INTERVIEW/ From Gjirokastra, the account of nine months in prison “I, accused of being a spy, confess” A leading Omonia figure speaks “Now we are for dialogue” Kosta Qirjako recalls life in his cell, the hours waiting for the trial, the minutes after his release. Then he stresses: “Albanians are my brothers.” GJIROKASTER- “Albanians are my brothers.” About 18 hours after leaving Tirana Prison, Kosta Qirjako, one of the leading figures of Omonia—sentenced on Wednesday by the Court of Cassation to five years, suspended—tells Gazeta Shqiptare about his life in a cell, under accusation of espionage. After more than nine months, he has now returned to his home in the village of Derviçan, six kilometres from the city of Gjirokastra. Yesterday afternoon, at 17:30, the car that had brought Qirjako from Tirana—it had set off at 13:00—stopped in front of the house. His two brothers got out with him; they had attended the entire trial and had spent Wednesday afternoon outside the prison’s iron gate, waiting for his release. Many of Qirjako’s relatives came out onto the steps of the house. At their head was his mother, an elderly woman over 70, who for two days had sat in tears, glued to the radio and television, trying to learn her son’s fate: the quick-dial telephone connection to Tirana was not working. Qirjako’s two young children were also there: his daughter and his three-and-a-half-year-old son. Then everyone went inside. In addition to tearful embraces and handshakes with everyone who came to see him, Qirjako also had to answer the questions of the many journalists at his home. When did you hear the Court of Cassation’s decision? “Before I heard the decision, I was waiting at home ...” [The article continues with a fragment concerning a statement that the police were ready to ‘pack their bags’ to meet their Albanian counterpart Sereqi. Costas Bikas, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also said: ‘We wish to express our satisfaction and hope that a new chapter will now open in relations between the two countries and our peoples.’ Bikas reiterated that ‘Greece was convinced that, in order to begin a joint dialogue, it was necessary to ...’] “Once the document had been signed by Brozi, it was the lawyer who came straight to the prison and gave me the news.” How did you receive it? “We expected more from Justice. The accusation that calls us spies does not hold up. Justice should have declared us innocent. Nevertheless, time will show that we really are innocent. I thank the press, which helped us—not because it supported us, but because it stood up for the truth.” What can you say about the period you spent in prison? “Both Shimo and I had already experienced prison for years as political prisoners. Nevertheless, the months we spent here were at times difficult. The isolation was exceptionally severe. The same was true of the surveillance and the guards’ watch over us.” What did you do on the night you were released? “Nothing. Each of us separated and left with his own people. We still haven’t met.” What will you do now? Are you thinking of leaving for Greece? “No, not at all. Our home is here, and I will not leave anywhere.” Your sentence led to tensions between Albania and Greece. How do you regard Albanians now? “There is no force in the world that could make me think Albanians are my enemies. They are my brothers.” Rajmond Kola Charges clarified after heroin seizure Turkish teachers acquitted While two merchants are arrested TIRANA - The status of the four Turkish citizens, whose names ... Ataseven and Sinan Çakmak, a different fate. At midday, the Prosecutor’s Office ... against the two Turkish merchants. A director of the “Mehmet Akif” College told Gazeta Shqiptare about the events and the two colleagues. [text continues beyond image] Qirjako during the trial. (photo: H.Pustina)

TIRANA - Positive reactions in Athens to the Court of Cassation’s decision to release the Omonia figures. Just one day later, the first statements and positions on the event—which had soured relations between the two countries for a long time—came from the offices of Greek diplomacy. Statements by various Greek government officials welcomed the decision, signalling a positive outlook for future dialogue between the two countries. Papulias, however, said he was ready to “pack his bags” to meet his Foreign Affairs, took the same line ... [text continues beyond image] This time, too, Athens did not forget to renew contact: “We can begin dialogue with Tirana, on condition that Albania does not revisit the decision to release the members of the minority who were arrested,” Greek government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos stressed. In any case, news of the release of the four members of the minority pleased the highest political circles in Greece. Indeed, according to foreign news agencies, the Foreign Minister Pa... [?] new chapter will now open in relations with the two countries and their peoples,” said ... [?], who brought back ... [?] The Greeks were convinced that, for the common dialogue to begin, the suffering of ... [?] of Omonia’s members had to come to an end.” The conviction of the members of the minority had long been a flashpoint that had inflamed relations between Tirana and Athens on numerous occasions, even to the point of crisis. Athens had used, as countermeasures, sometimes the mass deportation of Albanian emigrants, and at other times the blocking of the grant of 30 million ECU that the EU had allocated to Albania. Ar. Me. Qirjako during the trial. (photo: H.Pustina)

