“THE ARRES SCANDAL” / Request for investigations into the two rejected In the chamber, all the MPs called for “making way for Justice,” but the secret ballot box produced the result: “No investigation” A sensational statement by Speaker Pjetër Arbnori before the vote: “I will resign if those two are arrested” TIRANA - The phenomenon of the “hidden majority” has appeared once again in Parliament. Almost just as in the case of Speaker Brozi, a secret ballot and anonymous voters suddenly turn the course of events. There was little hope for the two during the pre-vote debate, but just a few hours later came a fortunate vote. Ruli and Uka’s anxiety ended last night at around 17:00. Both left relieved after being spared, as the majority of MPs who voted against lifting their parliamentary immunity prevailed over those who voted in favor. As their supporters remained on tenterhooks by the ballot box, the result was read out in the chamber: 63 votes against lifting their immunity, 44 in favor of lifting it, and 4 abstentions. Now reassured, both left Parliament almost immediately. Ruli did not want to make any comment. At yesterday’s session, it had seemed that the fate of the two MPs accused by the Prosecution of “abuse of office” was in their own hands. From the early morning hours until late in the evening, the speakers took turns accusing their opponents of corruption and shifting the blame onto their political adversaries. The opposition and the majority once again used the opportunity to accuse one another; tensions rose, and insults and curses were exchanged. The vote was held immediately in the afternoon. This time, the PD group included its best-known figures, including Prime Minister Meksi, Secretary General Shehu, and Deputy Prime Minister Dashamir Shehi. Only a few MPs took part; others openly defended their two colleagues. Thus the secret ballot result—to the good fortune of the two—came as a surprise, perhaps even to Ruli and Uka themselves, whose confidence had begun to fade as the ballot papers were cast into the box. But yesterday afternoon’s session held another surprise as well. The Speaker of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Pjetër Arbnori, himself declared, in response to an exchange during the debate on the proceedings, that he would resign if one of his close colleagues were arrested. Prime Minister Meksi, Secretary General Shehu, and Deputy Prime Minister Dashamir Shehi. Only a few MPs took part; others openly defended their two colleagues. Thus the secret ballot result—to the good fortune of the two—came as a surprise, perhaps even to Ruli and Uka themselves, whose confidence had begun to fade as the ballot papers were cast into the box. But yesterday afternoon’s session held another surprise as well. The Speaker of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Pjetër Arbnori, himself declared, in response to an exchange during the debate on the proceedings, that he would resign if one of his close colleagues were arrested. Genc Ruli Rexhep Uka The Justice Committee’s proposal to lift the immunity of the two MPs over illicit benefits—the two were openly defended by some of their colleagues. Thus the secret ballot result—to the good fortune of the two—came as a surprise, perhaps even to Ruli and Uka themselves, whose confidence had begun to fade as the ballot papers were cast into the box. But yesterday afternoon’s session held another surprise as well. The Speaker of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Pjetër Arbnori, himself declared, in response to an exchange during the debate on the proceedings, that he would resign if one of his close colleagues were arrested. Ruli and Uka have defended their version of the “Durrës Arres scandal” throughout this period. The first spoke polemically, the second technically; both attacked the Prosecution over the charges brought against them. “The ‘Ruli of Arres’ affair,” Ruli told MPs yesterday, “is political. No accusation, exaggerated, interpreted and publicized with bias, seems to have been spared any effort and dedication; if they had done the same with all the other bodies to dominate personally, they would have had no chance of carrying out a policy of removal.” “I will resign if those two MPs are arrested.” Was this a statement made without any real hope? In truth, it was a statement to which no one could give a clear answer. A defense and debate then began, with them presenting their version of the “Durrës Arres scandal.” The first spoke polemically, the second technically; both attacked the Prosecution over the charges brought against them. Genc Ruli; Rexhep Uka

