ARSIDI SCANDAL Here is the content of the appeal sent to the Court of Appeal - The prosecution of Ruli, Xhabiri... is challenged “Let the trial resume” Prosecutor: “The court is wrong” TIRANA - “The interlocutory decision of the Tirana Court should be overturned and the trial of the case should continue.” This is the opinion the Prosecution has submitted in its appeal to the Court of Appeal concerning the decision handed down on Sunday by the panel hearing the Arsidi case, to suspend the trial and prosecute five other people. Over six pages, Arsiben Qeleshi, the Tirana prosecutor — and also the prosecutor in the Arsidi case — has set out the reasons for his objection: “This interlocutory decision is not right, since it is not based on evidence and the law and, moreover, it is contrary to the Code of Criminal Procedure.” The Prosecution’s arguments are summed up in five separate points, in response to which all the court’s requests are rejected. First, according to the Prosecution, neither during the trial nor during the examination of witnesses did any new facts or evidence emerge that would strengthen the charges against any defendant, or provide grounds for referring the case back for further investigation. Meanwhile, the defense challenged the charge and the prosecution of the five people — Ruli, Hoxha, Mysliu, Namaj and Pesha — proposed by the court, which, they said, has no authority to order such a measure. “This person’s meetings are not with Arsidi, and the conversations with him about other economic matters, which are unrelated to the negotiation of Albania’s foreign debt, have no connection with the charge on which the defendants were sent to trial,” the appeal states. The Prosecution also considered a further expert examination in banking accounting unnecessary, since “the expert report contained in the case file is sufficient.” The court’s request for records of Arsidi, Somini and Piazzoli’s entries into and exits from Albania during 1991–92 was likewise deemed unnecessary. According to the Prosecution, “the investigation file shows that these have been requested.” As for the notarization of documents in foreign languages, the prosecution representatives stressed that they had been translated by experts who bear legal responsibility. The final resolution of the Arsidi case now rests with the Court of Appeal. Only after this court’s decision will the further course of Albania’s biggest financial scandal be determined. Andi Çeliku Qeleshi and Gjokutaj (photo: H.Pustina)

Mysterious incident last night at a bar Durrës, attack on American serviceman Marine in hospital - He was taking part in NATO maneuvers DURRËS - Attack on a serviceman of the American Fleet. Last night, one of the crew members of the multipurpose ship “Ponce” — anchored at the Port of Durrës for joint maneuvers that Albania has also begun with NATO troops — was shot at one of the bars in the center of the city of Durrës. Twenty-year-old serviceman Tony Miller was wounded in his left [side]. He was rushed to Durrës city hospital, where he was immediately taken into the operating room. Pistol shots rang out, bringing Miller to the floor at around 8:30 p.m. in the middle of the “Olimpik” bar — considered one of the most luxurious in Durrës. He was there with a large group of more than 10 American servicemen dressed in civilian clothes. The shots came from outside the bar and, according to an account given to Gazeta Shqiptare by one of the officers inside, there were three attackers, who immediately got into a gray “Toyota.” According to the American officer, one of them was young, wearing blue jeans, a light-blue cotton shirt, a cap bearing the word “adidas,” and a small, light-colored jacket. Meanwhile, according to the first statements given to the police, the assailants left in a light-blue “Mercedes Benz.” The shooting of their fellow serviceman came completely unexpectedly and terrified the other American servicemen in the bar. Immediately after the shots, they rushed out of the bar, smashing through the doors and the glass facade, and set off in pursuit of the attackers. Others, terrified and distraught — one was crying while another shouted with his hands on his head — stayed beside Miller, who was lying on the floor and showed no signs of life, wetting him with water or putting alcohol under his nose to revive him. The wounded Miller was rushed to Durrës city hospital, where he received first aid and was immediately taken to the operating room. The Albanian Police immediately launched an investigation into the incident. Everyone who had been in the bar, along with its owner, was summoned to the police station. The cause of the incident and the perpetrators have not yet been established. So far, it is believed that the weapon used was a revolver with a cylinder, since no bullet casing was found at the scene. Inside, at the bottom of the page: American Marines yesterday near Durrës (photo: P.Omeri)

