely some exiles who, according to the plans of the American secret service, were supposed to kill Mehmet Shehu. The former interior minister was identified only by initials. Burke, changing one of his rifle ideas, writes among other things: “At 3:15 George came to me and we discussed together a special project for the killing of M.S.” George was the pseudonym of Gaci Goge, one of the Albanian exiles involved in the project. Writing about Shehu, the CIA agent describes him as a “son of a bitch, a security force that was the only obstacle to our plan.” The plan was code-named “Fiend” and envisaged four phases: first, strengthening the anti-communist groups of Albanian exiles; then sending provocateur agents into Albania; finally, an uprising in Tirana and the landing of armed exiles who would occupy the country. The project — always according to Burke’s writings — envisaged cooperation between the Greek and Yugoslav secret services and the Italian military navy, which would transport the invading forces. The twenty assigned to kill Shehu were supposed to enter Albania by air and by land under the strategy of the CIA; the killing of the interior minister would throw the Albanian Security forces into total chaos, triggering the uprising. The project — planned between 1950 and 1954 — was abandoned on orders from Washington. Michael Burke’s account is the first evidence within the CIA speaking about the role of the enemy played by Mehmet Shehu, whom Enver Hoxha had presented as an American spy.

Today PSD chairman Skënder Gjinushi (in the photo) will lead the party conference. Above, PR chairman Sabri Godo, who made the accusations about Gjinushi’s party: controversy over the referendum and Meksi Government activity TIRANE — While one of the components of the coalition seems to have already decided its position on the governing coalition, today and tomorrow the position of another party seems set to become clear as well. 283 Social Democrats will gather today for their National Conference. One of the most important points to be discussed is precisely the coalition, which now, with the position of the Republicans led by Godo, is becoming together with the referendum one of the hottest points of this political autumn. “The conference was not organized for these issues in particular; it merely coincided with the political situation in the country,” Haxhi Aliko, one of the top PSD leaders, told Gazeta Shqiptare. “The purpose itself is twofold: to review the Party’s leadership activity and to determine the stance toward the coalition.” But until the eve of the conference, the PSD still had not clearly stated whether it would remain in the coalition or not. The discussions and positions that the Social Democrats will take regarding one of the issues that has become central to today’s political debates are awaited with great interest. (v. b.)

An elderly man dies and admissions resume KRUJE — A 75-year-old man is the new victim of cholera. A man from the village of Burizanë in Krujë died yesterday in the city hospital, having been admitted in very serious condition; the elderly villager’s life lasted no more than three hours in the beds of the infectious diseases ward. While no laboratory response has been given for Shian regarding the disease that struck him — the severe coma in which he was brought there, very briefly — doctors in Krujë do not hesitate to express strong suspicions that this time too it is cholera. The symptoms that accompanied him to the hospital — frequent vomiting and diarrhea — leave no room for doubt. The first signs of the epidemic in Krujë had appeared two weeks earlier and since that day the cases had been increasing day by day. Another strong wave was recorded on Sunday, when 12 new suspected cholera cases were admitted to the hospital. Meanwhile, due to poor hygiene and sanitation conditions in the area, the schools in Mazhe and Derven remain closed. Mu. Ar.

The trial for “abuse of office” is nearing its end From Durrës The pesticides will be removed after one week TIRANE — The shipment of “reviewed” pesticides will only bring the news of completion to Albania on 28 October. On that day, the ship with the containers of poison — 460 tons — will leave the Port of Durrës to head back to Germany, from where they had arrived almost three years earlier. Thus ends the joint operation of Albanian and German technicians, begun at the start of September. An operation that was planned to end in six months, but that, “thanks to the cooperation and support of the Albanian authorities, was completed ahead of schedule,” emphasized the representative of the German Ministry of the Environment during a press conference in Tirane. TIRANE — The decision concerning the German pesticide scandal brought to Albania since August 1991 has been transported to Durrës, but it still remains in the courtroom. Precisely today — when the working subgroups of a few hours that the pesticides collected in Durrës are “triadhed” in the Tirana Court, the prosecutor will announce the demand in the case brought against Neyton Kodre and Pirro Trebicka, both accused of abuse of office, as a result of which the possibility arose of a major economic and ecological disaster for Albania. Thus, after almost 80 days have passed since the first day of the trial, Kodre and Trebicka will today hear the final opinion of the prosecution. Although the lengthy procedure has not prevented the “abuse of office,” an accusation that could carry up to ten years in prison under the current Penal Code. Especially the judge will depend on the judges, who will be obliged to issue the final verdict after the time when all the quantity of pesticides that arrived in Albania three years ago has left the country. In particular, Neyton Kodre, former chief specialist for plant protection at the Ministry of Agriculture, and Pirro Trebicka, former trade attaché at the Albanian Embassy in Bonn, on Wednesday at the hearing on (...) the “witness” is missing — it was reported — who in fact had also accused them. (Ed. La.) a. m.

