THE TRIAL/ Yesterday the final witness “Arsidi”; today, the scandal as recounted by the defendants Tension among the defendants Comments in the courtroom. Prosecution: “The evidence is confirmed.” Defense: “Nothing new...” TIRANA - Now it is the accused themselves who take the stand. Starting today, perhaps all five defendants will give their version of the “Arsidi” scandal, which has kept them behind bars for more than a year. After the prosecutors' case and 28 witnesses, the story of the 1.6 million dollars will be heard for the third time, this time from the mouths of those caught up in that sum: Hoti, Salihu, Tartari and Xhyheri, all four bank managers, as well as former Prime Minister Ahmeti. The accounts of the five are expected to be the core of this entire trial, which so far, apart from the documents and evidence presented by the prosecutors, has had nothing new. The witnesses' accounts, even according to the lawyers themselves, have brought no surprises. So now everything remains to be revealed by the accused themselves. Perhaps they will recount how Arsidi was able to penetrate the upper echelons of Albanian finance and how hundreds of thousands of dollars disappeared. But who will be the culprit? Will it continue to be one of the five, or will their stories implicate others as well? From everything heard in the trial so far, the prosecution's case has been substantiated primarily against the defendants; indeed, they themselves have not only failed to distance themselves from it, but seem to have continued to point the finger at one another. The somewhat opposing positions of the former Governor on one side and Salihu and Tartari—arrested following Hoti's denunciation—on the other emerged after they heard the charges brought by the Prosecutor's Office and the long line of witnesses, which apparently has not impressed the lawyers. “They have not brought forward anything fabricated,” says Përparim Sanxhaku, Salihu's lawyer. Tartari's defense takes the same position. The lawyer for Xhyheri, by contrast, is more pleased: “My client is innocent, and the witnesses themselves showed this,” he says. The prosecution, however, appears to be the more satisfied, maintaining that the witnesses confirmed the facts and documents it submitted. “They confirmed the procedures relating to this payment and its punishment, as well as the circle of people who were involved,” Genc Gjakutaj told Gazeta Shqiptare. “Now it remains for the experts to clarify the legality of these procedures.” The examination of witnesses concluded during yesterday's short hearing. The final testimony—following 27 previous ones—was that of Liliana Nanaj, a bank employee, who spoke about the bill-of-exchange payment. After that, the absence of two lawyers led to the closure of yesterday's hearing. Today's proceedings are expected to be less complicated than they might seem. Will [he/it] remain among the five, or will their stories bring others down too? Throughout the entire trial, the accusation has indeed been directed mainly at the defendants, and they themselves have not only made no attempt to deflect it but seem to have continued pointing fingers at one another. The sharply opposing positions between the former Governor on one side and Salifute Tartari, arrested after Hoti’s denunciation, on the other, have appeared frequently during the trial. Will this continue as the evidence is brought out? The defendants would begin their account with the legality of these procedures. The questioning of witnesses took place during yesterday’s brief hearing. The final testimony—after 27 enforcement officers—was the payment of the bill of exchange. adjournment of yesterday’s hearing. Today the trial is expected to begin with the defendants, although Saliu and Tartari’s defense had said it would also request other witnesses, including Meksi and Blerim Çela. (a.m.) The defendants during the trial

Even without electricity DUKAGJIN - Snow threatens 7,000 residents of the Shala commune in Dukagjin, in the Shkodër district. Heavy snowfall accompanied by cyclonic winds has created a snow cover more than 1 meter deep, as well as numerous avalanches. The alarm was raised by local authorities, who reported damage to 270 homes. At least 100 houses have been [damaged?], as have 100 livestock barns. Once again, the weight of the snow has caused 10 wooden bridges to collapse. In some villages, electricity has been cut off because around 2,000 power-line poles have been damaged or toppled. The wintering of livestock is also in jeopardy because 3,000 basic grazing areas used as feed sources have been damaged.

- A murder once again brought the weekend in Shkodër to a close. Last night, a gun battle left Gëzim Serhati dead on the ground. He was shot with an automatic weapon by people who have not yet been identified. The incident took place at 20:10 in the Xhabiaj neighborhood. Law-enforcement officers and investigative experts immediately went to the scene. So far, no lead has emerged that could identify Serhati's killers. No explanation has been given either for the causes that may have led to last night's massacre.

400 thousand dollars under discussion TIRANA - “The Referendum cost the country up to 400,000 dollars. In my opinion, this funding was entirely illegal.” Arben Imami, one of the leading figures of the “Democratic Alliance,” is once again bringing the 6 December Referendum to the discussion table, this time not because of its result, but because of its financial aspect. Imami has requested that the Minister of Finance be questioned in Parliament on the same issue. “I will ask the Minister to explain the legal basis for this action. State funding of parties in the case of the referendum is not provided for by any law. The Referendum Law does not say a single word about the possibility of parties being funded by the state, much less the Law on Party Financing, which provides that they receive money from the state based on the number of members of Parliament, only in the case of election campaigns.” Do documents concerning this funding exist? “They should have been deposited with the Ministry's Budget Directorate,” Imami replies. According to him, someone must now answer for the amount spent. “Ultimately, all of this falls on the shoulders of ordinary citizens, those who pay taxes; that is why I requested the interpellation.” (f.b.)

