Zef Brozi: “After the trial they threatened me...” After three and a half hours in the courtroom, the judges brought the espionage case to an end. Release of the accused delayed Meanwhile, the President of the Court of Cassation denounces a new mystery. A high-ranking official called him, accusing him of being anti-Albanian TIRANA—The adventure of the five “Omonia” figures with Albanian justice lasted only ten months. After hearing sentences of 35 years in prison from the Tirana Court and 31 from the Appeals Court, and with almost another 8 years still left to serve after the amnesty and pardon by President Berisha, a document from the Court of Cassation to Tirana Prison ordered their immediate release. Yesterday at 2:15 p.m., Zef Brozi—in his capacity as President of the Trial Panel—once again declared the five members of the minority guilty, but applied the sentences to such an extent that only another, more serious crime could send them back behind bars. “It is plainly an unfounded decision. We will use every legal means at our disposal to defend the indictment,” prosecutor Gani Dizdari said immediately after Brozi read the decision. As the case prosecutor’s statement makes clear, the Republic’s Prosecutor’s Office may soon challenge yesterday’s decision of the Court of Cassation by filing a request for the protection of legality. Whether this initiative has yet been definitively confirmed remains unclear; the obstruction of the release of Bezha[n?]i, Papakristos, Mantos and Qirjakos is all the more mysterious. Especially since Tirana Prison was simultaneously faced with two orders: one from the Court of Cassation, releasing the four remaining members of the minority in prison, and another from the Republic’s Prosecutor’s Office, blocking their release. Perhaps Article 181 of the Code of Criminal Procedure was used this time; it states that “the Prosecutor General has the right to suspend the enforcement of judicial decisions for up to one month.” But the uncertainty lasted until 23:25, when the Republic’s Prosecutor’s Office released the four members of the minority. (Ed.La.) ARMAND MERO EDMOND LACI TIRANA—Wednesday at midday. Zef Brozi has just issued the decision for the conditional release of the 4 members of the minority. He comes down from the third floor of the courtroom where the trial was held and enters the Court of Cassation’s chamber. The conversation lasts only a few moments, and the number one figure in Albanian justice puts down the receiver. “You see? They threatened me again, with explanations. They threatened me.” Just when the minority case seemed finally resolved, another mystery erupts. The President of the Court of Cassation, “A very high-ranking official.” And what did he say to you? “As soon as I answered the phone, he said ironically: ‘You released the members of the minority? You are anti-Albanian. Your case is [?]—all our effort yesterday was for nothing.’” And then? “I told him: ‘If you are the accusers, why didn’t you come to the trial? We answer to no one for the decisions of the Court of Cassation except the law.’” Was that the end of the conversation? “No. On the contrary, the high-ranking official used many other brutal expressions toward me as President of the Court of Cassation, and even threatened me. There were various exchanges that I will not mention.” How would you assess this incident? “It is an unprecedented case in the practice of foreign courts. Whereas in the Albanian courts, as I see it, there are and will be brutal changes to the independence of the justice system. Men—[continues outside the frame] The Court of Cassation convicts Omonia figures but orders their release from prison ARMAND MERO EDMOND LAÇI TIRANË — Wednesday at midday. Zef Brozi has just issued the ruling conditionally registering four members of the minority community. where the proceedings took place and enters his office. His secretary is waiting there with the telephone in her hand: “It’s for you.” Brozi listens, speaks briefly, and ... “We do not answer for the decisions of the Court of Cassation.” The conversation lasts only a few seconds, and the person at the Albanian Directorate hangs up. “You see? They’ve asked me for explanations again. They threatened me.” It was precisely then that I realized that the minorities would be ... [unclear]. The matter opens up another mystery: the President of the Court of Cassation says he was threatened over the ruling he has just issued. We seek an explanation. But who was it? ‘You released those minorities? You are anti-Albanian. You should go ...’” [text cut off/unclear] ... Were you threatened? “Yes, by a ...” [text cut off] ... contrary, Fank...” [text cut off] ... The Court of ... [text cut off] and many others like him” — Brozi is threatened in t... [text cut off] ... Dhejtorit”. In the state at that time ... [text cut off] ... Seiz... seized belongs to ... [text cut off] Edmond Laçi

And then?

Investigations at the Prison yesterday TIRANA—The story of the largest drug seizure in Albania has almost been pieced together. And while investigators have only the final hours to decide whether the four Turkish citizens will be released or arrested, their respective responsibilities now also seem more clearly defined. In any case, although criminal proceedings have begun, only today—at 4:30 p.m.—will the fate of Mustafa Ataseven, Sinan Çakmak, Xhe... Ergyder and Mehmet Gungor, as well as the charges that could send them to court, finally be known. One decisive detail, in addition to the investigations carried out in the Prison, will be the result of the final analyses, although by now there is almost no doubt that the seized quantity is heroin. It was 4:30 p.m. when Turkish citizen Mustafa Ataseven was stopped near the “Union” restaurant, at the last intersection west of the Albanian capital. The car in which 27-year-old Ataseven was travelling also contained a bag holding three packages, each containing approximately 1 kilogram of heroin. Immediately after the Turk was stopped, special forces from the Ministry of the Interior and officers from Tirana’s 2nd Police Station searched the apartment where he lived, a rented flat very close to “21 Dhjetori”. The other three Turkish citizens were also at home: Sinan Çakmak, who lived with Ataseven, and two teachers at the “Mehmet Akif” College in the capital. All three were immediately detained, even though at the time, according to reports, they were supposed to be breaking their fast for iftar, a customary ritual during the month of ...[cut off] The Prosecutor’s Office being at Ataseven’s home somehow help them avoid being considered accomplices in this high-profile case. But perhaps the 30-year-old Çakmak, who had lived with Ataseven for some time and dealt in biscuits-[continues outside the frame] But while the mystery of will be cleared up only today, another mystery—that of the heroin’s quality—may take several more hours to be definitively confirmed. According to suspicions, there is almost no doubt that the seized quantity of three kilograms belongs to the heroin family. Its light-brown color supports the hypothesis that it is heroin, while it differs considerably from that on the European market and is also known by the name “brown sugar”. For the first time in ...[cut off]

