“Arsidi brought this Government to power” From Tepelena, the PS leader in the courtroom of the scandal TIRANA - More than giving testimony, the Socialist leader made an accusation against the Government. At yesterday’s hearing in the “Arsidi” scandal, Fatos Nano—who had arrived on Friday from Tepelena prison to give his defense testimony—took the opportunity to speak about the Justice system and accuse them once again: “Fatos Nano did not bring Arsidi; rather, Arsidi was the one who brought this Government to power.” But what did the Socialist leader really know about the mystery of the 1.6 million dollars? Little, very little. His entire testimony was limited to just a few questions and answers exchanged with the presiding judge. At the center of the debate was the proposal made to Nano—then serving as prime minister—by Shane Korbeci, to appoint and give Nikolas Arsidi a mandate as international adviser to the Ministry of Foreign Trade. Here too Nano was extremely concise and even expressed doubts about the endorsement he had put on the document sent to him by Korbeci: “The adviser to the Ministry of Foreign Trade will be k. How would the payments and services be handled in this case?” “I have the impression that a question mark was placed at the end of the first sentence,” Nano said. Indeed, in his view, according to the procedures followed at the time, Arsidi should not even have received the mandate. This moment also proved to be the Socialist leader’s only point of contact with the name Arsidi. Nano categorically denied having had direct contact with the person or with the case. He limited himself to an accusatory remark: “Two facts stand out,” Nano replied to Argon Sollu’s lawyer, “the state treasury is missing 1.6 million dollars, while the head of state has had a medal pinned on him by Arsidi.” News of the Socialist leader’s appearance in court somewhat diverted attention from the other figures at yesterday’s hearing, which was not without surprises. Ylli Xhabiri’s testimony brought to light a new fact, previously unknown: Ahmeti—then unemployed—accompanied by Xhabiri, met Arsidi during a private visit to Brussels. The meeting took place several weeks after Governor Hoti had submitted a complaint against Arsidi to the French judicial authorities. Nevertheless, Xhabiri’s account showed that Arsidi made no mention at all of this attack from Albania, but expressed dissatisfaction because he had learned that other negotiators were being sought. The Brussels meeting, meanwhile, gave Hoti an opportunity to show once again that Arsidi had started playing a dirty game after the measure Hoti himself had taken against him. Fatos Nano during his testimony yesterday. (photo H.Pustina)

TIRANA - The court is “overrun” by security forces. Fatos Nano was escorted to court under strict police surveillance. Before the Socialist leader entered the courtroom, everyone—journalists, photographers, or relatives of the defendants—was made to leave the court premises and go into the courtroom. His departure was handled in the same way. The police escort did not allow Nano to meet anyone. He was immediately taken to the prison bus, which quickly transported him to Unit 313. Ar. Me. [The remainder of the supplied text is garbled and appears to include unrelated material; it is translated as provided:] passed into the area of the most to meet. The power supply is to continue for only about an hour. The urgent response of teams of workers from the electricity companies meant that they were able to do nothing. Thus the meters were forced to re- [decision, which is new, that appears when someone despised by someone more powerful does something for a smaller people, behaving toward them with the same contempt; this is how we understand that the champions may be described. I criticized the film only for its general insulting picture of Albanians and its specific distortions. First, the unforgivable falsification of historical truth concerning the relations of Albanians with the Italians defeated in 1943; and second, the revival in this film of certain old ideas, that the aspiration of Albanians has supposedly always been union with Italy. This idea was at the basis of fascist propaganda in the 1940s, when day and night Mussolini repeated that, by annexing Albania, Mussolini had done nothing other than fulfill a long-standing dream of the Albanians. The film “L’America” begins with flowers being offered to the fascists on 7 April, and continues with the impassioned declaration of a young man who says that his dream is to deny his country, language and nationality and become an Italian. In 1943, after Italy’s capitulation, tens of thousands of soldiers were left at the mercy of the Albanians; they did not become victims of revenge, but were protected by this people. This was one of the noblest acts during the Second World War and a sign of a culture not often seen in our time, filled with revenge and hatred. So it is the opposite of what this lady says, who did not even give her name. It is up to the Italians, whether in cultural or political circles, if they did not want to show gratitude to the Albanian people but wanted to express it to Russia for 12 and not for 12 thousand soldiers. That is their business. Albania is a [garbled] choice of the leading [garbled], society is an opinion [garbled], a cynical and criminal way of isolating Albania. We Albanians must call this hostile action. In my opinion, if the Albanian political class does not understand this, if it does not take measures to confront this evil, then this political class is worth nothing. Do you know what is happening in Chechnya? At first, a great deal of filthy propaganda was made against it: it is a wild and Muslim country. So look at the psychological preparations to devastate this country, to say: “Who cares, let Russia destroy it.” The Chechens, through their stance, taught the whole world a lesson. This lesson should serve the Albanians. Correcting Albania’s image in the world is a task connected to the very fate of our people, who are truly in constant danger; there are many forces that want to suffocate its culture in various ways. For the first time, the Albanian language has been systematically attacked here this year. For the first time, Skënderbeu has also been attacked in this way, with claims that he did not fight against the Turks, but wanted an organization of the Ottoman Empire. These filth-ridden claims are also being supplied by renegade Albanians, who are playing a major role, as has happened in the past. It is no coincidence that Albania’s fate has not gone well; there is a great deal of strife. These things are being done now and have happened often in the past as well. Let us return once again to Amelio’s film. Bilanci writes that you have not understood the film’s metaphorical message... “This lady, who is giving me the message, knows not one thousandth of what I know about the history of these worlds. These are absurdities from people who would sell themselves for five grosh. It is nothing but an alibi for cowards.” Should the film be shown in Albania as soon as possible? “That does not interest me. I am sure Albanians will know how to respond to this film; in France it was a complete failure. So we hope that next time the authors will understand.”