— A grenade found in the afternoon in the “...” neighborhood caused injuries to four children. It was a shock for their family members, but also for the teachers, who immediately began trying to determine the causes of the presence of this military device in a public area. The injured children, urgently transported from the village of Gjelëza in Laç to the Central Military Hospital, are now said by doctors to all be out of danger. It had been an entirely ordinary day of play for the pupils Isuf Duka, Albert Nela, T. Tomor Zenej and Gëzim Duka — all between 7 and 12 years old — when their innocent curiosity got the better of them. Among a pile of trash they had found an unexploded grenade, which drew their attention without their understanding, and the game with it turned into a tragic affair. According to the order of public security of the Laç police station, “their play with a grenade shell that was still unexploded, which was lying in the neighborhood yard.” The major issue, however, remains the lack of controls on military materials in the area. Whether this is true remains to be seen, as does how far the responsibility for a Defence property extends.” (u. ro)

UN initiative TIRANE — The United Nations wants to cooperate with children as well in drawing up programs and strategies for varied human and qualitative development, aimed at economic growth and social security. Precisely on the eve of 24 October, which is United Nations Day, the agencies of this joint organization in Albania — UNDP, UNICEF, WHO, UNIDO, IMF, World Bank — have addressed Albanian schoolchildren with the appeal: write to us. It is an invitation for all children from 6 to 18 years old to sit down on 24 October — ten months after this day — and write, alone or together with their relatives, in the form of an essay, a description or drawings, something. And in 2-3 pages they are asked to describe what they feel about the country where they live. How they experience the difficult living conditions, poverty, their parents’ unemployment, environmental threats or the social position of girls and boys. In short, to write what worries them most, their experiences and thoughts, as well as what hopes they have for the future. The letters, with the address: “Rruga ‘Dëshmorët e 4 Shkurtit’ villa no. 5” are to be delivered to UNDP in Tirana. They must be sent to the destination no later than 5 November. After evaluation by the UN representations here and by the UN, 10 winners and 10 honorary prizes will be selected, which will be rewarded with cameras, 1 bicycle and 1 radio-cassette player. Andrea Stefani

According to United Nations experts, Albanian drug traffickers have created a new route, which starting from Turkey and the Caucasus continues along the southern border of the Balkan peninsula and then through Bulgaria, Macedonia and Albania, to reach Italy. “It is a new line between the Black Sea and the shores of the Adriatic,” explains Bernard Frahi of the UN anti-drug control program, created to help governments in the fight against drugs. Article on page 2

Massacre by “Hamas” in Israel ON PAGE 2 Two former “Led Zeppelin” sing again ON PAGE 3

Minister Zhullali visits China A military delegation led by Defense Minister Safet Zhullali set off on an official visit to China. During this visit Zhullali will hold talks with his Chinese counterpart as well as other senior military officials. He will also present, in person, matters to the Chinese government. Metodbes[...] this visit will serve the development of bilateral relations as well as cooperation in the field of defense. Arbnori receives representatives of the referendum mission The attorney general will give a referendum of 6 November the guarantee of all minority rights. This is one of the messages that Arbnori, Speaker of Parliament, conveyed to representatives of the Council of Europe with inhabitants of trekimt[?] in Saranda. Explaining the special meaning of the draft constitution, Arbnori particularly dwelled on freedom of conscience and religious freedom guaranteed by it. “The Greek minority here,” Arbnori said among other things, “has all the rights to be educated in the Greek language, to learn to speak Greek, to defend itself and live in its own language, thus preserving its national identity.” Arbnori also dwelled on other issues of the draft, issues that are left open with the political forces.