Yesterday at noon, four Turkish citizens ended up in prison. Two were teachers at the “Mehmet Akif” College in the capital, and the other two were traders who had been in Albania for two years. DRUGS Yesterday at noon, four Turkish citizens ended up in prison. Two teachers at the “Mehmet Akif” College in the capital and two others, traders who have been in Albania for two years. In Tirana with a bag of heroin. Police blitz: 3 kilograms seized. EDMOND LAÇI TIRANA - The largest quantity of drugs ever discovered in Albania has been seized in the Albanian capital. Since yesterday afternoon, three kilograms of heroin and four Turkish citizens have been the focus of a single operation by the special forces of the Ministry of the Interior and Tirana’s 2nd Police Station. The success—as I was told—of the Albanian authorities’ anti-drug operation was marked by the apprehension of Turkish citizens Mustafa Hatasevee and Sinan Çakmak, as well as two others said to be teachers at the “Mehmet Akif” College in the capital. Initial tests found the drugs to be heroin, although not very pure. At European market prices, the quantity could be worth up to 500,000 dollars. The blitz operation began on Monday afternoon, when the car driven by 27-year-old Mustafa Hatasevee was also searched unexpectedly. It was precisely the bag he was carrying that led to the major discovery: inside it were no less than three kilograms of heroin. There was an alarm at the moment of the arrest. The operation continued without interruption until late at night. ...the citizens were allegedly charged as accomplices in this affair. Hatasevee and Çakmak, who came to Albania two years ago, are known as ordinary traders, while the other two Turkish citizens are said to be teachers at “Mehmet Akif” College, located very near the “21 Dhjetori” area, where the two “traders” also live. After initial investigations and tests by drug experts, the four Turkish citizens were placed under arrest and—yesterday at noon—taken to Tirana Prison. Although the investigation into this case is being conducted with great discretion and all the details have not yet been disclosed, the fact remains that the latest anti-drug operation resulted in the largest drug seizure on Albanian territory. The first success of the Albanian authorities against traffickers, as verified at the beginning of 1993, was when a citizen from Durrës was discovered in the area of the Italian “Pellicano” operation with around 50 penicillin bottles filled with cocaine and heroin. Last year—in Durrës again—there was another arrest, this time involving a quantity of around 1 kilogram. Meanwhile, in 1993 a young Albanian arriving at the Port of Bari was detained with 50 grams of heroin hidden on his body. Just a few months ago, from aboard a clandestine speedboat that had set off from Albania, a package containing 500 grams of heroin was thrown into the sea; the Italian police managed to seize it. Now only the destination of the three kilograms of heroin seized on Monday remains to be clarified. The initial hypotheses point to its transit through Albania.

This is how the drug market works . Yes, white powder is used in Albania. TIRANA - The first to speak about the existence of a heroin market in Albania was a 17-year-old girl from the capital, admitted a year ago to the National Toxicology Center for an overdose. In her account to the Albanian Gazette, the girl described the entire mechanism by which drugs are moved. “Heroin has come here too, but very few people use it because it is expensive. Petidine is more widespread, the locally made kind and not the Chinese product, as well as morphine... There are many people who take drugs, of different ages, from children to people aged 40.” That girl’s account has since been followed by many other stories from the drug market. There have been dozens of cases of people caught with hashish grown in their yards and homes. Meanwhile, hospitals and pharmacies are constantly at risk of being robbed. Large quantities disappear to supply the drug market. The sale price of a petidine ampoule—1 milliliter—is just 5 lekë, while among regular users the price multiplies a hundredfold, reaching 500 lekë or more. Morphine sells for these prices too. Heroin prices are even higher. A symposium on drugs in Albania spoke of nearly 7,000 people using them. Other specialists have rejected that figure, limiting it to just 4 people officially known as regular narcotics users. However, beyond the dispute over numbers, everyone agrees on one thing: drugs have not merely ... arrived on the streets; they are a phenomenon present in Albania. ar.me

TIRANA - No press conference and evasive answers. The management of the Turkish College found itself in a difficult position over the possibility that two of its teachers had been detained. The alleged involvement of two Turkish professors from the College in the smuggling of three kilograms of drugs is denied at the college director’s office. “I deny it,” he said, and apparently all the school’s teachers were ... in their classrooms and none was absent. I heard that two young Albanians had been caught and that, among their explanations, the unusual presence of police officers at another college had been mentioned. According to police officials, parents had brought their children to the college as students. No other account. Around 350 Albanians study at the “Ozel Mehmet Akif” desks, and one of them is under a strict judicial regime. From time to time, traders arriving from Turkey have also been seen in the canteens. Perhaps the college’s involvement in this incident is a consequence of its hospitality. Ar. Ça. Police Station 2 in Tirana The director of “Ozel Mehmet Akif” speaks ...according to their explanations, the unusual presence of police officers in a college ... was the reason. And the answer was that the police officials were ...

