The party executive oversees the most important “departments” Committees that also operate as ministries The party executive oversees the most important “departments” SP has formed a “shadow government” Committees that also operate as ministries FATOS BAXHAKU TIRANA - The Socialists have begun thinking more seriously about the parliamentary elections and have decided to take the first major step: a “shadow government,” a practice being introduced in the country for the first time. Specialist committees will begin directly addressing the country’s most important problems, just as if they were the future government departments should the Socialists come to power. This was decided at a meeting of the SP leadership, held in mid-December but made public only now, which considered several proposals submitted by party experts. There will be 25 committees at the central level, which will follow the country’s most important issues step by step. Almost the same structure will also be established in the districts, where at least eight committees will operate. The committees’ remit will range from the economy and foreign policy to problems caused by shortages of water and grain. The names of the committee heads are being kept under wraps to avoid possible misunderstandings. Well-informed party sources have disclosed only that the most important committees—including, for example, public order and foreign policy—are headed by the five members of the executive, four members of the leadership, and the secretary-general. Within the SP, the creation of these bodies—their formal establishment is also provided for in the party statute—is linked to other reasons as well: increasing their presence in the country’s governance and strengthening the role of their representatives in local government. Early elections remain among the SP’s main political objectives during the year that has just begun. “The result of the referendum on the Constitution, the problems inherited from last year, the absence of a Constitution, and the government reshuffles, which in our view are merely formal,” said SP Deputy Chairman Servet Pëllumbi, “are reasons why we will continue to demand early elections. Who will win them will be determined by the people’s vote and the balance between the parties, but we are preparing to be organizationally ready to govern the country.” Thus, for the first time in Albania, a “shadow government” has come into being. It has emerged for reasons [unclear] because every few years they are renewed, it has led to opposition parties’ withdrawal from abstract political battles. Servet Pëllumbi, Deputy Chairman of the SP

The DP leadership also met yesterday TIRANA - Elections are on the horizon for the other parties as well. Whether they support early elections or elections at a previously scheduled time, all have got moving: some, such as the Democratic Alliance and the Social Democratic Party, are already studying possible candidates for parliament; others—such as the Democratic Party—are seeking to reorganize in order to face the fierce political battle. A special department will begin operating within the SDP to study the practical issues of the upcoming elections. Gaqo Apostoli, the party’s Secretary-General and one of the leading figures in this activity, spoke to Gazeta Shqiptare about the measures the Social Democrats have taken and their electoral and political goals. “We now have a presence across 90 percent of the territory,” Apostoli said. “The main objective is to cover the entire country so that we have people at every polling station. We have drawn up an electoral map and are discussing candidates for our future members of parliament and councillors.” The political objective is now clear: “We will seek to bring the Albanian electorate ever closer to the centre-left,” Apostoli continued. “We believe this serves political stability in the country; we also aim for the political orientation of the trade unions to be social-democratic.” Another important meeting was held yesterday morning at the DP. In the presence of President Berisha, the party leadership discussed privatization—a topic that has been on the agenda for some time—as well as issues related to preparing for and continuing the upcoming elections. The leadership proposed that the National Council meet on 27 January, but no concrete decision was made. The DP leadership will continue its discussions tomorrow. ja.ba

Socialist leader to testify for the defense Lawyers’ request granted. Ruli, Pashko, Shehu ... in court Socialist leader to testify for the defense Nano’s name appears in the Arsidi trial Lawyers’ request granted. Ruli, Pashko, Shehu ... in court TIRANA - Fatos Nano’s name has appeared in the “Arsidi” trial. The Socialist leader will once again appear before the judges, this time as a witness requested by the defendants’ defense. The decision was made at the end of yesterday’s hearing, following the lawyers’ request to add about three witnesses of their own choosing; Judge Çeliku granted the request after consulting the other members of the panel. This confirms the indications given the day before yesterday that the witness list would not remain limited to the 10 people called by the prosecution. It had been Judge Çeliku himself who said he would consider the lawyers’ proposal. Yesterday afternoon he announced the list of additional witnesses, which, alongside Nano, includes other prominent names in Albanian politics and finance: Gramoz Pashko, Genc Rruli, Osman Shehu and Gavosh Pogace. Their arrival is expected to raise new questions in this trial. The lawyers themselves had considered these testimonies extremely important for fully shedding light on the mystery of the disappearance of 1.6 million dollars sent for the repayment of Albania’s foreign debt. Apart from the high-profile conclusion of a statement, the eight witnesses called so far gave testimony only during the day’s hearing, which lasted until around 18:00. It seems that the accounts of the other witnesses, presented by the prosecution’s supporters, have only added more questions to the scandal over the 1.6 million: five senior representatives of Albanian politics and finance are in the dock. All officials of financial and banking institutions directly connected with the Arsidi case have provided no facts or evidence capable of fully clarifying the mystery of the dollars, whose destination remains unknown. Perhaps the testimony of the well-known figures—all of whom held positions of power at the time—will help ease the weight of the Arsidi mystery. (p.re.)

