First blow against the ruling that had halted the Arsidi trial The appeal will be examined by the Court of Appeal First blow against the ruling that had halted the Arsidi trial The Prosecutor’s Office challenges the Court The appeal will be examined by the Court of Appeal The case of the stalled scandal. Another trial? TIRANA - The first blow against the decision of the Tirana Court, which last Sunday had halted the Arsidi trial halfway through. It is the Prosecutor’s Office itself that has just challenged, by means of an appeal, the interlocutory decision of the trial panel—read by Andi Çeliku—also requesting that it be examined by the Court of Appeal. The Arsidi trial thus takes another unexpected turn—which, after Saliu, Tartari, Ahmeti, Hoti and Xhyheri withdrew their appeal, seemed as though it would once again be subjected to an investigation. Although details of the Prosecutor’s Office’s appeal—submitted yesterday to the Court of Appeal—are unavailable, the Office’s initial response is already known. As Tirana Prosecutor Arben Qeleshi had told the Albanian Gazette, “the investigations had not only been superficial”—as the Tirana Court’s decision had stated—“but the timing of the suspension of this trial was also inappropriate.” According to Qeleshi, the defendants themselves could also have been heard, perhaps to obtain further details. These may be the two main points of the Prosecutor’s Office’s appeal. In any case, for now—until the Court of Appeal responds promptly—it seems that the Arsidi case file has come to a standstill. The latest appeal cannot, of course, proceed in parallel with the investigations until it has been examined, since only a few days ago the Prosecutor’s Office had declared them complete, having also submitted the indictment. A document, in fact, accepted by the Tirana Court, which even opened and continued the trial for about a month. It was the hearings in that trial—concerning the approximately 17 witnesses called—that, according to the court, changed the direction of the case, as it was viewed in each instance. Later, the investigations that consisted of one [unclear] for the investigations as well as another for the other investigations, and consequently they were included by the Prosecutor’s Office. In any case, it remains stalled for now. Perhaps until the Court of Appeal has its say. (e.l) ... to [unclear]? ... Who proposed it to Altami and ...? ... ... Arben Qeleshi, one of the prosecutors in the case

TIRANA - The spokesperson for the Presidency of the Republic, in a clarification made public and widely disseminated, said the following, among other things, concerning our article “The Arsidi scandal, Berisha reveals...,” published on Wednesday: “Arsidi was the person authorized by its board to present this medal to the President of Italy, Sandro Pertini. Before accepting the medal, President Berisha sought information from the official authorities of the two countries and received a positive response. All of Arsidi’s mandates and contracts belong to the former governments of the PPSH and PS, from Fatos Nano to Vilson Ahmeti. Although it appears that he may have been able to benefit from the medal, the facts prove that he could not benefit from it. All the previous contracts were annulled by the Meksi Government because they were irregular. The President had no knowledge whatsoever that Arsidi had been a negotiator of the debt. As for pursuing the private debt up to [year unclear], the State Bank had been assigned to do so, while the Ministry of Finance dealt with the public debt. At the first meeting, the President said that he had reviewed Arsidi’s contracts for Hotel Tirana, signed with previous governments, and instructed official Ruli and Mr. O. Shehu to examine them, allowing nothing that contravened our laws. Finally, one cannot help but express surprise at the mystery alleged by the Albanian Gazette about who appointed Arsidi as debt negotiator. This question has been answered by official documents showing that this task was entrusted to him on December 15, under an official mandate, by Prime Minister R. Alia and F. Nano, and Mr. V. Ahmeti, for which he is also [unclear] in custody.” The Press Office of the Presidency confirms the substance of our article, which referred—in summary, of course—to the meeting of the Government and the PD parliamentary group, where the accusations against MP Genc Ruli concerning the Arsidi scandal were also discussed. The spokesperson for the Presidency provides further details about the meeting, which are valuable information for us. As for the procedures surrounding Arsidi’s mandate—which, in the spokesperson’s view, hold no mystery—we will allow the facts to speak for themselves and address the questions and details to be examined through the document by which the Prosecutor’s Office requested the initial investigations, in accordance with the relevant order and other matters in this story. “To the Prosecutor’s Office of the Tirana district, for the purpose of carrying out the following investigative actions: investigate the mandates dated December 14 and 17, 1991, issued by Ilir Vilson Ahmeti, concerning Arsidi’s authority. In? we referred ... In? from ... was? ...” (fatos baxhaku)