The trial adjourned until next Monday “The Lika mystery” adds to the list of witnesses Requested by both the prosecution and the defence TIRANA—The Lika mystery requires more witnesses to be clarified. By midday yesterday—when it was decided to reopen the proceedings once again—12 witnesses had been questioned, four of them at the latest hearing alone. Nevertheless, for the presiding judge, as well as for MP Lika himself and his lawyer, the judicial inquiry cannot proceed without some further testimony. There are six people who, according to the presiding judge, Artan Zeneli, are “absolutely essential to unraveling the accusation.” The list includes Eduard Aliko, Shuaip Ibro, Kastrjot Mehmeti, Virgil Joti, Alfred Iorgoke-Mark Marku, while Lika’s lawyer also requested two other witnesses “who must be questioned.” It therefore appears that the next hearing—on Monday—will once again be devoted to witness statements, and even that may not be enough. Yesterday, when the MP and three prosecution witnesses and one defence witness [appeared], the proceedings were again marked by new details. The account given by the brother of Sali Rabi was also striking. After an arrest warrant was issued, he left for Greece; his testimony could perhaps change the course of this trial. The witness stated that in December last year he had met his brother in Athens, from where he brought back two letters—until now mysterious—one for President Berisha and the other for Arben Lika’s lawyer. Lika leaving the Court yesterday (photo: H.Pustina)

The Gjirokastra merchant also writes to the President TIRANA - A three-page letter declares Arben Lika, the Democratic Party MP accused of “cigarette smuggling,” innocent. Handwritten, the letter from Athens was addressed to his lawyer, Arben Lika, and to President Berisha. Living in Athens and unable to return to his country, the merchant in Lagarasti, Gjirokastra, sent a letter to President Berisha and others in December ’94. [text continues beyond image]

While two merchants are arrested TIRANA - The status of the four Turkish citizens, whose names had been “mixed up” for two days with three kilograms of heroin seized by the Albanian authorities at 16:30 on Monday, has now been definitively clarified. Yesterday afternoon, Xhelal Ergydere and Mehmet Gungor, the two teachers at the “Mehmet Akif” College in the capital, finally left Tirana Prison, where they had spent 48 hours. But while the detention of teachers Ergydere and Gungor served only to convince investigators of their unquestionable innocence, their compatriots Mustafa Ataseven and Sinan Çakmak met a different fate. Yesterday at noon, the Prosecutor’s Office definitively ordered the arrest of the two Turkish merchants. “No criminal case was opened against my two clients,” the lawyer for Ergydere and Gungor told Gazeta Shqiptare, “but they went directly from being detainees to being witnesses.” Last night, both teachers at “Mehmet Akif” College returned to their homes, where today they will be joyful guests among their families and relatives. “There was not the slightest connection between this incident and our two colleagues,” Ibrahim Aydogan, Director General of “Mehmet Akif” College, told Gazeta Shqiptare. “After accepting the invitation to join the teachers’ group for the Ramadan iftar dinner, they had gone on the outing in question. The police inspection happening at the same time was a coincidence, and this put our two colleagues in an unfortunate situation.” Expressing his satisfaction at the return of his teachers, Aydogan thanked the Albanian Directorate and the investigators in the case, who, according to him, “uncovered the truth.”

TIRANA - A three-page letter declares Arben Lika, the Democratic Party MP accused of “cigarette smuggling,” innocent. TIRANA - was addressed to Lika’s lawyer, Mark Pëllumbi, while another copy went to President Berisha. The author of the letter is Sali Rabi, a major merchant from Gjirokastra, one of the people arrested in Albania—a measure that could not be carried out because he had left for Greece—in connection with the same affair that put Lika and three other people behind bars. merchant from Lagarati, Gjirokastra, summoned his brother in December ’94 and gave him the letter for President Berisha and lawyer Pëllumbi. According to the judges, the letter can now be admitted together with the other documentary evidence. “I stress once again that Lika knew nothing about the cigarettes,” Rabi wrote in the letter, taking upon himself all responsibility for the smuggling operation. “Consciously, we did not pay customs duty, because it is logical: the fundamental law of capitalism is profit,” the merchant Rabi continued, “and under these circumstances we decided not to tell Lika anything, because we were afraid he would not help us.” Thus, while explaining his own innocence and that of Lika, Rabi has become an unusual protagonist in this trial, even if not physically present. It seems that a letter was sent by him, but it has not been [received/considered] by the judges. Edmond Laçi

