BERAT — The tragedy happened in just a moment, but the bitter taste it left behind lingers on. Four hours after the massacre, on the steep slope at Terpan, nothing remains of the bus that slid 200 meters down—not a metal frame on one side, nor the other parts of it lying bare on its wheels. BERAT Fatal accident at a ravine: a story... from the abyss, scenes of horror Tragic plunge into the abyss Bus skids: ten dead Petrit Muço[l]lava, one of the injured at the Tirana hospital From Tërpan EDMOND LAÇI The tragedy happened in just a moment, but the bitter taste it left behind lingers on. Four hours after the massacre, on the steep slope at Terpan, nothing remains of the bus that slid 200 meters down—not a metal frame on one side, nor the other parts of it lying bare on its wheels. All around, the terror that engulfed all the inhabitants of this village—25 kilometers from Berat—still lingers among the rocks. Fresh traces of tragedy remain on the slope: bloodstains, shoes, bags and objects ... Safet Zhulali. The figures of the tragedy are now clear. Of the 45-seat bus—filled with more than 60 people—10 have died and 40 have been injured. Four people who were in the most serious condition were immediately flown to Tirana by helicopter—the Berat stadium field had been transformed into an airfield. Then, around 19:00, another 4 were taken, while the transfer of two injured people will take place tomorrow morning. The scene before our eyes on the slope at Terpan is horrifying. We move among what remains of the bus and its unfortunate passengers. In the air, the smell of blood mingles with chilling accounts from a rock just 10 meters away. “If it had happened, it would have demolished my house, along with my 18-year-old daughter, Merita, who was inside,” Nazmi Demiri tells us. “At first I heard a terrible noise,” Merita continues, “then I heard the neighbors screaming. I saw people flying this way and that. Then some of them stood up, like ghosts, felt their bodies with their hands and ran to look for their relatives.” Merita is still trembling as she speaks. “I saw it clearly,” says another villager. “The bus had just left the station and had gone only 200 meters when it skidded. There is a severed hand just above the wrist, and one of its fingers has a ring. He picked it up and keeps it in a bag, then in the bag at the municipal center. Another person found a bag and a shal[l] that had fallen into the yard of his house, very close to where the bus came to a stop. The first body found was that of the driver, Kamber Kokonozi, 5 meters from the place where the bus skidded: he had worked in this profession for a long time and had never touched alcohol. Struck in the stomach, he died immediately, leaving behind [unclear/garbled text] his children, whom he had raised himself, with one of his children. Then there were others. All were scattered around. The injured died at the scene.” Four lost their lives immediately, while the others died on the way. All of them—living and dead—were gathered into the beds of “Zis” trucks that had passed by at the moment of the tragedy, and they were rushed to Berat hospital. While death struck many without mercy, fortune was generous to a few others. There is an 18-month-old child who flew out of the vehicle during the jolts and landed on an oak tree. The villagers found him here, crying: he had suffered nothing except a slight scratch on his head. Another such case ... Luan Muçollari, 26, undergoing surgery (photos: H. Pustina)

BERAT — An argument started by passengers and the driver’s loss of attention appear to have caused the fatal skid. This was reported by the injured, who, amid the pain of their wounds, describe the tragedy to Gazeta Shqiptare: “The bus was overloaded beyond capacity with passengers and had just left Terpani, heading toward the city of Berat. The cramped space—with passengers standing because there were no seats—as well as the annoyance this causes in such circumstances, sparked an argument between them and the driver. ‘Why are you insisting on loading the vehicle so heavily?’ one of the passengers complained to the driver and the conductor, and other complaints followed. The argument distracted the driver, who turned his head back just as he was at a dangerous bend. The bus veered for several meters against a rock beside the road and then rolled into the abyss...” Halit Tafa

Luan Muçollari, 26, undergoing surgery (photos: H. Pustina)

The Italian league resumes Juventus also wins in Bari Its pursuers, Parma, Roma, Sampdoria, keep the gap Calm has finally returned to Italian football. A calm that even promises more. “We can come to the stadium even in wartime.” This is what everyone wrote on a giant banner, displayed by a group of young children at the Luigi Ferraris stadium in Genova. The players entered the field wearing their opponents’ shirts. A sign of solidarity, and a reflection on the future. Meanwhile, the actual football brought no change in the standings. Juventus, despite being pursued by Parma, Roma and Sampdoria, managed to win. With his two goals, Batistuta reached a total of 17. On page 4 Ravanelli embraces Vialli Goal drought among our teams On page 3 After Peqin and Fushë-Krujë, the championship is in danger On page 3

There are another 392 with 12 For week 22 of Totofutboll, the amount available to winners was For week 22 of Totofutboll, a record sum of 3,792,406 lekë was available to winners. There are 17 winning columns with 13 points, each of which, without any possible deductions, receives 133,849 lekë. There are 392 columns with 12 points, each of which, without any possible deductions, receives 5,263 lekë.

