But the “refugee issue” remains unresolved Optimism blossoms between the two countries after Papulias’s visit Albanian soldiers will soon take part in exercises in Piraeus. Expert commissions will verify the assets of Albanians in Greece TIRANA - A bilateral commission and a commission will examine relations between the two countries; three new border crossings will be opened; a friendship treaty will be signed to affirm good neighborly relations between the two peoples; institutional and economic contacts will increase; Greece will provide greater assistance for Albania’s contacts with the EU; experts from both countries will even study the assets of the population remaining in Greece; and Albanian soldiers will take part in a joint exercise in Piraeus. All these things seemed almost unthinkable just a few days ago. Concrete steps must now be taken on all of them—Berisha and Papulias have expressed their commitment to putting these points into effect as soon as possible—but at least yesterday both sides said they agreed. Everything seems to have gone well during Papulias’s mission to Albania. At the meetings concerning the Albanian visa regime towards them, Berisha and Sereggi promised Papulias that they would expand the fulfillment of the cultural rights of the minority. “Schools for members of the minority will be opened without hesitation wherever the required percentage threshold in terms of numbers is met,” Berisha said, “and the Greek language will be introduced to the extent necessary, including in the secondary schools of Dropull.” The Albanian President’s statement came immediately after the Greek minister had praised “the care taken in Albania in its treatment of the Greek minority.” Will there be more consulates? It was not officially mentioned, but talks between Papulias and members of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee also addressed consulates. One of the MPs ...almost unimaginable taken on all of them. Berisha and Papulias have called for these points to be implemented as quickly as possible—at least, yesterday both sides expressed their agreement. Tirana. The hopes placed in the talks between the Greek Foreign Minister and Berisha, Meksi, and Serreqi have been justified: the ice has begun to thaw. It was President Berisha himself who put forward two ideas that were well received by the head of Greek diplomacy: signing a friendship treaty and holding a Balkan Conference at which all the outstanding issues would be discussed. Hopes were also raised, although no decision has yet been made, for the hundreds of thousands of Albanians employed in Greece. Berisha and Serreqi asked Papulias to look into the possibility of legalizing their status. The Greeks agreed to work in this direction, but called for the creation of facilities for Greek businesspeople, above all the removal of ... Berisha and Papulias (photo: G.Xhengo) Janullatos welcomes Papulias at the Metropolis (photo: H. Pustina)

Mejdani indicted by the capital’s investigators The conflict between the two presidents intensifies TIRANA - A storm in the upper leadership of Albania’s Roma. But now the long-running disagreements over the position of President—which have continued for nearly a year—have ended up in the offices of the capital’s Investigation Department. Criminal proceedings have begun and Gural Mejdani has been indicted—the man who for three consecutive years had stood at the head of 100,000 Roma as President of the Democratic Union of the Roma of Albania—and he was reported by his own people. “They have accused me of forcibly holding office, of beatings, and also of theft,” Mejdani told Gazeta Shqiptare immediately after answering the investigators’ questions. Just a few meters away—but there to testify against Mejdani—was also the President of this organization, Skënder Veliu, who says he was elected by the Conference of Roma of Albania. The story of the two presidents, and the first upheaval in the upper leadership of Albania’s Roma, began on 2 August 1994. It was then, after district conferences, that the conference in Tirana was held, bringing about the major split. “Of the three candidacies,” Veliu told Gazeta Shqiptare, “I secured 30 votes, Bujar Rakipi got 2, while Gural Mejdani, who says he is still President, secured only 1.” Skënder Veliu, who says that he has lawfully held the post of President for a year, also says that only around 70 percent of the participants were absent from the Tirana Conference. “My dismissal was neither lawful nor in accordance with the statute,” Mejdani counters, “so I am currently the only President of the Roma.” But the nearly year-long odyssey over the position of President, the offices, the seal, and even the Roma newspaper—all of which have always remained in Mejdani’s hands—was not enough; a complaint to the investigative authorities has brought another upheaval, this time a more serious one. Mejdani has been indicted, while, according to him, his opponents reported him for “forcibly holding office, beatings, and theft.” Meanwhile, the accusing President, Veliu, does not hesitate to explain to Gazeta Shqiptare all of Mejdani’s “sins,” which, according to him, include selling seals in the South and misappropriating 8,000 dollars intended for Albania’s Roma. “We are in favor of resolving tomorrow’s problems constructively and democratically, not in a ‘Roma’ way,” says Veliu, “so we are turning to the law.” Mejdani, on the other hand, not only rejects every accusation but also calls for an investigation. “It would be better for me to solve the many current problems troubling Albania’s Roma rather than wander around the Investigation Department...” And the story of the Roma and their two presidents remains in the offices of Justice, perhaps the only way available to resolve everything. “They reported me for forcibly holding office, beatings, and theft. But none of this is true.” Edmond Laçi