In Elbasan ELBASAN - For residents of Llabrazhd and Rrogozhinë, telephone connections with districts within the country and with foreign countries have become impossible. Telephone wires running through the two towns have been removed by villagers in the Elbasan district, who use them for house fences and other purposes. Two kilometres of telephone lines in the Elbasan olive groves have been stolen by unseen hands, thereby blocking communications for residents of these villages. This is yet another case of telephone lines being stolen. A few days ago, a similar occurrence was reported in the Krujë district. Me. Ki

Dokle to the Minister of Finance TIRANA - “How much does the state earn from the trade in cigarettes and fuel?” Dylber Vrioni, the Minister of Finance, will answer this question in a special session of Parliament. This time, the request on this issue was submitted to the Presidium of the People’s Assembly by Socialist Party deputy Namik Dokle. Thus, the “boom” in foreign cigarettes, alongside the fuel tankers entering Albania, has also reached the parliamentary chamber: this time, however, the issue is not their illegal sale or the smuggling of diesel and petrol that has taken hold of Albania’s northern border areas. Deputy Dokle has asked the Minister of Finance to clarify “how much money has been paid into the Albanian State’s coffers from taxes and duties on the trade in these goods at customs.” a.m.

Cable fault TIRANA - The Prime Minister’s Office has been without telephone service for two days. The entire building, except for two or three numbers, has been cut off from the capital’s telephone network. The cause of this interruption—which has hindered the daily work of senior government officials—is a fault in the internal cable of the Prime Minister’s Office building. Nevertheless, technicians are working to repair the serious fault as soon as possible. Ar. Ça.

TIRANA - Italian language and culture courses will resume in the capital and in other districts of the country. The announcement was made by the Cultural Office of the Italian Embassy, and registration will take place from 9 to 25 February. Candidates aged 16 to 50 who take part will be able to choose a beginner, intermediate or advanced level. The course begins on 1 March and lasts about 200 hours. A fee of 2,500 lek will be charged, while the book costs 500 lek. In Tirana, registration can be completed every day at the Italian Cultural Centre in the Faculty of Foreign Languages, except Saturday and Sunday. Registration hours are from 10:00 to 12:00 and from 15:00 to 16:00. In Shkodër, registration is at the “Shenjza e Jukës” pedagogical secondary school; in Elbasan, at “A. Xhuvani” University; and in Korçë, the course is at the foreign languages secondary school. In all three districts, registration hours are from 10:00 to 13:00 every day except Saturday and Sunday.

Seminar in the capital TIRANA - The tragedy of blood vengeance has now reached Parliament as well. The bloody phenomenon, which has returned in recent years with major outbreaks in the North, has also alarmed Albania’s highest state authorities. On Monday, at the initiative of the Commission for the Kingdom, Public Order and SHIK, a seminar will be held at which the blood-feud problem and the measures that should be taken to prevent it will be the central focus. Representatives from many northern areas will gather around the table—prefects, mayors, sociologists, members of parliament, and senior officials from the Albanian Police and Prosecutor’s Office. The chairman of the People’s Assembly, Ilir Alia, will also take part in the seminar. In addition, 13 presentations will be delivered, addressing various aspects of this phenomenon and the testimonies surrounding it, which has engulfed thousands of families who still continue to live confined to their homes. a.m.

Currency Bank of Commerce Buying Selling Albakredit shpk Buying Selling Free market Buying Selling Dollars 93,20 95,00 94,00 94,50 94,10 94,20 Marks 60,35 61,35 60,80 61,20 60,90 61,00 Lire 57,40 59,00 57,80 58,20 57,90 58,00 Drachmas 38,10 39,20 39,00 39,20 39,00 39,10

Here is how much heating and cooking cost a family On page 3 The employment corner and offers from the business world On page 3

Berat: They fail to repay loans; banks file complaints There are 21 clients of Berat’s three banks who have not repaid the loans they took out. In response, the banks have filed complaints with the Court against 21 people and seized property and houses. The Enforcement Office is now obliged to organize auctions to collect the sum of 20 million lek—the loan debt is owed to the state. Kavaja gets its own newspaper A new newspaper has been launched in Kavaja. Titled “Opinione ’95,” its two editors have undertaken to write only about new developments in their city on its pages. It is an independent periodical, with sections including “Panteon,” “Fokus” and “Interart.” Lezhë: bank sells apartments The Bank of Lezhë has put up for sale residential apartments belonging to its former clients. As they were unable to repay their loans, these people had their apartments seized. The bank has decided to sell these homes on its own behalf and deposit the proceeds. In this way, it has managed to collect 40 million lek from overdue loans and 10 million lek from loans whose repayment terms have expired.