On the eve of Papulias’s visit Albanian refugees returned at Kakavijë TIRANA - The shooting of a young Albanian by Greek soldiers on Saturday risks turning into a new diplomatic incident between Albania and Greece. Yesterday the event—which was reported in Albania in an official statement by the Ministry of Internal Affairs—provoked a reaction from the Athens press, but above all from Greek officials. News agencies reported yesterday the first reaction by Athens’s official spokesman, Venizellos, and Foreign Minister Papulias. Greek diplomats have tried—while denying responsibility on the part of their military—to play down the scale of the incident, which could once again put delicate relations between the two countries at risk, just a few days before Papulias’s arrival in Tirana. Venizelos also announced that it had been a “minor incident,” an attempt whose accuracy will be determined by experts from both countries, who will meet and address the concern expressed by the Albanian side. The incident on Friday appeared in the press only yesterday. An official statement from the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Tirana described the sequence of the violent act: On the night between Saturday and Sunday, near the village of Vidohovë, a patrol of Greek soldiers had pursued a group of Albanians. The Greek border guards—according to the report?—had opened fire on the fleeing Albanians. Albanian experts had established that one of the young men had been wounded on Albanian territory that very Saturday—Ilir Shima, 24, from Librazhd—who was then taken? by the Greeks into their territory. In fact, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which later reported the incident on the sensitive border, immediately drew Tirana’s attention; Tirana promptly announced the dispatch of a group to verify the circumstances of the event and the return? of the injured man in suitable condition. officially installed in the regulations within their territory. The information from the Ministry of Internal Affairs had later indicated that the event on the sensitive border had immediately drawn Tirana’s attention, from which the inspector dispatched the groups promptly to verify the circumstances of the event. ... from Librazhd ... ... Information from the Ministry of Internal Affairs ... ... State Control Commission ... ... Tirana ... ... Commission ... ... f.b. Would this situation affect the new parliamentary elections? “I don’t think debates like these harm the party; on the contrary, I think they do it good. Such matters should not be kept closed; their discussion should have as broad a basis as possible.” Tirana, the Greek attaché arrives ... for every party that is founded on democratic principles... “For me this will also lower Albania’s image in the world. It is proof that Albanian politics is in complete collapse,” the PS deputy chairman replied. f.b.

Yesterday the prosecutor announced his closing submission “Lika should be sentenced to 10 years in prison” Verdict on Monday TIRANA - One fewer charge against MP Arben Lika, but also ten years in prison. For the first time—since September ’94, when Lika was arrested—the charges against him were “converted” into prison years. The tenacious prosecutor, Dritan Ribaj, who presented the closing submission, asked the court to sentence Lika and the three other defendants in the case to a combined 33 years in prison, convinced that they had “engaged in cigarette smuggling” worth approximately 30 thousand dollars. Ribaj’s severe request, however, began with one fewer charge against Lika and Shehai, who for months had also faced the charge of “forgery of official documents.” According to the prosecutor, “the forgery was committed in the course of carrying out the smuggling, that is, as a means of achieving that objective, and not as a separate criminal offence.” As for the other defendant—Edmond Meçe—the prosecutor asked that he not be considered an “accomplice” in the actions of Lika, Shehai and Haliluni. Yesterday, years for Lika and Shehai, for Haliluni five? Meçe—the prosecutor’s counsel requested?—since those then remain in force until next Monday, precisely the day the judges will also announce the final verdict. Only, the accused parties will have the opportunity to defend themselves one last time. The “Sotirios” case: former minister for State Control Ruli: “I don’t give explanations to a mere inspector” TIRANA - “I don’t give explanations to a mere inspector.” Now that the mysterious “Sotirios” case—the ship detained in October 1993 in Vlorë and released on the orders of the Defence forces—has resurfaced and passed through the offices of the State Control Commission, Genc Ruli, former Minister of Finance, refuses to respond to the Commission’s request for clarifications. “I received a letter signed by an inspector of trade, and I know? Gencar Shqipatre—asking me for details about the ship ‘Sotirios.’ I don’t understand what more they want. They have all the files and documentation from that time.” This concerns several documents Ruli sent regarding the detention of this ship at the port? anchorage, and another addressed to Zhulali in which he asked for the reasons for the release of “Sotirios.” The Defence Minister’s position on this issue is still unknown, while the State Control Commission is also awaiting a reply from him. Prosecutor in the Lika trial, Dritan Ribaj

INTERVIEW/ Shehu on the controversy surrounding Selami Debate in the DP Council? “It has done the party good” No fear about the ’96 elections TIRANA - How will Monday’s controversy in the National Council affect matters; will it weaken the DP’s position in the run-up to the 1996 elections? “The way our National Council handled and presented this issue should also be a lesson for the other parties. I think that more debate within the party will strengthen it for the new elections.” Tritan Shehu, the DP’s Secretary-General, therefore disagrees with Chairman Selami on these points as well. Just one day earlier, Selami had expressed concern about the upcoming parliamentary elections: “I’m afraid,” he had said, “that the Extraordinary Conference may drain the party’s energy.” Why insist on the Referendum line? “We remained faithful to the National Council’s initial decision because we have several arguments. First, we believe that bringing the Constitution to Parliament first is a political manoeuvre by the socialists to bring about early elections. Their own leaders have declared: ‘Let’s pass the draft in Parliament and then, if it cannot manage to approve the Constitution, let it be dissolved.’ We ourselves have done our utmost to ensure that Albania gets a Constitution as soon as possible, not only before the referendum, but also after it.” Now the Extraordinary Conference will be convened. Why? “The National Council judged that the issue under discussion was a very important political matter. Several senior party bodies took part in the discussion: the Chairman, the Presidency, the Council. The Conference is, like the Assembly, the highest body, to which the final say belongs.” How do you assess this situation in the party leadership? “There is only one way to strengthen the party: open up the debate and put the issue before as broad a base as possible, but in the end abide by the vote. I think such a debate is normal for a party that changes according to democratic principles... Will as possible.” fa.bax.