Patos Radio also shuts down PATOS—Yet another private radio station in Albania has been forced to close. This time it was in Patos, where yesterday its owner was forced to comply with the local authorities’ final order to shut down the station. But that is not all: the equipment of “Radio Patosi” is no longer at its former location either. After a short life, the equipment that had broadcast music for nearly two months is now impounded at the town police station. Private radio stations in Vlora had previously met the same fate. (En. My.)

A fine of up to 1 million for anyone who lies TIRANA—Senior state officials and members of parliament will be required to declare the assets they have accumulated, while a special seven-member commission will check whether their statements are truthful. A draft law to be debated in Parliament soon thus seeks to provide another legal instrument in the fight against economic corruption, which has been much discussed lately. The list of senior officials covered is broad: ministers, members of parliament, judges, prosecutors, and mayors of municipalities and communes will be required to make an inventory of their “pockets” in public, voluntarily exposing themselves to the anti-corruption scanner. They will have to declare real estate and its source, shares and securities they own, sums in foreign currencies or valuables worth more than 10,000 dollars, as well as positions they hold in commercial companies and their share of the capital in those companies. Without casting any doubt at all on the officials’ sincerity, the draft nevertheless proposes setting up a “filter” to verify their declarations. It also establishes a seven-person commission—2 from the People’s Assembly, 2 from the Council of Ministers, 2 from the judicial system and 1 from the State Audit Office—to verify the truthfulness of declarations submitted by members of parliament, members of the Government, members of the Constitutional Court and the Court of Cassation, as well as the State Audit Service. In the event that false declarations are found, fines of 500,000–1,000,000 lekë are envisaged. And if the financial violation verified also constitutes a criminal offense, a report will be filed with the prosecutor’s office. An.Ste.

He didn’t pay the bet and died by the knife KORÇË—He lost at billiards, but paid with his life for not handing over the bet money. It happened at midday on Tuesday, in a billiard hall in the village of Floq, Korçë, where Fatos Ramolli, 29, from Kamenica, was fatally stabbed. The victim was immediately taken to the Korçë hospital, but to no avail. Eyewitnesses identified Genc Mediu, 21, as the perpetrator. He had previously been sentenced to two years in prison for theft. After the crime, he immediately fled with the knife and his friend, but was arrested by the police two hours later. El.Ko.

The Municipality’s seal disappears TROPOJË — A seal has been stolen and another forged. — A seal has been stolen and another forged. The seal of the Tropojë District Municipality is no longer in its safe. Persons who have not yet been identified took the important seal, thereby suspending for some time the issuing of all decisions by this institution. Meanwhile, the seal of a civil registry office has also been forged. For now, details about both incidents remain unknown. One of the main reasons for the theft of the Municipality’s seal—according to internal sources—is the forgery of documents that makes it possible to obtain social assistance funds. Ar. Ça.

“Media Center” director unexpectedly fired TIRANË — The director of “Media Center,” a Soros Foundation unit that has been dealing with issues concerning the Albanian press for two years, was unexpectedly fired on Monday morning. Virgili Muçi, 36, was not only its director but also the center’s initiator and founder. The unexpected and abrupt dismissal was communicated to Muçi by Avni Mustafa, the Foundation’s executive director. Virgili Muçi, in addition to being a writer, is known and respected in Albanian circles for the significant contribution he made until two days ago in promoting—even in Albania—a European-style journalistic culture, and for the moments of ... [final part unclear]

“Traffic-light” scandal: officials’ files sent to the prosecutor ELBASAN — The so-called traffic-light scandal has reached the prosecutor’s office. On Wednesday, the State Audit branch submitted to the Elbasan District Prosecutor’s Office a report concerning two officials: N. Deliu, head of the “communications office” at the District Council, and A. Terentiev, director of the maintenance enterprise. It all began in December 1993, when the District Council invested in a minimum of 13 sets of traffic lights for the city. The State Audit branch in Elbasan had verified violations in the procedures for purchasing the traffic lights from the company “Andrei S...” [text cut off]. Later, irregularities were also found in the installation of the traffic lights, [unclear text] its expenses cost millions ... [text cut off] Me.Ki.

Krujë, the story of the abandoned infant M. URUÇI on page 3 Durrës, 2,000 illegal buildings On page 3 Parliament, another law on property GJ. PILIKA on page 3

Currency Commercial Bank Buying Selling Albkredit shpk Buying Selling Free market Buying Selling Dollar 93,20 95,00 94,00 94,60 94,30 94,45 Mark 60,30 61,35 60,60 61,20 60,80 61,00 Lira 57,40 58,90 57,80 58,20 57,90 58,00 Drachma 38,00 39,20 39,90 39,20 39,05 39,10