Greek newspaper: “Clinton has written to Berisha...” TIRANA - As the High Court continues its consideration of the case involving these Greek “Omonia” minority members, international public opinion has begun to focus on Albania. Messages concerning the widely reported trial have arrived from across the ocean, on another day, in the capitals of the two neighboring Balkan states. A report by the U.S. section of the Helsinki Committee, which has just arrived in Tirana, has called for a fair trial of the “Omonia” leaders, with every violation avoided. At the same time, in Athens, the correspondent for White Albania at the Greek daily “Kathimerini” has published a letter-article claiming that U.S. President Clinton asked President Berisha in a letter to improve relations between the two states and release the members of the minority. However, the “Kathimerini” correspondent, citing sources close to the Tirana president, has said that Washington has never presented the release of the minority members as a condition for normalizing relations between the two countries. The arrest and subsequent conviction—on charges of espionage in favor of the Greek Asfalia and illegal possession of weapons—of five Albanian citizens of Greek ethnicity (who were also leaders of the “Omonia” organization) had caused an extreme deterioration in relations between Greece and Albania, drawing the attention and concern of international public opinion. Movement at the crossing points between the two countries increased amid violence; thousands of Albanian emigrants were forcibly expelled from Greece, whose representatives also used their veto to block EU financial aid allocated to Albania. Now, on the eve of the case of the four minority members being transferred to the High Court—one of them, Irakli Sirma, was pardoned by Berisha at Christmas—the demands and decisions of our world are once again in the spotlight. In addition to reports about the alleged, still hazy intervention by the White House, a report by the U.S. section of the Helsinki Committee (Human Rights Watch) has also arrived, calling for the trial to be conducted as correctly as possible. It urges the Albanian High Court to ensure that tomorrow’s proceedings adhere to the standards and principles required by international law. Andrеa Stefani The accused in the Omonia trial (photo H. Pustina)

Finance Ministry: “Speculators are to blame” But someone is selling it for 75 lekë per kilogram Finance Ministry: “Speculators are to blame” Sugarless market: supplies are missing But someone is selling it for 75 lekë per kilogram TIRANA - Sugar has suddenly disappeared from the shops. For an entire day, many shops in Tirana received no supplies, while in some of them its price rose to 70–75 lekë per kilogram, although the permitted price ceiling is 60 lekë. What has happened? Have wholesalers been late with their supplies? Are there obstacles at customs, or has the price risen on international exchanges? “At the General Directorate of Customs they say there have been no blockages at the Norada customs point, and on the London exchange white sugar has been traded at around 350 dollars per ton, a price that has been more or less unchanged over the past two weeks. Specialists at the Ministry of Finance regard the sugar shortage as merchant speculation, while sales above the price ceiling are a matter for the Financial Police. A similar situation also occurred around a year ago. In March, the government decided to set a ceiling price of 60 lekë for retail sugar; the price subsequently stabilized at 55 lekë. Specialists at the Ministry of Trade believe that the government should not leave responsibility for sugar trading in the hands of the merchants’ monopoly, but should itself carry out imports in large quantities. During the first month of last year, according to official statistics, nearly 17,000 tons of sugar were imported into Albania. (gje.p.)

A political shift? TIRANA - “A future governing coalition is possible and could be formed in a successful alliance with several political forces, the closest to us being the PSD and PAD.” For the first time, the SP has announced its possible allies after the next parliamentary elections. The statement was made publicly—at yesterday’s press conference—by SP Deputy Chairman Servet Pëllumbi himself, who also acknowledged that this message had been conveyed to representatives of the European Parliament and the European Union during the trip to Brussels. The immediate reaction to the SP’s new statement came from the PAD camp. “After the elections we will be open to everyone,” PAD President Neritan Ceka told the Albanian Gazette, “so all that remains is for the Socialists to count us among their allies.” According to the PAD leader, this assessment also reflects the current Albanian reality, since the next government will be a genuine government of the Albanian state. The PSD’s reaction, meanwhile, is somewhat more reserved. “So far, the PSD has opened only one window in its relations with the SP,” PSD Secretary General Sasho Agoposti told the Albanian Gazette, “cooperation with the Eurosocialists as partners in the Socialist International. We have taken no further steps.” Nevertheless, according to Apostoli, all future alliances “will depend solely on the votes.” (Ed.L.a)

First week of Phase II Tirana, Teuta and Partizani lose Football First week of Phase II Revolt of the underdogs Tirana, Teuta and Partizani lose The first defeat (photo: H. Pustina)

YESTERDAY IN ALBANIA Two people have been detained in Sarandë for trafficking narcotic plants. They were Fatmir Dauti and Artan Myrto-ty, two men from the village of Shalës in the district of Sarandë, caught by the police transporting cannabis sativa to Greece. Elbasan: three houses burn down A powerful fire engulfed three houses in Elbasan, completely destroying them. It happened on Saturday afternoon in the “17th Assault Brigade” neighborhood, in the homes of the Belegu family. Fortunately, no one was injured. The cause is thought to have been an electrical short circuit. Kavajë: Berisha decorates distinguished medical workers Decorations for distinguished medical workers. President Berisha himself decorated doctors, medical assistants and nurses in Kavajë for their distinguished service throughout their professional lives in the service of the people. Three of them received the “Order of Labor,” First Class medal, while the others received various work medals. The nominations were made by the Directorate of Public Services and the Patriotic Association “Bajram Xhani.”