The airline resumes flights TIRANA - A Kuwaiti company buys Albanian Airlines. One month after the tender process for the sale of the airline began, the winner was announced on Friday: Aviation World Mac b.v., based in Amsterdam, Holland. The company managed to win, with only one competitor—Adria Lines—making it through to the final stage. The five other bidders who had obtained the participation documents withdrew, no longer submitting them. The company has committed to employing all the former Albanian staff. It will soon sign contracts with the two former owners of Albanian Airlines to transfer the company's operations. Meanwhile, the Kuwaiti company will pay the remaining capital of “Albanian” and, under the tender terms, settle all obligations the latter had toward its other clients. Albanian Airlines flights on this route are expected to resume by the middle of last year. The reason for [unclear text: “ruajë atributet e plota të saj”], it will operate the same flights. Under the tender terms, [unclear text: “kuptohet do të kenë shansëmë të mëdha për takim me klientë e tjerë”]. Albanian Airlines flights were suspended in the middle of last year. This was due to its negative operating balance, and its owners—Albtransport and the Austrian company Tyrolines—had decided at the end of last year to put it up for auction.

Cup, third round Record in lotosport: 3.2 million lekë available to the winners Blue-and-white goalscorer Fortuzi (photo H. Pustina) TIRANA - The first 90 minutes are over for the teams seeking a place in the semifinals of the Albanian Cup. Partizani has taken the first step toward qualifying. Tirana is also through, while Dinamo and Apolonia must protect the narrow wins they achieved on their home grounds. With the two goals scored on Friday at “Selman Stërmasi” against Vllaznia, the Reds will have a better chance in the return match in Shkodër. Birtuku and Tafaj have reassured coach Lika, while also making a comeback by the Shkodër side more difficult. In Elbasan, Fortuzi used his technical skills to take the lead, giving the next match a certain amount of interest. In Tirana, Dinamo defender Matrakut scored a well-placed goal, forcing the Vlora team to hope they can overturn the result in the next match. Meanwhile, the goals for the Fier side were scored by its two strongest players, Marini and Zeqo. The Durrës side's only goal gives them the chance to hope for a 1-0 win in the next match as well. Saturday also marked a record in totobull. 3,206,078 lekë are available to the winners. (gje.pi.) [A new record in football.] 3,206,078 lekë are available to the winners. gje.pi.

The Bektashis TIRANA - “Whoever protested over the property in Kodër-Shtufë has no connection whatsoever with us.” The Bektashi Community has responded to the report according to which a large number of Bektashi believers protested against the risk of a holy site passing into the ownership of a foreigner. A statement by the Community says that these people are from the village, and that there are no Bektashi holy sites in the villages around Tirana, and therefore no Bektashi believers either. Bektashism is prohibited by its internal law from preaching unless authorized by our internal bodies.

Fier, assassins sought FIER - The assassination took place in Fier. Sh. Fishekut, 45, was riddled with a hail of automatic gunfire in the middle of yesterday. A burst of shots caused his immediate death. So far, the reasons that led to this massacre and its perpetrators are still unknown. The gruesome incident occurred yesterday afternoon. At around 15:00, Fishekut was on one of the city’s main streets. Just as he was walking, uninterrupted gunfire rained down on his body. Covered in blood, Fishekut ended up lying on the sidewalk. The swift intervention of the people who were nearby and of the emergency medical staff who arrived afterward could not avert the tragedy: the 45-year-old lost his life. No one knows the reasons behind this incident, which now appears shrouded in mystery. Even the police experts have been unable to offer an initial explanation; they have only launched an investigation into the incident. En. My.

Controversy erupts after the Ministry’s decision GJIROKASTËR - The Ministry of Culture’s decision to remove the trophy plane from Gjirokastër Castle immediately sparked opposing reactions. The city authorities and the heads of cultural institutions are now at odds. While some agree that it should be removed—because it was not a trophy captured from the Americans, but merely a “gift” from the Chinese—others have begun to consider the matter and reach the opposite conclusion. Accounts by elderly employees at the museum established in the Castle, as well as a leaflet found there, support the “American thesis”: in the 1950s an American pilot really did enter Albanian territory and was subsequently stopped. But there are others who, amid the hypotheses and doubts, call for the plane to remain. “It has by now become a kind of symbol,” says the museum director. And, indeed, the place where it stands has been dubbed “Airplane Square” by the people themselves. Ra.Ko

Berisha in Lushnje Grand ceremonies. The people of Lushnje commemorated the Congress of Lushnje, one of the most important events in Albania's history. The President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, also attended the celebrations and later visited Divjakë, Albania's newest town. The Municipality of Divjakë awarded Berisha the title of Honorary Citizen. “We want the Saint's remains” The Archbishop and representatives of the Orthodox Church in the Libofshë area have sent a petition to the local authorities in Fier, requesting the recovery of the remains of the relics of Saint Kozma, which have been missing for a long time.

GAZETA TV ALBANIA RADIO THE WORLD IN SEARCH OF THE TRUTH RADIO THE WORLD IN SEARCH OF THE TRUTH