Berisha issues decree TIRANA - Enver Hoxha now stripped of decorations as well. And together with him, all the former Bloc members. A decree issued yesterday by the President of the Republic has stripped members of the former high communist nomenklatura of their honorary titles, as criminals of the genocide inflicted on the Albanian people during the years of communist dictatorship.” It is a long list featuring thousands of the best-known names from the last forty years of postwar Albanian history. At Hoxha’s side is his wife Nexhmije, as well as all his associates: Shefqet Peçi, Hysni Kapo, Gogo Nushi, Spiro Koleka, Haki Toska, Haxhi Lleshi. Yesterday’s presidential decree was issued on the basis of numerous proposals submitted by nationwide organizations and associations, and in accordance with the powers granted by the Constitution. The decree’s list does not include all the former high-ranking figures of the dictatorship. Their titles and decorations had already been removed some time ago by earlier decisions, but they had been in the role of the accused.

Government passes the proposal TIRANA - The securities have finally reached the government. Yesterday, at a meeting of the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Finance’s proposal for the issuance and distribution of privatization vouchers was reviewed. This has been regarded as one of the fundamental measures completing the legal framework for the mass privatization of state-owned enterprises. Under the proposal, all citizens who had reached the age of 18 by August 1, 1991, will be entitled to privatization vouchers, except those who have already benefited from the privatization process and from the land law. Two weeks ago, the government also approved the draft law on converting state-owned enterprises into commercial companies, which will make their privatization a more natural process.

The victim: “I don’t know who is threatening me” TIRANA - Mysterious arson attack on Saturday night targeting the car of the administrator of the Disko Lux Tirana nightclub. Someone, after waiting for Donato Bove to return from work to a similar apartment building, attached a fuse to the fuel tank of his “Volvo 740.” If the car had run on gasoline, the explosion would have been terrifying, but it was a diesel car and no explosion occurred. The attackers had spread gasoline around the car and set it on fire. “I cannot understand the reasons for the attack,” Donato Bove told Gazeta Shqiptare, “but I say that this attack is a serious threat against an Italian investor who came to work honestly in Albania. I ask myself what the next move might be: will they kill me?” Bove also complains that Italian investors in Albania are “unprotected” and concludes: “I will be forced, as many do, televizmet trupoje.” ... a stripped-down [unclear] on wheels. All around, one could still feel the terror that had gripped all the residents of this village - 25 kilometers from Berat - perched among the rocks. On the steep slope, fresh traces of the tragedy remain: bloodstains, shoes, bags, and belongings scattered here and there. The Prefect of Berat has also arrived at the scene, while President Berisha has arrived in the city, along with Health Minister Cikuli and the Defense Minister, among others; the transfer of two injured people is to take place tomorrow morning. The scene unfolding before our eyes on the slope at Terpan is shocking. with the chilling shock felt by those who witnessed the massacre up close. The first to arrive were residents of several houses standing at the foot of the slope. The bus had come to a stop, obstructed farther along, while slope at Terpan is shocking. bus had come to a stop, prevented from sliding: and did not have a [unclear] alcohol [unclear]. Struck in the abdomen, he died immediately, leaving at his home in Berat a child born only five days earlier. Then there were the others. All had been flung down the wild slope. Eleven people from the area died at the scene. “I alone,” recounts Ibrahim Aliaj, the commune doctor, “administered more than 200 ampoules of adrenaline and caffeine to help them get back on their feet. Like ghosts, they touched the bodies with their hands, while two seriously injured people searched “I saw the bus,” says another villager. “It meters when it skidded. It did more than 10 somersaults; when it landed on its wheels, it even bounced up into the air.” He continues to read, his heart frozen. A huge, heavy sleep, associated with old cars and gasoline. Another day has passed and it has caught Bove tells serious threat against an Italian investor who has come next move could be; will they kill me?” Bove complains and says will be forced, as many do, to [unclear].”

TIRANA - An Italian investor, Claudio Polser, was detained by Tirana police on Saturday afternoon on suspicion of making threats. The head of the “Italbeton” company spent the night in an isolation cell at the capital’s Police Station No. 2 and was released on Sunday morning. The incident took place at a police checkpoint: Polsen was driving a truck transporting pipes without the necessary documents. In those circumstances, he was found with an Albanian citizen—present during the check—and they were arrested with him at the office.