Pellumbi on the situation in the DP TIRANA - After the recent events in the DP National Council, I am even more concerned about democracy in Albania. Of course, the decision they made is primarily their own internal matter, but when a lack of tolerance is reflected even in the leadership of the party in power, then it becomes an issue for the whole country.” These are the words of the Socialist leader Servet Pellumbi, just one day after Selami’s defeat at the meeting of the National Council. According to Pellumbi, yesterday’s meeting “was a reflection of the general crisis the country is experiencing.” “If Selami’s proposal had been accepted,” Pellumbi added, “that would have been a positive sign that democratic principles also prevailed in the DP. Unfortunately, that did not happen, and for us this was another clear proof that the party is ruled by the President’s personal dictates.” What significance will yesterday’s decision at the DP Council have for Albania’s political future? collapse,” the PS deputy chairman replied. .f.b.

After the Tetovo incidents. A stern response from official Tirana After the Tetovo incidents Starova: “We are reviewing our policy toward Skopje” A stern response from official Tirana TIRANA - Tirana’s diplomacy is threatening to review its position toward Macedonia. The tone—unprecedentedly harsh—is coming directly from the Foreign Ministry, where Deputy Minister Starova has stated that Albania’s position toward its northeastern neighbour is being reviewed. “Our reaction will be harsh,” Starova said yesterday. “I don’t want to say what we will do if they try to suppress them by force. But we will review our position toward Macedonia, which also implies a ‘re-examination’.” Thus, for the first time since Macedonia was officially recognized as a state, senior Albanian authorities have spoken of a change in political course, including in Albanian-Macedonian relations. The creation of a hostile atmosphere toward Macedonia by the Albanian and Macedonian authorities is becoming a display concerning this country, which seeks stabilization—now even by Tirana itself, which is pulling back. “The will of our government has been such,” Starova continued, “that it left no room for anyone to imagine that one day we would have difficulties with our Slavo-Macedonian neighbours over Albanians being treated as enemies of the state.” According to Starova, the political reality so far has put Albania in a situation where Macedonian efforts have always proved insufficient to ensure the fair treatment of Albanians. (p.re)

– More than 100 intercity buses in Korçë are threatening to put on the brakes. The Korçë drivers of the subunits of the Ministry of Transport Organization oppose the decision to organize them into companies by March 31. “The taxes that they should have imposed on us immediately in such a case left us no room to make a profit,” they say, while also protesting the danger posed by the intervention of minibuses in passenger transport. This is the second time that Korçë’s drivers have faced this problem. In January of last year, they even went on strike. e.k.

YESTERDAY IN ALBANIA A meeting in Vlorë and the television broadcast of the news about the Second National Conference of the Aromanians have sparked controversy among members of the Aromanian Association. According to its leaders, the meeting was organized solely by particular individuals who had been given a representative mandate, and whose aims seriously violate the status established by the Association. The Vlorë meeting, according to this statement, could cause “serious divisions among the Aromanians”. Athens, Greek attaché arrives While Albanian-Greek relations still suffer from the old “coldness”, the heads of defense have taken a step forward. Minister of Defense Sabet Zhulali met with the Greek military attaché, Aleksandër Kisros, who has just begun his assignment. Kisros invited Zhulali to Greece, also expressing his desire for the Greek and Albanian armies to cooperate in a joint exercise. Medals for those who toppled the monument They were among the most prominent participants in the attack on the dictator’s monuments and have been awarded the “Medal of Bravery”. The title was bestowed on 18 residents of Korçë during a ceremony commemorating February 20.

– Flames engulfed the building. A very minor act of carelessness nearly caused a tragedy for five Durrës families in Neighborhood 6. The night before last, at 21:10, the fire rapidly engulfed the two-storey building, perhaps aided by its construction, which was mainly of wood. In any case, the terror and panic that lasted for several minutes were averted by a single phone call. The city’s fire brigade managed to save the building; moreover, four of the five families living there suffered no damage. (p.re)

Gjirokastër, the story of a boy from the day he was born GJIROKASTËR – Fifteen years of life, from the day he was born, spent in hospital corridors and beds. This is the fate that has followed Julian Erindi throughout his life in the city of Gjirokastër. Abandoned by his mother in the first days of his life, he was in very poor condition. Erindi grew up eating and sleeping, moving from one ward to another. Now, with no schooling, he wanders the city streets and cafés, where he does odd jobs to get something to stave off his constant hunger. Whereas doctors and nurses at the hospitals used to look after him—he spent four years in pediatrics—it is now difficult for him even there. The modernization and major changes to the wards mean he can no longer stay there, because Erindi has been made to leave the hospital. “We have renovated everything and are cooperating with foreigners,” says the head of pediatrics, “so he can no longer stay here.” Nevertheless, Erindi does not seem willing to give up hospitals. He continues to wander between the surgery and pathology wards. But when they turn him away here too, he heads to the university dorm rooms, where he hopes to benefit from the charity of some student. Ra. Ko.

Fewer goods in state transport On page 3 The village worth 6 million dollars On page 3

Song lyrics, mishaps and photos of the stars of Italy’s best-known music festival The entire page 5