Message to Readers CARLO BOLLINO TIRANA - Starting tomorrow, the “Albanian Gazette” will cost 5 lekë more. This is a decision that we have tried to postpone for as long as possible, but now, unfortunately, it has become unavoidable. We apologize to our readers for the sacrifice we are asking of them, and feel it is our duty to explain the reasons for this decision. A newspaper—any newspaper—is a product that costs money. Today it costs much more than yesterday. The price of paper on international markets has risen by 30%, and Albania does not produce it, so it is obliged to import it. The body responsible for imports has imposed a customs duty of 25 percent. This means that paper for Albanian newspapers now costs 55 percent more than it would cost if it were produced in Albania. At the same time, Albania is not Italy. Nevertheless, the price of newspapers in Albania is on average much lower than in other countries. In Italy a newspaper costs 1,400 lire, equivalent to the price of a newspaper and a litre of petrol. The same is true in Austria: a newspaper costs 20 schillings, the price of a coffee, or about 200 lekë. In Albania, newspapers cost as much as a third of a litre of petrol. And these are just examples. This difference is not made up for by the prices of other products on the market, which generally (at least the essential ones) cost more than abroad and have recently seen substantial increases. Then there are the turnover tax (in Albania it is 15 percent, whereas in Europe it exceeds 5 percent in some countries and is not charged at all in others), tax on advertising, import tax, and tax on profits. The newspaper industry runs at a deficit, but it is not a worthless industry. Newspaper sales help several families make a living: vendors, typesetters, journalists. But above all, at a very low cost paid by many, it provides an information service. A service which, if it is honest and free, is one of the pillars of democracy. Can a loss-making industry really remain independent and free? We believe transparent information is in the State’s interest; it is also up to the State to help the press industry, certainly not with funding (because, for reasons of freedom and honesty, the press would end up in the trash), but at least by eliminating some truly excessive taxes. Economic liberalization does not mean fiscal liberalism, and those who sell newspapers cannot be treated like those who sell washing machines or [?]. While we wait (and hope) for the Government to carry out the regulatory measures in support of the press that have been promised, and to engage in the dialogue deemed necessary by President Sali Berisha, who publicly expressed strong support on the occasion of the newspaper strike, we will continue to provide free and honest information with our own efforts and those of our readers. That is why we ask you to make the sacrifice of paying five lekë more. It is the price of remaining free. For our part, we will commit ourselves to making a better newspaper. We will increase the number of pages as much as we can and strive to provide information that is as fresh and complete as possible. Today, more than ever, we feel obliged to offer you serious and reliable news. With the price going up, you too can be confident. We have been given the opportunity to make a better newspaper, and we will do so soon: today the Albanian Gazette is produced at the “Demokracia” printing works in Tirana, where highly skilled professionals work, on a par with their colleagues in the best European printing houses. Thanks to close cooperation, together we will build a new Albanian Gazette for tomorrow.

The file requested from the Prosecutor’s Office The two will also be heard The file requested from the Prosecutor’s Office Ruli and Uka wait: committee makes no decision The two will also be heard TIRANA - Ruli and Uka, accused by the Prosecutor’s Office of “abuse of office” in the walnut-wood case, will have to wait a few more days to learn whether they will be protected by parliamentary immunity or not. The mandates committee, which discussed the matter for the first time yesterday, did not want to make any specific decision. The members of this committee first requested access to all the documentation in the case, and to speak personally with the two MPs; only after that will they make a concrete decision. The Prosecutor’s Office’s request to lift the mandates of both men had reached Parliament’s Mandates Committee after a lengthy meeting of the DP parliamentary group. There, too, there had been heated discussions, and the DP MPs had decided to forward the request to their colleagues on the Mandates Committee. Ruli and Uka themselves have insisted on their innocence and have stated many times that they are ready to prove it before the courts. (p.re.) Rexhep Uka