A 32-year-old is executed JUSTICE Yesterday in the early hours of the morning, a pistol shot dispatched the condemned man. He had killed his friend in Greece for 130,000 drachmas TIRANA - Justice itself, too. Yesterday, in the early hours of the morning, in the hills of Tirana, near the Shish-Tufinë cemetery, the execution of a man sentenced to death took place: R. Lamçe, 32, from the village of Koriethit in Vlora, accused of killing a friend in Greece and then robbing him of 130,000 drachmas. It is the first execution this year, but not the first on the long list of executions carried out by Albanian justice. Neither appeals to all the courts nor a letter sent to the President last year saved Lamçe from the bullet. On 10 March 1995, one year after the Court of Cassation’s ruling, Berisha finally returned a negative answer. A few days ago, he was summoned by the police at Vlora prison and brought to Tirana. Bound hand and foot and wearing a protective helmet on his head—so he could not kill himself—he spent his final hours in the cells of Unit 313 in the capital. At 23:50, six police vehicles—two cars and four prison vans—left the Tirana cells and headed for the Shish-Tufinë cemetery, where an open grave, dug secretly a few days earlier, awaited Lamçe. Still bound and with the helmet on his head, the 32-year-old from Vlora was seated on a wooden box. They removed his helmet and asked him for his last words. Then the cold barrel of a revolver was pressed against the back of his neck. A single shot. Lamçe’s body bent forward and fell to the ground. The macabre ritual was over. The victim’s body was buried, and only after six months will the location be shown to his family so they can retrieve the remains. The story that led Lamçe—father of two children—to the firing squad began in the first days of August 1993. Together with four other friends, the 32-year-old from Vlora set out for Greece. As soon as they crossed the border illegally, they were pursued by the Greek police. Three of his companions were caught. Lamçe and H. Karroqe managed to escape by taking refuge with another Albanian. Sazan Brahimi had been living for some time in the village of Neo-Manalata near Patras. Brahimi was generous to his compatriots, offering them shelter and helping them find work where he himself had found employment. But while everything seemed to be going well, Lamçe began devising a plan to rob Brahimi of the money he had saved. On 1 September, while the others went to work, he prepared everything he needed: he chose the day and time for the deed and booked a taxi to take him to the Kakavijë border crossing. And everything went according to plan. At 23:00, while Brahimi was asleep, Lamçe struck him several times on the neck with an iron bar. He took 130,000 drachmas and woke their other companion, H. Karroqe. He told him about the crime, struck Brahimi with the iron bar twice more, and threatened Karroqe: “Don’t talk or I’ll kill you.” The two then set off by taxi and crossed the Albanian-Greek border on 2 September. There, he threatened his friend, telling him he would kill him if he spoke. But the threats did not frighten Karroqe, who immediately reported the matter to the police. Lamçe’s brother also became involved in the case and managed to persuade him to surrender. On 5 September 1993, Lamçe was arrested. The legal battle between Lamçe and Justice continued. The death penalty for this type of crime had been in place since 1983. Lamçe defended himself by saying, “I committed the murder under the influence of drugs and while I was intoxicated.” But nothing changed. In rejecting the appeals, the courts’ first ruling stated: “Every action had been calculated in advance, and the perpetrator attempted to conceal the traces of the crime.” Nevertheless, the matter went further: “The severity of the sentence is justified by the harm inflicted on society, as well as by the defendant’s conduct after the crime and his confession.” But nothing could save him now. On 10 February 1994, the Court of Cassation upheld the same sentence. A letter sent later to the President kept the ruling on hold for more than a year. But the political intervention did not succeed: on the date of Berisha’s decision, the final request he received that day was rejected, closing another death-sentence file in this city. Tirana cemetery

TIRANA - The final of “Medceur 95,” the joint Albanian-American exercise, has concluded successfully; it is also the first exercise of its kind held in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Yesterday morning was a special one for Albania’s largest airport, Rinas, where, in addition to forces from Albania and the United States, personnel from Bulgaria, Turkey, Italy and Greece were also present. “Medceur 95”—the joint Albanian-American exercise—was described as “a privilege for our army and our country,” as stated by Albania’s Chief of General Staff, General Sheme Kosova. The final phase of the joint exercise was attended by Albania’s highest-ranking military authorities, as well as the US Ambassador in Tirana, Joseph Lake. (p.r.)