Over the shops TIRANA - Bread-shop sellers have begun a hunger strike to protest the way their premises are being privatized. Yesterday, at around 10:00, around 80 sellers entered one of the shops in the “Vasil Shanto” block, declaring that they disagreed with the decisions of the Privatization Board at Tirana Municipality, which is selling the shops where they have worked for years to various people. Since then, law-enforcement officers have also been present outside the premises where the hunger strike began.

YESTERDAY IN ALBANIA The Municipality does not pay taxes. A conflict has arisen between the Municipality of the city of Berat and the tax office. As the owner of schools, kindergartens, nurseries and other state institutions, the Municipality is obliged to pay tax on this property it owns. But although it received a letter from the tax office a year ago, the Municipality has still not drawn up an inventory of the buildings it owns.

YESTERDAY IN ALBANIA . Fifty-two families from the village of Banja will be relocated to the city of Elbasan. A fund of 50 million lek has been approved to build new apartments for the villagers. The families will leave their homes because they have been damaged by the Banja hydroelectric plant and are at risk.

DURRËS - They tried to abduct the wife of the man who owed them money, but were caught by the police. - They tried to abduct the wife of the man who owed them money, but were caught by the police. The two brothers from Tirana—A.Gj., 23, and A.Gj., 18—were detained yesterday in Shijak by law-enforcement officers as they were preparing to forcibly take the wife of N.C. The reason for this decision by the two young men from the capital was a large sum of money that N.C. had borrowed from them and had not repaid. So the only option the young men from the capital came up with was to take his wife hostage. The attempt nevertheless failed. (g.g)

Held for two days VLORË - He has swapped the steering wheel of his car for the role of a fake-passport dealer. But even here the police do not let him go free for long. Thonashi Haki Telo, a 36-year-old driver, was arrested a few days ago in the center of Vlorë for trafficking passports for travel abroad. He was found in possession of 13 passports with fake visas, but was released after two days. Currently, a highly developed market in fake visas and passports is operating in Vlorë, and prices are exorbitant. S.M.

ELBASAN - A woman beggar in her late sixties was found dead on Sunday at noon in one of the canals in the city of Elbasan. - A woman beggar in her late sixties was found dead on Sunday at noon in one of the canals in the city of Elbasan. The elderly woman’s body was found by passersby who happened upon it by chance. The police announced the victim’s identity. Her name was Xhevahire Jashari; she was from Tirana, but had lived in Elbasan for some time on the alms she managed to collect during her sad days. The police immediately began an investigation. The initial forensic findings indicate blows to the victim’s body, but no official confirmation has yet been given. m.k.

Debate / Is Kamuni guilty? FATOS BAXHAKU on the culture page

Here are the names of the people who died in the accident: Myrteza Ahmeti (28 years old, from Rehovah), Arshim Hasko (27 years old, from Gorica), Fiqiri Agalliu (53 years old, from Corrogjezi), Flamur Çuko (23 years old, from Mbolani), Kamber Kokonozi (the 28-year-old bus driver from Berat), Astrit Merko (32 years old, from Berat), Kujtim Veliaj (from Tërpani), Isuf Muçogllava (from

. Commercial Bank: Buying, Selling. Albakred shpk: Buying, Selling. Free market: Buying, Selling. Currency. Dollars. Marks. Lire. Drachmas.

. The Women’s Center, in cooperation with the Business Development Center of the Fulz Technical School, is seeking women candidates aged 25–40 who are interested in taking part in a qualification course to become instructors of qualification courses for the women’s nongovernmental organization (NGO) sector. The basic units of the course content are: organizational development, project development, management, and qualification-management techniques. The course will last four months, five days a week, three hours a day. Candidates selected for the course will receive a monthly honorarium for attending the entire course. The minimum criteria for admission to the selection process for this course are: 1. Very good knowledge of English. 2. A university degree in economics, finance, marketing, or social sciences. 3. Experience supporting various projects or businesses. 4. Availability to fit the schedule selected for the course. 5. A broad interest in business issues, as well as business issues relating to women. 6. Good ability to communicate with others. Individuals interested in this course should submit to the Women’s Center (Rr. “Myslym Shyri”), Pall. 46, shhk. 1, Ap.6, Tiranë - near the Court of Cassation) by 22 February 1994, Monday through Friday, from 11:00 to 13:00, a Curriculum Vitae and a one-page essay, typed, on one of the topics “Opportunities for Women Entrepreneurs in Albania” or “The Role of NGOs in Social Development”. If all the required documents are not completed, candidates for the women’s NGO sector. Both documents must be prepared in English.