Another step by the Mandates Commission TIRANA - The Mandates Commission has made no decision on the walnut timber case. The commission met yesterday morning and reviewed the new file submitted by the Prosecutor General’s Office, but has still been unable to make a positive or negative recommendation on the request to lift the immunity of former ministers and MPs Genc Ruli and Rexhep Uka. Both have been accused by the Prosecutor’s Office of abuse of office. The chairman of the Mandates Commission himself, Fehmi Abdiu, spoke to the Albanian Gazette. “We have asked the Prosecutor General, Alush Dragoshi, to come to our commission. I have formally asked the Assembly Presidium to summon Dragoshi as soon as possible,” Abdiu said. Are the other pieces of information submitted to you by the Prosecutor’s Office persuasive enough to lift the immunity of Ruli and Uka? “I cannot say now whether they are persuasive or not; we have asked Dragoshi to provide some explanations that are essential for our work,” Abdiu replied. Meanwhile, the number of people arrested who will now answer for the allegedly illegal export of timber has risen to two. Three days ago, another person connected with the case was arrested in Tirana. E. Xhuvani was arrested three days ago while staying at a Tirana establishment and was later—for reasons still unknown—taken to the Durrës Police Station. (fa.bax.) Positive signs on another pressing issue. Environmental protection and damage to the environment are also among the subjects of discussion by the MPs. Seven articles have been approved that concern offences in this area of life. Anyone who causes environmental pollution, illegally damages forests, travels without a permit or uses public green spaces without authorization will all answer before the law, with penalties that must be [unclear] and further [unclear]. These penalties are harsher than those in the old penal code. The Albanian environment was among the first to suffer the hardships of the transition. Freedom arrived, misunderstood by some as complete anarchy, and brought with it such negative phenomena, among the most widespread of which were damage to forests, flora and fauna. Nature’s destroyers were numbered among seven [unclear], including numerous foreign adventurers who had also taken advantage of gaps in Albanian legislation. p.re. The seat of the People’s Assembly

TIRANA - The Mandates Commission has made no decision on the walnut timber case.

TIRANA - Severe penalties have long been called for against those who [unclear] or damage land. The new Penal Code will also serve to curb one of the most widespread phenomena of recent years: land disputes, a phenomenon that has become a defining feature of the spirit of rural reform, but has also given rise to acute social problems and even genuine human tragedies. Yesterday Parliament discussed the part of the Penal Code that deals specifically with this issue. After extensive discussion by MPs and expert circles, the final provisions were presented: a fine of 200,000 lekë to up to two years in prison. This will be the penalty for people who illegally occupy plots and areas of land. Anyone who abuses it, even while acting lawfully, will also be punished: a fine of 200,000 lekë to up to six months’ imprisonment. Perhaps the application of these penalties could curb the scale of land occupations and the destruction of agricultural land. Many MPs from the main parties focused on this point. Some of them—as did the representatives

DURRËS - The first ships of NATO’s naval fleet, which will take part in the joint military exercise called “Sarex ’95,” have arrived at the Port of Durrës. Yesterday morning, seven multinational squadron vessels, including “Ponce,” belonging to the U.S. Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean. “Ponce” is a submarine [as printed, though apparently referring to a vessel], and just a few hours later it was joined by the Italian ship “Sibilla,” which will also take part in the exercise. The crews of both naval forces were welcomed by senior Albanian military officials. “Sarex ’95” is the first exercise—the opening was declared yesterday afternoon at a ceremony held at the army cultural center—that Albanian troops are organizing in cooperation with NATO forces. It will include numerous maneuvers on land, in the air and at sea. A view of yesterday’s exercises (photo: P. Omeri)

“Young people gathered” VLORE - The police are seeking to stop refugees from emigrating to Italy. In recent days, its checks in Vlorë have increased, and a new method is being applied to monitor the movements of speedboats. Under a decision by the Municipality, all of them will have to be concentrated at two designated assembly points: one at the new port and the other at the port of Radhimë. Meanwhile, police minibuses have increased their patrols along the roads by the coast, from where the speedboats set off, especially these days when even the lives of the people themselves—mainly elderly people and young women—who are seeking to leave for Puglia have been put at risk. The owners of the speedboats themselves have responded immediately to these measures. Many of them have not taken their boats to the assembly points, but are keeping them hidden at home. Then, at night, they take the speedboats back to the shore on special trailers. Many others even tow them by car—with refugees waiting inside—to places far from the city and less frequented by the Police, where, after they put out to sea, it is very difficult to keep track of them; the Police's two speedboats are several years old and do not operate at full capacity. Meanwhile, many rubber speedboats continue to arrive in Vlorë from Italy by ferry, and are then put into service with very powerful engines. St.Ma.