Ozel MEHMET AKIF COLLEGE

American lawyers in the courtroom . “Omonia”: today in the Court of Cassation, the last chance. TIRANA - The last chance for five members of “Omonia”. Having tried their luck in the Tirana Court and the Court of Appeal—and also with the amnesty and pardon by President Berisha—only the Court of Cassation remains to determine their final fate. The President of this Court himself, Zef Brozi, will preside over the proceedings, which begin today at 9:00. Meanwhile, the defendants will learn the judges’ decision in their cells at Tirana Prison, since only their lawyers are expected to appear in the Court of Cassation. Today—for the first time in the history of Albanian justice—three American lawyers will also be allowed to act as assistant defence counsel for the Albanian-American citizen Bezhan(i). An Italian lawyer will also be in the courtroom today. “We will try to conduct as professional a trial as possible, to the standards ...” ...also amid almost extraordinary interest from foreign diplomats, especially Greek diplomats. Of the 60 invitations distributed by yesterday at the Court of Cassation—to representatives of countries and relatives of the defendants—around 20 had been requested by representatives of the Diplomatic Corps accredited in the Albanian capital. In any case, today’s proceedings, declared public, will not use the Court’s usual first-floor courtroom, but the one on the third floor, the largest in the Court of Cassation building. Although Irakli Sirmo is now at home—after President Berisha pardoned him at Christmas ’94—the Court of Appeal’s decision has also been appealed in his case, as in the cases of Bezha-ni, Papakristo, Marto and Qirjako, who, despite the amnesty and pardon for one of them, are still obliged to remain behind bars for several more months. At the end of last year, the Court of Appeal had sentenced them together to 31 years in prison, reducing the sentence handed down earlier by the Tirana Court by only 4 years. Today is their last chance. (Ed.La.)

FIER—Instead of the relics of Saint Kozmai, the Orthodox faithful of Fier have now received another keepsake of their saint. Just a few days ago, the city museum handed them the covering that was placed over Saint Kozmai’s coffin before he died nearly two centuries ago in the village of Kolkondas, now submerged by the waters of the Seman. “Now that we have the covering in our hands, we’re afraid it might be stolen,” the faithful said. Epifani—as the faithful call the cloth in which the saint’s coffin was wrapped—is in fact a rare work. It is a piece of fabric about two and a half metres long and one and a half metres wide. It is embroidered with gold threads, which surround a grey and black background. Along its edges are several inscriptions in old script. The Epifani depicts the figure of Saint Kozmai carved with his arms crossed over his chest. The church’s Epifani—for the faithful, those who had damaged it caused ...—has nevertheless not quelled their insistence on the relics. Their history remains shrouded in mystery. En. My.

An influx of Asians heading for Italy VLORA - Vlora is “overrun” by Asians. In recent days, the city has seen an unprecedented influx of Turks, Kurds and Egyptians waiting to set off for the shores of Puglia. VLORA - Vlora “overrun” by Asians. In recent days there has been an unprecedented influx into the city of Turks, Kurds and Egyptians waiting to set off for the shores of Puglia. In the evenings, large groups of them could be seen moving calmly around the Skela area. According to reports, they all entered Albania with visas, and most came to Vlora after first landing in Tirana. A high pace of activity along the coast. In recent days, traffic by speedboat toward Italy has been very heavy. Thanks to the good weather, as many as 50 speedboats have been able to set off in a single day. Meanwhile, Asian migrants waiting to leave as soon as possible have found shelter in the Sota Forest, an area near the New Port, to stay as far as possible from the eyes of the police. For many others, however, this is not a problem. They have chosen the long-stay option and are staying at the Workers’ Resort camp under the auspices of the Trade Union Confederation. The Asian influx is not confined to Vlora. Dhërmiu, too, has now become a safe base from which to wait for departure to Italy. This phenomenon has even seriously concerned the residents of the town itself. St. Ma.