They will go to the elections together TIRANA - The Albanian political spectrum is gaining a right-wing pole. A resolution—expected to be signed in the coming days—will bring together seven right-wing parties, including some of the biggest in the history of Albanian politics, to contest the next elections. They are the Legality Movement, Balli Kombëtar, the Association of the Politically Persecuted, the Democratic Union, the Republican Party and the Association of Former Prisoners, which, according to what is being considered, will have a shared symbol, ballot, and even a separate registration under the name Albanian Right-Wing League. Although only the final resolution establishing this pole remains unsigned, almost all the details of the program and functioning of this new grouping are already on the tables of the leaders of the initiating parties and associations. The pole is based on 14 points, almost definitively set out at Saturday’s meeting, the latest between the leaders of the right-wing pole. Although the creation of the Albanian Right-Wing League has been surrounded by absolute silence, officials from the participating parties and associations say that the program defines their positions on economic reform as well as a unified stance on ethnic Albanian borders. A common position may also be reached in this program regarding the forms and means of governing the country. According to witnesses to the pole’s formation, it has been agreed that there will be a rotating-style leadership, while each party or association will continue to retain the autonomy of its own program. As reported, the invitation to join the right-wing pole was not accepted by the Albanian Right-Wing Party and the Association for Property with Justice, while the new League will remain open to any right-wing grouping in Albanian politics that wishes to join. (e.l)

TIRANA - They had withdrawn large sums from their relatives’ bank accounts—to secure illicit profits—and in this way had taken the money from the banks. That alone was enough for Vojislav Kocani, a former employee of the Savings Bank, the Kryeëcë branch, and Arjan Hoxha to be sentenced together by the court to 17 months in prison. The charges of abuse of office and “forgery of documents” and official papers were also accompanied by a civil obligation of about 3,800 dollars, which Kocani and Hoxha have still not paid, since most of the transactions had been carried out [?]. During the final proceedings, it was established that Kocani had managed to make active drafts at the agency where she worked and use them to withdraw the money, while Hoxha had used his brother’s account. (e.l)

Bullets also wound a shepherd SHKODËR - One dead and one wounded. This is the toll of another grim incident in the city of Shkodër. The terrible event occurred yesterday at around 3:30 p.m., in a meadow near the Kiras neighborhood. Sokol Hoti, 35, was killed by gunfire from two men from that neighborhood, whom the police have identified. They are two brothers, who have now fled in an unknown direction. According to informed police sources, the motive for killing Hoti was revenge for their brother, who had been killed about a month earlier in a bar in the city center, where Sokol had also been present. An unfortunate shepherd who was grazing livestock was also injured in this incident. The burst of automatic gunfire struck his leg, but his injuries are not serious. The wounded man is in hospital; the police have detained [him/the suspect].

By its mother? KRUJË - A newborn baby has been found in a ditch. This very painful incident has now affected the city of Krujë. On Monday morning, in a ditch near the stadium, wrapped in a crumpled striped sheet, the abandoned baby drew the attention of several passersby. The police were immediately notified, took the child and sent it to the maternity hospital. According to the doctors, the baby is out of danger. For now, the greatest need is to find its mother. Mu. Ar.

TIRANA - Village health centers have also become targets for robbers. This time, their victim was a health center [?] in a village in the district of Skrapar. At midnight on Saturday, two masked men armed with automatic weapons seized a quantity of medicines. After holding the night-duty medical worker at gunpoint in the nurses’ room, the two robbers entered the health center’s pharmacy, where they took a considerable quantity of medicines. Although armed, they were heard with their weapons in their hands and then fled. The nurses of Rëndit [?] have been unable to assist in identifying and apprehending the robbers; once again, the only clue is that they were wearing masks but had long hair, and that they carried an automatic weapon in their hands. (e.l)

Interview From the hospital, Kokoshi talks about the incident TIRANA - “I would forgive him for the crime, but I would only want to know the reason.” Three days after the incident in his office, where he was also wounded, Engjëll Kokoshi, secretary of the Association of Former Political Prisoners, lying in one of the rooms of the ENT ward at Hospital No. 1, tells the Albanian Gazette all the details of that day. Now in good condition, after two days the doctors have told him that he will be discharged from hospital—he speaks slowly and with some difficulty. “It was 8:15 in the morning. I was reading and having breakfast because we were going to have a long meeting. Someone opened the door, looked around and then went out. Just a few minutes after him, another person came in. He was short and had a black eye. He seemed familiar, and I stood up to shake his hand when he hit me with something heavy and I fell. I felt the blood running down me. The incident happened so quickly, but I managed to get out to the street, where people were waiting for me—including a policeman—and he did what he wanted; he shot me. Everyone looked up. Then I lost consciousness.” What could have been the reason for this assault? “I don’t know what to say. For now, I’m sure of only one thing: this was a personal matter connected with the duty I perform.” Have you been threatened before? “Many people have come to my office and we have argued. Some have even insulted me. But none of them had gone this far. I have tried to resolve everyone’s problems. Apparently, I didn’t fulfill some request of these people, or who knows what. Because this is something that has to do directly with me and not at all with the problems we have had in the association.” a.m. Kokoshi in hospital

TIRANA - A “creative” discussion is under way about the large hole in the center of the capital known as the Sejdisë pit. The Council of Ministers has submitted a bill to Parliament for consideration, requesting that the owners of the land in the area near the Palace of Culture in Tirana be expropriated and the land transferred to state ownership. One of the bill’s articles also provides for full compensation and payment to the owners. The bill was prompted by the completion and signing of a hotel project in this area. The bill provides for the construction of the hotel itself, while addressing the land-ownership issue in relation to private parties. An.Ste.

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