13 police officers detained Two employees of Unit 88 also jailed. Emergency meetings in Parliament and at the Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic After the escape, the fugitives and their accomplices are being sought TIRANA - The State is trying to find out who betrayed it. And now, alongside the search for the fugitives, the hunt for those who collaborated with them is also continuing. Thus, by late Tuesday evening, investigators had detained 11 employees of Tirana Prison and—for the first time—two more from Unit 88, through which they are believed to have made their escape. At midday yesterday, a meeting was held with the Prosecutor of the Republic, as well as an emergency meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Defense, Public Order and SHIK, and some explanations were given about even more extensive measures. Meanwhile, reinforcements from various units have arrived at Tirana Prison—where 11 police employees are now absent after their detention—and for the second day in a row no visits with prisoners were allowed. The number of people detained after the 15 January ’95 escape has thus increased, including the three who were captured. However, the most high-profile detentions concern the employees of Unit 88, whose wall adjoins Tirana Prison; suspicions have been aroused that they were involved in passage through the unit and that inmates may have received help from insiders. Nevertheless—to explain what had emerged by this morning—there are only detailed accusations. Kujtim Murra As for each of the detainees, at present the only thing being acknowledged is that investigations are being conducted in parallel into everyone who “directly or indirectly helped the spectacular escape of 15 January.” At midday, the Prosecutor of the Republic chaired a two-hour meeting with the special group of military investigators, who have been working on the case for two days. An initial assessment by police investigators—albeit a general one—is that “the group in question is made up of outsiders.” Meanwhile, it was announced at the same meeting that MP Hajdan would chair the Parliamentary Committee on Defense, Public Order and SHIK; the committee met and discussed the main failures of the Prison Administration. Armand Laji Kujtim Murra Tirana Prison

Durrës: another fugitive caught in a taxi DURRËS - He is Kujtim Xhelal Murra, the third of the fugitives from Tirana Prison to be caught and swiftly returned to his cell. After serving nearly 20 years, 31-year-old Murra was discovered in the village of Romani, right where Durrës borders the capital. He was only a few minutes away from police officers checking taxis—a practice now carried out on almost every kilometre of the country—before this major discovery. Murra, born in Bulqizë, Dibër, had got into a taxi and was travelling towards Durrës, but a fault in the vehicle had forced it to stop. At that moment police forces appeared, and just a few questions were enough to arouse suspicions about the “passenger’s” identity, leading to his detention and subsequent identification as the well-known fugitive: Kujtim Xhelal Murra. Sentenced to 12 years in prison for “leaving the place where the sentence is being served,” he has once again been brought to justice. As confirmed by the Prison Administration, Murra had also tried to escape from Tepelenë Prison—the only high-security prison in Albania. That attempt, too, did not succeed. Besides him, Murra had once been kept in a cell with a prison dog...

- As of yesterday, Elbasan is the first Albanian city in whose territory the screening of pornographic films has been strictly prohibited. The municipality has made this decision, seeking to eliminate the filth. B. Bashkia Hajdari has also notified the authorities...

From North to South, here is the tragic toll TIRANA - It was one of the bloodiest weekends in recent times, the one that has just passed. At least 10 people were killed on the roads of Albanian towns and villages. As if all were victims of brutal violence or blood revenge, the cruel custom that, unfortunately, has begun to raise its head again. From Friday to Monday, from Shkodër to Tepelenë—these are only the confirmed cases—the sound of gunfire has taken human lives. The two most serious stories came from Kavajë and Shkodër. On Sunday a man was killed in Kavajë, while another was killed in Shkodër. The first man was found dead at his home in the evening. A veritable battle toll was recorded in Lezhë. There, in a bar near the railway station, bursts of automatic-gun fire killed three young people, whose identities are still unknown. One of them is said to have been a girl. In Shkodër, the 38-year-old man was from Tepelenë. He was killed while trying to [?] by a group of nine young people in his family. On Monday, another bloody incident took place, this time in Fushë-Krujë: a 25-year-old died after a serious quarrel with a relative. This time the attacker was detained shortly afterwards. It happened in Kavajë, where E. Popi and A. Popi were killed while resting peacefully in their home. A veritable battle toll was recorded in Lezhë. There, in a bar near the railway station, bursts of automatic-gun fire killed three young people, whose identities are still unknown. One of them is said to have been a girl. The 38-year-old man was from Tepelenë. He was killed while trying to [?] by a group of nine young people in his family. On Monday, another bloody incident took place, this time in Fushë-Krujë: a 25-year-old died after a serious quarrel with a relative. This time the attacker was detained shortly afterwards. (p.re.)