Walnut timber The two MPs: “We acted in accordance with the law” The Ruli and Uka case postponed The Commission requests new evidence TIRANA - The Prosecutor’s Office’s request to lift the immunity of Democratic Party MPs Ruli and Uka, both accused of abuse of office in connection with the export of a quantity of walnut timber, has once again been postponed. At yesterday’s meeting, the Mandates Commission requested that the file submitted by the Prosecutor’s Office be supplemented with three other documents: the response that the Elbasan Wood Combine sent to former minister Hoxha; the inclusion in the record of the letter Hoxha sent to the General Directorate of Forests; and the request made by the State Audit to the General Prosecutor’s Office for the case to be dismissed. Meanwhile, Ruli and Uka were both present at the meeting of the Mandates Commission. They had been summoned at the request of the Commission’s members to explain the lifting of their immunity in connection with their case. “Our actions were carried out fully in accordance with the legislation of that period,” was, in essence, the defense presented by the two MPs, who spoke at length in response to the many questions put to them by the Commission’s members. The “walnut timber” chapter for Ruli and Uka remains open. The Commission will make its final decision—neither of the two MPs will be questioned—only after reviewing the new evidence that has been requested. a.m.

Agreement reached TIRANA - The Albanian Right-Wing Alliance is taking its full shape. The two leaders of all the political forces—the Republican Party, the Legality Movement, Balli Kombëtar, the Democratic Union, the Association of Former Political Persecutees and the Association of Former Kulaks—who have joined this new formation have finally agreed on all 14 points contained in the joint resolution. The decision was made yesterday at midday, and only on Friday will the six leaders of the participating forces appear publicly at a press conference. The new political organization has emerged after a series of talks that have been under way for some time. The Right-Wing Alliance is founded on a program set out in 14 points, with the issues of Property and an Ethnic Albania occupying the primary place. The Alliance will be led on a rotating basis, beginning in alphabetical order. a.m.

FIER - Tragedy strikes a family from Fier. Two young children were overcome by toxic fumes from a plastic basin that melted in the heat: the little boy, 5-year-old A. Petani, has died, while the 6-year-old girl I. Petani narrowly escaped. - Tragedy strikes a family from Fier. Two young children were overcome by toxic fumes from a plastic basin that melted in the heat: the little boy, 5-year-old A. Petani, has died, while the 6-year-old girl I. Petani narrowly escaped. The two children were alone at home when the tragic incident occurred. Beside the lit stove stood a basin filled with wood, which melted from the heat. The liquid fumes and particles engulfed both little ones, who immediately became unconscious. EM.

At the stadium PEQIN - A misunderstanding between police officers on the eve of last Saturday’s “Shkumbini”-“Tirana” match ended badly. It was the Elbasan police forces—who had arrived and were staying alongside their colleagues—who allowed Drini Çeka, a police officer at the Peqin Police Commissariat, to enter the stadium. Çeka’s civilian clothing and the order not to let anyone in without authorization from the “Shkumbini” Club management were the starting point for an exchange of words, which soon turned into a clash between police officers from different districts. The emergency meeting at the Peqin Police Commissariat went further, resulting in the detention of the other officer. (Me.Ki.)

YESTERDAY IN ALBANIA For the first time, an exhibition featuring a wide variety of wood products has opened in Gjirokastër Prefecture. The private company “Givil” of Tepelena owns this event, which has aroused the interest of many people. (Gji.)

The many illegal constructions in various districts of the country were referred to the construction police for action to curb this phenomenon. They were the subject of discussions in the standing parliamentary committee on industry, construction and post and telecommunications. YESTERDAY IN ALBANIA It was Dashamir Shehi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Construction and Tourism, who, while outlining the Government’s measures for this problem, also called for the support of the People’s Assembly.

YESTERDAY IN ALBANIA Pseudopestoseplaja shpendëve, has caused severe damage in the municipalities of Vrina, Konispol, and Livadhja. Veterinary specialists advise that the birds need to be vaccinated with kumaro. They also say that poultry meat is still safe to eat and poses no risk to human health, except in cases where the birds are very weak.

YESTERDAY IN ALBANIA It was Dashamir Shehi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Construction and Tourism, who, while outlining the Government’s measures for this problem, also called for the support of the People’s Assembly.

INSIDE Prices in Albania rise 1.8% during January ON PAGE 3 Section: job and business opportunities ON PAGE 3

Commercial Bank Albaleasing shpk Free market Currency Buying Selling Buying Selling Buying Selling Buying Selling Dollars 93.40 95.40 94.00 94.60 94.00 94.20 Marks 60.50 61.35 60.80 61.40 61.00 61.10 Lire 57.40 58.80 57.80 58.20 58.00 58.10 Drachmas 38.05 39.25 39.10 39.30 39.10 39.15