Letter to Arbnori TIRANA - Brozi is once again trying to clarify the truth surrounding the accusations made against him by the Prosecution, which has also requested that his immunity be lifted. For the third time in a row, he has appealed to Parliament for the opportunity to speak before the deputies. Twice he has sent a letter to the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, asking to be allowed to explain himself before Parliament rules on the Prosecution’s request: it may be placed on the agenda at the beginning of next week. His latest letter came after Ali Spahia, chairman of the Democratic Party parliamentary group, categorically rejected the day before yesterday the proposal by the chairman of the Court of Cassation that he appear before the PD deputies. The Brozi case has now become a more serious matter. It has also concerned Western diplomatic representatives in Tirana, who have requested meetings with the President of the Court of Cassation. Since the day the storm of attacks against him began, his office has been visited by the ambassadors of Germany and Switzerland, as well as a representative of the European Community. Their discussions have focused mainly on concerns about the independence of the judiciary in Albania and the truth behind the accusations against Brozi.

ELBASAN - It began as an ordinary argument between friends but ended in tragedy. - It began as an ordinary argument between friends but ended in tragedy. The incident took place on Thursday afternoon in Mollas, Elbasan. Xheladin Çerku, 28, was killed by a stab wound inflicted by his friend. The two young men, the killer and the victim, had been drinking together that afternoon; afterwards, it is not known why they began arguing. Çerku died while being taken to hospital; the wound he had suffered caused a fatal hemorrhage. Police, who arrived immediately at the scene, arrested the killer. me.ki.

TIRANA - Not all of Albania says “no” to drugs. There are currently around 7,000 drug users. They are people aged 17 to 26, 90 percent of whom are male. Although so far there has been only one death, the trend of cultivating cannabis sativa — the plant from which marijuana is produced — is increasing. Forty hectares have been planted and a certain number of people have been arrested. Meanwhile, the number of people caught with drugs has been 13. This time, in addition to administrative measures, propaganda and educational measures have also been adopted. A national conference on “Reducing demand for drugs” brought together specialists, doctors, lawyers and officials from various Albanian institutions to discuss ways of preventing the many harmful effects associated with the drug trade. The event was organized under the PHARE program and by the World Health Organization. Data were compiled by the Ministry of Finance and the Albanian Financial Police, as well as several other institutions. Elbasan Figures presented at a conference Meeting with Tarschys Conflict with entrepreneurs INSIDE

Meeting with Tarschys TIRANA - Foreign Minister Alfred Serreqi reiterated during a visit to Strasbourg his Government’s request for Albania to be admitted to the Council of Europe as a full member. Serreqi stressed that Albania has now fulfilled the conditions in terms of democratic institutions as well as the protection of human rights, including minority rights, in order to achieve this objective. The Albanian minister also met with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Tarschys, political director Purre, and the clerk of the Parliamentary Assembly, Klebes.

Conflict with the contractors KRUJË - A conflict with landowners, as well as vehicle traffic, has blocked the start of work on a section of the Tirana-Milot road undertaken by the construction company EDI-MI. With 3 million dollars provided by the World Bank, the company EDI-MI—which is a joint venture between the Greek company MICHANDKSA and the Italian company Edistrada S.P.A.—has undertaken to complete the section of road from Fushë-Kruja to Mamurras. From the very first days, however, the company’s representatives have had to contend with a series of objections from the owners of the land through which the highway passes. They have prevented work from starting, claiming that the state has not properly compensated them for occupying all of their properties. So far, the company’s efforts to stop vehicles from driving along the route where the road is to be built have also been unsuccessful. “This place is a construction site,” the Greek engineer Proktsilis Orologas told the newspaper, “and we accept no responsibility for damage that vehicles or people may suffer while passing through it.” Mu.Ar.