Today in the Government TIRANA—The draft law on the 1995 state budget has been completed by specialists at the Ministry of Finance and is expected to be discussed in the Government today. An increase in revenues, expenditures, and the deficit is forecast. In any case, the latter will be lower than the previous year’s in relation to GDP. On page 3

More than 200 concrete poles toppled KORÇË—Severe cold and frequent snowfall have hit Korçë. Blocked roads and dozens of toppled telephone poles have also isolated the city, the easternmost settlement, from the surrounding areas; nearly 200 concrete telephone poles have fallen. Almost the same situation prevails on the other line connecting the city with Ersekë. As a result, the extent of the damage to the network has not been determined—

Missing for three weeks

It was not officially mentioned, but talks between Papulias and members of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee also included discussion of opening a Greek consulate in another city in the South. Committee also included discussion of opening a Greek consulate in another city in the South. Sources within the committee have also disclosed the substance of Papulias’s reply to this request. “I do not see any subjective obstacle to this on Papulias’s part—and Albania is also free to open consulates in Greek cities that interest it.” Janullatos’s eyes “It can be seen in my eyes,” he said. This is what Orthodox Archbishop Anastas Janullatos said during his meeting with Papulias, reminding the journalist of his eye condition, which he has resisted allowing to turn into another diplomatic problem between the two countries.

At Rinas, on the first day of his visit, Papulias was welcomed by a very special figure. Everyone saw him embracing the actor Fuat Boçi. The interpreter of Lipe Shpëtogu is Etra... of Lushnjë considers himself the person closest to the highest-ranking Greek diplomat. Tedy Kanjetaur lived together with him for several years in the same village, and they went to school together. Their friendship, rekindled after many years, and the divisions between the two—one Greek and the other Albanian, one Orthodox and the other Muslim—have become a fitting account of the success of the latest efforts by the diplomats of both countries to strengthen ties that had begun to deteriorate dangerously. Fatos Bakhaku Berisha and Papulias (photo: G.Xhengo)

KORÇË—Severe cold and frequent snowfall have engulfed Korçë. Blocked roads and dozens of fallen telephone poles isolated the southeastern city from the surrounding areas yesterday. Telephone and telegraph communications with Devoll, Kolonjë, Ersekë and Bilisht have been completely cut off, and it is still not known when the situation will improve. The damage caused is extremely extensive. Its value, which is expected to reach a considerable sum, is not yet known precisely. Hopes of carrying out [repairs?] have been dashed, as entire areas are covered, blocking almost every means of communication. By yesterday evening, however, according to a notice from Telekom, it was reported that nearly 200 concrete telephone poles had fallen on the Korçë–Bilisht line. Almost the same situation applies to the other line connecting the city with Ersekë. yet been determined: the blocked road has prevented a true assessment of the situation. Numerous vehicles have been put into action to clear the situation and establish the real extent of the destruction. The cold wave that has hit the Korçë region is part of a general air current that has mainly affected Southern Europe. According to meteorologists’ forecasts, this large mass of frost—accompanied by heavy precipitation—is moving on and is expected to pass soon.

KRUJE—The disappearance of a 13-year-old girl in Fushë-Krujë remains a mystery. The girl—S.A.—has not returned to her home for three weeks, and her parents are now beginning to lose hope. “I no longer consider my daughter among the living—I have heard her father say in Fushë-Krujë—although I do not want to give up hope.” The news has also concerned the local authorities; days are passing, and no sign of the girl has reached the small town. The mystery has deepened further because the circumstances are unknown. Only one of her friends has said that she met her on the last day [unclear: of the parents], but could provide no other details. The girl’s father has shared all his concerns with a local police officer. Unfortunately, all the searches and possible theories have ended in question marks. Ma.Re.