In Elbasan and Durrës, victory unexpectedly swings to the home sides Cup: Second-round matches completed TIRANA - Only the final minutes made the difference. Nevertheless, this “delay” did not deprive the “big teams” of qualification; this time, they may have needed a little help from fortune to succeed. Here are all of yesterday’s results—compared with those of seven days earlier—and the teams that qualified: “Apolonia”-“Albetrol” 1-1, 0, “Dinamo”-“Besa” 1-1, 1-0, “Elbasani”-“Besëlidhja” 1-0, 2-2, “Flamurtari”-“Iliria” 2-2, 1-0, “Teuta”-“Tomori” 0-1, 3-1, “Tirana”-“Sopoti” 2-3, 5-1, “Partizani”-“Laçi” 2-1, 1-0 and “Vllaznia”-“Shqiponja” 1-1, 0-0. Meanwhile, the “king” of Fier, Marini, has moved to the top of the Cup’s scoring chart, having just reached the five-goal mark. (p.re.) Muça, the “challenger” of fate

Southern Albania in darkness Fault on the Ballsh line TIRANA - Most of southern Albania has been plunged into complete darkness. On Friday evening, at around 9:30 p.m., a serious fault on the 110-kilovolt Ballsh-Sarandë line caused a general blackout in the cities of Gjirokastër, Përmet, Sarandë and Tepelenë. The urgent intervention the power outage lasted only about an hour. A special team from the Bistrica Hydroelectric Power Plant also went to help resolve the situation, working in continuous cooperation with the Central Dispatch Center in Tirana. Meanwhile, the fault appeared again in the city of Përmet. During the night and up until yesterday at midday, the technicians were unable to do anything. Thus, the residents were forced to remain without electricity for hours once again. (ra.ko.)

New “thunderbolts” against Amelio FATOS BAXHAKU TIRANA - He feels offended by the criticism that has once again appeared in the Italian press. Just a few days ago, a well-known film critic had again written against him. “Bignardi criticized me? I don’t know her; what does she do? Did she compare me to Andreotti? That makes me laugh.” The conversation is taking place over the telephone. From Paris, Kadare’s voice sounds concerned, and he once again unleashes his thunderbolts against Amelio’s “Lamerica.” He senses an attack on Albanian culture “by certain forces in Europe,” and then sounds the alarm to all Albanians: “Albania’s image must be improved; it is everyone’s responsibility.” “Your reaction to Amelio’s film has perhaps been placed within a traditional ‘bad habit’ of Albanians toward foreigners...” “In general, our people’s reaction to the film has been extremely nervous, using thuggish language. There has not been the slightest argument in response to the criticism. This arrogance is a continuation of the film’s arrogance. It is a kind of chauvinism; the French call it ‘depar-venu’ chauvinism, which is worse. It appears when someone despised by someone more powerful seeks out a smaller people to treat them with the same contempt, thinking they can rid themselves of their complexes. I criticized the film only for its overall picture of [text cut off]. “Unfortunately, something paradoxical has happened. With the fall of communism, instead of taking a more conciliatory stance toward Albania’s image, it has now worsened. I do not consider this accidental. Apparently, many forces in Europe are openly interested in ensuring that Albania does not become part of the European family. Recently, meetings have been held with all the Eastern countries, and Albania alone was excluded. A new isolation of Albania is being prepared in a cynical and criminal way. We Albanians must regard this as an alarm bell. this evil, then this class...” Ismail Kadare

An Italian trader was expecting 103 kilograms of cocaine TIRANA - Drugs found shelter among humanitarian aid for Albania. Fortunately, however, this time they did not manage to enter Albanian territory. Along with the people responsible for drug trafficking being reported, the shipment was also seized and destroyed. It was the Italian Eftimio Larusso who, via Greece, was perhaps attempting to transit 103 kilograms of pure cocaine through Albania. The entire quantity of drugs was seized at the customs office at the port of Piraeus on 29 December last. The Greek police subsequently asked Interpol to arrest the Italian, considering him to be the person running the entire drug network. According to the Greek authorities, Larusso, 62, owner of several import-export companies in Tirana, Brindisi and Naples, had chartered a transport vessel in Greece for his purposes. The plan involved transporting several containers of sacks of rice officially described as “humanitarian aid” for Albania. The shipment arrived on a vessel that had departed from Ecuador and was addressed to Larusso, but under the false name Francesco Vitali. The Italian had ordered the Greek company to bring the shipment specifically on 17 December. The ship had made a stop in Antwerp (Belgium), where, according to Greek police, it may have unloaded some of the drugs destined for the countries of Northern Europe. The Greek police also announced yesterday the arrest of five employees of the Greek transport company, implicated in the Italian’s plans to transport the drugs in transit. On Friday, Greek authorities burned the 103 kilograms of pure cocaine in an incinerator. (p.r.e)

“They changed the decision” TIRANA - From the press-conference microphone, Zef Brozi counterattacked, unleashing his documentary arsenal concerning the Kallafatos case. At first, he made only a brief statement, accusing senior state circles which, according to Brozi, were fighting him because he had refused to compromise with them on matters of justice. Then came a multitude of documents presented to the journalists. Among them were two versions of the same decision, taken by the judicial council of the criminal division of the Court of Cassation, concerning the Greek businessman. Brozi also accused Cassation member Methus Saraci of deliberately and arbitrarily signing the decision in question, “removing the most substantive parts.” The “dossier” presented to the media also contains other documents intended to prove that the same procedure as in the Kallafatos case had previously been followed by the Court of Cassation. An.Ste.

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