Ligeni is to blame SHKODËR - A powerful current of warm air from an unexpected cyclone swept through the city of Shkodër yesterday. The cyclone—which caused no damage—appeared at around 14:00 and lasted about 3 minutes. With great force, the swirling winds displaced several wooden shacks, sales stalls located alongside the roads. The farmers’ markets also fell prey to it. Trees and fruit that were waiting to be sold were scattered across the streets, causing their vendors considerable trouble as they tried to gather them up as quickly as possible. Nevertheless, the brief three-minute burst in every Bll of this normally is like a sign. Usually the phenomenon called “vision” occurs in Shkodër every year, because of its wickedness, on the banks of Ar. Çi.

The Municipality seeks funds KORÇË - The museums in Korçë are asking for help. Having remained state property, they are now claimed by their owners, who are asking to be paid rent. The Ministry of Culture made a request to the Municipality; in a letter sent to the Ministry of Culture, it asked the latter to allocate 2.6 million lek, with which these owners are to be paid. Most of these museums are of national significance. The only one spared the problem of unpaid rent is the house museum of the painter Vangjush Mio, where his family continues to live as usual. But the Municipality’s expenses do not end there. What will happen next year, when rents are liberalized? (el.ko.)

At Kakavijë, 800 people arrive within three days TIRANA - The issue of Albanian refugees being sent back from Greece has reappeared in recent days. Dozens of people are turned back across the border every day. At the Kakavijë border crossing, more than 45 kilometers from Gjirokastër, over 800 employed Albanians were turned back at this crossing by the Greek police authorities from Wednesday through yesterday. Because of difficulties in traveling, most of those returned to the country were individuals, mainly without visas or official documents. However, among those returned there were also some from the group of... Albanian territory. The returns continued again on Wednesday as well. The number of refugees sent back has now fallen to 200 people. Those returned through Kakavijë numbered around 120. The problem of Albanian refugees working in Greece being sent back became acute when, two years ago, the Greek police authorities implemented the so-called “Broom” operation. The number of people returned in that operation reached around 20,000. A few months later, the “Broom” operation was repeated, but this time they deported dozens of refugees, and the number of those returned reached around 100,000.

Nicolas Arsidi: “How the money went abroad” Nicolas Arsidi: “How the money went abroad” The financier’s testimony before the judges ON PAGE 3

Football: Cup, the first four matches today ON PAGE 3 Durrës “put the referees on the spot” ON PAGE 3 What was eaten in Tirana during 1994 Food in the Municipality’s figures ON PAGE 3

Korçë: drinking water contaminated Alarm in the homes of three neighborhoods in Korçë. Drinking water has been contaminated by bacteria. Because of the deterioration of the water-supply pipes, only discolored water now flows from the taps on “Kongresi i Lushnjës,” “Jovan Vreto,” and “Vasil Tromara” streets. The Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology has taken urgent measures to disinfect it, and residents of Korçë have been firmly advised to use boiled water. Elbasan without a Chamber of Commerce A Chamber of Commerce has still not been established within the District Council of the city of Elbasan. Although the law was passed back in March of last year, Elbasan’s businesspeople still have no body to represent them. Some traders have tried to establish a Chamber of Commerce privately, but this effort has remained only a wish. As a result of its absence, foreign investment in Elbasan has been put on hold.

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Daily exchange rates 27.1.1995 Currency Commercial Bank Buying Selling Albakrediti shpk Buying Selling Free Market Buying Selling Dollars 93.20 95.20 94.00 94.80 94.50 94.60 Marks 60.40 61.40 61.20 61.60 61.30 61.15 Lire 67.60 68.70 57.60 58.20 57.90 58.00 Drachmas 38.10 39.20 39.20 39.40 39.20 39.30