GRAMSH - A 17-year-old girl has disappeared without a trace since 22 December of last year. All that remains is the testimony of her sisters, which casts suspicion on a teacher as well as on a woman involved in teaching. The unusual incident came to light only in these days of January, when the police began searching. The high-school student Valbona Gëzhilli, who was left without parents after a tragic accident, lived with her three sisters in a dormitory. Then another blow struck the family. Valbona disappeared. “A stranger with short hair came into our room and took my sister with her,” said one of her sisters, Elisaveta. The relatives’ accounts also cast suspicion on a teacher of the missing teenager. According to one teacher, B.H. had proposed taking Valbona to Macedonia, where he would marry her to a Macedonian. The proposal was reportedly greeted enthusiastically not only by the orphan girl but also by her relatives. Everyone hoped it would be a solution that would save her from the poor, monotonous life in the dormitory. Just when this story seemed to have been forgotten, an unknown girl was seen in the girls’ dormitory. She left with Valbona and did not bring her back. Worried relatives went to the B.H. police station, but he denied having sent the girl to Macedonia. They finally turned to the police authorities. But the relatives too. authorities. Me.Ki.

VLORË / Panic at Flag Square Assassination in the middle of the city: a burst of gunfire from a car Two young men lose their lives and a passerby is wounded VLORË — Another assassination in Vlorë. This time it took place in the city center, where the victims were two young men, while an ordinary passerby was seriously wounded and is in hospital. The assassination—on Wednesday at around 17:30 at Flag Square—was carried out by the occupants of a car, whose “passengers” fired a hail of automatic-weapons fire at Arjan Aliraj, 32, and Sokol Ball a, 22. With serious wounds to the head and body, both victims were taken away dead, while a passerby—who happened to be there—was taken to hospital in serious condition. The tragic funeral of these two latest victims adds to those of recent times, when nearly five such high-profile assassinations have been carried out in Vlorë since December alone. (S.L. Ma.)

LEZHË — On Thursday, a gang of robbers attacked a TIR truck with Bulgarian plates that was traveling to Shkodër near Gjadër. Three armed men took $12,500 from the driver. The final blow was dealt by villagers, who carried off sacks containing the entire load of cassettes, flour, and lamps. Police detained 12 people for verification. (ur. ra)

They will begin on February 1 TIRANË — The state is giving up the administration of pharmacies. Starting February 1, all the medicine-selling units that were still state-owned—currently around 300 throughout the country—will be privatized. However, the decision, reached definitively on Friday morning during a meeting with specialists in this field at the Ministry of Health, will not affect medicine prices. In these units, the 117 types of medicine sold at lower prices will remain at those prices, since the difference from the purchase price will be subsidized by the state. Starting tomorrow, according to the decision, all pharmacies will begin taking inventory, which must be completed by January 28, so that privatization can begin immediately at the start of February. The state will be reimbursed for the medicines they currently have in stock after those medicines are sold.

GAZETA TV ALBANIAN TIRANA MË ARLA... [text in the small box is unreadable] CANAL 5 ME POLIT... [unreadable text] E BIGOS H. FERN. 20.40

Chechnya: Boris Yeltsin “defeated” by the military The Council ignores the president’s orders ON PAGE 2 Privatization strategy Major industry in focus ’94: 2,400 enterprises from state to private ownership ON PAGE 3

Woman drowned, investigation begins A veil of mystery has shrouded the terrible death of a woman. Her lifeless body was found on Thursday by a villager who happened to be passing by, in a deep ravine in the village of Tregan near Elbasan. The news was made public on Friday by sources at the Elbasan police, who declined—because of the secrecy of the investigation—to provide her identity or further details about the incident. Durrës, victims of chicken meat In just two days, six people from the same family were taken to Durrës Hospital. They all showed symptoms of poisoning. According to doctor Sali Lloshi, who gave them first aid in the infectious diseases ward, they all showed signs of cramps after eating a lot of chicken meat, and said they had eaten a large amount of chicken. Only a few days earlier, a woman had been urgently hospitalized in extremely serious condition for the same reason. Helsinki: “Scandal in the justice system” On Thursday, the Albanian Helsinki Committee protested in a statement concerning a case it describes as a small scandal in the justice system. It concerns the case of Tonin Furti from Burrel—accused of robbery—who has complained that no judicial investigative hearing has been held in his case, even though the proceedings began a long time ago, and that the injured parties have not appeared at these hearings. “This case,” the AHC statement says, among other things, “reflects the most serious violations by the actions of the relevant bodies and the delays in the conduct of judicial proceedings.” Lezhë: arrested for carrying grenades He may have been mistaken in this case, but he himself had a whole arsenal. On Thursday, the Lezhë police station detained a person who had two grenades, a knife, and a pistol with him. The detainee said that on the way, in the village ... [unclear section] ... long ... in a smuggling operation. Both were ... [illegible] ... could encourage ...

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