An 80-year-old man handcuffed on a bus TIRANË—He smoked a hand-rolled cigarette, drank vodka, and then remembered an old song about the dictator. All that was missing was the “Dajti” route bus, which turned into a “bus” for an 80-year-old villager. Two teenagers—very annoyed by the old man’s behavior—removed ... and the police officer against the mes... of a threshold being set and ... in K... and an 80-year-old ... reacted against him and ... violent. Autumn ... the whisper of death ... [unclear] ... that the old man ... to ... . (Ma.Re.)

Muslims: “Do not believe them” FIER—The display of the Quran, little bottles of essences passed from one hand to another, and a string of fine-sounding words seem intended to pass these people off as holy healers. This is a new phenomenon that has spread recently in Fier. Some people have turned rooms in their homes into places where they receive and see off many people every day, treating them with methods they call “practised by Allah himself.” “These healers are not ... They are deceiving people.” The Muslim Community in the city of Fier has now itself risen up against the false saints, seeking to make clear that the healers people have reported are involved in [unclear: «besëbërim»] and their [faith?]. Many Muslim representatives are visiting schools and other venues to explain the truth about these healers and convince people that they have no connection with, or knowledge of, medicine. En.My.

Elbasan: Summer Day freezes over Cold and rain on Summer Day in Elbasan. Bad weather has once again prevented the traditional celebration of the joy of March 13, or Summer Day, from taking place normally. Meanwhile, the city’s [unclear: «ngricat»] have paid no heed to the rain and cold and have celebrated in groups with songs and carnival festivities. The famous sweets, ballokume, have not been absent from Elbasan homes either. Gjirokastër: No drinking water The lack of drinking water in the city of Gjirokastër has become a worrying problem. According to the Water Supply Directorate, about 70 percent of the water is lost along the pipelines, which were built in 1930, when the town had only 9,000 residents. Now, with 25,000 residents, this water supply system is proving insufficient to supply the city. Meanwhile, the District Council has decided that the Water Supply Enterprise should be split into two independent parts so that it can better cope with the situation.

The case on appeal: “Sold the metal detector” PËRMET—He had taken money in exchange for a metal detector. This was the charge that sent A. Memën, head of the Criminal Police in Përmet, to prison for three years under the first-instance court’s ruling. But that court’s decision has now been challenged, and Memën’s defense has taken the case to the Court of Appeal, whose first hearing was adjourned because the accusers were absent. The police official was handcuffed after a complaint by the people to whom he had allegedly sold the metal detector. They brought their accusation against Memën immediately, while some time later, following a police operation, the valuable device was seized and impounded. Ra. Ko.

New operation against the trafficking of undocumented migrants to Italy “They did not have the necessary documentation” New operation against the trafficking of undocumented migrants to Italy Vlorë: police impound 20 speedboats “They did not have the necessary documentation” VLORË—More than 10 private speedboats have been forced to moor at the Rahimênd pier and at the New Port in the city of Vlorë. The vessels were impounded after a surprise police operation the morning before yesterday. They were moved and towed by the police’s powerful speedboat, as well as by the Municipal Police. An initiative is now being undertaken, by decision of the Municipality, at the new port in Zvemë, specifically to ensure compliance with the regulations governing the movement of private vessels. Meanwhile, the owners of the impounded speedboats have repeatedly reacted. Many of them have appeared at the police station to find out what will happen to their vessels. The police operation aimed to bring the activity of the speedboats under control—these are the vessels best suited to trafficking refugees towards the shores of Puglia in Italy—and to implement several Municipal Council decisions. of private vessels, work is now under way, also Zvemë. find out what will happen to their vessels. Kurds sleep in... the stadium VLORË—After the hotels in Vlorë filled up, many Kurdish migrants, perhaps because of a lack of space, ended up at this city’s sports facilities [passage unclear]. The latest episode came to light after a protest by the driver of the “Flamurtari” bus, who also reported the worrying phenomenon to the local football authorities in Vlorë. “More than 20 Kurds slept on the footballers’ bus,” protested its driver, who realized what had happened on Monday morning, perhaps after ... . Monday also aroused suspicions about the stadium’s other vehicles, which may recently have been turned into shelters for migrants, who lately have even tried out the comfortable conditions of the bus. (S.L.Ma.)

Berisha and Papulias (photo: G.Xhengo)