A Municipal Police force soon too Soon, a Municipal Police force too TIRANA - The creation of a Municipal Police force is being sought. The proposal—one that has also been discussed with officials of the Ministry of the Interior—has been strongly advanced by officials of the Tirana Municipality, who say they are pleased that the matter is also being considered by the Government. The reason—as officials at the Tirana Municipality’s Directorate of Public Services told the official press newspaper—is the vandalism of the bins installed at the end of a street in the capital by the Italian firm “Nuova Ecologia.” Although only 15 days have passed since the cameras were installed, the streets are already presenting an alarming situation, and assistance from the Municipal Police is being urgently requested. (e.i.)

A crime of jealousy? TIRANA - He has escaped the death penalty, but must spend the rest of his life in a prison cell. This is the decision handed down earlier today by the Tirana Court, following the prosecutor’s request, against Tomor Mejdani, accused of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. The incident that led to Mejdani’s arrest took place a year ago. On 18 February, he invited his brother-in-law, Apostol Proko, 41, a father of two, to his home. After staying only a short while, Mejdani went into his room, leaving his guest with his wife. Just a few minutes later, Mejdani’s wife came over and said to him: “Aren’t you going to offer me any?” That was apparently enough for Mejdani to rise in a rage and attack Proko with a knife. “He was drunk,” he told the Gazette, although his wife denied this when questioned. After the killing, Mejdani turned himself in to the police, but that alone was not enough to save him from the severe sentence. (f.t.)

“6 out of 45”: sole winner from Ballsh There was one winner with 5 numbers from Ballsh, holding ticket no. 1260508, who won 40 million from the available pool, or 592,624 lekë. Meanwhile, 893,038 lekë remain in play for next week. Lezhë: former political prisoners to be housed A group of former political prisoners in Lezhë are on the verge of being housed. These apartments were built entirely with government funds; a total of 2.5 million lekë was spent on the project study and its full completion. Patoz: Albpetrol gets a new subsidiary With developments in the oil sector and a special geophysics method, the Albpetrol Oil Corporation has now established a new subsidiary for work at its sites. It was based on an oil-sector enterprise that has been operating since last year and will now be brought together under a single administration.

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Secretary: “That is what the PD statute provides” TIRANA - A new dispute began yesterday between former chairman Selami and the new collective leadership of the PD. The reason: Selami was not invited to take part in the latest meeting of the leadership, held last night. “It is regrettable,” Selami said yesterday. “My exclusion from leadership meetings is a violation of the statute within the Democratic Party; it is another negative step that leads to the purging of internal Democrats.” Yesterday, the PD Secretary General, Tritan Shehu, expressed opposition to Selami’s view. According to him, Selami had previously had representatives of his supporters on the leadership. “This is simply a desperate attempt to destroy,” Shehu said, adding that the party conference was a collective election, as is another body in the PD. “These are the main points.” Tritan Shehu

Vlora, the story of two brothers VLORA - An old boat that had been in the Port for years, and a group of people cheering aboard it. That was the spectacle on the Vlora coast a few days ago. On board the motorboat was someone observing the condition of the “two heroes” of this story, two brothers who had just made the trip at a relatively low cost—certainly several times cheaper than their first journey. “Tickets” for 40 kilometres, and that was that... the investment had been made within a day. The old boat—which many had not dared approach before—is now the bearer of an unusual record. It reached the coast near Brindisi at very low speed, undisturbed by anyone, except perhaps by the waves of those seemingly calm waters. The clandestine migrants landed safe and sound, and their calls to their families added to the success of the two daring brothers, who challenged the wild sea in their old boat. Sta.Ma.

Shkodër The deaths of two boys clarified SHKODËR - The circumstances surrounding the deaths of two 16-year-olds from the city of Shkodër have been clarified. The two boys—the families of Ermal Beqiri and Qazim Derbazi—were reported to the Albanian Gazette in connection with the tragic final moments of the incident. As they were walking, as usual, the two friends happened to be near the old building. Someone was working on its wall. At that very moment, the two boys were struck by falling masonry as they were passing through adolescence. After being taken to hospital a few minutes later, the boys were unable to escape their untimely deaths.