Shkodër, he had tortured her out of jealousy SHKODER - He had tortured and killed his wife out of jealousy, and now he will have to spend the rest of his life in prison. The Court of Cassation has sentenced Pashuk Kaci, from the village of Shelej in Shkodër, to life imprisonment. Its ruling was the same as the sentences previously handed down by the Court of First Instance and the Court of Appeal. The story that has now confined Kaci to prison for life began on the night of April 30 last year. That afternoon, as soon as he had returned home, Kaci had shut himself in his wife Liza’s room, sending the children away. It was here that the dreadful beatings began. Accusing Liza of infidelity, he began to hit her. The quarrel grew increasingly heated until Kaci began using a rope and then an electric cable, until Liza succumbed to death. a.m.

ELBASAN - Two people—one injured and the other dead—were innocent victims of car accidents on Wednesday morning in Elbasan. - Two people—one injured and the other dead—were innocent victims of car accidents on Wednesday morning in Elbasan. Two local residents, Hasan Klogjeri, 55, and Lumtur Gonca, 32, were struck by cars—in two different places—while walking along the road. The accident was tragic for Gonca, a mother of four, who was very badly injured and lost her life while being rushed to hospital. Klogjeri was luckier, though he was struck on the legs. The doctors’ swift intervention ultimately saved him from death. Me.Ki.

By a teacher KRUJË - A “boom” in private radio stations. After Vlorë and Fier, it may now be Krujë’s turn to have its own radio station. The initiative has been taken by a local teacher, E.G. from Krujë, who has the station ready. The new equipment, bought in Italy for more than 700 dollars, will broadcast on FM and has a power of 10 watts. But the young teacher, whose name is abbreviated, will not begin broadcasting before the law on private radio stations is passed. “I have everything ready,” he said, “but we do not intend to start broadcasting just yet; we will wait for the law first.” A real experience has been created by the new broadcaster from Vlora. (entu?)

Kukës, the first humanitarian mission of ’95 saves a mother TIRANA - More than 100 human lives were saved by Albanian military helicopters during 1994 alone. On these occasions, Albanian flights for humanitarian missions, registered as “1 aerodromi,” have been to Bajram Curri, Leskovik, Këlcyrë, Bulqizë, Tepelenë, Gjirokastër, Ersekë or Përmet. But when it comes to helping the sick, the injured and those involved in accidents, helicopter crews are often put at risk; these missions also cost as much as 70 thousand dollars. In fact, according to a notice from the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Health ... Nazitë Puca from Bushtrica in Kukës is the first Albanian patient of this hospital to be transported by humanitarian flight in 1995. As Lieutenant Colonel Ndoc Selimi tells “Gazeta Shqiptare,” pilots Naje and Kuki do everything they can, despite the difficult terrain and unfavorable weather conditions, to transport the woman to the capital; she is suffering from severe hemorrhaging. “We are grateful for the sacrifice of the two pilots. The doctors had been unable to help her for three days; they brought her by helicopter, and she was immediately taken for treatment. For us, this was a humanitarian mission, but also a life saved.” (e.l) A moment from the rescue

NATO exercises begin “Young people gathered” Shkodër, he had tortured her out of jealousy INSIDE

In Albania, the new Labour Code Bill in Parliament ON PAGE 3 Financial fines: Vlora leads ON PAGE 3 Another Albanian girl kidnapped in Italy ON PAGE 2

Programs to watch today ON PAGE 4

Cassation: “Lawyers too at the Plenum” Procedural candidates responsible for the Court of Cassation proceedings. Now the lawyers for the parties bringing appeals must also be summoned to take part. They will have to submit to this Court, along with all the relevant documents, the appeal and cross-appeal concerning the request for legal protection. For every case to be heard by the Plenum, its date will be announced 15 days in advance. “6 out of 45” lottery: 4 winners There were four winners in the “6 out of 45” game, each with 5 numbers matched. The winning tickets are numbered: 1010282 (Berat), 1023341 (Tiranë) and 128521 (two columns from Laçi). Each wins 123,130 lekë. Meanwhile, the sum of 738,785 lekë rolls over to next Wednesday. Vlorë, a school newspaper The second school newspaper. At the “Ali Demi” high school in the city of Vlorë, the newspaper “Dallëndyshja” is published by the students and teachers themselves. It is issued once every two weeks and covers the main issues of concern to the high school. Its pages contain students’ poems and creative writing, as well as various cultural and encyclopedic columns. Its staff consists of 4 students and one female teacher.

Currency Commercial Bank: Buying, Selling Albakrediti shpk: Buying, Selling Free market: Buying, Selling Dollars: 93.20 95.20; 94.20 94.80; 94.50 94.70 Marks: 60.30 61.50; 61.00 61.60; 61.30 61.45 Lire: 57.60 59.20; 57.60 58.20; 57.90 58.10 Drachmas: 38.00 39.20; 39.20 39.30; 39.20 39.35