32 years in prison ELBASAN - They had taken part in the killing of a police officer in Shkodër, but the law caught up with them in Elbasan. V.L and V.G. were both found guilty by the panel of judges presided over by Shyqyri Dervishi. The court indicated that a third person was even more culpable, but efforts to apprehend him were unsuccessful. The trial was held under strict security measures, amid fears of a possible attack by the two defendants. The court handed down a sentence of 32 years for both together. (m.k.)

Milan, interview with the surrounded Albanian “I don’t want to hurt anyone; I only want to find the money to pay back my fellow Albanians, who had lent it to me. ”Sir, young journalist, stay calm; I am a good man, nothing will happen here, but I have to explain things to my family in Albania...” Tonin Ndoja TIRANA - The story of Tonin Ndoja and his companion Donika Dada, from Laçi (it is said she is an Albanian woman with Italian citizenship), though she has not admitted it. And yet, following the incident two days ago—the two Albanians had barricaded themselves and made threats—they are now surrounded. Tonin and the other two were barricaded inside, while the two Albanians were surrounded. In an interview, he told us a few minutes before he was caught that he wanted to return to Albania. He described how desperate he was after being cheated by an Italian. He had sought a first ruling to make the Italian acknowledge his deception. He had worked in an Italian village and had been cheated. Tonin and Donika are barricaded in with several police officers. An account revealing thoughts, a night and a moment...

Dies instantly from electrocution Electricity that had [?] his small, cold house caused an accident in Rrogozhinë. While carrying out electrical work in his home, 27-year-old S. J. was electrocuted and then [?]. Day returns to Përmet After two days in total darkness, Përmet is breathing again in the city streets. During those difficult hours, there was a prolonged blackout due to the failure of the main power supply—which has now been restored—in the aforementioned [?].

Horoscope: Forecast for the year for Virgo The special page again today ON PAGE 4 “Ghost trawlers” are swarming toward Albania Four discovered in two days ON PAGE 3

Currency Commercial Bank Albkraft shpk Free market Buying Selling Buying Selling Buying Selling Dollars 94.20 96.00 95.20 96.00 95.40 95.70 Marks 60.60 61.60 65.00 61.60 61.50 61.50 Lire 58.00 59.00 58.90 59.20 59.00 59.20 Drachmas 38.00 39.10 39.90 38.20 39.00 39.20

Gazeta Shqiptare offers free space for your needs. If you are looking for a job, or if you want to hire someone, send your notice to our address together with your address. It will be published free of charge: Jobs section - Gazeta Shqiptare, Rruga e Dibrës, 370, Tirana; Tel. 042/32646 MARKETING SPECIALIST WANTED - A publishing company is looking for a marketing specialist to work in a supporting role, with a university degree and good communication skills. Interested applicants should call 292-45. SECRETARY WANTED - A secretary is wanted, with [?] ... EDISUD, experienced candidates. Interested applicants should contact a marketing agency and other professions. Tel. 0355-42-34185 to arrange meetings only for those who meet the above requirements.

TIRANA - The story of Tonin Ndoja and his companion Donika Dada, from Laçi (it is said she is an Albanian woman with Italian citizenship), though she has not admitted it. And yet, following the incident two days ago—the two Albanians had barricaded themselves and made threats—they are now surrounded. Tonin and the other two were barricaded inside, while the two Albanians were surrounded. In an interview, he told us a few minutes before he was caught that he wanted to return to Albania. He described how desperate he was after being cheated by an Italian. He had sought a first ruling to make the Italian acknowledge his deception. He had worked in an Italian village and had been cheated. Tonin and Donika are barricaded in with several police officers. An account revealing thoughts, a night and a moment...